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

a rustling noise in the low bushes. Ben thought it might have been an enemy, but before he could spend too much time thinking about the deadly possibilities, a deer emerged from the undergrowth.

Using Drain, Ben was able to slow the beast to a crawl. Nipper and Melody swiftly dispatched the creature, taking care not to spoil the flesh.

Melody appeared quite relieved as Sir Gallant the Elder carried the carcass on his shoulders back to the village with them. Vinata on the other hand, did not seem amused, which was unsurprising given what Ben had learned of her personality thus far. As much as he’d enjoyed eating the plants she had gathered the night before, there were few things that could beat a good steak. Vinata didn’t say anything to criticize them though, for which Ben was grateful.

Before the women could get to work preparing the food, Ben eagerly dashed to the center of the village, where the remains of the bandits’ campfire lay. He wanted to see if he could activate the great relic and restore the tower he’d seen in his vision.

The others gathered in a ring behind him to watch. Ben gave his scimitar to Sir Gallant the Elder for safekeeping. The knight didn’t need the weapon himself, however. Over his back was a huge longsword. The scabbard was strapped to his armor, and the hilt extended past his shoulder. The sword itself appeared to be almost the length of a man. Ben couldn’t help but wonder if he would be able to wield such a weapon one day.

The relic pulled Ben onward, like iron being drawn to a magnet. The sensation ceased when he stopped in front of the great stone block the chieftain of the bandits had sat on the night before.

On its weatherworn side, Ben could make out the remains of a frieze. A warrior was mounted on a monstrous steed, like the frieze they had seen in the dungeon. This warrior’s face was not disfigured, however.

Ben stepped back, putting his hands on his hips as he tried to figure out how to activate the crystal. There was, of course, no instruction manual for it; no forums on how to activate the relics of a forgotten dark ruler; no YouTube tutorials.

While the women, Nipper, and the two Sir Gallants gathered around him, he gently placed the crystal on the stone surface. It wobbled for a moment, then settled, motionless. He put out a hand and touched it on one side, the surface smooth and cool. Then he put out his other hand, and cupped the crystal between them.

Hardly daring to breathe, he concentrated, his eyes closed. He could feel the presence of the crystal probing his body. And he could hear the same whispering he had heard in the dungeon, but much louder now.

Then all sound stopped. Ben opened his eyes. The crystal was glowing. A white light inside it was growing in intensity. The relic was shaking, rattling on the stone surface.

Ben felt the surface of the crystal growing warmer—much warmer, almost to the point of burning his skin. He found himself wondering if the heat and pain was some sort of test, like the Bene Gesserit box from Dune. But before he could give too much thought to the matter, a bright light flashed from inside the shard. Heat blazed out from the crystal surface, forcing Ben to pull his hands away.

A rumbling grew louder and louder. Ben could feel the ground beginning to shake under his feet. He stood, watching the crystal, which appeared to be melting into the surface of the stone.

“Ben, look out!” shouted Melody.

Ben turned around just in time to see a giant block of stone hurtling toward him. He dove to the side as the stone crashed into the one on which he’d placed the crystal shard. A second stone crashed into the other two, then a third from the other side.

Ben rose to his feet, shaking on the rumbling ground. The stones around the old campfire were all sliding toward the main block, forming a large stone platform.

“Uh, guys,” Ben looked at the others, sheepishly. “We might need to get back. I don’t know how long this earthquake is going to last.”

“How big was the tower in your vision?” Vinata shouted over the growing noise.

“I couldn’t say for sure, but it would have made the New York skyline look like suburban housing,” Ben yelled back.

Vinata’s face was blank.

“It was really big,” Ben tried again, this time remembering not to use a reference she’d have no way of understanding.

“We have to get out of here then,” Vinata shouted. “We’ll have to leave the village.”

Melody tugged his arm. “Ben, the egg is still inside the hut!”

Their second child. Ben ignored the confused looks the nymphs gave him and dashed into the hut in which they’d spent the previous night. Dust filled the air as the roof shook, and the furniture rattled on the wooden floor as the ground trembled.

Ben darted into the bedroom and grabbed his rucksack, which contained the first relic, the crystal ball. He shoved the egg inside and slung the bag over his back. He hurried back outside.

Other stones were sliding down the side streets of the town, crashing into the growing stone structure. The rumbling was deafening, and the ground was unsteady.

“Run, all of you!” Ben shouted. “We don’t have a moment to lose.”

They all started sprinting out of the village again. Sir Gallant the Elder slung the dead deer over his shoulders and in one hand gripped Gallant the Younger. Vinata carried the roots she had harvested.

As they ran, the rumbling noise of the earthquake was overwhelmed by a crashing sound. Wood splintered. It sounded like a whole forest was being logged at once.

Splinters, whole planks, thatched roofs, flew into the air. Then a giant stone column appeared down one side street, careening across the ground and smashing whole houses to pieces as it sped relentlessly on toward the campfire clearing.

The same sound