37 Wardykes on the Loose

Her mother's necklace.

Allyria skimmed her body, searching. It was the only thing that reminded her of her mother. She stood and flipped the table clothing, looked under the table, the chair, nothing. She couldn't remember the last time she's seen it since they got here. They were too occupied wandering around that she didn't notice if it fell or got snagged by someone somewhere.

"Watch where you're going, kid!"

She halted, following her eyes on the huge bearded man making a scene inside. His brash voice took quite the attention. He balled his fists and inched forward towards the boy, pushing him to the ground. "Pay me worth the food that you tossed," he said pointing to the supposed feast spoiled on his white tunic.

Most of the food was splattered on the floor, the silver tray lying upside down with it. People already started murmuring, asking about what happened, who the guy is etc.

"Answer me!" he roared, irritation pricking at him. Two kitchen boys went to where he was, holding him up. The other one suggested him to calm down, telling him that the eatery will be the one to replace the food without charge but the man didn't listen. Instead, he flicked their hands and shoved them aside.

The boy—who she guessed was within the range of 13-15 years old—didn't seem to be terrified of the man's size. Instead, he smirked, dusting off his clothes and stood up, confident. He clasped his hands into fist but one thing that caught her attention was the yarn hanging from his hand. The same one she used to tie her pendant since the chain was broken.

Allyria stood up.

"Where are you going?" Kaius asked.

She didn't move an inch at all, her eyes focused on the necklace in front of her. She found it, just on the palm of the little boy's hand. The boy must have heard Kaius because when he looked towards their direction, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you deaf?" the bearded man shunted his shoulders.

The boy didn't take a second thought and immediately ran on the way out.

"Hey!" the man called.

Allyria's facial muscles twitched in sync. Without thinking, she nonchalantly slipped over the window into the midst of the crowd on the street.

"Hey!" she could hear Kaius calling her from behind but ignored it.

Her eyes wandered, looking for him. The streets were too crowded that she could barely see the kid in his height but a commotion caught her attention, people paving way as the boy ran towards the opposite road, pushing shoppers aside. They yelled different kinds of names, fuming as they were being shoved in their purportedly silent strolling.

But one thing she noticed was that as the boy was running, he was also picking pockets. None of them even realized this.

'Wardykes,' she thought.

The country's most notorious bandits.

Allyria pushed her feet to the ground and raced headlong through the tight passageways, not tearing her eyes from him. She weaved and knocked into the locals, apologizing on the way. She could no longer hear anyone from the surroundings as if her senses stopped functioning but her eyes were sharp, heightened with every pace as she was getting closer and closer to the boy.

The boy turned to a small alleyway on the right. Allyria lost sight of him for a several seconds but she was back on track as she followed. She ran up for the stairs, tailing the boy and ignoring the buildings almost squeezing her like a sandwich.

Allyria pumped her legs, gaining momentum with each push. Her body started to burn as the sun was already in its peak, her cloak slowing her down. Her breathing quickened, trying to appease her need for oxygen but she dismissed the sensation.

Allyria dodged, swerving left to right, as the boy flipped a lady's basket, scattering fruits on the road. She almost stepped on one but she held on the wall and paused for a moment, catching her breath. Allyria waited for the fruits to fall on the flight of stairs.

The lady complained as she saw her goods being rammed on the floor but Allyria didn't have enough time. When she finally regained her energy, she rushed towards him again, quicker realizing she's given him enough time to escape.

Allyria was out of the alleyway when the kid disappeared. She reeled from left to right and there she saw him in plain sight, jumping over a wagon. She scrambled towards the crowd, muttering apologies along the way.

The boy stepped into a dark, crammed full brothel. The sign at the front told her. She squeezed her eyes shut, frustrated. This would be the last thing she'd want to go but she had no choice. She pushed the doors open.

BANG!

Prostitutes squealed as they saw her, covering their naked bodies. Clients, mostly men, turned their head around to see the cloaked princess, curiosity etched in their faces.

"What is your business here?" the owner asked as he was aware of the sudden fuss. Allyria didn't look like the type to go in a brothel, especially with her get up, to be a worker or a client so it was expected of them to doubt her presence.

Allyria didn't answer, her eyes casting an eye over the surroundings to look for the boy amidst the gloom. The brothel-keeper motioned for his two gigantic bodyguards, telling them to force the answer out of her. Her eyes were only concentrated on the search until she finally found him, ducking over the crowd a few meters away.

Immediately, she slipped past them, doubling her speed. The guards' massive size made them slow enough to catch her petite body. Gut-wrenching, heart pumping—after several thrusts forward her legs became tired but she pushed harder.

"Pay first!" the owner hollered.

Allyria snubbed the man and went for the exit where she saw the boy. Another set of guards tried to grab her but she was quick enough to duck past their bodies.

She heaved a deep sigh when she was finally out. She proceeded to the street but the kid, with his small body, easily slid past the crowded road.

Allyria stood on her toes and stretched upward to see overhead. There, she saw him. She crammed herself into the crowd. Faster. A meter a way. She could almost touch him. She tried to reach for his shirt but almost stumbled when he sprinted away.

The kid looked over her, smirking as he realized she will never be able to catch him. He was getting away and Allyria was already losing hope, the feeling of her spirit dislocating from her body.

But his fleeting exhilaration ended when he slammed into a man's back, tripping on the ground. The boy groaned, placing both his palms on the floor to support his body from the impact.

The man turned around, "What do we have here?" He bent over and gawked at the kid who was cowering, inching away from the man in front of him.

The man shook his head, saying tsks with every step. His coal black hair glinted in the sunlight. He was the dusk to the sunrise, a mixture of cold, rough and sharp edges—chiseled jaw, strong arms, well-built figure, and a long dark coat around his shoulders.

"That's mine," Allyria jogged and pulled the pendant from the boys hand before anyone could see and take interest in it.

That was only when she realized how much her body ached. She wheezed as her burning lungs gasped for air. Her legs felt numb and unsteady, painfully sore. Her clothes and hair, slick with perspiration, clung to her skin and sweat rolled down her skin in thick, salty beads.

"Allyria!" she turned around and saw cloaked Kaius running.

He ran an arm towards her and stuffed her face in his chest, "Your hood," he whispered.

Her eyebrows raised a notch when she realized she completely forgot about it. But the man in front didn't see her. She was sure of that. She could remember he was busy observing the boy just in time for Kaius to arrive.

"Your girl seems to be quite the runner," the man said, his voice had the gruff abraded texture of stone against stone.

"Well, she's not..."

"No need to tell me," she heard him chuckle, "I really am not interested."

"It's just���"

Kaius paused; the man must have dismissed his sentence. Again. She wasn't sure. Her face was still concealed. A few seconds passed, the man spoke, "I guess I need to go and teach this Wardyke a lesson. Next time, be careful, the streets are full of criminals."

The boy yelped. She had no idea what he was doing but the boy didn't seem to enjoy it. A few moments later and the footsteps faded. She raised her head and pulled away from him. Her cloak was already positioned suitably over her head.

"I'm okay," she replied. "I'm not a kid you should always tend to, you know." Allyria showed a crooked smile, teasing and placed the necklace in her pocket.

Kaius' concern was replaced by a grin, realizing that she was still the same old meanie, "Fine, Allyria the Ogre," he said, emphasizing the last three words.

She threw daggers at him.

"Woah, easy there monster. I was just worried. Can you just learn to at least be grateful for once?"

Allyria ignored what he said and wiped the sweat off her forehead, "I think we really need to go, I'm almost close to collapsing," she chuckled despite the heavy feeling.

"As you wish, ma'am."