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

The woman was tall and slender, her athletic figure being accentuated by close fitting armor. In all, the three mages looked very formidable.

When the three mages stood close to Ben, he whispered. “I am a special operative. I work personally under the Grand Vizier.”

The mage in red nodded conspiratorially. He appeared highly gratified at being privileged with such information.

The mage in blue wasn’t satisfied though. “What are you doing so far north, then?”

Ben shook his head. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you more than that. I am on a secret mission.”

Their leader frowned in chagrin. Ben suspected he wasn’t used to being in a position of lower rank in these parts of the woods.

Ben deftly changed subject. “While I can’t divulge the nature of my mission, I can offer you sustenance, my friends. My stores are well stocked with provisions. Can I offer you anything for your journey?”

The made in blue looked puzzled. “We would be grateful to accept provisions, but I had hoped we might see the inside of this mighty tower as well, if it please you, Lord …”

“But of course, how rude of me. My name is Lord Ben of Davies.” There was little chance these hunters would connect that name with his real identity.

“A pleasure.” The mage in blue said. “My name is Adremor, a Force Wizard. These are my companions Uzax the Pyromancer,” he gestured to the man in red, “and Lexi the Sunstone Cleric,” he pointed to the woman in yellow.

Both mages nodded at Ben. Ben was intrigued, and wondered what abilities these mages might have. He could make some assumptions based on their names, but he hoped he wouldn’t need to find out.

“My tower is still in a state of preparation, and not worthy yet to be shown to visitors.” Ben made one last attempt to send these unknown mages on their way.

But Adremor was having none of it. He dismissed the objection with a wave of his hand.

“Nonsense.” His tone was affable. “A tower as splendid as this? You are too modest. We would be honored to see the inside before we continue our journey.”

Ben had a bad feeling about inviting the mages inside, but he didn’t want to provoke them, when he had no idea how powerful they were.

“But of course,” he said. “Please, consider yourselves welcome.” He gestured up the stairs.

He turned to lead them inside. Melody stood above them, watching nervously. Her tail was motionless behind her back, but her ears identified her as a beastkin.

“This is my assistant, Melody,” Ben said, introducing her to the mages.

The woman’s eyes widened. The other two mages scowled.

Adremor, the leader, spoke. “Perhaps you can mingle with your own kind, Lexi, while we men discuss matters of importance.”

“Lexi is also a beastkin?” Ben asked.

Uzax the Pyromancer spat.

“We bounty hunters do not have the luxury of choosing our hunting companions,” Adremor stated in a regretful tone.

Lexi bowed her head and went on in front of the other mages. Ben saw how they looked down on the woman. He wondered how much tension existed between these unlikely companions, thrown together by fortune. That was simply another matter he would have to observe more closely later.

Ben led the mages into the atrium.

“You said you were hunters?” asked Ben. “What sort of hunting have you been doing in these parts?”

Ben felt in his gut that these mages were up to no good, that they weren’t to be trusted. But he wanted to squeeze as much information out of them as he could.

“Well,” said Adremor. “We’re fresh off a hunt of Nymph-kin in the northern reaches of the forests.”

Without his thinking about it, Ben’s hands clenched into tight fists.

“Well, more like target practice,” said Uzax. Ben glanced back to see an amused smile on the mage’s face.

Adremor let out a sharp bark of a laugh. “That’s right. We decided to partake in a bit of sport on our way back, and came across some younger Nymph-kin. We prefer to hunt adults, of course—more of a challenge that way.”

“Is that right?” The subject filled Ben with wild anger. But he kept his emotions in check, wanting to see just what kind of people these mages were.

“You remember that dryad?” asked Uzax. “The one with the big breasts?” He made a gesture at his own chest and leered.

Adremor scowled, obviously unimpressed with Uzax’s description of the woman. “You mean the one who squealed like a stuck hog when we had her cornered? I remember. Almost made up for how damned easy the hunt was.”

Ben formed his mouth into a tight line, not wanting to say what was really on his mind. He glanced over at Lexi, noticing that she hadn’t piped up during the exchange. A tense, worried expression was on her face.

“How many people live in this tower?” Lexi said aloud in wonder, almost as if she wanted to change the subject. “This place is enormous.”

“The capital has certainly equipped you well,” Adremor remarked.

They came inside, where the nymphs were waiting in the atrium.

“My tower only houses a few at present. These women are my servants,” Ben announced, making sure to keep his tone level. It was unpleasant to him treating the nymphs like this, but it was the only way to keep his identity a secret until he could assess the threat the mages posed.

The mages gasped.

“The princesses,” Uzax whispered, a dangerous note of lust and cunning in his voice.

“We have been searching the forest for these very nymphs,” Adremor explained.

Ben felt a strong urge to wave his hand in front of them and say, “These are not the nymphs you are looking for.” He fought the urge down with a faint smile. He didn’t think his powers were up to the task of imitating Obi Wan just yet.

Instead, he simply explained, “I found these nymphs traveling with some mountain ogres, who were transporting them to this site. They gave me a fair price for