As he was flying, Mennalin noted a large group of children far below being escorted to the dangerous land of Spheri while only one adult who had survived walked towards the breeding city. Even from so far away, that person fresh from the hellhole looked deadly.
“We arrive!” The brown leader of the escort announced.
Mennalin gripped his thick crystal staff more tightly as his eyes took in a massive city. Laqura Castle stretched over fifty miles wide and was surrounded by a giant river, but from so high up it could be seen the river was actually a moat which snaked completely around. The city was built on a hill, but four thousand years ago it was once a mountain of almost pure granite. Over the years the mountain was harvested and organized by a human’s need to have order in chaos. The granite was used to make homes and buildings of large size, especially in the heart of the city.
The complete opposite housing methods were used here compared to Twilight who grew their homes from trees. Skyscrapers jutted high all around, allowing plenty of space between for any giant flying creatures to fly between buildings with minimal risk. But just as it had been built from the mountain, so too were the structures created with the smallest buildings nearest the river with the grand palace overlooking the whole city. On top of the largest buildings laid several dragon sentries, all facing out.
The palace itself was awe inspiring and a great feat of magical engineering. It looked like a hexagon that had been twisted, its sharp walls looking like a giant screw that stood near two miles high from the heart of the city with a width of a mile. Not everything could be seen from the distance, but just like Twilight, Laqura Castle did nothing small. It was the only thing they had in common.
Lakes here and there broke up the sights of the huge city and plants grew, it seemed, with very strict purposes. This city was beyond orderly and had very few ways of free expression. It was like a military city with only two classes, slave and mage. Compared to other cities in the empire, this one had few ways to advance in society.
But just as they were angling towards a large granite bridge a quarter mile wide the leader roared “Incoming!”
Darkness surrounded Mennalin as the nearest dragon grabbed him and clutched him to her chest as a bolt of red lightning shot past.
Two thousand soldier dragons from the Fire Mountain colony suddenly appeared and began blasting at the city’s defense and the exposed group flying in. Wards put up shields to block attacks. The brown leader shot ahead, drawling his giant spiked mace so the escort could get away.
In the lead flew Rex Nattan as he cut the advancing brown male clean in half and charged after the one holding Mennalin. Others formed up to slow the large ancient male, but they knew their deaths were coming as his pale blade turned gold. He lifted it up to slice through, but as it came down Rex Shakka appeared with her own Tiaxm blade and with both hands brought it up into a block. Unable to stop, Rex Nattan brought it down and as the two blades clashed, a burst of gold fired from the tip of his sword and harmlessly flew off into space and would dissipate after two years.
Before he could counter, Rex Shakka planted her glistening feet into his stomach and kicked with all she had, but he didn’t move. A gold hand wrapped around her neck and squeezed, but before he could choke the life out of her, Division Mountain reinforcements arrived and tackled him. One managed to slip a blade through the unarmored part near his armpit before he threw them all away and signaled a retreat. Instantly Rex Nattan and his fighters disappeared.
As quickly as they attacked, they vanished.
Minutes later Mennalin was able to see daylight and he barely managed to stop from falling face first onto the bridge. Heavy thuds of air pressure came from the many soldier dragons securing the area, but immediately his eyes fell upon the diamond cut female. He immediately dropped to a knee and sat down both the bag and his staff, bowing his head last. Sweat flowed down his bearded face as he held deathly still under the harsh sun and stagnant humid air.
Around Rex Shakka she soundlessly gestured for his escort to leave and they teleported to go burn their fallen leader slain by Rex Nattan in his attack and scatter his ashes. Battlemages from around the city began appearing just behind the powerful city wards, all eyes looking between the empress’s Familiar and the man bowing to her. Soldiers began forming lines four long and ten deep, waiting for orders, but silence is all that progressed.
After ten minutes or so, Rex Shakka lowered her regal head to get a better look. She noticed him shake as her hot breath washed over him. He feared her and she was pleased, though she didn’t show it. None bothered them as she studied him. Eventually she broke the silence by saying “You must be the one called Mennalin the Torturer, rise and look at me.”
He did so, but didn’t bring up either staff or bag. “I am, Rex Shakka.”
“It seems Rex Nattan wants your head if he has come to my master’s home personally. Had I not stopped him, you would be dead.” Her pale claw tapped the giant sword laying right in front of her. “What do you have that could make me put my life in danger for a lowly human like you?” Unlike most dragons, she spoke more human, being around them more.
“For you? All I can give is gratitude.” He replied in a low voice. “You saved me and nothing I could offer could replace that. I have nothing of value for you other than my services. Empress Vika though, I wish for the promised protection and bounty. Since you are part of her I wish to give these into your care to prove my loyalty.” Ever so slowly, to not be seen as threatening, he knelt to the burlap sack and pulled out both heads.
Intrigued, Rex Shakka looked closely and said “You’ve placed preserving spells and destructive spells should they be taken.”
“Only if I do not offer. I’m offering them.”
When she was sure there was no trick or trap among the spells she levitated them close and brought them up to her level. In the glassy eyes of death of both kings she noticed Tate’s usual blue eyes had turned purple with the pupil transformed into a crow. Skylar’s eyes were of a flying green dragon, but the black pupil was green and the iris turned black. She sensed many things in a few moments and said “You preserved them quite soon after beheading them. Their brains have yet to decompose.” She turned her head and pointed to a group of royal aids of the empress by their manner of lavish dresses. The five aids hurried over with their Familiars in tow. They each bowed deep at the waist, knowing she would eat them if they displeased her. “Take these heads and run all tests before bringing them to my master and bring a carriage with heavy guards for her newest guest.” They took the heads, bowed and teleported. She turned her attention back around to the third class sorcerer. “Empress Vika will summon you to the palace soon. Do not speak till she gives permission.”
He gave a bow and she lifted her Tiaxm blade and put it back into the altered space above her left hand. She then stretched her great wings and flung herself into the sky.
When she left he bent down to retrieve his staff and as he lifted himself back up a nearly naked woman of great beauty came close with eyes downcast. Mennalin knew right quick she was a slave by the silver collar around her neck and a platinum earring. In a soft voice she asked “My master needs to know if you have been respelled. If you still carry Twilight’s safeguards, the moment you enter, you will be immediately destroyed.”
“I am spelled properly, I hope. I gave permission to take Laqura Castle’s vows and the one which will kill me should the first be removed.”
“Then my master will want you to follow me.” She turned and walked ahead and he noticed a thong flossing her young, tight ass. It was easy to tell her master was someone rich if they could afford a platinum slave of such beauty while also forcing her to wear nearly nothing. Her master had power and influence as such a city had no qualms of slave raping. Someone of her beauty was tempting and to go untouched in that attire meant much.
Many who had come, already disappeared, but Familiars seemed to have been tasked to stay and watch. Mennalin followed and wa
lked behind the slave and felt the tingling sensation of strong magic check he was validated to enter. When he didn’t die immediately, he sighed from his mouth and made his whiskers ruffle. He noticed the soldiers in heavy armor were not too comfortable in this humid heat, but they stayed in rigid ranks, not moving an inch.
Many of the mages were sending magic to see what Mennalin is all about, but despite their suspicious expressions, none approached or used anything hostile at him. He almost ran into the slave-girl, but stopped and looked over her head as six loincloth clad men of dark skin pushed on bars as if they were horses, pulling a large carriage behind. The driver slapped the reins over the men’s scarred backs and they turned so the cart could stop before the guest. On the back, a young slave boy hopped off and hurried his skinny body to set down a stepping stool and opened the door with a bow. Not needing any incentive, Mennalin climbed in and sighed aloud as he sat down in the softest cushions made of silk. He felt a king as the door shut and moments later he began feeling the sensation of moving. Beside the open window he noticed the woman slave walking, but around her and the carriage the soldiers surrounded it, forty in all with five wizards making sure nothing happens to the empress’s guest of honor.
Hours passed and only one five minute break was used before the palace gate’s came into view. The buildings all around were gigantic and Mennalin watched it all, not missing anything of the city. Millions lived inside, most were slaves doing the bidding of their master. Lower class slaves wore little while upper were able to at least keep the sun off their back. Three quarters of the city wore collars with the insignia of their master. In one place Mennalin watched a mage rip the head off a slave who brushed his person with barely any pressure. None screamed or cried. Other slaves simply cleaned up the mess.
Wide streets were clean and despite the skyscrapers, they actually created wind to at least take the unbearable heat out of the air. Mennalin’s magical senses detected large sewers flowing rapidly so smells of feces didn’t pollute the area while orderly plants gave off soothing fragrances. Buildings had pipes running through and smoke rose out of a single smokestack, likely for hot water and cooking. From windows, heads watched the procession.
The palace gates opened for the carriage and the soldiers that had marched the entire way stopped and were replaced by ten of Empress Vika’s most trusted warriors, all being sorcerers and blademasters.
The carriage soon came to a stop and the door opened. Mennalin stepped out and gawked at the palace as he was in its immense shadow. From afar the architecture resembled a screw, but close it seemed like a giant tornado, but upside down like a cone. With all the other skyscrapers, they hid how wide the base was as well. The twist pattern was without blemish and as he sensed the wind, the spiral pattern had a reason. It cooled the building, made a slight updraft and the circular core gave it strength to not need much sway at the peak which seemed very cold.
His view of the majestic palace was cut short by a man’s voice commanding “Leave us. Her majesty has officially summoned him.”
Mennalin looked at himself as the slaves and soldiers began to part. He then looked up at the large man who was none other than General Adair. At his side was the bull Colm, his long horns polished and ready to gore. Mennalin bowed saying “My Lord, may I first clean myself. I do not wish to disgrace myself before the empress.”
General Adair raised an eyebrow. “You recognize me? How? Few know my true identity as a lord general.”
Without lifting his head Mennalin said “I know not your name, My Lord. Just your image. I remember your face being spread through Twilight after you sent the ghost of Lady Megdline’s grandson. I knew him from when I did my lessons and he was a first class sorcerer. Only someone stronger could have killed him and such a bold attack on Lord Zikon would only mean you have vast power. And the way you commanded those here… only a powerful lord, to what I’ve learned, can order the empress’s guards.”
General Adair heightened haring listened to the frightened, but steady heartbeat of the man before him and smiled. “You may stand tall. I believe you. My name is Lord General Adair and Colm is my Familiar. As for your request to freshen up, I wouldn’t have allowed you to be in the empress’s presence with an unkempt beard, sweaty and smelling of body odor. As a third class sorcerer, you can move rather fast and my empress is eager to meet the man who killed two great enemies. Follow me to my chambers.” He turned and mounted Colm before creating a pure white board to fly them both in the air.
Right behind flew Mennalin on his gay board.
They flew right to the entrance and inside the palace was unexpected. A second building was created inside the first. It was like a single pillar with braces stretching to the outer one and was also in the spiral pattern. For just a moment the braces looked like steps a dragon might use, but they were actually walkways. Defensively it made sense. If there was a breach, the braces could be used to attack from above. The core added stability as well as were used for housing all of the most powerful sorcerers and political persons of the empire. Heightened hearing picked up muffled cries of prisoners half way up. As they flew, Mennalin noticed a pyre where a woman was slowly being burned alive. Tortured for fun by the look of the man aiming his staff at her.
Neither slowed till nearing the upper part where Genera Adair turned their flight to where four young slave girls, no more than in their early teens, stood on an isolated balcony, dressed in revealing silks so thin they might as well have been nude. A cool breeze came from within a room by how the thin curtains fluttered. By the way they shifted uncomfortably told Menndalin they were raped daily, and painfully. It was subtle, but no matter how hard they are beaten to not show anything resembling emotion, they instinctively were afraid of the general, but knew enough that showing too much only wound up as a worse treatment.
As they landed the general commanded the girls “Prepare a bath for a meeting with the empress. Make it quick and do not bother with the usual treatment.” They rushed off instantly inside and a dozen other girls around their same age, only truly naked, did as commanded. He turned to see the confusion on the guest’s face and said “My slaves are trained to milk your lance with their untouched pussy while bathing. When I get them pregnant I send them off to Xeer and get another replacement.”
“Will I get to have such rewards?” Menndain asked with a lustful look.
“Only if the empress is feeling generous. From the gifts you brought, very likely. Lets clean up.” The general said and entered his lavish room.
Slurping water guided them to a spacious bathing room where six girls waited in the steaming pool and others held scented soaps and grooming supplies. Both men undressed and went in. General Adair settled down and the girls went to work. As Mennalin let the girls soap him down and trim his beard the general said “Interesting mark on your back. What is the significance?”
“Unlike the large white bull taking up your whole back, I didn’t have the ability to get a Familiar. As I grew up, I was an apprenticed interrogator. The screaming man on my back actually was my first victim, a second class sorcerer from here actually. By your remark, you knew him?”
“I did, he was my son.” Mennalin held deathly still, as did the bathers. The general laughed. “Lighten up. My son made a foolish mistake and I cannot fault your work. You seem surprised I wouldn’t know you were the one who squeezed my loin fruit for information? I only recently learned your name though. It was sixty years ago. Had I known you back then I likely would have killed you, but it seems luck is with you today. And until the empress rescinds your status as guest, you need not fear my wrath. Besides, he was born of a slave girl’s womb so the loss was not great. If he was a first class sorcerer though, I would petition for reimbursement.”
“Does the heads I brought also stay your hand?”
“For now.” The general said as he lifted his neck to have a straight razor shave off morning stubble.
“Do not remove my beard. A simple trim is all I w
ant.” Mennalin said to the naked girl sitting in his lap while another soaped his muscled chest.
Two girls entered with robes, one being freshly washed, the pure white generals and the other’s a silk dyed black. The general said “Take one of my spare robes. I will have your shirt and pants burned since I do not sense any space augmentation. You must have been desperate.”
“I was.” Mennalin said as he stood and walked out to get toweled off by three more slaves. “Thank you for the gift, My Lord.”
Ten minutes later Mennalin, General Adair and Colm landed on a private floor near the top of the palace. The only way to access it was to fly. Those unable to do so weren’t allowed to step foot. Only those with wings or with magic could land on the wide area. As soon as Mennalin landed, ten first class sorcerers approached and scanned him. The leader stepped forth and held his hand out saying “Your staff, Mennalin the Torturer.”
“Not that it would do me any good.” He replied and handed over the crystal staff. “Any one of you can destroy me without breaking a sweat.”
The guard simply offered a wry smile before saluting his superior. “General, her majesty is expecting you.”
“Return to your post.” Came the order and they did so.
The guest followed and was in awe at the affluence built into the hall they entered. Gold and silver had been altered through alchemy long ago from stone while vibrant gemstones depicted masterful artwork of landscapes, people, dragons and battle. It was perverse artwork that was the epitome of domination, but still beautiful. The gems were small, some large, but they all twinkled with power and make the creations seem almost lifelike. It was clear despite the artwork, their purpose was to uphold the city’s wards and fight any who dared enter with hostility.
Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga) Page 41