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."

campaign against the monsters, the Legionem Abyssi

a reprieve? Leave the Colony alone for a period of months?

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, the Loremaster

my orders," Titus stated flatly. "We have come here to exterminate this threat and that is

Enid nodded in understanding.

hate to say it, that doesn't give the Colony much reason to continue to keep your daughter alive though, does it commander?" she pointed

her life?" Alberton demanded, "didn't you say moments ago that she was your

Colony will make any decisions regarding her safety. They are fighting for their existence because of you. The idea

she felt

against those of humans?" Alberton scoffed. "And then expect us to do

monsters, and

Titus growled and the controlled rage in the man's voice was enough to silence the others in an instant. "No more games, Enid Ruther.

actively holding himself back, the power of the commander rolled off him in waves and Enid needed a moment to steel herself before she spoke. With Morrelia's help, they had agreed on what the arrangement should be long

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 returned to

the second strata would 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

not take the field, more of my soldiers will die in order to see that those living on the surface do so in

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

people will still