Her Empire

Chapter 2 - Thaddeus

Welcome back! Enjoy today's chapter! How did you guys find this book?
I'M SO SORRY FOR THE BREAK- FORGIVE ME.
I'M WORKING ON BEING MORE CONSISTENT. I'M REALLY GOING TO BUCKLE DOWN ON THIS BOOK!!! ENJOY!

Thaddeus.

I smirk while sitting on my black stone throne, admiring the beauty of my banished people. We, The Outlanders, are rough around the edges, yet magnificent. I glance around the dirt paths, wooden houses, and vineyard huts; everyone is hustling to make a living for themselves and their family.

     I look beyond my lands, far off into the distance. I am encased in nostalgia as I think back to the time when I was banished out there.

     Alone.

     I don't wish to recieve pity. That's why if anyone asks, my parents gifted me, their only child, a kingdom of my own.

     That couldn't be more far from the truth.

     My thoughts wander to my parents.

     Deadbeat, abusive, torturous people.

     My father was worse than my mother. I was used as a training dummy for all of the warriors in their kingdom. A punching bag; the punching bag. Some days were worse than others. I couldn't remember a time that I didn't have a bruise somewhere on my face.

     It prepared me for the ugly, competitive, royal world.

     My mother didn't even bat an eyelash. She allowed it to happen; her only excuse being that I deserved it. I deserved it for ruining their happy life together. I ruined their peace.

     A bored expression still adorns my face, despite the sour thoughts, as it did 1 hour ago. My boot taps the wooden floor in contentment.

I make a long list in my head, reviewing internally all of my duties as king.

"Make an announcemant for warrior traning to start again, enlist all men age 15 and up for warrior training, help my people unload cargo shipments from my allies' kingdoms, manage our finances, deal with prisoners, war plan," the list goes on and on.

A pair of footsteps sound outside my door on the hard, dark wood floor. I groan in annoyance, wishing I could have done something more productive in my break than just recollect upon the past.

I sigh and wait for the three knocks.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in," I answer sternly, my hand slowly moving to rest upon my sword on my hip.

"Hello, it is I, the light of your life," My idiotic second in command replies. I roll my eyes stand up from my throne. I walk towards my large table, adjacent to my throne, as he lets himself in.

Oliver has been my best aquaintance since we were young children.

I wouldn't go as far as saying 'friend', however. Not that close... however much he may argue.

His appearance is the complete opposite of mine. His golden locks cascade in a fluffy crown around his head, bright blue eyes stand out in a crowd, and sarcastic, funny, bright personality are hightened compared to my black, curly, messy hair ending just above my ears, dark, symbolic tattoos from the woodland artists, 6'2 height and forest-green-eyed appearace.