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

was stuck on the table, since he was too short to get to the floor. He held his arms up helplessly. Vinata picked him up and put him on the ground so he could waddle after the others.

The sound was coming up the elevator shaft, but it didn’t sound far away. When Ben opened the elevator doors, it sounded quite close.

“Let’s check the master suite,” he said.

They all got into the elevator and rode down to the floor below. Waiting in front of the door, was a small kitten, its fur a pale cream color, speckled with shimmering violet.

Ben looked at Melody. “Maybe the second egg has hatched?”

Melody’s eyes widened, and she stared intently at the small creature. Love filled her expression.

The kitten had its paws up on the door. When the door slid open, the kitten tumbled straight into the elevator. It clumsily got to its feet. It rose up on its hindlegs, which were well suited for walking, after the humanoid fashion.

Ben was astonished. No human child could have walked so quickly.

Melody knelt to look at the creature. “She’s so beautiful,” she cooed.

“It’s a she?” Ben asked.

Melody nodded.

The kitten put out a paw and touched Melody’s nose. Melody giggled and hugged the kitten.

Then the kitten walked unsteadily over to Ben. Her eyes were bright purple, like her mother’s. Ben was convinced by now that this was his second child from Melody. Her tail swished actively already. Her lynx ears reminded Ben of the fearsome creature she might become.

He stooped to embrace the child. Her fur was a more vivid color than Nipper’s, which seemed fitting for a female. It gleamed in the daylight coming through the windows, changing slightly as her body shifted.

“Pearl,” Ben said aloud. “I’ll call you Pearl. Your fur reminds me of that color.”

“I like that name,” Melody agreed.

Pearl sniffed in Ben’s ear, which startled him, causing him to laugh. He felt a swell of pride. Becoming a father was an overwhelming experience for him. Love and tenderness for this small creature, who was totally dependent on him, mingled with wonder and a frightening sense of responsibility. Most men had nine months to prepare for this experience. He would need all the help he could get, magic or otherwise, to adjust to this awe-inspiring task.

They walked out toward the bedroom. The nymphs all congratulated the parents and cooed over the small child.

Sure enough, the eggshell was broken open in the bedroom. Ben felt a thrill of anticipation as he saw the other three eggs, still unhatched. What would be inside?

He was prevented from any further speculation by a loud horn-like sound attracting his attention. A flash in the bedroom drew his attention to a red glass display which appeared on one wall.

Sir Gallant the Elder’s visor appeared. Ben was impressed by how well equipped the tower was.

“Sire, I have news from my patrol.” Sir Gallant’s voice clearly echoed through the display on the wall. Behind him, Ben could see trees and the wreckage of the village. He must have been facing the tower to communicate.

Ben wondered how Sir Gallant knew about this communication device, before he remembered that the knight had served him before his defeat.

“What news do you have, Sir Gallant?” Ben asked.

“There are people approaching the tower. Three robed folk and a dozen soldiers with them.”

Ben felt icy claws of fear touching his heart.

“Should I engage them in battle, sire?” Sir Gallant the Elder asked.

Ben shook his head, his thoughts racing to work out who these people might be and what they would want.

“I don’t think that would be the smart call,” he answered. “We can easily defend ourselves in this tower if it comes to that. Let them in, we’ll see what they want.”

“As you command, sire.” The knight saluted and turned around. The screen went blank and faded back into the wall.

Ben made a mental note to work out how to set that screen to “do not disturb” while he was making more children with his women.

He turned to the nymphs. They were ghostly pale, even Vinata, whose skin resembled a beech more than an oak by now.

“Do you know who these travelers might be?” Ben asked.

Vinata nodded. “They sound like mage slavers from the Xurian Realm.”

Ben remembered what Melody had said about hunters of monsterkin with penchants too extreme even for the Xurian Realm.

“Were these the mages who were going to buy you from those ogres then?” Ben asked.

Vinata nodded. “I think they must be.”

Lulu seized Ben’s arm, her eyes wide. Gone was her usually nonchalant exterior. “Don’t let them take us, Ben.”

Ben pulled Lulu into an embrace, comforting her. He could feel her tiny body shivering against his as fear ran through her. The other two nymphs hurried over, both throwing their arms around Ben and pulling him tight.

Standing there, the nymphs huddling close and gripped with fear, he realized what it was to be a leader. Fear had taken hold of him, too—but there wasn’t a chance he’d allow any of them to see it. It was his job to be the rock, to be the one who had the answers. And it was his job to comfort those he led.

He squeezed the nymphs one last time before letting them go. Then, he activated the screen once more and peered at the group approaching the tower. There were simply too many of them to fight off. Ben swore that in time he’d command an army large enough to destroy anyone who might oppose him. But for the time being, he was going to have to use his wits as his weapon.

Ben smiled grimly, ready for the challenge. He racked his brain for ideas, trying to figure out how they’d all get out of this in one piece.

Melody looked at him, her own eyes lined with worry. “What will you do?”

“I have a plan. You nymphs might not like it though. I need you to pretend to be my slaves when those mages arrive.”

Surprise flashed on the faces of