Just to mix things up a bit from prompt responses, I decided to keep posting some of my multi-chaptered original stuff. Just to make a well-rounded world and such!
If you haven't read the prologue or the first chapter of the story yet, don't read this! Check the tags of this post, and click on 'the imperial guard.' This shouldn't have to be said, but it wouldn't be the first time I've gotten a "I haven't read the other chapters, but this is cool" response. XD
And obligatory disclaimer: The Imperial Guard and its characters are mine, all mine! I doubt anyone else would want them, but it's a formality and all.
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Chapter Two
Catalin would have killed a man for some dry clothes right then.
Even in the middle of the summer, the ocean breeze was making him utterly freezing, and the wet fabric clinging to his skin was beginning to seriously bother him. Actually, he wasn’t sure why he was getting so annoyed over something so trivial.
“Hello? Cat?” Damian waved a hand in front of his face. “Did you hear me?”
And then he remembered that annoyance was an emotion he greatly preferred over panic.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Catalin shook his head.
“Well, I don’t see how you could not not know what I’m talking about,” Damian mused. “You’ve lived in the Imperial palace most of your life. You had to have figured it out.”
“Yeah, but it’s a mistake!” Catalin attempted a laugh, trying to prove to Damian how stupid the whole situation was. “I’m sure she didn’t actually mean to make me her successor…”
“Actually, she did!” Damian said. “Before she went after Anwar, she told Victor that it was you. You can ask him when he gets here!”
“This Victor guy might be lying to you,” Catalin protested.
“I’m confused…” Damian frowned a little. “Shouldn’t you be happy?”
“That’s not it,” Catalin said, wary of making Damian unhappy lest he actually be some sort of serial killer. “A successor is chosen that reflects the Guardian’s most prized qualities, right? Celeste only played with me once in a while. I don’t think—”
“I don’t know about that,” Damian replied. “She didn’t exactly go into her reasons for choosing you. But…”
“But?” Catalin pressed. “But what?”
