Free Outcast (The Blue Dragon's Geas) by Cheryl Matthynssens Page A

chambers prepared for those you care to breed personally."  Veaneth looked at him hopefully. Since the two of them had started the breeding project, Luthian had not once let him take part. “Once the potion wears off, then they can be bred until it takes." 
    Luthian sat back doing some calculations. He had discovered during the war that some of the Daezun females who had been taken in battle had produced children with a unique quality. Daezun could not use magic. This made them ideal for digging bloodstones for they could not siphon the magics from the precious stones. Lerdenians’ excelled at the use of such magics and their society was solely built around the ease and use of such skills. However, a Lerdenian was limited by his strength as to what skills he could pull upon and for a how long. These half breeds with a more Daezun build had been found to be able to use magics often needed in battle without the same drain upon their strengths...Some were deadly with a bow in ways that the average huntsmen envied. Others could manage elements tiring at a much slower rate than their Lerdenian counterparts. Luthian had gathered together those he had tested and found with the proper skills into an elite force that now served him. He had seen to their schooling personally, ensuring that only magics useful in battle were provided and doing much to insure their loyalty. The Black Guard currently only numbered slightly over a hundred, but he had plans to increase their numbers substantially over time.
    Luthian also was staring at his boots as he considered the news and import. The Daezun should still be under Lerdenian rule for they were little better than beasts of burden. They had no skills in magic. Their choice of a simple village life when they could live in such higher luxury confused him. Why would anyone want to toil in the dirt if they did not have to so as to earn their keep?  This desire to be a part of the land only confirmed they were little better than animals. However, he had to admit their skill in working as a reliable force had led to the Lerdenians being trapped in their cities under siege. The council had misjudged the Daezun seeing them as individual villages but somehow they came together as one in the second war. A treaty had been established. This treaty worked for now but was not in Luthian’s long term plans. He had been but a boy when the war started and had made it only to the fourth tier when it had ended. No, this treaty did not fit into his plans at all.
    Veaneth continued to stand and stare at the Minister’s feet. Silence reigned heavy in the room, and Veaneth glanced higher to see if the Minister was even paying attention. Luthian’s far off gaze seemed to cast through whatever he was looking at.
    In truth, Luthian was seeing something beyond the stable lord. He had a larger vision. He intended to conquer the lands that the Daezun and the Lerdenians shared bringing it under a single rule. Then, he would turn his eyes to other lands. He would make Lerdenia an empire of such strength that all would bow in its path. These sturdy half breeds would be his army. He was a patient man and the careful use of spells, potions, and magic’s would insure Luthian had many years before him to see the matter completed. In addition to his program to breed the Daezun within the city with Lerdenians, he had the traders and traveling mages visiting mating circles and rituals as often as he could urge them into the Daezun lands. He had given those men potions and charms to insure they were often chosen in these circles. The resulting outcasts of half-blood were often rejected by their sturdier cousins. This suited Luthian well for he just swept in and cajoled the lost souls to his elite force. Daezun always made sure their small ones were well trained regardless of their origins. He had not been disappointed in this ploy.
    “Then I am pleased with this news."  Luthian suddenly announced. The stable lord started