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"Yessir" The young captain snapped a salute before leaving

Severin watched him for a few moments before he followed Severin entered the main hall and exited the front door He nodded when the soldiers stationed there saluted, and followed a ay to the gardens

The gardens swarmed with soldiers like every other part of the chateau, but they were completely devoid of plant life Severin still found the place soothing, and he breathed in the fresh air with gusto

He parked hi his back to the trees Fro the rounds

Severin yawned "So ruiment here If the assassins make an attempt now they are either vastly underpaid, or total idiots"

Severin wondered how long the arrounds Perhaps he should return to the palace for the tiuards Even the best assassin wouldn’t try his/her luck there

"It would only bring trouble," Severin supposed "The best chance is to speak to the Arcainia monarchs so they remove the price over my head"

A crow landed on a branch above Severin and cawed, sounding forbidding in the howling wind Severin lurched to his feet, frowning when he didn’t see the next pair of patrolling soldiers

A twig snapped in the trees behind Severin The prince casually placed a hand on his rapier, lifting his nose to the wind and sniffing

He swung around, sliding his rapier free of its scabbard He lifted it up in the air, blocking a sword strike from ahis hulking mass to press the assassin backwards His lips pulled away fro when he was hit on the head from behind

Severin toppled over and stars exploded in his eyes The pain was nauseating, and Severin could barely resist as the assassins dragged hirunted

Severin hung limply as the assassins pulled him by his arms His vision started to clear when they dropped him

Severin waited until an assassin knelt next to hi the man by the throat before he could react He rolled onto his back and tossed the assassin into his cohort, sending the his head to clear it before facing the third assassin--who had returned froround