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 Legionem Abyssi

a reprieve? Leave the Colony alone for a period of months? The ants would be more than willing to accommodate such an offer,"

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, the Loremaster glanced at

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

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?" she pointed out. "There must be a point at which your duty

you say moments ago that she

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

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

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

give no weight to the lives of monsters, and then expect them to treat you differently?" Enid

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

and Enid needed a moment to steel herself before she spoke. With Morrelia's help, they had agreed on what the

Colony 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, you find

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 stumbled on a root stem out here in the middle of nowhere. The

do not take the field, more of my soldiers will die in order to see

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

will still