My Kingdom Come Book 1: The Saints We See (Complete)

Chapter 6: Loyalty

661 standard years after the signing of the Alliance treaty

As soon as the word 'begin' left Korish's mouth, Hathu quickly stepped in towards his larger opponent. He wrapped his arm around Tanahsa's waist, hooked his ankle around his outside leg and jerked his foot out from under him while simultaneously pulling his upper body backwards. Tanahsa slammed to the mat on his back.

Hathu quickly straddled the boy's hips, jerked his head to the side and instead of setting his tusks against the base of his throat, he touched one of his poisonous upper fangs to the Tanahsa's jugular. Tanahsa stiffened under him.

"Hathu." Korish said in a warning voice.

Hathu moved his mouth to Tanahsa's ear. "If you ever bother my nephew Armis again, I'll gut you. Understand?"

"I understand." Tanahsa growled.

"Good." Hathu spat on the floor, got up, and stalked back to his place on the perimeter of the room with the other students.

"That was an excellent takedown. Good work Hathu." Korish gestured for Tanahsa to get up and take his place as well. 

Korish looked around the room for a moment. "I'm sure you're all excited for the games this year. The votes for your team captains have been counted up. The winners will be informed today and will be assigned their fields. Tomorrow they will pick their teams."

The students around Hathu cheered. Hathu kept his face impassive, but inside he was filled with excitement. He looked forward to playing the game all year. It was the one thing that made his life bearable.

"Alright. Class is dismissed. Hathu, I want you to stay a moment after class."

Hathu's jaw tightened. He sat leaning against the wall while the other students grabbed their belongings and left the room.

Tanahsa came over, his bag slung over his shoulder, and crouched in front of Hathu. "If you think I'm going to let your nephew bully the younger students just because you threatened me, you're sadly mistaken."

Hathu looked at Tanahsa emotionlessly for a moment. "You'd better work on your defense, then." He let his gaze slide past Tanahsa and pretended he no longer existed.

Tanahsa nodded. "Alright then." He got up and left the class.

Korish stood quietly in the center of the room. As the last student left the room he turned his gaze towards Hathu and and stared at him for a moment.

Hathu waited.

"Did you finish reading the book I lent you?"

"Almost."

"What do you think of it?"

Hathu tilted his head. "I think that Chakna understood the enemy quite well. If the general had listened to him, the army might have lost that battle, but they would have won the war."

Korish raised an eyebrow. "You haven't finished the book yet? What chapter are you on?"

"Chapter nineteen, sir."

"Have you talked to anyone about the book or read anything about it?"

"No, sir."

The corner of Korish's mouth pulled up slightly. "Well, I guess that explains why whatever team you play on always does well in the game."

There was another moment of silence while Korish just stared at Hathu.

Hathu stared at the wall past Korish and waited.