The Hathway Kingdom. (Book 1)

Chapter Two.

~Two. ~

The storm had all but disappeared by the time that the Emperor and his guards returned to the palace. The guards at the gates entrance saluted him as well as Theodoras as they walked past them before they went back to their original stance. The Emperor sighed before he stopped and turned to the guards that had come with Theodoras and spoke to them.

"You may return to your other duties. General Xun can take care of me from here," he said, and the guards saluted him.

"Yes, Imperial Majesty!" they all said before they began to march away. The Emperor then turned to Theodoras, who bowed to him.

"Come, Theodoras. I feel the need for some sword practice," he said as he began to head towards the training grounds. Theodoras blinked and stared after him for a moment before he hurried after the Emperor.

By the time Theodoras reached the training grounds, the Emperor was running through drills with his sword. Theodoras watched him curiously, noting that some of the Emperor's actions were different to how he would normally train. He watched him for a moment before he walked over and to where the Emperor as he stopped and looked over at Theodoras.

"Some of your actions were different to your normal movements, Emperor Falconer," he said as he walked over, and the Emperor chuckled softly.

"I thought I would try something different, Theodoras. Feel up for a duel?" he asked Theodoras, who blinked as he looked at the Emperor.

"Would it not be improper to do so right now, Emperor Falconer? We don't know if the storm will come back at all and you cannot risk getting ill," Theodoras asked as he gestured towards the sky.

"Most of the storm has passed over us now. All that is left to come is heavy rain, Theodoras. And the wards that I have placed around the palace will reduce that to a light rain at best," the Emperor explained as he walked towards where a maid had appeared with some water. He took a long drink from the offered water before he looked at Theodoras who bowed his head.

"If you insist, Your Imperial Majesty," he said and the Emperor sighed before handing the water back to the maid, who curtseyed and stepped back.

"I have told you, Theodoras, to call me by my first name when we are not around the men or the members of the court. Yes, the men know that we are close, as do the maids, but please...For the sake of our friendship...Do as I ask?" the Emperor asked him and Theodoras sighed.

"Very well...But only if you promise me that you will stop calling me by my full name unless we are around the men or the court?" Theodoras asked and the Emperor smiled widely at him.

"Deal. Shall we then, Theo?" he asked as he gestured back to where he had been training moments before.

"After you...Romulus," Theodoras said and Romulus smiled before he picked up his sword again and made his way towards the centre. Theodoras followed him, drawing his own sword as he walked over.

When they reached the centre of the training grounds, they both turned and faced one another. Romulus had his sword held out to his side while Theodoras has his held out and pointed towards Romulus. They stared at one another for a long time before Theodoras lunged at Romulus, swinging his sword up and towards the side that Romulus didn't have his sword on. Romulus managed to get his sword up in time to block the attack easily before Theodoras turned around and aimed another attack at his other side. Romulus blocked that attack as well before launching a set of attacks of his own.