The guard on the western parapet yawned, blocking it with his hand. He shifted his crossbow on the other shoulder, letting his free shoulder rest. Facing the starry night sky, he sighed.
"Rough night, ain't it."
A gruff voice came from the guard's right. A senior guard, a bow in hand with quiver strapped to his back, walked toward him on his patrol route.
"Rough isn't the word, sir." The guard placed his hand on the crenelation, his gaze shifting to the senior guard. "I would say it is... quiet—much like the previous two years I patrolled here."
"Ten years strong. Either all the threats have been neutralized, or there is no danger on this side o' the—"
ROOOAR!
All the heads shot at the forest in unison, their weapons trained on the treeline.
"SENTRY! SOUND THE ALARM! ALL UNITS WESTWARD!"
Before the sentry could sound the alarm, they all heard yelling in the distance.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!! IT'S BEHIND MEEEEE!!!"
The silent forest gave way to the sound of crashing footsteps approaching the castle. The guards from the northern and southern parapet sortied to the veteran guard's position, their metallic footsteps a crescendo. All trained their weapons at the edge.
The crashing footfalls got louder and louder. The guard re-adjusted the crossbow—resting on the edge of the wall.
In… and out… In—
"AAAAAHHH!!! TOO CLOOOOO—"
SNAP!
The sound of twig snapping hitched his breath. The snap was followed with the sound of multiple branches being whacked. Then, a cloaked figure and a boy in white clothing dove out of the treeline, leaving a trail of dirt behind.
"OVER THERE!" A guard beside him yelled.
ROOOOAR!
It's coming… It's coming…
The thuds grew louder and louder, the source shaking the trees around it, giving away its position.
"NOW!"
On the cue, the sound of arrows releasing filled the air.
ROOOOooaa…r!
The orc exited with its club raised. The arrows pierced the head, the hand that held the club, its chest and thigh—the same places with ten or more arrows.
BOOM!
It fell with the crash, before it could release its last roar.
The veteran guard looked at the same guard with the crossbow. "Go with the others! Investigate!"
With a nod, the guard and a few others ran to the cloaked figure and the boy. Reaching them, the guard and the others gasped.
"I-It's His Highness." A voice beside him said, looking at the shell-shocked boy, his head cradled in the gray cloaked figure's hand. The boy's mouth trembled and his eyes darted rapidly.
The guard crouched to see the cloaked-figure's face, spotting blood falling from the corner of the mouth—a dark pool already gathered.
"CALL THE ROYAL GUARD! AT ONCE!" Someone barked behind him.
Move body… Move!
A body-trembling horn sounded, rattling the insides of the investigating guards.
That's… the Royal Guard's alarum.
A few seconds later, the guard heard the familiar voice of the veteran guard from the parapet. "It's His Highness… Yes, he is down there… Oddly, he is not with his escort…"
After the veteran guard finished speaking, a figure dropped from the parapet and landed before the guards. The shockwave kicked up a cloud of dust that hid the figure's identity.
After the dust settled, a violet-haired maid crouched down from landing. Her long, slender frame, hair tied in a ponytail, and violet eyes were laser-focused on the shocked prince in the cloaked figure's arms.
* * *
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