Empire Builder 1: Breed, Populate, Conquer by Dante King (free e books to read online txt) 📕

“Who could possibly carry those corpses?” he whispered back to Vinata. They both got to their feet. Ben hoped it was someone of the women from the camp, so there was no danger.

Ben shook his head, still standing at the ready in case there was danger. “Those corpses must be really fucking heavy.”

Vinata smiled, her expression putting Ben at ease. “I think I might know who would be capable of it.”

Just as they started walking back, the figure emerged from the trees again, without the mountain ogre corpses. It was Imogen the oread, the mountain nymph.

Ben could see her better in the light now. Her frame was as slender and small boned as he had originally thought. The tightly wrapped white upper garment that she wore revealed how skinny she was, and the white skirt she wore accentuated the defined muscles of her round but modest ass. There was no visible evidence of the strength that would allow her to carry what must have been five times her own body weight at least.

Imogen laid eyes on them. A faint smile appeared to tug the corners of her lips, but her pupil-less eyes were wide, and she hurried back to the village.

“Imogen is shy and needs much time to warm up to strangers,” Vinata explained. “But as you can see, she is capable of powerful magic. The oreads are a very strong race.”

“If Imogen’s magic is anything to go by, I can see why the mountain ogres needed null locks for the three of you.” Ben laughed.

A hint of worry crossed Vinata’s brow at that mention, but then she smiled. “Like all nymphs, we three have our magic. We would have been formidable foes at another time.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Ben smiled at Vinata, and they headed back into the village.

Lulu met them in the clearing as they returned. Her shoulders were slumped, and she looked exhausted. But her smile was cheerful.

This was the first time Ben had seen her properly in the light. The short skirt she wore was made of stiff strips of some greenish material. Seaweed, perhaps. That seemed appropriate for a water nymph.

The triangles of gold cloth that held her breasts looked regal. Of course, she was the daughter of a priestess, so that was no surprise.

The garment held her two enormous breasts in place, though it did little to hide them. Lulu was very buxom. Ben had not realized in the darkness of the hut, just how large her rack was. But the inviting impression her gigantic bosom made was contrasted frighteningly with the lustful glint in her piercing blue eyes. He reminded himself not to get too comfortable around this man-eating water nymph.

Lulu gave us both a tired smile. “Thank you for returning with food,” she said. “We are all starving by now.”

“I take it the mountain ogres didn’t feed you particularly well,” Ben ventured.

Both women shook their heads.

“Well that’s behind you now,” he said. “Time to eat.”

“Imogen and I are both exhausted,” Lulu explained. “We have cleared out a hut to ourselves.” She gestured behind her to the other side of the clearing. “We thought you and Melody might appreciate the evening to yourselves.” She gave Ben a sly smile. He assumed she must have worked out what relationship he and Melody shared, though that wasn’t entirely clear to him at this stage.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Vinata replied. “I’m exhausted too. Here, Benjamin, take half of the food we harvested, the rest will suffice for the three of us.”

She held out some of the tree flesh they’d brought back, and he took several strips.

“How do we cook it?” he asked.

Vinata looked taken aback. “This food is best eaten raw. Besides--”

Ben held up a hand. “Don’t tell me. You dryads never cook your food, because a fire would be too risky in the forest.”

Vinata smiled. “You are learning quickly, Benjamin.”

Lulu cocked her head and looked at Ben and Vinata curiously.

“Which hut is mine?” he asked.

“The one you found us in.” Lulu pointed to her left. “We tidied up the hut and cleared up the campsite as well.”

“I saw that,” he commented. “What Imogen did was incredible.”

Lulu smiled. “We nymphs have our magic.”

“I’m beginning to see that. Well, you all have a good night of rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. We can discuss what exactly we’re going to do about getting you home then.”

The nymph women both said goodnight and headed back to their hut. Ben couldn’t help watching them both as they walked away. The way their asses swayed atop their long legs was like a magnet for the eyes. The moonlight gleamed in their strange hair colors, giving them an even more otherworldly appearance.

With his free hand, Ben pinched himself again. Here he was in another world, in the ruins of his former empire, watching a trio of monster women, whom he’d rescued from giant mountain slavers. And now it was time to return to the catgirl who’d brought him here, and the monster egg that she had generated after their union.

Ben shook his head and walked back to the hut. He had a feeling that as strange as the day had been, it was only the beginning.

Chapter Seven

Ben made his way through the clearing in the center of the village, carrying his scimitar and some of the tree flesh he had harvested with Vinata. He headed back toward the hut where Melody was waiting for him. Once he arrived, he saw that the women really had done a remarkable job of cleaning the place up. Aside from the smoldering ashes of the campfire, there was nothing of the mess of half gnawed bones and rubbish the mountain ogres had left behind them. No sign remained of all their corpses after he and Melody had slaughtered them either. Imogen’s work clearing those away had been impressive.

Without the harsh shouts and angry arguing from the drunken ogres, the ruined village even felt more respectable. The huts looked a little less disheveled. Ben