Back in the merchant's estate stood the young man, facing the same window the intruder had leapt from.
A handkerchief pressed to the small cut on his neck, as he stared out into space—lost in thought.
"Sekou," he breathed after a long silence.
" Your highness." The mage appeared again, stepping out of the shadows into a shaft of moonlight.
He waited, even though he knew what came next.
Silence.
He followed his master's gaze, seeing that the prince was staring beyond the estate, lost in thoughts.
He squinted, troubled by a sudden thought, before schooling his expression. Cold air ruffled his fro; the scent of dust and damp filled his lungs as he drew a slow breath.
Behind him, Sekou stood patient and still, solid as a wall.
A knock resounded.
"The door is open Alisaba."
As soon as the voice spoke, a middle-aged man walked into the room, pale as a ghost.
His white beard was a sharp contrast against his brown skin.
"Your highness! I deserve to die!" He dropped to his knees, his robe pooling around him as he pressed his forehead to the floor.
He had failed to protect the crown prince despite his influence and the number of Mages guarding the estate.
The young man sighed. With one hand in his pockets he turned around to face the middle aged man.
"Merchant Alisaba, you've done this crown prince a favor. Rise." he commanded, walking back to his seat without concern.
The merchant froze in disbelief. A favour? Being attacked in a guarded estate was a favour?
Unless...he had let it happen on purpose.
His gaze shifted to the handkerchief pressed against the prince's neck and his eyes windened in horror. He sprang up in alarm
"Your highness…your neck!" he stammered, clearing his throat as sweat gathered on his brows.
The royal heir was hurt under his roof and under his protection. This alone was a serious crime that put his neck on the line.
"Who's out there?" the merchant called, moving towards the door.
"Don't bother."
"I'm only bringing in a physician," the merchant insisted, turning to face the crown prince.
"No one can know the crown prince is here," Sekou said, his gaze sharp and heavy on the merchant.
Alisaba stilled hearing the Mage speak. The man had always been terrifying as a mage, but his voice was even more menacing.
"Yes… forgive me." he nodded, embarrassed.
"The red file, it isn't what Mali is after." The crown prince slid the file towards the merchant.
The merchant looked up, confused. "Then what is he after?"
"You!"
Merchant Alisaba paused in shock, looking towards the Mage for help.
"Me? I have no business with him."he quickly defended.
"Exactly! You have no business with him. Which could only mean one thing…" The crown prince stood up, walking towards the window again, a scheming look on his face.
"He's after something else…"
Alisaba frowned, visibly troubled. All he ever wanted was to attain wealth not get involve with devils.
"And what could that be?"
Before anyone else could breath, Sekou went still. The moonlight shifted, his pupils dilate—and he murmurs something.
"There's another one… watching."
The crown prince frowned, "From where?"
Sekou's gaze flicks toward the window. "From where I stand."
Their eyes met in understanding, the merchant watching their exchange could only spiral in confusion.
"What's wrong? Is someone watching—?"
Before he could complete his sentence, the Mage turned away from the window, a wisp of shadow gathering around his left hand and forming into a dark, flexible arrow.
He aimed at the wall, then snapped toward the window with sudden speed and released it.
A small zap of lightning followed what seemed like an arrow in the air, swooshing into the forest aggressively and hitting its target.
A small cry echoed from far away, before everything went silent.
Sekou's actions had attracted all the other mages, they had seen the shadow arrow from their respective locations. Something only highly skilled mages could pull off.
"Open the gates!" Sekou spoke without wasting a second. He jumped from the window and landed on the dusty floor with ease.
It was raining—a slight drizzle—yet the ground remained stubbornly dusty, as though untouched by water. Another phenomenon still under study in schools and research centers.
The huge gate was opened and as everyone expected, a strange deranged man stumbled into the estate.
His skin slowly burned up. A continuous growl filled with agony at each step he took towards the man standing in the middle. Sekou!.
"Kneel!" Sekou commanded. And he dropped to his knees, the shadow arrow stuck in him releasing black vapours.
His twitching was a sign of his body slowly giving in to the poisonous arrow.
Sekou grabbed his face rather roughly, forcing his mouth open, he dipped his hands into the man's mouth touching the upper part.
There was something written there.
He frowned as though realizing something. Letting the man go he stepped back.
Watching him convulse as his skin began turning into ashes, Sekou stood unmoved by the disturbing image of a disintegrating fellow.
The other mages tried to mask their surprise at the cold composure radiating from him.
They immediately turned away as soon as he stood straight, his dreads covering his face as the rain drizzled gently.
The straining sound of the whistle resounded again, this time from outside the estate.
A call for other Mages!
'The mages who went on the hunt for the intruder.'
Everyone looked up towards the forest faraway from the estate, where the whistle sounded from.
Lightning flashed, blinding the entire estate for a second—and when it cleared, the mages were gone.
Sekou turned towards the crown prince, who calmly shook his head.
" This night just got more interesting than I thought it would be" He smiled, neatly folding the handkerchief and slipping it into his pocket.
His plain black pants and white shirt a huge contrast to the way everyone was dressed.
One would never guess him to be of royalty, but a common high ranking noble at this moment.
His fro cascaded down as he bent forward, before leaping out the window. The Merchant almost had an heart attack.
His highness should be more careful!
"Do you want to check it out?" Sekou turned towards him.
"No!"
This could only mean one thing, the crown prince already got his answers.
"The empire just birthed its own doom," he said quietly, his gaze fixed—not on Sekou, but on something far beyond him.
"Found you!" He whispered.