The sun hung high in the azure canvas of the daytime sky as Castiel’s carriage rolled along the winding road toward Serenia. Another carriage approached from the opposite direction. The carriage rumbled along the uneven road until one of its wheels gave a tortured screech and collapsed, bringing the entire vehicle to an abrupt halt in the middle of the road.
As Castiel's carriage approached; Veera, tinged with irritation, stepped out of the carriage with Caz at her side. “I knew this was gonna happen! What are we gonna do now?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll fix this.” Replied Caz without looking at his angry wife’s face.
Veera said angrily, “Fix this? You would not have any need of fixing this, if only you had bought a new carriage instead of using this old run-down piece of crap.”
“We both know that we are short on money right now and a new one would have been costly.” Caz replied in defense.
As the bickering couple tried to fix the wheel, The royal guards, vigilant in their duty, halted. Captain Hale, a stern figure with a glint of suspicion in his eyes, approached Veera and Caz.
"State your business and present your identification," he commanded, his gaze shifting between the arguing couple.
Veera shot Caz a resentful glance before turning her attention to the captain. "Oh, just our luck," she exclaimed, her frustration appearing genuine. "We're on our way to the capital to start a new life, and now this!
She continued, "This is all his fault! He insisted we take this old, rickety carriage instead of buying a decent one."
The captain, unmoved by their domestic drama, demanded identification once more. Caz rummaged through a worn leather pouch, producing a set of documents that looked hastily assembled.Veera, still fuming, reluctantly handed over her own identification.
As the royal guards scrutinized the documents, Veera continued her verbal onslaught against Caz, creating a spectacle that drew the guards' focus away from the carriage and its contents.
The captain, satisfied with the presented documents, returned them with a stern warning. "Sort out your issues quickly. We've no time for domestic disputes."
As the royal guards prepared to move on, Veera, with a pleading look in her eyes, turned to Captain Hale. "M'lord, can you help us? We're stranded here, and we've got important business in the capital."
Caz, overhearing Veera's plea, scowled. "Help? We don't need their help. We can handle this ourselves," he retorted, his frustration boiling over.
Veera shot him an exasperated look. "Handle it ourselves? Look at where handling it ourselves got us - stuck in the middle of nowhere with a broken-down carriage."
The disagreement escalated, and the couple found themselves in yet another heated argument, this time in front of the captain and the royal guards. Veera's appeal for assistance clashed with Caz's stubborn pride, creating a spectacle that further drew attention away from the real purpose of Castiel's carriage. The captain, torn between duty and the unfolding drama, watched with a mixture of irritation and amusement as the couple continued their squabble.
Captain Hale, maintaining a composed demeanor, raised a hand in a gesture of polite refusal. "I'm sorry, but we can't provide any assistance right now. You'll need to sort this out on your own. Please, move to the side so we can pass through."
Veera, begrudgingly accepting the captain's response, nodded with a forced smile. "Yes, M'lord. We'll move. But mark my words, Caz, we need to get a new carriage as soon as possible."
Caz, still fuming, mumbled a response as the royal guards, under Captain Hale's orders, began to clear the road. A couple of guards approached the broken carriage, heaving it to the side. With efficient movements, they ensured that Castiel's carriage faced no further delay. They also left an old, unused wheel for Veera and Caz, a small gesture of goodwill amidst the tension.
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After Castiel’s Carriage was out of view, the hidden assassins, accompanied by Veera and Caz, the seemingly bickering couple, convened in the shadows to analyze their findings. The meticulous planning and execution of their mission hinged on accurate information. This orchestrated encounter served a dual purpose: to probe the defenses, gather accurate information, and ascertain target identification. They hadn't caught sight of Prince Castiel, but the presence of Captain Hale and the royal guards escorting the carriage raised significant flags.
Silent Blade's leader, a figure known as Nightshade, spoke with a tone of analytical precision. "The royal guards, especially Captain Hale, wouldn't be mobilized for just anyone. It has to be someone of utmost importance. Considering the timing and the heightened security, our target is highly likely to be in that carriage."
The members of Silent Blade exchanged glances, their expressions hidden beneath hoods and masks. One of them, skilled in reconnaissance, added, "We couldn't visually confirm the prince, but the security measures are consistent with a person of royal stature. The destination is Serenia, and the only significant figure traveling there is Prince Castiel. It aligns with our intel."
Nightshade nodded, his mind already calculating the implications. "We proceed with caution. Our goal remains unchanged: intercept and eliminate Prince Castiel.”
They also observed that the guards were donned in armor distinct from the usual attire of Xanderian royal guards.
Veera : “Did you guys see that? The royal guards' armor looked off.”
Caz : “Yeah, it was different. Not the usual Xanderian royal guard attire.”
Cayman : “Could be a special detail for the prince?”
Lyric : “Maybe, but it seemed odd. Staring at it for a while felt like being pricked by something sharp.”
Nightshade : “Don't overthink it. They're probably just using different gear for travel.”
Shinjo : “True, let's focus on the mission.”
***
"Ohh! This is good. This is really good. My compliments to the chef," Castiel exclaimed, savoring the flavors of the meal. Once beyond the borders of Xander, as night fell, Castiel, accompanied by his vigilant guards, sought respite at a quaint inn nestled along the route to Serenia. He and Captain Hale were sharing a quiet dinner.
The owner, a gracious host of the Moonlit Hearth Inn, with a warm smile approached their table. "We are delighted that M'lord likes the food. My wife made it," he said, a note of pride in his voice. Castiel nodded appreciatively, acknowledging the culinary skills of the innkeeper's wife. After finishing their meal and exchanging a few more pleasantries, Castiel bid Captain Hale goodnight.
Captain Hale lingered for a while, enjoying a quiet moment and sipping his drink. The inn's cozy ambiance provided a welcome respite. Eventually, he, too, decided to call it a night and went to his chamber.
At the stroke of midnight, when the world lay in a silent embrace of darkness, two shadowy figures adept in the art of stealth infiltrated through the first-floor window, while two others seamlessly breached the ground-floor windows. Their initial attempt to enter through the window directly connected to Castiel's room was thwarted by the reinforced enchantments safeguarding the VIP quarters, compelling them to reconsider their approach. The veil of quietude cloaked their movements as they advanced towards Castiel's chamber.
As the assassins approached, they discerned the vigilant presence of two guards standing sentinel at the entrance to Castiel's room. Veera, proficient in light magic, chanted a sleep spell in a hush manner to cast an enchanting shroud over the guards, lulling them into a tranquil slumber. Caz, displaying the finesse of a master thief, deftly unlocked the door, granting them silent passage into the room. Meanwhile, the remaining two assassins maintained their vigilance outside.
As they entered the dimly lit room, a peaceful slumber enveloped Castiel. Veera and Caz’s eyes met and both nodded in a silent exchange of acknowledgement. Veera unsheathed a poisoned knife with a lethal gleam, approaching Castiel with an eerie calmness, her intent clear - to end the young prince's life in his sleep.
As Veera stealthily approached Castiel with her poisoned knife, a sudden and deafening blast erupted from the corner of the room - boom! The air quivered with the violent discharge, and in an instant, Veera's head exploded like a watermelon, crimson droplets splattering across the room. Blood painted the walls in grotesque patterns.
From the shadows emerged Captain Hale, his shotgun still smoking from the explosive roar. With cold precision, he recocked the shotgun, its metallic click echoing through the room. He fixed his steely gaze on Caz and delivered a chilling ultimatum, "Move a muscle, and you die!”