Royalty has many enemies.  What does it take to provide the protection required by the Kingdom?  What kind of man will do what it takes?
 

    An overcast sky hid the moonlight and a steady rain confused all sounds.  Jacob stood on a marble balcony, left hand resting on his sword hilt.  He surveyed the surroundings.  Beyond the balcony rail and twenty feet below lay the East Garden, full of fruit trees, flowerbeds and winding stone paths.  A good bowshot could cross it, but it would have to be very good.  Jacob let himself think about how fast someone could raise a bow, sight a target, and let loose a volley before the rain made the bowstring too wet.  He shook his head at the thought.  As for the beauty of the garden itself, he saw only hiding places and a low wall with a teeming city beyond it.

    He stood just out of the rain with puddles at his feet and watched a pair of roving guards make their random patrol along the paths, a patrol that Jacob noticed had ‘randomly' paused for long moments under the few gazebos available to them.  He would go down and correct them when they came back through the lower colonnade.  For now, as the muted sounds of the Spring Festival Reception continued behind him, Jacob straightened his uniform jacket and decided he could do no more on the balcony.

    A voice came from his right.  "It is a perfect night for criminals."