Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 406 Chapter 406

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The ground shook, mountains trembled. Rolling dust swallowed the whole valley, blotting out the sun. Everyone inside turned blind, unable to see a thing.

People were animals too, after all. When danger hit, some bolted in a panic, others curled up in despair, leaving it to fate.

A chunk of them had already taken the worst of it-knocked out bleeding by the blast, vision black, ears ringing. They couldn't dodge falling rocks or even the trampling feet of their own in the chaos.

The newly minted old chief got clocked by a chunk of debris too, his head splitting open. Ignoring the pain, he sat there horrified, hearing horns and war cries from outside.

When a couple of soldiers finally grabbed him and hauled him to the army, he twisted around. As the dust cleared, he saw the aftermath-his pupils shook, hands and feet trembling like a sieve.

The stone wall was gone, smashed to bits. The cliffs on either side weren't pressed tight anymore-a massive gap had been ripped open, surrounded by scattered boulders big and small.

"Heaven's thunder. Divine punishment," the old man mumbled. "The mountain god's pissed."

The soldier gripping one arm was from Hilltop City, clueless about barbarian talk, and asked the local soldier on the other arm, "What's he muttering about? You get it?"

“Uh, uh,” the local guy frowned. "He says they've sinned, and the mountain god's done protecting them-now it's punishing

them."

"They sure have sinned! Killed so many of our innocent folks-they should've died ages ago!" Hilltop City soldier nodded sagely, then shook his head. "But wait, no- the general's wife set off something to blast the mountain open. What's that got to do with a mountain god?"

The local soldier scratched his cheek. "He's just babbling nonsense."

"The general's wife's gotta be a fairy from the heavens, not the mountains!" said the Hilltop soldier.

"You're right." The local soldier nodded.

*****

Erik rolled out with ten thousand troops. Before it kicked off, everyone thought that was way too few, urging him not to underestimate the enemy. Everyone knew attacking was

those barbarians turned to jelly- scared out of their wits. The first wave that stumbled out running got picked off easy by the soldiers waiting outside, no fight in them. The

barbarians were meeker than sheep now, bawling for the mountain god to spare

shut it down herself, but it got her more worshippers, even the maids and old ladies back at the house whispering if she was

make a solid rebel leader. But the guy

all she had to do was say it-the little cat would roll

did Erik. But outsiders didn't

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12:16 Sun, 16 Mar

Chapter 406

army deputies down to Kellingtown merchants

others loyal to the crown, ready to dash

sorted them all

to tattle to the Emperor

squeezed in some sightseeing around Kellingtown. No photos,

already flipped the jealousy jar by now. She

exciting, nothing beating palace tributes. So Nyx poked

dried some flowers and potted a few others.

flower crown, and the palace cat wouldn't dare scoff either-Nyx's handmade stuff was the best

wanting to stretch out more. One night, on a whim, she poked Erik's rock-hard arm muscles. "Let

her prodding and the word "ride. Suddenly wide awake in every sense. "Ride. How do you want to

I lie down or sit up? Like before

lights, and Nyx couldn't see a thing. She didn't sense the danger. "Sitting up.

forgot she could handle a horse.

bad impulses, dulled reason, pushed people closer to beasts. Feeling that soft touch on his chest, Erik's dark eyes glinted like a wolf's.

*****

beasts plenty, didn't starve them much, but