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I look down to the surface of a pond that I am mere seconds from. A pond I took into careless consideration of when I devised my mad plan just minutes prior. 

In the remaining seconds of my fall I carefully take into account the pond’s strange peace, almost as if it is a sin for me to disturb the still water and the ancient kois that swim gently across the smooth surface. 

I squeeze my eyes shut making sure to keep my legs straight and knees locked as I hit the cold water with a hard thud. 

My feet hit the plant covered bottom first. Then I slip on the soft surface and slam my shoulder into a small koi, one of the unlucky fishes that didn’t swim away fast enough when I approached the water. I swiftly place my feet onto the bottom of the pond before propelling back up to the glittering surface. I move my arms once, then twice and then emerge from the cold water, gasping for the warm summer air. It takes longer than I want it to but air forces its way into my breathless lungs. I wipe away the water droplets that cling to my eyelashes and rub my eyes in an effort to clear my blurry surroundings. That's when I realize that breathing is the least of my problems as my body begins to ache from the cruel impact. It sends the feeling of a dozen hot pins pricking across the surface of my bare skin while my limbs feel like they are progressively becoming numb. I wonder if I really am still alive after such a risky leap. 

I look at the fifty foot fall then look at the surface of the twenty foot deep pond. Three feet in front of me is a red wooden bridge that arches over the pond.

I forgot about that.

I could have hit the bridge on impact. I shove the thought from my head and decide to focus on the problem of pulling myself out of the water. 

I swim closer to the red bridge and place two hands on the smooth wooden surface. An arrow whizzes behind me grazing my shoulder before hitting the water with a pleasant plop sound. I swiftly fall back into the pond releasing a long set of curses as I seek shelter below the bridge that will not hide me for long. Not when people were continuously trying to kill me, even when it is quite obvious they are going to be caught and executed!

I glance towards a group of koi fishes that stare at me with curiosity. It is almost as if their round saucer eyes are asking me,  Why was I there? I didn’t blame them, who expected to see the Crown Prince swimming in a koi pond in the middle of the night. 

No one, that’s who, because I should not have had assassins in my room in the first place!

Another arrow zooms past me drawing my attention away from the koi fish. I pick it up inspecting every inch of it before I feel a strange numbing sensation in my wounded shoulder blade. The arrow is poisoned with who knew what and unfortunately that meant I could be dead in a matter of minutes or hours, it all just depended on what they had tried to poison me with. 

If I were going to die then it would most definitely not be in this filthy pond surrounded by fishes far older than me. 

I threw the arrow onto the bridge as I drew in a slow careful breath. I carefully place my fingertips into view pulling them away just as I heard the whistle of another arrow. It grazed my finger tip and I hissed in pain.

“What can I do?” I mumbled to the curious fishes.

I snapped my fingers aborting the previous idea of saving myself and instead looking to the devoted guards along the wall to save me. Guards stood covered in their shimmering red armor along the high stone wall. Their gloved hands fiddled with arrows and bows as they look up to my broken window. Their mouths open as they scream to one another but all I can hear from below the bridge are mumbles making me wonder why the task of capturing two skilled men and one woman was just as hard as taking down an army for them.

In fact how did they even get in when such a high stone wall was meant to keep the imperial family secure. At this point we might as well demolish the eyesore.

I sigh feeling almost ashamed that these are supposed to be the best men in all of the Plains Realm, the head of the Seven Realms. This was after all the Empire’s capital city Lustius, shouldn’t we have at least had the best men in the imperial guards. At this point I really want to hit my head against a plank of wood.

If the Desert Realm’s army were here they would easily and mercilessly execute these men without hesitation. Then again it was not wise to compare the Plain Realm to the Desert, for they were the most dangerous Realm out of all the Seven Realms. At least the most dangerous besides the Mountain Realm.

The sound of a dozen arrows was shot from above diverting my attention to the assassin who had just jumped from the window. He splashed into the pond before quickly emerging unfazed by the arrows erected from his shoulder and arms. In one swift movement he had his arrow pointed to my head, his bow pulled taut.

Without a second thought I drew in a fast gasp ducking below the water’s smooth surface.

They’re desperate! I thought as I heard the assassin let out a scream of agony. Just who wanted me dead so badly, why hadn’t they given up, and why couldn’t we find the culprit?

A strong hand suddenly grabs me by the shoulder heaving me out of the water’s gentle motions. I place my dagger at the neck of the stranger but hesitate when I see familiar amber eyes and bushy dark eyebrows. I was quickly filled with relief as I realize it is only my personal guard, Second Prince of the Jungle Realm and my cousin, Jonathan. 

He settles me upon the wooden bridge, laughing nervously as he carefully pushes the sharp blade away from his neck. He met my eyes and sighs in relief. I am okay for the most part but he still can't hide his worry as he inspects every cut.

His voice is masked with false joy as he speaks but holds a strength that compares to no other warrior. “Seems like you’ve been having an adventurous night.” He smiles while placing a worn out cloak onto my shoulder. 

“Ahh,” I smile, shaking my head. “Nothing as exciting as capturing those fools.” I say while buttoning the first red button of my cloak.

I look up to the final assassin who is high above the koi pond. He hides past the broken window of my once peaceful room. I remember his fallen comrade and turn my attention to the inky black pond, my grin fading. I inspect the man who now floated dead in the pond’s gentle waves we had both made, such a contrast to the chaos moments before. I gulp feeling sudden guilt that I was making jokes about a now dead man.

I return my attention to Jonathan as he screams to a guard across the pond. “Robulent, take him to the Healer!”          

The guard obediently nods and runs across the green grass, along the stone path and onto the red bridge toward us “Crown Prince Veran,” he says before bowing low. “If you may, please follow me.” He whisks his hand toward the castle’s side entrance that is now illuminated by a lantern in the stone archways.

I give a small nod and take one final glance at Jonathan who shouts orders to the dozens of guards around him. Although he is only a Commander many of the guards still follow his orders not only because he is the Prince of the Jungle Realm but also because of the fact that he is a natural born leader who would no doubt become the General of the Jungle Realm. 

My eyes trail from Jonathan up to the assassin who stands high above. He stands upon the edge of the dark room, his shadow gripping onto the red velvet curtain while his eyes glow in the little light that reach him. Without seeing his face I know he is furious. Perhaps he only did it all for money but now that his partner is dead and the other one possibly killed by my dagger he wants revenge.  He stands tall and strong, like he wants to challenge the position I hold in this kingdom but I know he can never. He will die here.

I glower while a swarm of deadly arrows is shot directly at him and into my room. He hastily retreats into the shadows once again and out of the direct line of sight. He is hiding from those who have tried to strike him down but there is no use. He was outnumbered and surrounded, the odds were stacked against him yet he did not want to fall. I watched as the metal tipped weapons found their way into the darkness, a few even breaking more of the window pane before disappearing past the view. It is suddenly strange to remember that the now destroyed window was once where I stood staring off into the vast plains and the distant horizon that was bordered with miniscule mountains. 

I force my feet to turn as I reluctantly drag myself away from the scene and to the castle’s arched entrance. That is when I heard the almost diminutive sound of a bow string tightening. Whether it was instinct or pure luck I will never know but I immediately stopped myself within less time than it took to blink. Then with the smooth decisiveness of a cheetah I turned on the balls of my feet and grab the soilders sword. Without hesitation I hold it up in the direction of my room. A silver arrow meets the blade.

A pleasant ring that reminds me of a bell echoes throughout the courtyard resonating off the stone walls and sending the rest of the dark world into silence. All eyes within the moonlit courtyard watch as the very weapon that should have killed me bounces off of the sword and falls to the floor. I feel the vibrations shake to my very bones as I hold the sword up just a bit longer. I am shocked by my immediate response to grab it when I barely heard a bow tighten. It seems I was becoming a very hard task for death to accomplish or perhaps he was on my side.

Just as fast as the arrow was shot the silence in the night disperses, turning into the scream of commands once again. 

I precisely drew in one long breath as I return to my senses. Once again I can thankfully feel the warmth of the summer air filling my lungs while my blood runs ice cold. I look down at the arrow that was erected in the grass by my foot.

I let out a soft sigh slowly turning to the shocked guard whose sword. “Here,” I said, handing Robulent his sword. “Hopefully I won’t need it again.” I wanted to say this with a hint of humor to lighten the mood but I had struggled and it came out in a serious tone.

He stares at it for a moment before bowing low and accepting it back. “I am sorry, Crown Prince.” he says in an ashamed voice I did not anticipate.

I triy to give a kind smile but he does not see it, so I turn away and lead us to the stone archways that glow a soft orange in the lantern light. We enter underneath the archway where an elderly man is reaching high to light the wick of another lantern that hangs from a wall. I give a small nod as I pass by him. He quickly returns the greeting with a low bow until I am out of sight. 

I continue through the castle, this time rushing in a manner that makes me look far less than a Prince. Maybe it was because of how dishevield I looked with messy hair and bleeding scratches. Or maybe it was because I left a trail of water on the through the elaborate halls marble floors, across the never ending staircases, and under incredible light fixtures (that were quickly being lit by the now fully awake castle staff). Yes this must have been the reason why I didn’t look like my typical self. I doubt there was any other kingdom in any Realm that had their Prince or Princess being mercilessly attacked by strange assasians that led them to jump four stories into a pond of slimy old fishes. 

What a fun and lovely morning.