The Emperors New Toy

Rolando was completely overwhelmed. Just a few days earlier he was on board Rim being bored out of his mind, and now he was on Ronerawth prime in the company of the emperor's personal guard. At first he figured he had been collected to be put to death, but to his complete amazement he was to be brought before the emperor. Ronerawth Prime was about a week journey from the Rim, and the security checkpoints were massive and almost unending. He had been scanned, analyzed, and prodded for half the transit. He'd also been scrubbed and his hair cut, a new formal uniform was procured as well. He felt out of place in the empty golden hallways.

He was shocked the palace was so empty, aside from guards and heavy doors with triplicate security, there was no one else. This was nothing like the movies involving daring emperors and their hidden liaisons made the palace out to be. It was sanitized military hive, probably a result of the red war as history called it. And they did have an emperor recently assassinated which probably lead to the increased security. Still it was a bit crushing to Rolando that his romantic vision of the palace was just like everything else a child hood dream. Eventually he arrived outside the throne room, the thickest of thick doors guarded by men who looked like the next time they felt joy would be the first. They authorized him and the door swung open the emperor leaping up from his golden throne to greet him.

"Lieutenant Lorentino!" The young emperor was of a light brown skin tone, he was dressed in a light robe with no underwear so Rolando got to see all there was to see of the man. He had a golden head of hair that fell to just below his ass. The emperors throne room at least was a lot more warm and welcoming than the rooms that preceded it.

"My lord." The emperors guard six of them in total were in the room with Rolando they all tensed as the young emperor approached.

"That will be all captain, I'm sure I'll be save with a member of my own military."

"My lord that is not wise this man is entirely dangerous..." Captain Chalmers had dealt with the emperor ever since he ascended and every time Justin did anything it infuriated Chalmers, he seemingly took actions with that in mind.

"That will be all Captain Chalmers, I am your emperor and I command you to leave, also give me the mans shackles key." Chalmers was aghast, leaving the emperor with Lorentino was one thing, releasing a magical being in the palace that could in theory skip through security at will? Insanity.

"My lord that..."

"They key please or should I have someone else assume your position?"

"Yes my lord here you are, please do not release him I have a report about."

"I'm aware of your report and the runes  you are dismissed Chalmers shut the door on the way out." The door slammed shut and the emperor turned to Lorentino. "Hold out your hands no need to have you locked up like an animal."

"Emperor..."

"Justin call me Justin, maybe I call you Rolando?"

"Sure, Rolando is fine, I just don't know if you want me to..."

"Be free? Of course I do, this whole business of shackling the magical is not my policy and no man in my presence should be treated like an animal, there now that that's done, tell me Rolando, what's it like on the rim..." And so Rolando did, and much to his own amazment the Emperor listened.