Return of the Heir Chapter 7

Both mechs went back to recharge, but the lingering message from the dream still puzzled Novaton, 'what did that dragon mean by return?'

The feint light of the dawn rose over the castle and like clockwork, Novaton woke from recharge. The white and blue mech rose to his peds and stretched the joints in his shoulders and spinal strut. He looked over to the berth where the prince was recharging peacefully. The haunting and unclear message from his dream still plagued his processor as he walked down to the storage room to collect his cleaning supplies. When he arrived, he gathered everything he would need; "Well, this castle won't clean itself."

Optimus woke after Hadeen had already rose over the horizon. Rubbing his optics, he looked over to see that the blanket that Novaton used had been neatly folded and placed on the table in the same corner of the room. His berthroom doors opened to admit his sire who sat on the end of the berth. "What can I do for you this morning sire?"

"Well it has come to my attention that you let your slave recharge in here last night-cycle?"

Optimus knew the consequences of lying to his sire and they usually ended in a harsh aft beating. "Yes, sire it is true; but he didn't do anything. You can have Ratchet check me over if you want?"

Ultra Magnus knew his son wouldn't lie to him and if anything would have set him off about his slave, then the mech would have been sent to the slave quarters. "Alright my son I believe you, but don't let it happen again; am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Good; now then I want you to attend your studies today. Also have your slave clean this room as well."

The young prince of Iacon nodded to his sire as he left, closing the door behind him. After cleaning himself off in the washracks, he was about to leave when a knock at his door made him freeze. Thinking it was his sire again he called for them to enter, "Novaton, I didn't expect you to be here so early?"

"Well since I cleaned most of the castle last light-cycle, figured I get started in here now."

Optimus only nodded as the white and blue mech set his stuff down to begin his work, "Novaton, I will be in my study down the hall if you need anything, please don't hesitate to come and ask."

"I understand."

The door closed on Novatron leaving the white mech alone in the royal chambers. He looked around seeing the high vaulted ceilings and all the antique furniture. "Well, this might take a while."

A few mega-cycles later Optimus leaned back in his chair staring at the ceiling of his study. Who knew there was so much to learn in so little time. Looking a Hadeen's position in the sky told him it had been two mega-cycles since he left Novaton alone in his room. Deciding to take a break, the young red and blue prince walked back to his quarters. He was expecting Novaton to still be cleaning, he was not expecting to see his slave looking at a manuscript and looking rather lost. "What are you doing?"

Novaton had been so lost in trying to figure out what the script said that he didn't hear his master come in. "I'm sorry Optimus, just trying to read."

Optimus was puzzled to see Novaton sitting on the floor reading when he had cleaning to do, but when he walked around the room, not a single speck of dust remained. "Are you finished already?"

Novaton had in fact been done for sometime and was board out of his processor. His frame was becoming tense and when he spotted the shelf, he couldn't help himself. "Yes, I have been done for about a mega-cycle according to the sun's position."

The red and blue Iaconinan was speechless, his entire room done in a mega-cycle? That was just about short of impossible; but given how fast Novaton cleaned yesterday I wasn't that hard to figure out. He heard a confused noise come from Novaton who was still looking at the manuscript, "Are you ok?"

"No, I can't tell what this means?" Novaton said pointing to a section of glyphs he didn't recognize.

Optimus knew that Novaton probably didn't have much of an education since he was a slave and since Sentinel liked a slave who knew nothing, didn't mean his own slave shouldn't; "Would you like me to help you learn?"

The young former farm slave couldn't believe his audiles, his master wanting to teach him? What he had learned was that slaves weren't supposed to no anything, but Timegazer made sure he knew enough to be able to speak and somewhat write, for the purpose of their farm that is. "I thought slaves weren't allowed to learn anything other than what is needed for their tasks?"

Optimus mentally face palmed himself, of course Novaton would have been told that when he was at the slave market. "While that is true, if you want to learn then by all means. Plus, there is something I've wanted to tell you anyway." When he saw the undivided attention, his slave was giving him "The prince of Rodion is coming here in a few solar-cycles and I can use teaching you as an excuse; that way my sire will think that you are learning how to 'behave' in front of high ranked visitors."

"I thought lying to your elders was a sure-fire way of getting your aft beat; be you sparkling or full grown mech?"

"Since when does that concern you, when I haven't raised a servo to you?"

"Timegazer used to spank me and his sparklings when we misbehaved." It was true and Novaton could still feel a ghosting sting just talking about it.

"Well, that does explain why you haven't tried anything."

"Yep; well I think I'll take you up on your offer on teaching me how to read and write better than what I know already."

The young red and blue mech smiled at Novaton while pulling the white and blue mech towards a table in the corner of the room. Sitting down he opened the manuscript and taught his slave all the glyphs he didn't understand; plus, the ones on how to behave and reply to, in a slave's optics, to a 'better'.

The solar-cycle passed on and both mechs finally decided to end the lessons for the time being. Optimus knew he would have to tell his sire about it sooner or later and decided to go ahead with telling him tonight over evening meal. Once he was sure Novaton was down the hall and out of sight he entered the dinning hall where his sire was already seated.

The king of Iacon looked at his only true heir since Rodimus wasn't related by life-blood. The little mechling splashing his fuel everywhere. "Did your slave clean the castle like I asked?"

The young red and blue mech didn't expect his sire to start with questions about his slave over meal at first, but wisely answered. "Yes, sire he did and even made sure no speck of dust was left."

"Well, at least that lesser mech knows how to clean" a new smug voice said.

Optimus could hear the smirk that was lying on the obviously known mech. "I thought you weren't supposed to be here until two solar-cycles from now Sentinel Prime of Rodion?"

The blue and orange mech only smirked more, "I thought I come early, so you and I can discuss our bonding ceremony now before you reach mechhood?"

Optimus wanted to facepalm himself but didn't want to give Sentinel another reason to reply with a smart-aft comment. While it was true that King Ultra Magnus wanted to bond his creation off quickly, for reasons still unknown to the Prince of Iacon. He had a feeling it had something to with better trade and military; but he wasn't about to put his shanix on it. "Fine, but we will as mechs will discuss it peacefully and you will respect my opinions or the betrothal is off; do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal" neither Optimus nor the king saw Sentinel cross his digits behind his back.

"Well, now that is settled we will have a celebration tomorrow for your betrothal at the end of light-cycle."

"But sire don't you think it is a little soon to be planning this, I mean shouldn't me and Sentinel get to know on another first?"

"Nonsense Optimus, you and Sentinel have known each other long enough; the bonding ceremony will commence in two deca-cycles. Now then Optimus after meal, I want you to tell your slave that he is to help serve the drinks tomorrow and there will be no room for discussion."

"Yes, sire."

The rest of the evening the young Iacon Prince avoided conversation with Sentinel as best he could and he finally found rest in his quarters when he settled down for recharge. Just as he was trying to fall asleep a knock at his door made him sit up and gave permission for the bot to enter. "Novaton, what can I do for you and why this couldn't wait until morning?"

"Forgot my supplies and they locked me out of the servant's quarters; mind if I recharge here for the night-cycle?"

Optimus knew this was going to get him and worse, Novaton into trouble but he wasn't going to make the mech sleep outside in the stables when it was in the middle of the cold season. "Sure, you can use the day berth if you want, it should fit you fine to be comfortable."

"Thanks; I heard that the Prince of Rodion is finally here."

"Yes, he is and we'll talk about it more in the morning."

Recharge soon claimed both mechs and for Novaton, the same dream came to him only this time the dragon came with an additional message.

"Novaton, you must return. Times are changing and the strongest of all must stand ready when the flames come for you. Return and prepare for the flames."

The blue and white mech sat bolt straight off the berth and vented heavily trying to get his vents under control before he overheated. "Return before the flames and prepare" no that is the strangest thing I have ever heard. Novaton laid his helm back on the berth and fell into recharge once more.