Chapter 72: The Runaway (1/2)

Many miles away, in the capital city of Elsaid, a figure of a man shrouded in a brown tattered cloak was currently sneaking in an alleyway just outside the royal palace. He was watching his every step, careful, not to make any noise, he was heading towards the direction of the city gates.

'Come on, careful there you idiot, or that hound dog will find you!' he whispered to himself. His face was currently hidden behind the tattered cloak's hood. His right hand was placed on the hilt of his sword, which compared to his current attire was adorned with jewels. A large green emerald was inserted into the pommel in the shape of an eagle's head, while a few other gems were also placed along with the grip all the way to the crossguard.

The hilt was designed to be the upper part of an eagle with its head being the carefully crafted emerald, while the crossguard served as the animal's raised wings. It was beautiful craftsmanship. The blade couldn't be seen as it was currently resting in its scabbard. Only the top of the scabbard was visible, the locket, that was pure gold with the emblem of the Royal Eagle embedded on it.

The figure placed his hand on the hilt trying to cover the design and the emblem of the scabbard at the same time. Anyone who would see it would immediately recognize it as only members of the royalty could carry such.

As the meters behind him grew, he increased his pace, and soon he was running through the city, sticking mostly to alleyways and out-of-the-way roads, so he wouldn't be seen by the guards or the Nobility. After a few minutes, as he reached the wall that separated the nobility from the commoners, he pressed a few bricks seemingly randomly. As he pressed the fifth, a small tunnel opened up in front of him.

'Finally! I'm out!' he exclaimed happily as he stepped into the tunnel.

---

Inside the Royal Palace, a large brown-haired man could be seen walking in hurried steps towards the Throne Room. He had a large scar running across his face all over his left eye. Miraculously, or maybe with the help of magic during the time when he received this reminder of his exploits, he hasn't lost the light of his eye.

He was wearing red silk threads, with the Royal emblem embedded just above his heart. On his right, a sword could be seen hanging. While it wasn't as incredible as the one that the cloaked figure had, it was still a fine craftsmanship.

The sword was resting in a similar scabbard than what the figure had, and the pommel of the sword carried the Royal Emblem, the Soaring Eagle.

As he reached the Throne Room, he stopped before the guards, and with a strict and demanding tone, he loudly stated his purpose.

”I have to see your highness. The matter is related to the crown prince!”

The two guards that guarded the entrance, looked at the man with a wry smile on their faces, as they asked with a mocking tone.

”Did you lose sight of him again Sir Lloyd?!”

Sir Lloyd didn't answer but the troubled expression on his face answered instead of him. He looked at the closed door then to the guards before he asked again.

”Let me talk to your highness. Open the door.”

They nodded, and opened the entrance to the Throne Room, giving way to him to report his mistake. As his figure vanished and the door closed once again, the guard on the right smiled victoriously and looked at his partner on the left as he placed his open hand towards him.

”I won! Give me my money! I told you he will lose sight of him in 2 days and looks like he actually did!”

Grumbling, the guard on the left, gave him 10 silver coins. The coins all had the royal emblem on them.

”I shouldn't have agreed to this, it was obvious he would lose sight of him again. This is what, the third time this month? At this rate, his bodyguard saw the Crown Prince less than anybody else in this castle!”

The guard on the right took the coins and placed them inside his coin purse. Grabbing it to get the feel for the wealth he obtained, he laughed.

”Hahaha! So true Evan! Seriously, why does your Highness even keep this guy? I get it that he was once a legend but look at him now! He can't even keep his sight on a rowdy teenager!”