Neptune's Massif by Ben Winston Read Free Book Online Page A

to travel extreme distances in seconds. The gates allowed the Empire to wage a war in the other galaxy even though it was roughly forty-thousand light years distant. The hard part had been the long jump to get the far gate installed.
    However, such thoughts were for the past, and the regal being had to deal with the future at present. It took the Imperial Guard nearly two hours to comply with his orders. The Captain in charge of the shift explained that the prisoner had to be cleaned up and treated for multiple broken bones and other issues before he could be presented. There had also been an issue in locating the twin daughters of the noble in question.
    The Emperor thanked the Guard Captain and asked for the group to be shown in. 
    Caleb et Shalo was a son of a minor noble in the Emperor's own family. Upon graduating from the Academy, he chose to celebrate by rewarding himself with a visit to a licensed pleasure house. All in all it was a very normal and accepted method of relaxation after such a feat. In itself, there was nothing illegal or wrong with it at all. Shalo had not knowingly, or through his actions, broken any law.
    The twin daughters of Baron Hortes had, in an effort to embarrass their father, taken temporary employment at the pleasure house. Temporary employment of this type was widely practiced in the empire. Although not professionals, temporary employees had fewer restrictions on them, and as such, underwent lighter background checks. In this instance, the two girls had simply bullied the temporary permit out of a local clerk and used it to gain employment.
    Normally, this whole business would not even make it to his ears, but the Baron had taken one of the Imperial family as a wife, making the two girls in question Imperial princesses. Shalo, not knowing their true identity, had chosen them for his evening of relaxation. Mid-way through the evening, the Baron caught up with his daughters at the pleasure house while in bed with Shalo. He had Shalo arrested and thrown in the palace detention area pending punishment. From the sound of it, the Baron had been punishing Shalo quite a bit without even so much as a hearing.
    The small group of people were escorted into the huge room by the armed Imperial Guards. The Baron and the woman that owned the pleasure house in question were noticeably nervous. The girls, however, seemed bored and rebellious. They were obviously irritated by something as trivial as an Imperial summons.
    The Baron, possibly hoping to win the Emperor's support, began speaking as soon as the group knelt "Imperial Majesty, this case was never supposed to intrude upon your time. My house was handling..."
    "Shut up, Baron," the Emperor said, stopping the whining rant the man was beginning. "Caleb et Shalo, we would pardon you of your crimes had you actually committed any. However, since you have not, all we can do is put an end to your current situation. That being said, this event has brought your name to my attention. I have need of you and your skills. I'll go into that in a few moments."
    Shalo again bowed in gratitude to his Emperor. The Emperor chuckled. "Don't thank me yet, Shalo; when you hear what I need you for, you may wish I had executed you instead.
    “Baron Hortes, it has become clear to the Empire that you have failed in your duty as parent and guide to these two girls. As members of the Imperial family, the actions you have allowed have not only brought shame to you and your family, but to the entire Imperial house. Punishment must be assigned.
    "Madam Galtries," the Emperor turned to the business woman. "We wish to thank you for attending us this morning as we have a very large favor to ask of you. Would you be willing to take the two girls into your house and train them as you would any other apprentice, save for the primary duties of servicing clients? That enjoyment will be for their husband alone once they have completed their training. For your loss of revenue due to