The Mage-Imperator ordered the frenetic attenders to nudge his palanquin forward so that he could float in front of the glass cells. With hard eyes, he stared at each of the mismatched creatures in turn. Some of them cowered from the immense leader, but the Mage-Imperator saw them only as specimens, not living beings. No pity whatsoever showed on his doughy face.

Certain half-breed creatures were covered with patchy scales, others had bristly fur. Several were well-muscled, three having grossly enhanced arms and thighs. Two of the specimens looked broken, and huddled in misery in the far corners of the transparent cages: malformed specimens that had barely survived, genetic mixtures that were never meant to be. Every one bore some resemblance to the baseline Ildiran kiths, but the mismatched creatures also manifested a strikingly unusual quality, something alien that did not belong in Ildiran genes.

The Mage-Imperator backed off, his pasty face showing a mixture of disgust and optimism. He turned his intent gaze on his second son. “I have never seen kith combinations such as these. The new bloodlines offer substantial new potential for our purposes.”

The Dobro Designate nodded vigorously. “We keep trying to determine how strong the human bloodline needs to be. Our sample populations are still too small, and the time … it has been less than two centuries, enough for only a handful of generations.”

“Of course, my son. When my father first gave me this secret assignment, and later when I passed it on to you at the beginning of my rule, we all knew it would be a long-term task with vital consequences for our empire.”

The Dobro Designate remained determined. “Sometimes the third or even the fourth generation is the strongest. Our mixed-kith swimmers and architects are the best ever produced.”

“Good.” The Mage-Imperator twitched, and his attenders dragged him back from the gallery walls into the center of the display chamber. “Keep uppermost in your mind, however, that we must improve Ildiran mental and communication abilities. Now, more than ever, we must have success.”

“I am developing new avenues, Father,” the Dobro Designate said. “Though it may take several more generations, decades at least.”

Now the Mage-Imperator looked upset. His chubby face wrinkled with a stormy expression. “We may not have that much time. Our greatest fears have arisen. The threat has returned, and the Ildiran Empire must prepare to defend itself. We don’t want to end like the Klikiss.”

Shocked, the Dobro Designate drew a deep breath to calm himself. “Are you certain, Father? After all the legends, so many centuries upon centuries—”