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."

the monsters, the Legionem Abyssi did not

a period of months? The ants

multiplied into the millions. Multiple Legions would need to be deployed, probably even golems and praetorians. Such an expensive campaign would drain them of precious resources at a time when they couldn't afford it. Besides which,

will not entertain anything that goes counter to my orders," Titus stated flatly. "We have

Enid nodded in understanding.

to continue to keep your daughter alive though, does it commander?" she pointed out. "There must be a

threatening her life?" Alberton demanded, "didn't you say

They are fighting for their existence because of you. The idea that they would baulk at them killing a prisoner when you slaughter every one of them you get your hands on is

to hide it, the contempt she felt for their actions seeped

against those of humans?" Alberton

no weight to the lives of monsters, and

an instant. "No more games, Enid Ruther. You are a skilled negotiator and I have not the patience

spoke. With Morrelia's help, they had agreed on what the arrangement should be long before she had walked out to parley,

will keep your daughter alive so long as you, commander Titus, do not take the field for the remainder of this battle. Should your forces be victorious,

be impossible. Once these tunnels became flooded with demons, they would be forced to retreat. More than that, he was worried of the growing tree-kin presence in the tunnels below. Scouts reported that the

order to see

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

people will