A Good Trade (part 3)

Captain Shaura of the Garja vansh discovered the grand prince's plan to ambush the Yuvaraja while he is returning from the frontlines with his personal guard. However, the discovery was made too late because he went about it in a roundabout manner, knowing the little prince's means. He did not use his own forces for the planned assassination, but took the help of the Dhija nation instead! On the other hand, the grand prince did not immediately act on the little prince. He was a caged bird anyway and it was better to act during the chaos the eldest prince's demise would cause in the capital. No one would be able to point fingers then. But he still underestimated the little prince. Late though he might be, the little prince still managed to uncover the entire conspiracy and the players involved in it. He managed to slip out of the palace and save himself at the nick of time. If not for his determination to help his brother, he would've been able to hide indefinitely. Sadly though, he exposed himself no matter how much his men pleaded against it. He wanted to confront Jeh-shaan of Patr-dal, removing at least one leg of the grand prince's camel.

The assassin Sheesha of the Shadow clan still remembers it bright as day, what happened nine days ago in the capital. He was lying low outside the fort walls waiting for the team that was supposed to sneak out with the little prince. On the ramparts, patrols were strolling as usual, with the same dreary look in the hot weather, as though the palace was not in turmoil. Old porters were carrying stone up the mountains, women were ferrying water. Some children belonging to the merchants were frolicking in circles near the gates as their caravan waited to enter the city. A white bearded bard was strumming a single stringed instrument singing in a melodious voice.

Sheesha noted that it was time for the captain of the guards to make his patrols to the wall. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why the little prince's team would choose this time to sneak out. Up until then, he never met the famed prince. He had no understanding of the boy. But thinking of his age, he believed that no matter how exaggerated the rumors were, he can't be all that great.

It was then that he saw him. There was no woodcutter's cart hiding a child, no quiet covert team or a silent, yet tense movement at the gates. Instead, there was a loud whistle and a boisterous child on the ramparts that looked like a comet! He was wearing bright red, the silks so rich they were dazzling even from a great distance. In addition to the red top cloth, he also had on a skin colored vest that was lightly embroidered with red flowers and precious stones. Exquisite jewelry and many round pearls hung from his neck, while a small, yet tight fitting gold and silver crown majestically sat on his head.

So much for sneaking out. There couldn't have been a more conspicuous exit! The assassin was terrified just looking at the child, but what happened next terrified him more. When he reached the corner the rampart which shared a column with the gates, the boy suddenly leaped down from a height of twenty feet! Even the lone swordsman who often practices on the walls stopped and gaped, looking at him.

'Uncle Jeh, catch me!'

Though the assassin himself didn't know the captain's thoughts then, as someone who followed his view from the beginning, we could say he was immediately thrown out of his element. Out of habit, he lunged forward to catch the little prince though he had not done so since that fated day over a year ago. But it was also that very day when he promised himself he would prove his loyalty to the prince. He was only reminded of that promise now when he was thrown by surprise. Despite his betrayal and his much evident hesitation, he still moved to catch the prince. However, in his mind, he was already wondering if he could get away with letting him fall!

Because this confusion held grip of the captain's senses, he failed to notice this, but the assassin found his eyes widening as he noticed what was in the prince's hand. Before he knew it, he came to his feet and was running to the walls himself, for he could see disaster happening next. In the little prince's hand was a vicious golden dagger that melded with his dazzling get up and therefore went unnoticed up to now. While he was falling, the little boy actually turning mid-air, lunging straight down with dagger in hand. He even covered that minute distance Jeh-shaan didn't cover when he was still deciding whether to let the boy fall to death. Before the brilliant young captain's mind cleared, he felt a cold sharp object plunging into his neck with unforgiving precision. It raised great alarm among the patrol troops. But even before they could react, the assassin Sheesha swiftly caught the boy by the waist and dragged him away from the scene.

The much exalted captain was still staring in disbelief, unable to process what just happened. The assassin himself was in shock, yet the boy still acted like everything is as per usual in his hands. He was still looking at the fallen captain, smiling eerily as he proclaimed loudly, 'Uncle Jeh…next is your Patr-dal clan. I will slay every last one of them. This is my promise to you…Rest in peace. Ha ha!'

Sheesha had already put some distance between himself and the confused guards on the walls, but he was still petrified when he heard those words. 'Little prince, the captain of the royal guards is not dead yet. You shouldn't have said that.'

Sheesha was much agitated inside. Firstly due to the sudden change of plans and secondly due to the little prince's outrageous actions which threw everyone into a precarious situation. They were supposed to quietly sneak out of the city for god's sake! Now they were going to be hunted like dogs! Still, considering this was his first time greeting the prince, he was somewhat respectful. But what the prince said next nearly blew his top. 'I know. I wanted him to put his attention on me.'