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

He laughed. “They forget their place all too quickly.”

Ben managed a chuckle in reply.

Uzax leaned forward. “Perhaps a lord like yourself would find it difficult to understand our plight, being assigned to work with beastkin. They may not be monsterkin, but their animalistic appetites are far too similar.” The Pyromancer shuddered.

Ben found he could easily manage a shudder in response, though not for the reason the mages assumed.

“The Realm should have kept them all enslaved,” Adremor remarked, with the casual ease one might use to talk of eradicating a plague of mice.

Ben nodded sympathetically at the Force Wizard.

“The insult that they would allow noble beastkin into the Arcanarium, but not us,” Adremor steamed. “I can hardly comprehend it.”

Uzax twirled his long greasy hair in his fingers, his eyes looking furtive and murderous at the mention of beastkin.

“Ah, it seems refreshments have arrived at last.” Adremor glanced up at the doorway, where the nymphs were entering.

Imogen and Vinata were carrying trays of drinks and small snacks, as well as a large flagon of wine and four golden goblets. Ben was surprised at their appearance. Both women were dolled up to look more like escorts than kitchen hands. Perhaps they were trying to make a good impression to lessen the animosity of the mages. Ben wondered where they might have got clothing and makeup from, but assumed they’d found it all in one of the many chambers on these upper levels.

It had no effect, however. Uzax simply sniffed in disgust, while Adremor stared out the window absently. Although Ben ought to have been grateful that they weren’t ogling the women, he almost felt outraged at the total lack of recognition, as if the nymphs were sub-human. Well, sub-human wasn’t the right word, he considered. As if they weren’t worthy of being looked at.

Once the nymphs had left, and they had eaten, Ben decided to use the opportunity to gather what intelligence he could.

“So, friends,” he said, spreading his hands in a lavish gesture. “I have shown you some of my own powers. It would only be courteous of you to do the same.”

“Quite right,” Adremor assented. “I will gladly go first.”

Adremor cast his eyes over the room. They landed on a metal tray left behind by the nymphs.

“May I?” he queried.

Ben wasn’t sure what the mage had in mind with the tray, but the piece of metal was replaceable. He nodded.

Without even a rattle, the tray lifted up into the air, hovering about five feet off the ground. Adremor’s eyes were fixed on it, following it as it whizzed about the room.

Telekinesis. This was enough to make Ben afraid but also very excited. This had always been one of his favorite powers. He wondered if he could acquire it one day.

Finally, there was a loud crackling and popping noise, and the tray folded in on itself, screeching as metal crushed against metal. The tray rolled up into a neat ball, then fell with a plink to the hard floor.

Ben nodded with admiration. “Very impressive. And you, Uzax?”

“I’m afraid I can’t give you a full demonstration indoors. A simple spell will suffice to explain why.”

Uzax held out a palm, face upward. With a whoosh, a ball of flame appeared in his hand, crackling and smokeless. Ben could feel the heat from where he was sitting, several feet away.

With a snap, Uzax closed his palm, extinguishing the flame.

Ben couldn’t help a short clap. “And Lexi?” he inquired.

“She uses the powers of light to give her swift and agile control over her weapon.” He appeared bored as he spoke, as if the subject of Lexi was beneath him to even think about. “She’s also a little useful when it comes to injuries. There might be other skills she has kept hidden from us. As a beastkin, particularly of the hawk variation, she is cunning.”

Well, that explained her avian features. Nothing else about her appearance betrayed that she was a beastkin. Ben wondered if that was deliberate on her part, given how she was treated.

“Such powers must make the hunt a real thrill,” Ben commented, hoping this would reinforce the notion that he supported what they did.

“Almost a little boring for me at times,” Uzax slurred, in his thin voice.

“The little devils can be a right pain to catch,” Adremor said. “Being able to wall off the monsters by raising stones or earth from the ground as they’re running is certainly an advantage. Especially those children, they can be a proper nuisance.”

Ben nodded. On the outside he tried to keep his face composed, but inside he was feeling nauseous. He was also feeling worried. These mages might not have been officially trained, but their powers were beyond anything he could manage right now.

They were evidently not going to negotiate either. Ben couldn’t see any option apart from killing the mages. But he wanted to discuss the matter further with his companions to see if they had any insight or input.

Ben badly wanted to use Drain to see how much power the mages had, but he didn’t want to risk getting caught. If the mages suspected he intended to kill them, they might just attack him on the spot, and they seemed too powerful for him to face.

He would have to consult with the others and see if they could work out a plan.

“If you would both excuse me for a few minutes,” Ben got to his feet. “I must check on the slaves in the kitchen. They are preparing the evening meal, and unfortunately my staff is still small. I cannot trust such a task to anyone else right now.” He spread his hands apologetically and then walked toward the door.

Adremor nodded understandingly.

Ben made his way to the elevator. Melody saw him and took her leave of Lexi, following him down to the kitchen. The nymphs waited nervously. Sir Gallant the Elder and the Younger were also present.

“What should I do?” Ben asked, unable to keep the worry out of his tone.

Vinata and Lulu grew