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

One unresolved question kept coming back to him. Melody had said these ruins were an important source of power for him, and that they had to search here for the ancient relics. Did that have something to do with the stone he and Vinata had found outside the village, with its strange symbols?

It was a question he could ask Melody, now that they were laying together in a post-sex haze.

“We found a stone outside the village today,” he said.

Melody sat up, her elbows at her sides. Her breasts gleamed in the moonlight. She looked at him, inquiringly.

“There were symbols carved onto its surface, and I felt a strong energy pulling me toward it.”

Melody’s eyes widened. “Was it a large, flat stone?”

“Yes it was. It looked like it might be a platform for something, or maybe a door, concealing something underneath.” That was just a guess, but he couldn’t see any other reason for leaving a slab like that in the middle of the forest.

Melody pursed her lips. “Was one of the symbols a triangle?”

Ben thought back to the peculiar shape in the middle of the stone, that had looked so oddly familiar. He nodded.

“With an eye inside it?” the catgirl asked.

He nodded. “What does that mean?”

Melody put her hands to her face, looking frightened. “It means there is a dungeon beneath these ruins. Most likely, that is where we must search for the relics.”

“And what do you know about dungeons?” Ben recalled seeing dungeons in the vision he’d received from the ancient relic, but he hadn’t seen what purpose those dungeons might have. He knew the word dungeon could refer to a prison cell, or in fantasy contexts, to a realm filled with monsters and traps. If it was the latter, he didn’t know if he was ready for that kind of challenge.

“Dungeons are caverns and crypts beneath the earth,” Melody explained. “They are thought to be governed by sentient beings who lure strangers into their depths.”

“And what do they do to these people?” Ben asked.

“The folk who stumble into these dungeons must face all manner of monsters and traps that try to kill them. Most of the people who disappear inside are never heard of again.”

So it was the latter. “I’ll have to face all these monsters in order to recover the relics of my power then?”

Melody nodded. “I think so.”

“How do you know about the dungeons?” he asked.

“There are many legends of these dungeons in the south. We are warned about them from a young age.” She shivered, though the night was warm.

“Have you ever seen one?”

She shook her head. “Most of the remaining dungeons are here in the north.”

“And how do these dungeons lure people inside?” Ben asked, curious to know more about how they worked.

“They manipulate emotions. Sometimes they will manipulate fear, causing a passerby to take cover inside the dungeon in order to escape danger.”

“That’s so devious!” he exclaimed.

Melody frowned, and Ben remembered they were talking about luring innocent strangers to their deaths. He wiped the smile from his face.

Melody cleared her throat. “Yes, it is. Other times they will manipulate the greed or curiosity of a stranger in order to encourage them to search the dungeon for treasure, which they rarely find.”

“You know, Melody, this sounds a lot like my Drain spell.”

Melody nodded, slowly. “It does sound that way.”

“I’ll have to investigate that dungeon soon. I have so many questions that need to be answered.”

She put a hand on his arm. “I will go with you, I’m sure we can find the answers soon.”

Ben put his hand on hers and smiled. “I know it is not easy for you to face your fear like this.”

Melody smiled at him. “For you, I will happily do so.”

He kissed her cheek. “I’m grateful to have you as a guide and companion in this land.”

They went silent, gazing out the window at the few trees and huts within their view.

There was nothing now but the sound of their breathing in the night stillness. The moon had risen higher in the sky now, so that its light cast only a square shadow on the floor in front of the bed. The egg gleamed in the light.

Then Ben heard a sound like footsteps in the leaves. Was someone outside? A mountain ogre returning for vengeance? Or a horny nymph perving on their nighttime lovemaking?

The crackling grew louder, and Ben tensed, ready to run for the scimitar by the front door. Melody’s eyes widened, meeting mine.

There was a loud crack, and a clattering. It was right inside the room.

Ben glanced at the egg. A portion of the shell had popped off and fallen to the floor. The top of the egg was cracking and expanding. Something was hatching out of it.

Melody gasped. Ben glanced at her. She was scrabbling out of the bed, her nimble naked form sliding to the floor.

“Put some clothes on, Benjamin.” She dashed over to where they’d kicked their clothes aside earlier. “You can’t be welcoming our child to the world like that.” She pointed an accusing finger at him.

Ben glanced down to where she was pointing and laughed. His cock was still rock hard and fully erect. It was throbbing and ready to go.

That was definitely new. Was that some power of the Forgotten Ruler? He’d need to perform some experiments and test this new ability.

Ben caught his tunic and trousers as Melody tossed them to him. They both hastily pulled their clothes on and sat on the side of the bed, watching the egg.

He glanced at Melody, sitting to his left. “Your frock isn’t on properly.”

She looked down and flushed. One large breast was sticking out over the wide top of the dress. She quickly adjusted the garment, and they both watched impatiently.

“What kind of child will we have?” Ben asked.

Melody shrugged, not taking her eyes off the egg. “You think I have done this before?”

He had no idea what might be considered normal in this world, but apparently birthing