Return of the Heir Chapter 5
Novaton looked at the mech before him and couldn't believe his audios, the Prince of Iacon. Why would he want a dirty farm slave like him, but he didn't know everything about him; did he? The mech before him did ask for his name and the silent warning from his master made him answer, "My name is Novaton."
Optimus could only smile as he heard the slave's voice as it was smooth and firm. It was like his voice held authority even though he was a slave and the young prince could see some intelligence behind the blue optics. "Well it is pleasant to meet you Novaton."
After some bartering with the slaver, King Ultra Magnus bought his son's slave for an expensive price of 500 shanix. When they arrived back at the castle Novaton was herded into the slave's quarters where he was washed and sent before a healer. Seeing healers, alchemists, and mages always made Novaton uneasy and when the door opened, his frame froze. "Well, I can physically see there is nothing wrong with you and you don't seem to be in any pain; now why are you here?"
"My new master wants to be sure I'm not caring any diseases and that I won't infect any of the other slaves."
"Alright that is fair enough. My name is Ratchet and may I ask yours?"
The blue and white mech was a little apprehensive about sharing his name, but he was a slave and he hoped anything he would say would stay between them; "My name is Novaton and my master is the prince of Iacon, Optimus Prime."
Ratchet knew that this was the number one reason the king sent the slave before him, he didn't want his son to get a 'slaves disease' and the red and white mech could only shake his head. There was no definite way to see if the slave was infected with anything since the only ones he 'knew' of had physical symptoms. "I can't find anything wrong with you for now and since you know doubt have some warframe in you somewhere then you shouldn't have to worry too much about it, but if you feel the slightest change in your frame come and find me immediately."
The tone the healer used had Novaton nodding his helm, not wanting to argue. After he was cleared he was sent to the throne room to receive his list of chores he had to so for the prince and seeing the king and being in the heart of his stronghold, he couldn't suppress the shiver the shook his frame.
"Alright young mech, since our personal healer has cleared you for duty you will spend the majority of your time under my son's command; but since he is busy at the moment you will report to the royal stables to look after our equipment and transport. If you have any questions, ask the current stable hand for advice."
The blue and white mech made his way towards the stables where the royal zaphorses were kept. When he arrived, he was met with a bright green mech with sharp blue optics. "Well, you must be the new slave the king bought; my name Whipsnapper." Novaton looked at the mech before him with a puzzled expression and the green mech only smiled. "Don't worry, the name came with the territory since it was my sire's job before me. You are bigger up close and your frame seem to have seen some heavy work before if I'm not mistaken?"
Novaton nodded his helm and told Whipsnapper that he had lived on a energon farm with his previous master and his family for as long as he could remember. The head stable hand and led him to the stall the held the prince's personal zaphorse and showed him the equipment needing to be cleaned. The white mech sat down with his tools and began his work cleaning and while he was working, he hummed a lullaby that he remembered from when Coalfire would sing to him when he couldn't recharge or was sick.
The memories the tune brought up made coolant tears leak from his optics. He heard rustling behind him and turned to see Optimus's horse resting his head on Novaton's shoulder. "I wonder if some days you wonder what it is like to roam free, free from everything and everyone. No rules, and no boundaries, just you and the wide-open oil plains." Novaton reached up to pet the zaphorse when he heard a cough, he immediately froze and prepared for the beating. But, when none came he looked up to see the prince of Iacon standing before him.
"It seems Noble likes you Novaton."
"I didn't know his name until now and he is a very beautiful mechanimal." The white mech could only watch as the prince smiled at him before thanking him for his work and turned to return to the castle.
When the young prince returned to his sire's study after being summoned, he found his sire looking over some records and the one he saw made his energon run cold. The king of Iacon smiled at his only creation with the exception of the recently adopted Rodimus. The little flame colored mech lost his creators after their caravan was attacked by bandits leaving him the only survivor. The king treated both of his son's the same; but since Optimus was the only one of his actual royal life-blood, he was the only heir to the Iacon throne.
"You wanted to see me sire?"
"Yes, I do my son. You are almost the age to be mated to another and since you have turned down all other suitors, I have no choice but to bond you to Prince Sentinel of Rodion." Ultra Magnus knew from the last time Sentinel was here that his son would not take it very well and the young Rodion prince may wind up in the fountain, again.
"Sire, you know as well as I that me and Sentinel don't get along, plus he never lets me explain what my interests and hobbies are. How can I bond to another if they don't listen to me?"
"I know this is difficult for you Optimus, but I have no choice. If Kaon still had an heir, then maybe I would let you court them, however, I have seen what they are capable of and I wouldn't let you court whoever the heir was even if they were the last being on Cybertron."
"So, you expect me to be the good little mate I'm supposed to be and have no say in my future?"
The king had once again had enough of his son's behavior, "Optimus, that is enough. You are an Iaconinan prince and must behave as such. You will bond to Sentinel on the next full moon and that will be the end of it. Now, I want you to get your slave and have him clean the castle before Sentinel arrives in one deca-cycle."
Optimus could believe his sire would allow him to bond to the Rodion prince without another chance at the two courting and the way he mentioned the lost heir of Kaon made Optimus ponder on what the Iacon king was hiding about the Kaonite heir.