GROOMING WAR

Soren was fencing and playing swordsman in the Royal backyard.

Conelm was absent at the scene and Helren was the closesr thing to a tutor for the young Soren.

"It has been a long while since I last willed a tool of so much magnificence." Soren said as he got hold of the real sword in his hand.

"Was your highness a brilliant dancer on the battlefield?" Helren asked.

"Just a fair one in practice." Soren replied.

"You have never fought a real war?" Helren asked a little bit surprised.

"I have never." Soren replied.

"Then I will go very easy on you." Helren said.

"You better not bother being so sympathetic." Soren replied.

"Who wouldn't want to hurt a fairly looking person such as yourself, they would prefer to take you as prisoner." Helren said as he came up close to face Soren.

"All the better a chance to live longer." Soren replied.

Soren pointed his sword to the earth as Helren had his up front.

For a while, the two moved in circles and studied each other moving.

"As I said, I shall go easy on you." Helren said and he launched forward immediately he had concluded his speech.

Soren saw him coming and all that he did was turn and dodge Helren's sword and point his at him.

"In less than a move you'd be finished." Soren said braggingly.

Helren stopped after noticing the sharp blade glowing in front of his face.

"Not bad." He calmly replied.

"I told you not to bother being sympathetic." Soren said.

"I'll raise you level then." Helren said as he stepped away from Soren.

The two walked in circles once again and just immediately after the second revolution, Helren attacked once again.

Soren guarded with his sword and then he pushed Helren away.

Afterwards, he attacked with another full force and swung his sword but Helren dodged.

Helren sent his sword flying around but Soren swiftly dunked and the blade missed him as he got up straight again.

He saw the blade coming back for him and he stepped aside and struck it with his very own.

Helren didn't stop at that and then he brought the sword from the opposite direction once again only to be stopped by Soren again.

He then brought the sword from above but Soren put his just in time to guard himself.

At last, both their sights clashed with one another.

"I never thought you could hold me off for so long." Helren said.

"I can end it in a move but I prefer keeping it long and interesting." Soren said.

"You ending it in a move, I want to see his highness doing that." Helren said.

Before he had concluded his sentence, Soren pushed him off with his might and he staggered backwards.

Soren swiftly brought the sword up close to Helren's neck before he would even have the time to react.

"See, I told you I was better." Soren bragged.

"I accept but time to take the level a little bit higher." Helren said.

He immediately struck Soren's sword away from his neck and attacked Soren.

Soren jumped away and Helren slightly missed him by chance.

The young prince then emerged from the other end and the two swords clashed.

By that time, every thing else had suddenly stopped as Soren seemed to get the attention of every one.

He put his right arm behind his body and began to single handedly swing the sword with his left hand alone.

It was very surprising and no one had ever been so skilled as he was before.

No one even knew that he was a very good fighter and marksman at that.

The best that Helren could do was to guard all the attacks as Soren's pace seemed to fast to catch up with.

Helren could barely see where the sword passed until eventually, Soren hit the sword out of his grip.

Soren lightly kicked Helren and he fell down to the ground and to crown the duel, he put the blade right beside his opponent's neck.

"Defeated." Soren said and there was an applause that rose from their small congregation.

"Impressive your royal highness." Helren said.

"Soren offered his hand and Helren took it.

He helped him up to his feet and eventually the two shook hands.

"What a tactical display of moves." Another deep and familiar voice said.

At once every one turned only to see the Crown Prince of Scoln right there in the midst of the congregation.

The servants and on lookers near the backyard paved way and bowed their heads as the Prince passed.

"The young Prince here is a very strong warrior that I see." Conelm said.

"Thank you, your highness." Soren said as he curtsied.

"No need to thank me because I want to see for myself." Conelm said.

"What?" Soren asked.

"Your fighting technique, your swordsmanship, I want to see it all myself." Conelm replied.

"But I think that Helren could be tired after tasting defeat." Soren said.

"Who said anything about fighting with Helren?" Conelm asked.

"I just thought." Soren replied.

"Helren, pass me your sword." Conelm demanded.

Helren replied and then he tossed the sword over to the Prince who gripped it in mid air.

The Prince rested the sword between his legs as he started to fold the sleeves of his shirt.

When he was done, he got hold of the sword with his left hand as well.

"Spar with me." Conelm demanded.

"Are you sure you do not want to get hurt?" Soren asked.

"Give it your best because in my opinion I see you need the mercies." Conelm said.

"Alright, if you say so." Soren replied.

At once, Soren attacked and he sprang at Conelm with his sword.

The two swords danced about as Conelm kept on guarding them lightly with his.

They moved back and forth for a couple of minutes both unable to lay a sword on one another.

Soren continuously attacked but all that Conelm appeared to do was guard his attacks with ease.

Eventually, Soren brought the sword from below and Conelm hit it downwards.

Soren responded by bringing it up again but Conelm disarmed his arms and then pulled him until they were back to back.

Afterwards, Conelm pulled Soren over his shoulder and then threw him on the ground.

Before Soren would settle on the ground Conelm launched himself and pinned him to the ground.

"I have you now." Conelm said.

"You might reconsider." Soren said as he hit Conelm on his lower abdomen.

Conelm crouched and his grip on Soren loosened up.

Soren took advantage of the situation and then broke free and stood up.

At once, he picked up his fallen sword and stood his guard.

Conelm got up and then faced his sword in Soren's direction.

"Come for me." Conelm said.

Soren listened and he attacked Conelm.

Once again the two swords clashed.

Soren swung his sword towards Conelm and he hit it away.

Soren did not stop and then he swung it once again but then Conelm dunked.

He brought it vertically downwards but Conelm stepped aside and hit it away with his own.

Soren spun with his sword at hand but maintaining his equilibrium brought it back towards Conelm.

Conelm guarded it with his own and slid it away from himself.

Soren went forward and passed by Conelm.

He was instantly pulled back by Conelm, disarmed and then held tightly towards Conelm's chest.

"You are in for trouble." Conelm said.

"How?" Soren asked a little bit too curious.

"I would suffocate you with kisses." Conelm said.

"Ahhhhhhhhh." Every one said (that was supposed to sound romantic and amazing)

"That doesn't count." Soren said and he tried pushing himself free from Conelm's grip.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Conelm whispered.

Soren stopped resisting as he started to wonder.

"Why?" He asked.

"Two hundred and nine cuts your attire took according to my calculation and sword accuracy, this hug is practically the only thing still holding it from falling to pieces." Conelm replied.

"You are so evil." Soren said as he lightly struck Conelm's right chest.

"It hurts." Conelm said as he winced.

"So technically if this was a real battle...." Soren was saying.

"I would have injured you two hundred and nine times." Conelm completed.

"You are too coniving to be my husband." Soren said.

"At least for you I won." Conelm bragged.

"I wouldn't say that just so fast." Soren said.

Conelm was amazed.

"Why?" He asked.

"Two hundred and nine times I ran my sword through your attire and basing on my sword accuracy it can't take all that pressure.

In simplar terms, this hug is also the only thing that is still holding your attire from falling to pieces as well." Soren said with a smile.

"Unbelievable, so who wins?" Conelm asked.

"Whoever thinks their attire is still stronger than the other." Soren replied and pulled away from Conelm.

At once, Conelm's shirt fell to shreds revealing his muscular build while for Soren, a few straps were intact.

"Ahhhhhh." The servants said as they mused once again.

"We are too coniving so I guess we were actually both made for each other." Soren said as he left the battle field.

"No wonder you are my dearest and best half among all men." Conelm replied as he followed Soren into the palace.

Meanwhile from above only about three stories high, the Queen from the window in the corridor watched the two joyously disappear.

"What a pity instead of preparing to run the country my son is off playing the romantic sword with his consort." The Queen said.

"His consort sure is a primary influence on him that proves to be unchallenged." Prince Alfred spoke as he stood beside the Queen.

"How long must we wait before we can act?" The Imperial highness asked.

"Well apparently, not so long enough." The Queen replied with a smile that promised nothing more than evil alone.

The Prince joined in another grin of just about the same quality as his own royal accomplice as they gazed beyond the walls at the vast city in a distance.