Eagerly Bred by the Beast Man Read online

  You are concerned.

  The words thrummed in Arven’s head. He didn’t question how the other mage knew. He had never tried to enter the dark ranks where the higher sorceries were taught. But he had an inkling of the power the other mages wielded. “My wife, master. And my… my daughters. I fear they were taken.”

  Worse will come, Arven.

  Strakken moved from the window and took a seat at the desk. His mask, hooked like the beak of a bird, looked at Arven.

  The Red Mages are leaving Poranovo.

  Arven started. “My lord? But… what do you mean?”

  The city is riddled with corruption, as we have seen. Our investigation has turned up a dozen other monster cults in the city, and there are more. And with the riots burning half the city down, it will be impossible to root them out. The emperor, in his wisdom, has not seen it fit to send relief forces. The citizens are gathering their courage to storm the palace. Without the baron, the city won’t survive a week. We cannot hold Poranovo without the backing of the knighthoods, and our skills are far too necessary in these times to throw away our numbers on a useless gesture.

  “But… but master. The people… they’ll be slaughtered!”

  That is the likeliest outcome. Put it from your mind. Our resources are better spent elsewhere.

  “Elsewhere?”

  Istvanov is more than one city, Arven. It is an empire. The Duke of Ashes does not aim to attack this one city, but to destroy the empire. To tear down humanity itself. The emperor himself has been of little use. He is a weak man. He will be replaced.

  “Treason,” Arven breathed. He bit his lip as he realized what he had said.

  Strakken said nothing. His hand rose and took his mask, carefully removing it. Arven shuddered at what was revealed. Though the Red Mages wielded power that no other sorcerer could match, that not even the priests in their wisdom and devotions could call on, the price was one few would be willing to pay.

  Scars riddled Strakken’s face, the flesh burned and ridged, hideous like someone had slashed him a hundred times with a red hot knife. He had no nose, only a slit, his face that of nightmare. But his eyes burned with a red light, like pinpricks of fire in the dark.

  Sacrifices, Arven, must be made. For the greater good. The Duke of Ashes uses magic thought to be dead. His armies grow every day. Bred by his captives. Drawn from the dark places of the world. His reach infects every corner of the empire. If Istanov will be saved, it shall not be through the oaf of an emperor. The Crimson Council has decided. He will be done away with. Poravor cannot be held. So be it. But the empire will survive. Already we muster allies.

  “The Council will replace him?”

  Strakken gestured with disinterest. The Council has no interest in the throne. We have another in mind. His sister. It will be simpler if the line of succession seems to have been respected, and she has been advocating for action against the monsters rising in the west. The arrangement suits us.

  We are fighting a war, Arven. And we are losing. No more. Prepare yourself. We leave Poranovo tonight.

  “The city is doomed without us,” Arven said, but his shoulders already sagged with defeat. He knew too well the decision, made, could not be unmade.

  Yes. It is. I suggest you gather your things. You are dismissed.

  Arven bowed and departed. Behind him, Strakken lifted his mask back to his face, fitting it snugly there just as Arven shut the door behind him with a resounding boom. The masked red mage turned towards the window and eased back in his chair, tapping his fingertips together as he watched the smoke of the riots obscure the moon.

 

 

  Amanda Clover, Eagerly Bred by the Beast Man

 

 

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