For the first time since being Prince Eden I was actually enjoying my time in the city. Siren Waters was just delightful with her glares and constant threats to knock me out and leave me for the assassins whether I was the King's only son or not.

And the city itself! What a wonderful place with builds cramped only a few feet apart and three stories tall each. They really were nice building made of an almost orange wood that grew far away in the kingdom's eastern jungles. How the people got some much wood transported such a long distance illuded me? The real question was even more confusing. Why had they even wanted to?

Sure Ward was built by a wide river in the middle of open plains and softly sloping hills, but only two leagues to the west was a great oak forest. They could have just gotten wood there. But no the people of Ward wanted to make thing complicated and decided to get orange wood at least four hundred leagues away. Was it really that important that the capital city look richer than it really was?

As we passed a vendor selling interact rugs from a place called Suesarah, wherever that was, I nudged Waters. I had asked her multiple time if she would tell me her first name, but she kept refusing. It kind of annoyed me the more I thought about it.

"So, Miss Waters, will you tell me where you're from?" I asked with the politest tone I could muster.

She glared at me, her eyes glowing bright in the afternoon light. "No."

"How about you're family? You do have a family, don't you?"

I needed something! Anything about her past that would tell me more about her. I knew she didn't like Prince Eden from the glares she constantly gave me, which made me like her. I only had two friends. Was it so bad to want another one? Even if I was probably dead in a few days.

She pushed aside the curtain of a bright red tent and lead me inside. Her eyes carefully scanned the area for any possible threats, but aside from the vendor we were alone.

Ignoring my previous question, she pushed me towards a rack of simple white tunics.

"Quit asking personal questions and find something you want." She growled in annoyance. "I don't want to be your mother all day."

I turned and gave her a wink. "But mommy I'm not a bad kid."

Her face turned red with anger and her whole body shook. When she spoke her voice was so calm I shuddered. "I have a sword and I will stab you."

Yes, I was a little scared of her, but when I'm scared I try to play it off by joking around. It's my way of coping. So of course I didn't stop. "Playing warrior princess? I like it."

I've been surviving assassination attempts left and right, so when Waters swung at my head I easily took a step back. The force of her swing, which definitely would have hurt, caused her to fall forwards.

I couldn't keep the smirk off my face as she fell right into my arms. "Oh, I see. Now you're falling for me. It was really only a matter of time."

Waters seemed a little taken aback by the fact that I had been fast enough to avoid her punch, but pushed me away as if I had burnt her.

"If I ever fall of you I hope I land on my sword."

My chest tightened like I had been punched. Her fist may have missed me, but her words had hit home. Gulping away the hurt, I turned to the clothes.

Wherever Waters had taken me it was perfect. I grabbed three of the plain white tunics and two green ones of the same simple style. I didn't both trying them on because I was sure they would fit me fine.

The shop we were in didn't only sell tunics, but also slacks and everything a person would need for a journey. I ended up adding two pairs of slacks, one brown and one black, and a large leather pack to fit everything in.

When I had finished purchasing my new travel clothes, we left the vendor. Neither of us said a word as Waters lead me to another tent. This one was full of water canteens and hunting knives. I had plenty of knifes, but I bought two canteens.

I didn't want to talk to Waters, but there was one last thing I wanted to get and she seem more familiar with the market than I was.

Clearing my throat I asked awkwardly. "Where's the best place to get throwing knives?"

Waters looked up at the fading sun. "What would a prince need with throwing knives?"

I didn't know what to tell her, so I just kept my mouth shut. I thought she would just leave it be, but she kept pushing.

"I know the King and his knights." She said lowly. "Assassins use throwing knives, not knights. The King would never approve."

I blushed. "Yes, assassins use them. They use them because throwing knives are fast and effective. To fight assassins you have to use weapons that are equal to or better than theirs'."

To my surprise Waters nodded. "Fair enough."

Leading me through streets, whose many occupants had left at some point during the evening, I wondered why knights didn't use throwing knives. They were lightweight and deadly fast if thrown right. In my opinion they were the best weapon. The only downside was when you ran out of them, but if you carried other knives it wouldn't really matter.

We stopped in front of a large booth overflowing with weapons of every kind. They were beautiful and gleamed orange in the waning sunlight.

The man tending the booth looked at me as if I were a ghost. His eyes widened into gleaming blue disks. "My Prince." He said with a low bow. "How may I be of service?"

I stood looking at the weapons in awe. I didn't hear him until Waters crushed my toes under her boot.

Biting back a curse, I nodded to the man. "I'm looking for some throwing knives, if you have any."

The vendor's blue eyes looked a little unsure before he nodded and ducked into the tent behind him.

Maybe it was uncommon for a prince to be out buying the weapons of an assassin, but that didn't make it wrong. I wasn't even the real prince so as far as I cared I could do whatever I wanted. If I wanted throwing knives than no one was going to stop me for buying myself some throwing knives.

The vendor came back with a bright smile and a dark belt with twelve throwing knives sheathed to it. Six on each hip to keep a well balanced stance while fighting.

"These are the best I got." He said taking one out and handing it to me. "Legend says they're made from the bones of a dragon."

I almost snorted at his last comment. Dragons hadn't lived in Brinonia for hundreds of years, though it was rumored that the Grey Peaks had captured them all to keep as pets and use during times of war. Considering we were at war with them I really hoped that rumor wasn't true.

The blade, though unlikely made of dragon bones, was a glossy, pure white that seemed to glow with moonlight. It was lightweight and sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm. The only downside was that there were only twelve. If I was faced against more than twelve enemies it wouldn't be long before I would be forced to fight close range.

"Do you have any more?" I asked eagerly. "These are wonderful and I'll certainly take them, but are there more?"

The man paled in fear. He was scared of me, but I couldn't begin to imagine why.

"I'm sorry, but that's all I have. Well... I do have some steel ones, but they aren't in the best condition."

The conditioned could be fixed, so I didn't care so much about that. It was the quantity that really mattered to me.

"How many?" I asked as I took the belt of knives from him and returned the one I had in my hand.

The man shrugged. "I've got two straps of forty that are to be strapped from your shoulder across your waist, but that's it."

I smiled two straps of forty would give me eighty knives plus the twelve white ones. That would be more than enough.

"I'll take them all."

The market closed as the sun barely peeked over the plains and I was more than ready to get back to my bed. In all I'd say it had been a fairly successful day. I had everything I needed for the journey to Hillguard and I hadn't been shot at or stabbed once! I wasn't sure if it was just luck or if Siren Waters really was that good.

"So what does a prince need with so many knives?" She asked with a soft smile.

A smile! I didn't even think she was capable of such a thing.

"I don't know." In truth I really didn't have a good answer for her. "Protection, I guess?"

It wasn't a lie. I constantly had to be on high alert to keep myself alive.
Waters slightly shook her head, sending her brown curls twirling. "Do you even know how to use them?"

I snorted and gave a halfhearted wink. "Would I have bought so many if I didn't know how to use them?"

Water moved close enough that our arms brushed past one another. My heart pounded, the sound filling up my head and threatening to diminish my concentration.

"You're a prince." She said it like that was the answer to explain everything I did. "You have enough money to buy anything you want, whether you need it or not."

My blood simmered at her words and I wanted more than anything to tell her that I wasn't the real Prince Eden. I wasn't a stereotypical, pompous royalty. I was a farm boy snatched from his family.

"I don't waste money." I spit at her spitefully. I hated when people just assumed things. Especially when people assumed wrong.

We were nearing the high castle gates and I couldn't help the wave of relief that swept through me. Siren Waters had a way of getting on my nerves and though things had been hot and cold all day I still liked her. I just didn't want to be near her anymore.

Before Waters could say a word we passed through the gate. "Thanks for being my escort and all, but I'd better get some sleep before tomorrow."

I didn't want her to say anything, but I didn't leave fast enough. "What's tomorrow?"

I didn't feel like telling her, but it just came out before I could stop it. "Just a small, all-day going-away party. It won't be much on such short notice, but I'm sure you'll be there."

Waters narrowed her eyes like I had said something to offend her. "What makes you say that?"

I almost laughed, but forced myself to keep a straight face instead. "All the knights, which includes the Sirens, are going to be there to make sure nothing happens."

My blunt and obvious answer must of caught her off guard because her face burned a sudden red. "Right." She stuttered uncomfortable. "Of course."

It was time for me to leave whether she asked more questions or not. I considered just leaving without another word, but I didn't want to be the rude prince she thought I was. "I guess I'll see you then." I said with slight reluctance.

Waters walked away with a small and dismissive wave. "To be honest Prince Eden." She said as she walked away. "I doubt we'll be seeing each other ever again."

I didn't really know what to make of her words other than the fact that I shouldn't have worried about coming off as rude. I was supposed to be a prince and Waters had just left me as if I were a peasant. If anyone was being arrogant it was her.

And for some odd reason that made me like her more.

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A/N

I just wanted to thank you all for reading this and tell you about a new story I'm reading on WattPad. It's amazing and doesn't get enough credit in my opinion.

"Patient 00:00" by TheGeekestGirl

If you're looking for anything else to read I would seriously recommend that book. The writing it so detailed and intense. Hope you can all check it out sometime.

Thanks again and don't forget to vote and comment.

~NightWing707