Chrysalis

The gate emerged into a dark tunnel, the tell-tale black veins of mana threaded through the walls signalled that they remained in the second strata, but Granin knew they have travelled a great distance. Over a hundred kilometres in fact. The delving party were now firmly within the territory claimed by Galgarin the empire to the east of Liria, beyond the great lake. They stood in a near empty tunnel, almost identical to that which they had left on the other side, with the exception of a small outpost that hosted a team of Shapers on rotating duty. Having connected the gate, the triad of Shapers responsible for this side of the gate nodded politely to the delving team, curiously eyed the enormous ant they had dragged through with them before retreating behind the outpost door to rest.

Granin heaved out a breath as he let the terrible feeling of being the last through the gate to leech out of him.

Balta was having none of it.

"Let us be away. I want to arrive with the beast at the warrior’s circle to turn in the request and retire. Let’s move!"

After snapping out his orders, the prideful warrior turned and began to march away, leaving the others scrambling to follow his wishes and seized the ropes attached to the netting to drag the monster away. Granin sputtered for a moment in shock before he threw off his lethargy and raised his voice.

"Warrior Balta! The request does not require us to return the creature to the Warrior’s circle but to the Shaper’s outpost beyond the city!"

The moment he heard the older Golgarin speak, Balta turned on his heel and strode back toward the Shaper. The moment he was close enough he slammed his fist into Granin’s stomach, his fist grinding into the hard granite skin. Instantly overwhelmed by the warrior’s strength, Granin collapsed to his knees gasping for breath. Balta looked down on him dispassionately, shaking his fist.

"Do not gainsay my orders in the field, Shaper. Thanks to your wretched circle, the city is still an hour’s march from the gate, which means I still have complete authority over this delve. If you seek to countermand my orders one more time, I’ll have you put to death for insubordination. Do you understand me?"

Mind racing, Granin tried to understand what was happening as he coughed and tried to catch his breath on his hands and knees. To one side, Nium knelt beside him and placed a hand on his back in concern. What was Batla up to? He was within his rights to flex his authority here, he was technically correct to state that they were still in the field and that he still held absolute command over the delve. But why bother? The request required them to return the monster to the Shapers outpost. Why would he want to drag it all the way to the Warrior’s circle? When he attempted to hand in the request, he would be refused and have to turn around and take the monster back out of the city and to the outpost as was required.

As Balta turned to march away, Granin saw him glance toward the monster and his heart dropped in his chest. This idiot warrior. He wanted revenge. In the Warrior’s circle the Shapers would have no allies, no one they could depend upon to help. Balta would have a number of ways he could delay them long enough for his clan to "invite" the warriors to rest at their compound, naturally taking the monster with them. Once it was there, it would never emerge and they would say an accident occurred, pay reparations to the Shapers and forget about it. If Granin tried to object inside the city, then he would be "invited" as well, along with his triad and they would share the fate of the creature.

The warriors hefted their ropes and began to drag the monster after the swiftly marching Balta but the moment the ropes became taut they jerked to a halt. They looked back confused, only to see the monster had dug in with its regrown legs and was refusing to move. The warriors shared a confused look before they redoubled their effort, only to see the monster working even harder to resist, using its considerable size and strength to resist the pull. Eight Golgari warriors then began to engage in a ridiculous game of tug of war with a massive insect. The warriors were powerful, filled with the strength the Golgari were famous for and although it was slow, they began to make progress.

*Clack!*

itself into a hole in a matter of seconds, causing the warriors to curse under their breath. Balta continued to march away, confident that his arrangements would be followed and ignorant of

against the warriors, then Granin had a chance of completing his task yet. He turned to Laksham

Run toward the outpost and try to reach the circle there. If we can get enough people here then we can take the monster there ourselves.

understood what the older Shaper was trying to say and turned to run immediately. Still on the ground, Granin forced his tired mind to weave the threads of mana required to connect his

tell your ape

the heck is going on here stone face? The silver guy is being more of

have consequences! He’s trying to get you taken to the Warrior’s circle so he can have you killed off! You need to

Sure I can’t

there’s no saving you from the vengeance that

okay. Sheesh. I’ll

to his second, "Go after Laksham and help keep her safe, then return with the Shapers. Once Balta comes back,

you sure you’re

Get

off like a shot and by the time Balta finally realised nobody was following him and returned, both he and Laksham were out of sight. Eyes filled with rage, it was clear the

creature is attempting to fight back! Destroy it! Shaper Granin, invade

will

in five minutes I’ll declare you a traitor and put

with anger and his sword leapt from its scabbard, flashing sword light toward the monster before

has serious

rain down on it, even cutting through the defensive layer of dirt it had created. The other warriors quickly joined in,

don’t incapacitate you in five minutes he’s going to kill