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

“I understand that won’t be easy for you. But it’s our best shot at getting out of this alive. Do you think you can do it?”

Vinata looked up at Ben. “I trust you, Ben. If you think that’s necessary, I will do it.”

The other two nymphs nodded.

Ben squeezed them tight one last time, then let them go.

It was time to prepare the tower to receive his first guests.

Chapter Fifteen

Ben stood at the top of the long flight of steps leading to his tower, facing south. His stomach knotted with apprehension as he spotted the mages approaching in the distance. He’d done well facing ogres and monsters in combat up to this point, but mages had spells and intelligence in their favor. There was no saying how this encounter would go down if it came to a fight.

Melody stood a short distance behind him, her eyes downcast, playing the role of an assistant. As she had informed Ben, it wouldn’t do for her to appear as his equal. If these mages were human, they were not likely to bear beastkin mages any goodwill.

The nymphs waited inside the tower, ready to serve the guests. Sir Gallant waited at the bottom of the steps to greet them. All was as ready as could be.

The approaching party of mages and soldiers grew more distinct as they came closer. They were clothed in bright uniforms of three different colors.

The mage in the middle wore dark blue robes. He was a burly man, but moved swiftly and had a keen gaze. His hair and beard were long and flecked with gray. The four soldiers marching behind him also wore blue breastplates and leggings.

Aside from these bright patches of color, each soldier wore an open-faced helmet and plate mail fastened to their breastplates to protect their arms and legs. They each bore a large kite shield, and long scabbards with sheathed swords hung by their sides.

To the left was a mage clothed in long flowing red robes. He had fox-like eyes and sharp features. His nose was hooked, and his dark, black eyes were visible from a distance. Long dark hair hung limp around his shoulders. His retinue of soldiers wore bright red, matching his robes.

The mage on the right wore tawny yellow. Ben couldn’t be sure at first, but as they grew closer, he realized she was a female mage. Beneath her yellow robes she wore plate mail armor, making Ben wonder at first if she was another soldier. Her attire was certainly less flashy than that of her companions, but she carried herself with the confidence of a leader, not a foot soldier.

Her long hair was pale white, and her eyes were a striking yellow as well. Her retainers wore yellow like her.

Each of the mages looked fiercely intelligent. Ben would need every ounce of wit to keep himself and the women all alive.

The mages nodded at Sir Gallant the Elder as he greeted them at the foot of the steps, then they proceeded past him with the barest formalities. They observed basic courtesy, but didn’t seem to have much interest in a foot soldier, who they assumed was beneath them. There was a faint look of disdain on the visage of the two male mages.

“Good day to you, my lords,” Ben said. “And lady,” he quickly added.

The three mages looked gratified at his polite address.

“I’m afraid we are no lords,” the older man in the middle spoke. “We are but humble hunters.”

Ben looked at the party in front of him, a formidable fighting force. “Hunters for more than mere game, I assume?”

The man in the middle laughed. “You assume rightly. We hunt the monsterkin, that is our trade.”

Ben allowed himself to laugh in reply, although it made him feel slightly ill to do so.

“You are not from here I take it?” the man in blue asked him.

What was Ben to explain to these mages? The truth was not an option, and he didn’t think he could satisfy these powerful looking people with something vague as he had the nymphs. The only legitimate source of authority he knew of was the Xurian Realm. He would have to pretend to come from there for a while and hope that was enough.

“I am not,” Ben confirmed. “I come from the capital, and have not been in this region for very long.”

The mages looked puzzled.

“We were coming from the south and saw this tower rising here this day,” the man in blue explained. “We had to investigate. Since it appears that you are a new lord come to take up residence here, we have come to pay homage.”

Ben nodded in appreciation.

“Did the Realm grant you this tower, then?” the same mage asked.

“Of course, I would do nothing without the realm’s permission.” Ben placed a hand on his heart and raised his eyes heavenward, an expression of reverent loyalty on his face. He had known they would get nosy. Fortunately, he had a good cover story in mind.

“You must be a great mage for the capital to grant you such a prestigious tower. Why is it that we’ve never heard of you?”

Ben leaned forward slightly. “Can you keep a secret?”

The eyes of the mages widened, and they climbed a couple more steps, leaving their soldiers behind them.

Ben got a closer look at them as they approached. The mage in blue looked strong and dangerous. He had two swords crossed at his back.

A mage with weapons? That seemed unusual.

Ben made a note to be on his guard with the two male mages as he discretely examined the female mage in a little more detail.

The woman in yellow looked human, but her features were vaguely avian. Her bright yellow eyes seemed to pierce anything they focused on, making Ben wonder if she was even human. By her side, hung a short spear on the end of a chain. It didn’t look like it would take much for her to draw the weapon. She looked more like a knight than