Salsal Pavilion, perched atop a forested mountain on the outer edge of vertical heights, stood as a testament to unique architecture, pleasant gardens, and captivating views. It was renowned as one of the safest and most inaccessible palaces in the north.

To breach its defenses, attackers faced a perilous path and the challenge of remaining invisible to vigilant guards on towering structures. Diligent soldiers, posted 24/7, stood watch, remaining alert and unseen with meticulous precision.

This formidable castle featured four large guard towers, covering the north, south, east, and west sides. Additionally, 12 small towers, hidden among the castle walls like camouflaged boxes, added an element of mystery. Farid, a close friend and companion of Officer "Dara," occupied one of these enigmatic towers by the southern gate.

As a hard-working and sharp young man, Farid's post at the southern gate tower provided him with a special bird's eye view, allowing him to monitor both the exterior and interior of the castle.

That morning, from his vantage point, Farid observed a tense one-on-one conversation between young Prince Raibod and Dara. The length of the discussion piqued his curiosity, and the atmosphere didn't seem amicable. Concerned for his friend's safety due to the evident tension and aware of the prince's temper, Farid contemplated leaving his post to rescue Dara.

However, understanding the potential consequences of hasty action, he opted to wait for Dara to join him and share the details of the encounter. It didn't take long before Dara, the dutiful guard, climbed the tower. Greeting his friend with a shake of the head, Dara took a bayonet from the wall and sat on a special bench facing the palace's exterior.

"Is everything OK? Has there been any news?" Dara asked as a routine question. Farid, who hadn't yet inquired about the encounter with the prince, responded, "No! It’s all good! We have not had any visitors since last night! And everything is in order!"

Despite the reassurance, Farid's worried and anxious expression betrayed his usual calm demeanor. Farid, attuned to his friend's emotions, sensed the restlessness in Dara's attitude and hesitantly asked, "Is something the matter?"

Dara reluctantly shook his head, insisting, "No! Everything is fine!" Farid persisted, questioning, "Are you sure?" Dara, with his eyes fixed on the distance, responded, "How so?"

Farid finally revealed what he had seen, "Because I saw you and the prince arguing, and it seemed he was accusing you of something. I mean…it didn’t seem peaceful at all!" Dara turned around, seeing Farid's worried face and a playful smile adorned his lips. "Don't worry! Nothing special happened!" he reassured.

Farid pressed on, "Don’t lie to me! I saw everything! He was bullying you! I swear I saw it with my own eyes..." Dara, still observing the mountain area, calmly and proudly admitted, "To be honest, it wasn't the prince who was teasing me! In fact, I was the one who made him mad by interfering in his affairs without consent!"

Farid, taken aback, opened his mouth in surprise, "What did you say?" Dara affirmed, "You heard me! I stopped being cautious and confronted him eventually! I told him everything! I told the prince that we followed him that day and we know about the secret tunnel under the waterfall!"

Fear and anxiety gripped Farid as he shouted, "What? How could you? Do you know how much trouble that can cause us? You well know what kind of person the prince is! This thing can easily destroy us both?!... Oh my God!... I can’t believe you confessed to him…"

Dara, unfazed, didn't get flustered or raise an eyebrow. With calm assurance, he said, "I know Prince Raibod better than anyone. People in the palace indeed know him to be callous, cruel, and unfair, but the prince is a far better person than that!"

Despite his friend's naivety and purity of heart, Farid remained unconvinced, "I am not so sure about that! A promiscuous prince, sleeping with a new whore every chance he gets is not a very decent individual to begin with! I am sure that if it was the prince himself, he would agree with my opinion as well."

Dara, listening to his friend's inflammatory words with an encouraging and relieved smile, put his hand on the bayonet and calmly replied, “I’m sure he will, that’s how earnest and sincere character he is. But the truth is that he still does not know himself either!”

…

Before sunrise, Prince Raibod, true to his routine, had already found solace in the cave behind the waterfall. Here, early in the morning, he sought respite from the world, surrounded by the constant melody of water cascading onto solid rocks. Lying down, he embraced the peace, closing his eyes in serene solitude.

The cave, nestled at the base of a wooded mountain, offered a profound sense of relief, security, and serenity. For the prince, a feeling long lost had returned, amplified by the secrecy of this hidden sanctuary.

Mostly because nobody knew about this secret corner. Of course, the word "nobody" was not very accurate here, with the noisy guards, Dara and Farid snooping around without his knowledge. The two had discovered the secret tunnel hatch, however, Raibod wasn’t very concerned. He trusted Dara implicitly and was aware of Farid's dedication toward his best friend. He believed Farid wouldn't act against Dara's wishes.

Yet, as he contemplated the tranquility of his retreat, new wild thoughts invaded his mind.

"Then there is no need to worry! No one comes here! It's completely safe and secluded here!... Of course, except for those insolent and filthy slaves! ... No! They hadn't come here in a while! And likely never will! Maybe they have realized their mistake, and fear of the harsh consequences made them stay away for good!”

Despite his attempts to stay calm and positive, untamed aggressive thoughts persisted, tormenting the prince. Fretting over his internal turmoil, he couldn't fathom why he couldn’t shake the thoughts of those slaves he deemed worthless and humiliated to the core.

"They will never come back here! They won’t dare to set foot here again and trample over this holy land and smear this sacred pond!”

Unable to quell his restless mind, Raibod finally rose and approached the edge of the cave. Peering out, he saw the pond, devoid of any presence near the waterfall or at the forest's edge.

"No, there's no one out there! But maybe..."

As confusion and uproar swirled in his mind, he wandered, considering, "They’re probably still in the woods, but not likely nearby! … But maybe…”

Prince Raibod gazed at the rows of trees standing in front of the lush and mysterious forest, attempting to peer into the jungle. The woodland, however, proved impenetrably green and dense. Towering trees with tangled branches formed a dark and intimidating barrier, making it nearly impossible to see through, at least from his viewpoint.

"Maybe they had concealed their presence by hiding among the trees!... In that case..."

Determined to investigate further, he emerged from behind the waterfall cave. Descending the rocky hill next to the falling water and the nearby pond proved to be a challenge. Despite his efforts to stay dry, the savage rush of water instantly soaked his clothes.

With no turning back, Raibod navigated the rocks at the cave's outline, jumping from stone to stone without setting foot in the pond, until he reached the muddy edge of the lake. Thinking he had landed on solid ground, he stepped onto what appeared to be rigid land, unaware that it was a swamp-like area made of mud and murky water.

As soon as his foot touched the ground, the prince sank to his knees in a muddy pit, exclaiming loudly, "Damn it!" Fearful of being heard, he quickly covered his mouth, attempting to stay silent.

In the deadly stillness, he sharpened his ears, listening to the waterfall's sound and the chirping of birds. Although no one was in sight, the constant fear of being observed or heard lingered. He pulled himself out of the muddy and mossy ground at the pond's verge, moving as far away from the water as possible.

Frustrated and worried, Raibod pressed on. He quickly shed his mud-covered velvet cloak and clothes, anticipating the sun's midday warmth to dry them. With the plan to wash them in the lake and wait for them to dry out, he tried to salvage the situation.

In the midst of his thoughts, he suddenly overheard the distinct sound of footsteps, as if someone was moving through the grass.