The Eternal Emperor
Neptis and The Raven King stared at the large wall in front of them. Sandstone, if she wasn't mistaken. She glanced over at The Raven King and flashed a smile. A trickle of blood leaked out.
"Alright old man, foot here." She laced her fingers together.
The Raven King raised an eyebrow. "We could always walk in the front door, Lady War. Who would stop us?"
"Oh where's the fun in that? Shut up and climb."
The Raven King stepped up and launched himself off her hands as if he had wings, reaching the top of the wall with ease. Reaching down, he hauled Neptis up, who landed on the top with a soft thud.
Neptis laughed as she brushed sandstone dust off her robes. "See? Easy."
"Perhaps. But nature is never easy."
"You never like the fun words."
"Hmrh." His gaze looked over the gardens. "The view however, is lovely."
"Much better than the front door, right?" Neptis slid down the wall into the gardens. "Come on or I'll sniff all the flowers first!"
"They are desert flowers. They will sting you." The Raven King frowned, jumping off the wall and landing with grace in the courtyard.
The sentry patrolling the garden couldn't believe his eyes, was that the Raven King? But if that was the Raven King then the woman next to him must be the War God! He quickly ran for help, this was far beyond him.
"They have spotted us." The Raven King's voice was grim as he stood next to Neptis, who was sniffing a flower.
"That gives me an idea, old man." Neptis flashed a grin, blood oozing from her teeth. "When's the last time you had a bath?"
He looked to where she was pointing, and his eyes flickered with amusement.
"You wouldn't." His voice was quivering on the edge of laughter as he followed her rapid footsteps.
"Come on." Neptis was already disrobing as she ran across the gardens, laughter following in her wake as she tossed her clothes on her staff.
---
The Emperor grumbled. The Gods never showed up to interrupt boring matters. Always when he was sleeping. Or eating. The courtiers were already a panic, shouting that it was an omen. For all he cared it could be the end times, just as long he could go back to sleep.
As he rounded the corner into the garden, he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight despite himself. The fearsome Goddess of War was floating on her back splashing water, while the Raven King stood in the centre of the pool like a statue. They were clearly shouting at each other and as he got closer the words became clearer.
Neptis splashed a wave at the Raven King. "I'm telling you, chess is war! The formations! The pieces! The sacrifices! The ranks! The strategy!"
The Raven King's eyes glowed like the last embers of a fire. "It is theatre. A pantomime for children afraid of the real thing. War is blood and consequence."
Neptis howled, sending water flying as she slapped the pool with enough force that the Emperor felt a breeze. "Then why do men, grown men, cry when they lose?"
The Raven King did not blink as the water seemed to avoid him, splashing in every direction except for his own. "Do you not cry after a beautiful play? After seeing the beauty of nature all around you?"
The Emperor stared at the two Gods as he rubbed his eyes. "They woke me up... for this?"
Both Gods turned to him at once, dead serious.
"Sand-king!" Neptis shouted, turning to stand up, skin glistening as the water dripped off her. "Is chess war, or is it theatre?"