"You are a man marrying tomorrow, and this is how you prepare?" Lucian said between swings, dodging a sharp jab and retaliating with a practiced spin.
Berith parried with a sharp clink, "What better way to calm the nerves than beating the crown prince to the ground?"
Lucian laughed, a deep, genuine sound that ruffled against the stone walls. "How generous of you, Lord Berith. You flatter yourself. "
"And that is why you will be ruling the country, while I will be fighting on the battlefield, distracting the enemy with my dashing good looks, Your Highness." Berith ran a hand through his hair as he quirked his lips.
Then, he rotated his wrist, swinging his blade as they began circling each other. On the other hand, Lucian kept pace with a grin tugging at the corners of his lips, the kind that made soldiers sigh with relief and women smile behind fans.
Their swords met again in a metallic ring that echoed through the open space.
