Empire's Son: An Epic Science Fiction Novel Series

I couldn’t close my mouth as I got a look at what Kiev considered suitable accommondations. The chalet dwarfed the Protectorate auditorium in its size and magnificence. It soared far above any other structure at the College, and the only reason I hadn’t noticed the building standing out was because we were at the far end of the College and this structure was set apart from the rest of the small city because the chalet was nestled in a bowl like area that had tall dunes surrounding it on all sides except for a wide cobbled walkway that cut through the entrance from the College.

“Our clients’s safety, privacy, and comfort are important to us, so we built this dwelling specifically for them to stay if they choose to visit the College to select their new Protector.”

I took my eyes off the towering structure before me long enough to throw a glance at Kiev. “How many actually come here? My father didn’t seem to think he needed a visit to select his new Protector.”

“Since our clients are the most powerful and scheduling challenged individuals of the Empire, many can’t or won’t make the trip here. So they take a chance and choose a Protector by throughly researching the available candidates. It certainly isn’t the preferably way to go about it, but we understand the restraints our leaders have on their time and attention.”

“Has my father ever come here to choose his Protectors? I’m assuming he’s had several.”

Keiv nodded. “He has, and from what I understand this will be his twenty-second acquisition from the College. And from what I also understand, the one and only time he came to the College to choose his Protector was the very first one. But that was long before his time as Emperor, and my time as well.”

“Twenty-two?” I stared at the other man in disbelief. “What happened to the first twenty?”

Master Kiev’s only answer was to give me a long and pointed look.

“Oh,” I said. I felt a little embarrassed by asking such a question. Of course I knew the answer. But twenty? Well, twenty-one, but it seemed Hame had been the only one who had gotten to walk away. The others, not so much. I shuttered. That seemed like a lot.

Kiev must have seen the look on my face as he spoke next. “You have to remember the Emperor is reaching his third century of life, and he’s the most important person in the Empire. Such a life can be full of people with harmful intentions.”

“I suppose,” was my simple response as it truly started to dawn on me that maybe my attack trouble wouldn’t end once I bonded a new Protector, and that this was mostly likely the first of many bondings to come. That made me shiver even in the stifling heat.

It made me fall silent as we finished our walk down the long cobble path and made for the large courtyard in front of the chalet. It was a beautiful presentation of sandstone walls that reached just above my head and tastefully scattered plants that looked at home in any desert setting. It certainly wasn’t the White Palace garden, but it was a nice break for the eyes from all the stone structures and desert sand.

The courtyard seemed to circle the chalet, but we quickly crossed the airy space to enter a large open archway that funneled down to a short corridor that ended at one single door. I couldn’t help but noticed it was the perfect choke point to control those trying to enter the chalet.

We continued into the building. The ceiling soared high above us as we stepped into a rather large foyer. A wide hallway opened up in front of us, while two alcoves could be found on either side of us. I recognized them right away as transportation centers much like I had become used to in the White Palace.

Master Kiev made directly for the transporter on the right. I followed. I noticed the row options were significantly smaller than available at the White Palace, but then the palace had been far larger than this place. I watched Kiev select the topmost green circle, and a moment later, I felt the familiar tingling sensation.

When the green light around us dissipated, I saw a large room opening up before us. I followed Kiev out of the alcove and looked around. Every inch of the room seemed to have a polished gleam about it. The walls, ceiling and floors a dark sand color with magnificent swirls of oranges, golds, and black deep in the sandstone as if the material was trying to highlight its natural beauty for all to see.

Scattered through the large and open room were several strategically placed sitting areas. One, set firmly near the back was a large red-wood table with eight chairs surrounding it that I took as the main dining area. Another with a more cozy looking black stained table and a four chair affair near a balcony on the front side of the room.

The balcony itself was impressive in black marble with flecks of gold and orange reflecting from what light still remained outside. The marble floor and waist-high wall spanned the entire front of the building and was completely open to the outside like there was no care for what the weather might or might not be.

Near the center of the room, sat the final sitting area. This one a varying set of comfortable looking well-cushioned lounging furniture of varying sizes and lengths in a soft tan and orange.

Master Kiev stepped further into the room and pointed to the wall behind me near the red-wood dining area. I turned to noticed a long counter with many shelves holding glass drinking flutes and creamed colored plates and bowls. In the dead center was one of the food synthesizers I’d used on Vang’s ship.

“This is the main living area as you can see, and that is where you will find most of your meals. There is a synthesizer, so you can make any food you want at any time of the day or night, though any one of the cantinas at the College will gladly fix any meal fresh that you wish during daylight hours. Simply submit a request through the College network using your unity ring. As I understand Dur-rele has already set that up for you.” And he had on our trip over from Dyniss. I’d been wearing the shiny silver bracelet for two days now and only had two contacts added so far, my father and Dur-rele. I was eager to add more.

Master Kiev then moved to the middle of the room so he could point out the four other doors in the main room, two on the left, two on the right. “Then through each of the doors, you will find a bedroom and coordinating washrooms.”

“Which is mine?” I asked.

Kiev answered by walking to the the door on the right closest to the balcony. He palmed the door open and stepped aside. “This one is yours, Highness. The others are for any guests you have, including whichever Pledge that will be shadowing you at the time.”

I looked to Haxley in surprise. The man had been absolutely silent during the whole walk to the chalet. I had almost forgotten he had even been there, which I supposed was the point. I also supposed that I did need protection at night as well as day, but it hadn’t really occurred to me until now.

“Don’t expect any of the Pledges to actually use the room, of course. They will most likely take a place up at your door as you sleep, but it is customary for a second room near the charge for a Protector’s own use, if they should need it for a short rest or change of clothes.”

I looked to Kiev startled. “They do sleep, don’t they?”

“Oh yes, but considering you will be switching out Pledges regularly while you are here, they can go without a night or two of rest. They are trained for such things, you know.”

“Of course they are,” I snorted.

“And it seems Dur-rele will be taking the room across the way,” Kiev said.

I turned to watch as Dur-rele waved a hand and walked right into his room directly opposite of mine. I had almost forgotten he was with me too. Dur-rele had not said a single word since we had disembarked from the shuttle. He had simply followed along in silence, not even particularly excited by the scenery that I had noticed. Like maybe he had been here before, and I realized he probably had. Maybe not with the Emperor, but maybe with my other brothers. That thought made me pause for a moment.

The subject of my brothers had yet to come up with Dur-rele, and I realized maybe I should remedy that. I know that they wished me ill will, but wouldn’t it benefit me to at least know about them and how they had spent their time at the palace? I put that thought away for the moment as I entered the room Master Kiev had indicated as mine.

It was much as I had come to expect from Ethian living spaces. Wide, open, and sparse, but tastefully so. A large bed was up against the far wall as I entered. There was another smaller sitting area closer to where I stood and an open door to the left that I knew must be the bathroom. Across the front of the room the large open balcony from the other room extended all the way to the wall the bed was on.

My feet drew me to the balcony. Once outside, a few quick and wide strides brought me up to the waist high marble wall that blocked the balcony off from the rather dizzying drop beneath me. I couldn’t help but be impressed by the view.

I could see the entire sprawling College from up here. Apparently, I had only traveled through a small portion of it. Off in the distance I could see the domed auditorium and from there I traced our path from just outside the College to the chalet. It was one of several major streets I could see cutting through the labyrinth of sand colored buildings, and I realized there was still much of the College left to see. Including a patch of black on a distant hill that caused my eyes to stop and stare.

“What is the black area there?” I asked as I felt Master Kiev come up beside me.

Among the tan, beige, and terra-cotta roofs, the black stood out quite starkly from the rest of the College. I squinted to get a better look, but from here it just looked like a black patch of stone.

“That is the Hall of the Renowned.” Kiev said with a tone of reverence.

I looked at him with a questioning look. “It sounds important.”

“Oh, it is. Probably the most importance place at the College. You were curious about what the Protectors get out of committing their lives to their charges, and for many, the honor of being admitted into the Hall of the Renowned is why they risk it all.”

“What is it exactly?” I asked with sudden curiosity.

“It’s better to show you than tell you. It is too late to gain entry today, but perhaps tomorrow we can go take a look.”

I nodded my head as I my eyes continued to take in the scene before me. I was drawn to the vibrant streaks of pink and orange spreading out from the darkening skyline. The sun was dropping fast, and I figured it wouldn’t be long before night arrived.

“Wow,” was about all I could manage for a long moment, and then a thought occurred to me. “This seems a little open to me. I thought this place was supposed to be well protected?”

Master Kiev had come up to stand beside me. “It is. Watch.” He moved to a planter closely featuring a large egg shaped plant that looked a lot like some of the cacti I’d seen on Earth. He pulled one of the burnt orange pebbles that acted as a ground cover for the plant. He cocked his arm back, and then gave it a good toss off the balcony.

Before my eyes I saw the air before us shift and move to catch the tiny pebble. The small stone sat there for a moment in mid-air as if hanging there on its own accord, and then it began a slow and graceful descent all the way to the ground. I watched in awe.

“What is that?”

“It’s a gravity net. It can catch anything that might fall from the balcony as well as anything that might come towards it from the outside. Nothing can get past the net, not even something as small as a pebble. Anything caught in the net is simply deposited to the ground safe and intact.”

I side-eyed the other man. “Even a projectile of death or a whole person trying to sneak somewhere they don’t belong?”

“Now you’re getting it,” he chuckled.

I had to smile at that. “Anyone actually been foolish enough to try?”

“Oh, you would be surprised at the stupidity that some people exhibit in their desire to harm others. I have seen and heard quite a lot of fantastic stories over the years, even those bold enough to think they could force entry into this very chalet. But truth be told, an attempted breach here hasn’t happened in quite some time. I assure you, Highness, of all the places in the College, this is the safest. And in case something does happen, you will have a Pledge nearby, and of course, there is a full assault team on standby not far away as well.”

“Of course, thank you. So what else is on our agenda for today?”

“Just for you to relax and rest, and maybe get to know Pledge Haxley a little better. I must take my leave of you to get settled back into my quarters and see what business has been waiting for my return. I will come by after breakfast tomorrow to continue your tour of the College. By then, I should also have information of when your quat-lo assessment will be.”

“Yes, and thank you for taking the time to show me around and introducing me to people. It’s much appreciated.”

Master Kiev smiled and gave me a deep bow. “It is my absolute pleasure, Highness. I know you have been through a lot of late, and I find it satisfying to know I can help ease your return to our Empire in anyway that I can. It is not everyday I find myself useful to the Imperial Family, so I must take what I can get.”

“Well, you have been more than useful Kiev, and I hope maybe we could even considered to be friends. I think that would be the biggest help to me of all.”

A rather large grin cut across the master’s face. “You honor me, Highness, and of course, I would be delighted to be considered a friend of one such as yourself. Now if you will excuse me, I will leave you to rest. Good evening, Highness.” The man gave a low bow, and then backed off the balcony and exited the bedroom before I could get another word out.

I smiled. I had to admit it felt good to know I had at least one friend in the Empire, and that it appeared to be mutual. I certainly liked the master. He was the most amenable person I had yet to meet, and I hoped that he would only be the first of many friends to come.