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."

against the monsters, the Legionem

the Colony alone for a period of months? The ants would

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

stated flatly. "We have come here to exterminate this threat and that is

Enid nodded in understanding.

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

you say moments ago that

safety. They are fighting for their existence

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

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

lives of monsters, and then expect them to treat you differently?" Enid

instant. "No more games, Enid Ruther. You are a skilled negotiator

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

field for the remainder of this battle. Should your forces be victorious, you find her within the nest, safely ensconced

that, he was worried of the growing tree-kin presence in the tunnels below. Scouts reported that the forest spread further by the hour and movement had

of my soldiers will die in order to see that those living on the surface do so

the biggest anthill I've ever seen

people will still