Chapter nine 

Elron had travelled as fast as he could back to the empire at its capital, his mare may not have been the fastest, but she was strong and sturdy. He patted the horses neck as the cities gates came into view, 

“Alright girl, you’ll get a rest soon, but a little bit longer,” he soothed, the horse snorted, which Elron amused meant she didn’t want his pity. He smiled, his mare had always been a fiery one. 

The guards that patrolled the gates grinned and waved at the familiar form of Elron and his trusted steed. 

“Back so soon,” one said, 

“Thought you would be away longer,” another chimed in. 

“Sorry chaps, I don't have time for a chat, urgent business with the emperor.” 

One of the guards rolled his eyes, “you use that excuse every time you’re here Elron. You’ll be coming to the tavern tonight?” 

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Elron smirked, moving past the guards and through the gates. They didn’t need to check his luggage, like they did with most people, Elron was too familiar to them for that, and too powerful too. He didn’t like to stand around unless he had a drink in his hands. 

Elron made his way through the city streets, he travelled through the market, liking the sight of the common people rushing about, buying their wares, children playing, entertainers, doing their tricks at market corners, wizards performing magic for the masses. He grinned that it was always good to be home. Some people noticed him, calling out their hellos, Elron smiled and nodded at each one, even as the children ran after shouting for lord Elron, begging to see any of the new things he had collected from the other kingdoms. Soon enough he arrived at the golden palace, trotting over the bridge that ran over a waterfall. The palace shone in the sunlight, the glory of the empire was before him, a sight he never grew tired of. He urged his mare along, till he got to the courtyard, climbing off as a young stable hand came running to take the horse away, Elron handed the boy a gold coin, which made the boy grinn, 

“Gee, thanks lord Elron, pockets do always get a little bit heavier whenever your around.” 

Elron chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair, “it’s the only reason I carry gold around.” 

The boy snorted, “we all know you carry ye gold around to drink yourself silly down at the tavern.”

“And a fun time i have there,” Elron mused. The boy led Elrons horse away, shaking his head at the lord's words, but grinning nevertheless. 

Elron walked up the steps and through the palace doors, politely smiling and greeting the courtiers that noticed him as he stepped through corridor after corridor, till finally making it to the king's office. It was a large oval-shaped room overlooking the empress'  gardens. Elron didn’t bother to knock and marched straight in. 

The emperor grunted, he was a middle aged man, who looked good for his age, with a bit of dark greying at his temples, his platinum white blonde hair a contrast to warm coffee skin, his golden eyes startling to look at, reminding every person that he was descended from the goddess herself, his hair fell to his shoulders but no longer. He wore a robe, pinned at his shoulders with gold clasps. He was frowning down at something with a dark look, he grunted unhappily when he heard the sound of footsteps. 

“How many times must I tell you to knock,” the emperor growled. 

Elron didn’t reply with his usual tease instead he looked on seriously to his emperor. “Did you receive my letter?” 

“What do you think i’m looking at,” the emperor spoke darkly, he was quiet for a moment, “are you sure?” he asked, 

“Yes, there was no doubt.” 

The emperor puffed out a breath closing his eyes, his hands raised to wipe down his face. “After all these years we’ve found them,” his voice cracked ever so slightly, a rare moment for the emperor to show any emotion at all, if not in front of his beloved empress. 

“Does the empress know?”

The emperor shook his head, “she won’t till my spies tell me everything there is to know about them, i have already sent men to investigate their story.” 

Elron nodded, “she’ll be pissed when she finds out you kept this from her,” 

“Better to tell her later, than to have her disappointed when we find we are wrong,” 

“But we are not.” 

“No,” he spoke grimly, “once we have more information I will tell her. Then we shall think of plan to bring them here,” 

“Without starting a war?” 

The emperor chuckled menacingly, “oh, there will be no war, i shall make sure, do not worry yourself Elron, they will be ones begging for my forgiveness..”