My accomodations were better, the room was actually some kind of sitting room in the palace (I had been escorted to the capitol since incarceration, still shackled, so they weren't super polite, but since the rifle butt to my stomach I hadn't been assaulted). The palace looked better from when I'd been here before, nice wooden book cases lined with books, the desk I'd been placed before was of solid construction with an elaborate carving on it. I didn't think I was in the emperors sitting room, but probably some lesser official. Which was a good sign. There also weren't guards watching me, so all in all things were looking up.
The official I was waiting on showed up a couple hours after I'd been sitting in the room, he had a stack of papers with him and a hurried look on his face. The suit he was wearing wasn't tailored very well and loooked cheap, implying he wasn't high up the food chain and had been given the assignment of dealing with me probably in retaliation for some other screw up.
"Trezlan Lorentino." He extended his hand and then took it back when he saw my shackles, I could almost hear the curse under his breath when he took his seat at the desk. The chair was too big for him and he looked like a child in his dad's study.
"No named government guy who's going to tell me how things go."
"I see from our files on you, you have quite the history with Ronerawth, some could call you a hero and a traitor depending on how they view your record." He shuffled the papers trying to imply there was something of importance in them, to be honest the only record you need is in this journal.
"The same could be said of a lot of people, though most don't have my longevity."
"Yes I see that you are suspected of being some kind of Necromancer, whats that mean you sleep with the dead?" It was intended on being a joke, but it didn't bother me, I've heard it before.
"Well your mother has no complaints." Did I mention being an asshole is my favorite past time, because it totally is.
"Mr. Lorentino I took this meeting for your benefit, there are some that would see you executed for your actions." He was flustered, I guess mom jokes were not his thing.
"I can't really say I'm that worried about myself, ain't my first go round, hell even recently."
"Indeed, you have quite the recent record of treasonous activity, though you are also responsible for exposing the traitors, even if in the course of your actions you freed countless depraved murderers."
"Wasn't my intention, but you know sometimes you have to just get things done. I might have been able to things with a bit less destruction if I had been included in the loop that the Prince was a true traitor, but instead I was set for execution."
"An unfortunate underestimation by someone who is now facing the gallows himself."
"Shame." It really wasn't, but you know you have to say that to be nice or something.
"You are being let go Mr. Lorentino, you'll be under observation obviously, but you'll be allowed to once again provie assitance to the prince of territory you seem to now live in, should you show signs of betrayal you'll be summarirly executed, no trial, no showy execution, just dropped to your knees and shot in the head. Am I clear?"
"Perfectly, one question?" I could see the perturbed look on his face, when I said I had a question but he allowed me my moment.
"Go ahead."
"Can I take a vacation?" He sighed and looked at me with contempt, and then left the room. A short time later a couple soldiers came in, undid my shackles and showed me out (back entrance probably used for mistresses and foreign diplomats who shouldn't actually be there, but were). They did give me back my stuff, which was nice. I would find out later all record of Leland and his band of shorties helping me was erased. Officially I had become a deep cover operative with Ronerawth to take down traitors from within. Leland for his part was given a deal to keep quiet and some crimes his circus had been accused of wiped off the books. The twins were waiting for me back home when I got there, they had learned to steal things effectively (great use of their magical talents let me tell you) which caused me no end of trouble in the ensuing years (and money having to pay for the things they took).
All in all Ronerawth had welcomed me home with a boot to the face and I was quite displeased with the event, but on the plus side the new Prince was less of an ass than the old one, and I did get to see that jerk get ripped apart by horses for my trouble (I told you he came to a bad end). So it was like 50/50 between horrifically awful, and why do I even bother!
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