Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149470 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
As Gra’multh spoke and the shimmering piles of jewels and precious metals appeared in the air, I thought it looked like a greedy person’s wet dream. He also talked about the power the Sovereign would gain by ruling two galaxies instead of one and we got to see a picture of her standing in front of multitudes of people from many different planets, all bowing on their hands and knees to her. But didn’t she already have most of this? I mean, she was sitting on a literal pyramid made of gold—how much more did she need?
I looked at her face, trying to gauge how Gra’multh’s speech was affecting her, but her expression was unreadable, so I had no idea.
At last, the older Korrigon stepped back and bowed as the last of his thought-images faded from the space in front of the throne.
“And that, Your Majesty, is why we need to subjugate this little galaxy and bend it to your will. Thank you for listening to my presentation.”
“Thank you for your words, Overlord Gra’multh,” the Sovereign said, nodding regally. She looked at Sir. “And now, Overlord Barinthian, would you like to present your side?”
“I would indeed, Your Majesty.”
Sir stepped forward and began to speak. Just like Gra’multh, he was able to make his words into a presentation with vividly colored images that floated in the air so that everyone could see them.
Instead of talking about all the wealth and natural resources and slaves the Korrigons might get from my galaxy, Sir focused on the Twelve Peoples. He touched on all of them and their home worlds, showing the lush jungles and dry desserts of the Denarins and the way it took two males and one female on that planet to form a relationship. He spoke of the Majorans and talked about how their males were so deeply devoted to their females that their skin changed colors according to their chosen female’s moods. He talked about the fierce warrior clans of the Vorn and the Braxians and the diplomacy of the Eloins.
Sir spoke of the Cantors with their broad, feathered wings and showed them flying across their planet, a world of high cliffs and deep canyons where they soared on the rising currents and made love in mid-air. He touched on the tenacity of the Naggians, living on their frozen world where it was only warm enough to grow anything two months out of the year. He even talked about the humans of Earth and I was proud to see the images his words formed because I had written most of that section myself, and it was extremely accurate.
“And so, Your Majesty,” he finished as he came to the end of his speech. “It would be a crime against the Twelve Peoples to attack them and ravage their home worlds, just to feed our own greed. We have more than enough already—we do not need to ruin their lives to gain even more resources and wealth than we could ever possibly use.”
I saw Gra’multh narrow his eyes at this statement, but Sir ignored him and went on.
“They might not have the Mental Abilities that our own people have,” he continued. “But they are sentient species living their own lives and they should be left alone to do so. In fact, I would petition Your Majesty to declare the Goddess’s Cloak galaxy a protected wildlife sanctuary so that these lesser beings may live in peace, unmolested by more advanced societies like ourselves.”
He finished with a bow but he had hardly finished talking before Gra’multh was striding forward again.
“Honestly, Your Majesty, Sir Barinthian is being ridiculously sentimental,” he exclaimed. “A kind heart and a soft head aren’t a good combination—especially when it comes to business.”
“The business of making you more money, do you mean?” Sir growled. “That’s all you care about isn’t it, Gra’multh? Your rotten soul is like a black hole of greed—why do you want even more when you already rule an entire continent?”
“Me, want more?” Gra’multh put a hand on his chest as though he couldn’t believe Sir’s statement. “You seem to think I wish to conquer this little galaxy for my own profit, Barinthian. But I promise you, it is only for the Sovereign’s own glory and honor that I wish to overtake this primitive galaxy and remake it into an image of our own.”
“An entire galaxy of worlds that are subjugated and Mind-Controlled,” Sir snapped. “Haven’t we already done enough damage to our own home galaxy? Must we inflict our greed on the Goddess’s Cloak as well?”
“Oh please—the inhabitants of the Goddess’s Cloak, these ‘Twelve Peoples’ as you call them, are so primitive they wouldn’t even know they were being subjected!” Gra’multh protested.
This was clearly what Sir had been waiting for.
“Little one, come forward,” he called to me.
I came to stand beside him in front of the golden throne. I had been biting my tongue the whole time Gra’multh was talking so I was glad I was finally going to get to do my thing.