Chrysalis

Alberton and Titus stood in grim silence as they awaited the emissary of the Colony to approach. The elderly woman looked the same as she had before, her expression the same resigned weariness that she had borne the first time they had met.

"I apologise for making you wait," she greeted them, "my old bones aren't as nimble as they once were."

Titus was in no mood for pleasantries.

"My daughter," he ground out, "does she still live?"

If Enid was surprised by his coarse attitude, she did not show it.

"She is still alive, of course she is. She spent many weeks with us helping the survivors of the Garralosh wave. I personally count her as a friend and would not see her come to harm."

It was such an infinitesimal change that only Alberton, through his long years working alongside his commander, saw the release of tension in Titus when he learned that Morrelia had not perished during the battle. Ever since his daughter had berserked and charged headfirst into the enemy lines he'd been wound as tight as a void-steel trap.

"What do you desire in exchange for the safe return of the prisoner?" he asked, his voice stiff.

Enid paused.

"You desire a prisoner exchange? Pardon my rudeness, but I do not believe you have captured any of our people…" she left a deliberate gap, "… alive."

On campaign against the monsters, the Legionem Abyssi did not take

Colony alone for a period of months? The ants

to be deployed, probably even golems and praetorians. Such an expensive campaign would drain them of

entertain anything that goes counter to my orders," Titus stated flatly. "We

Enid nodded in understanding.

your daughter alive though, does it commander?" she pointed out. "There

Alberton demanded, "didn't you say moments ago that she

are fighting for their existence because of you. The idea that they would baulk at them killing a prisoner when

tried to hide it, the contempt she felt

lives of monsters against those of humans?"

weight to the lives of monsters, and

and the controlled rage in the man's voice was enough to silence the others in an instant. "No more games, Enid Ruther. You are a skilled negotiator and I have not the patience for this dance. State

moment to steel herself before she spoke. With Morrelia's help, they had agreed on

the field for the remainder of this battle. Should your forces be victorious, you find her within the nest, safely ensconced in my rooms. Should you pull back for whatever reason, send an emissary and she will be

worried of the growing tree-kin presence in the tunnels below. Scouts reported that the forest spread further by the hour and movement had been spotted within several times. Most likely, the grove-keeper was already awake and the others wouldn't be far behind. The Loremaster inwardly cursed. That infernal tree would hound them any chance it got. How unlucky they had

the field, more of my soldiers will die in order to see that those living on the surface do so in peace," Titus

surface, right next to the biggest anthill I've ever seen and I'm doing just

people will