After sprinting through the forest for some time the duo slowly came to a halt.

"I think we finally lost him." Says the guard to Prince Beckett, taking deep breaths and trying to steady his breathing.

Stumbling ahead at a light jog the two find a clearing under the crepuscular moon its rays illuminating the surrounding area around them.

Perched silently on a branch observing the two men was a man shrouded in shadows stretching a little as he watches the duo.

Shaking his head, he says out loud. "What do you mean I am right here"

The two look up with dismay gripping their hearts, "H-how?? How did you find us?" said the Prince

"Hmm, well I never 'lost you' I just needed a bit of exercise." says the shadowed man

Suddenly he jumps down from his branch and rolls to a stop 30 feet from the two, standing up you can see his agile figure within his clothes there are daggers by his waist and his face is covered by a Mahogany mask. Shadows licking and curling off of him endlessly.

The guard steps forward and readies his spear. "Why are you doing this, who sent you was it Cinas or Tilham?" he says through gritted teeth

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Drawing the daggers, the figure responded with a smile. "No clue, but for them to come to me..." Brandishing his daggers he says "The price was very steep."

Walking lazily towards the two they frightfully drew their weapons. Screaming the guard charged forward with his spear. "Don't underestimate us."

The guard thrusts his spear forward in an attempt to skewer the man in one strike, side-stepping the thrust the man steps forward grabbing the shaft of the spear midway with his left hand, he delivers a swift kick to the other party's chest ripping the spear out of his hands and knocking the wind out of his lungs.

If you attack so openly and forward like that, I won't even break a sweat." the man says putting away his daggers before twirling his newly acquired spear.

Walking forward to wear the guard lay he stabs downward piercing the guard through the heart and killing him instantly.

The prince's face pales as a cold sweat runs down his back, backing away slowly with his hands up stuttering as he blubbers. "Y-y-you can't kill me."

"Oh? and why is that? The hooded figure responds with a sinister smile.

"I am the Second Prince, no one in all of the empire can kill me." 

The man shakes his head, speaking he says. You don't get it do you?" Reaching behind him where his shadows aligned with the ground he pulls a sack out of the shadow. Jiggling it in front of the prince's face one could hear the metallic sounds of coins clattering together. " This is five-hundred gold pieces of course I'm going to kill you; I have a reputation to hold after all."

Backing into a tree at the edge of the clearing the prince shrieks. "You're a monster."

The man aims the spear at the prince and throws it while saying. No,  not a monster just a regular assassin.