Empire Builder 1: Breed, Populate, Conquer

by Dante King

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 the women, and I was in need of servants.”

  Adremor muttered a curse about mountain ogres when he heard that. As Ben suspected, the mages bought the lie and assumed the ogres had simply sold their slaves to the wrong buyer.

  “Our mission here in the north is to transport these princesses to the capital for experimentation and resource extraction,” Adremor explained to Ben, with no heed whatsoever for the nymphs, who could hear every word, and looked pale and nervous.

  “The nymphs are mine now,” Ben explained, knowing this was a long shot, but hoping it might be enough to send the nymphs on their way.

  “But that cannot be,” Adremor said. “These nymphs are already accounted for.”

  Ben gave Adremor a long hard look.

  “With all due respect, lord, you may work for the Grand Vizier, but we have our laws.” Adremor’s tone was deferential. Evidently, he remembered his place. He seemed like a hard and stubborn man though, who would defend his legal right to these women as his property.

  “You will be paid, of course,” Adremor continued. “These women are valuable; we can offer you more than what you paid the ogres.”

  Ben mustered the most carefree expression he could. “Let us discuss business after refreshments. We can settle the matter of this trade once you have eaten.”

  Adremor looked satisfied with this, though Uzax continued to squint suspiciously at Ben.

  “The nymphs do not wear null locks,” Uzax commented, though it sounded more like a demand.

  “I have great power,” Ben explained, thinking quickly. “I have no need of null locks; the slaves will not disobey me.”

  “Show us this power,” Uzax demanded.

  “We would be grateful if you could display this power,” Adremor added, more politely. “It is always a pleasure to witness the capabilities of a fellow mage, particularly a noble from the capital such as yourself.”

  “Bring me one of your soldiers,” Ben said. He had a plan, and wondered if he could threaten the mages away.

  The two mages hesitated.

  “I assure you, he will not be permanently harmed.”

  Curiosity seemed to get the better of Uzax. “Take one of my men.” He pushed the nearest unwilling foot soldier in front of Ben.

  With practiced skill, Ben drained half the soldier’s strength into himself. The soldier slumped, instantly overcome by weakness. All three mages watched and gasped in wonder.

  Then Ben, his body flooded with extra strength, took the helmet off the soldier’s head. He crushed it between his hands like paper, until it was scrunched into a ball the size of his fist. He dropped it to the ground with a clang. At least if it came to blows, one of their men would be less well armed.

  Uzax and Adremor clapped in appreciation.

  “A splendid trick indeed,” Adremor commented. “Enough to keep a handful of weakling slaves in order, certainly.”

  Ben waved a hand nonchalantly, trying to hide his worry. “It keeps them in line. I wouldn’t want to display more strength without a suitable enemy in sight, but this suffices for my needs at present.”

  If this was what they called a trick, Ben suspected they could present a very real danger. He had no idea what kinds of powers they had. And at the very least, he was sure that they had more experience than him with magic.

  “I would be grateful if you could show me your magic as well,” he said, “but I don’t want to keep you on your feet. Let us take refreshments in my chambers first.”

  Ben led them all to the elevator, and they rode up to the crown of the tower, while the nymphs busied themselves preparing refreshments in the kitchen.

  The mages expressed great astonishment at the splendor of the tower as they ascended.

  “Such magnificence is not seen outside the capital,” Adremor remarked. “Your mission must be of great importance.”

  Ben simply smiled in acknowledgement and said nothing.

  “Not to pry, of course, that would be rude,” Adremor added. He scratched his head, evidently feeling slightly uncomfortable and not knowing what to say.

  “How many people live in this tower?” Adremor continued.

  Ben realized Adremor was trying to fill the silence. He wondered whether he should try to put the mages at ease, or intimidate them. He decided it was probably best to remain diplomatic for a time.

  “At pr
esent I live here alone with my assistant and my servants, that is to say, with those nymphs. I have not estimated how many could live here when the tower is full, but I dare say a great number.”

  Lexi, standing next to Melody near the glass, stared out of the elevator spire as they ascended, her yellow eyes wide with wonder. “How was this tower built, if I may ask? With magic, I take it. Did you do it all yourself?”

  “Magic did play a part, naturally,” Ben responded drily. “I was given an artifact from the capital which assisted with the process. Of course, I can’t divulge all the details.”

  “Of course,” Adremor agreed, as if it went without saying.

  “I never cease to wonder at the marvels that come out of that capital,” Lexi added.

  Uzax didn’t speak, casting his eyes loftily up at the elevator ceiling. Ben did notice however, that he appeared to wince every time Lexi spoke. Theirs was certainly not a cooperation built on friendship.

  Once they reached the crown, the two male mages seated themselves in one of the numerous entertainment areas in the upper levels, luxuriously appointed with lush lounges and armchairs.

  Lexi entered the room and looked for a chair.

  Uzax looked up at her. “Don’t you have beastkin matters to discuss in private?”

  Lexi froze, looking as if she’d been lashed. “Yes, of course, we do,” she finally managed, turning to leave the room with haste.

  Ben glanced up at Melody. He saw the sting in her eyes. It hurt him not to be able to do anything to alleviate it, but there was nothing he could do. He had to bide his time until he knew more about these mages.

  Melody turned and left with Lexi.

  Adremor had one leg comfortably crossed over the other, looking as if he owned the room already.

  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 very pale when he said this. Imogen most likely did too, but it didn’t show on her already stone-white skin.

  Melody looked concerned, but her tail maintained a steady rhythm behind her.

  “Do you know of something I could do, Melody?” Ben asked.

  Melody sm
iled. “You are the Forgotten Ruler. Your power has progressed faster than I ever dreamed possible. There must be something you can still do. What about using the monsters in the dungeon?”

  “That’s an interesting idea. I’m sure even these mages would have difficulty dealing with them.”

  Ben turned to look at Sir Gallant the Elder. “Would this be possible?”

  “There is a control room in the dungeons, sire,” the larger knight said.

  “The Younger mentioned something about that,” Ben said.

  The Younger looked up at the Elder in surprise. “How would the control room help?”

  “The monsters are generated using the moveable glyph totems in the control room. That’s how you produced the monsters, you should know that.”

  “I don’t think I can convince the mages to come to the dungeons,” Ben said.

  “I wasn’t thinking of that,” the elder knight said. “Perhaps we can bring these totems to the tower.”

  “Do you think that’s possible?” Ben asked. “Can we power them in this tower?”

  The younger knight nodded. “I can’t think why not. There must be a control room in here somewhere. I believe I saw one earlier.”

  “Great,” Ben said. “So how do we remove the totems from the dungeon?”

  “With your help, we put those totems there in the first place, we should be able to bring them back out again. They only require power crystals to operate, and this tower contains plenty of those.”

  “Those are the glowing crystals in the hallways?” Ben asked.

  Sir Gallant the Younger nodded. “Just like the glowing crystals in the dungeon chambers.”

  The elder knight looked at Ben, at least Ben assumed he was looking at him, though all he could see was a visor pointed at him.

  “You are the Forgotten Ruler. You designed these mechanisms eons ago. If anyone can work it out, it would be you, sire.”

  “That’s our only hope, as I see it,” Ben said. “These mages are too strong to kill any other way.”

  “What will happen to us?” Vinata asked, her voice trembling.

  Ben looked at the three of them. They were shaking with worry. He couldn’t imagine what it was like to be in the same tower with mages who’d hunted them since childhood. His blood boiled at the thought.