Chrysalis

Negotiations were always a delicate matter. There were many things to consider, after all. What was culturally and economically acceptable to both sides? What did each side want from the other? It was around these things that discussions would focus.

The first thing Eran Umizan needed to discern was what it was the Colony desired.

“Do they need food?”

Clearly, they had an interest in foodstuffs, as evidenced by the tea and scones. There was a brief consultation.

“They don’t,” Irisod told her. “Apparently, they grow all of their own food. Their own sugar, wheat, tea leaves and everything else they consume in large quantities. For satisfying their hunger, they generally use Biomass or… aphids? I’m not sure what those are.”

Interesting.

“We can negotiate a price for access to our gates?” she suggested. “Would they be interested in discussing terms for such an agreement?”

The price would be hideously expensive, of course. If you couldn’t make your own gates, then you were at the mercy of whoever was in a position to offer you access to one.

An ant entered with another tray covered in delectable-looking slices of layered cake, each topped with a twirl of pink cream. Eran’s brow went up as the tray was carefully placed before her, and another was distributed amongst her retinue.

Again, no poison.

“I thought they were short on supplies?” she asked her Court Mage, quietly.

“Apparently, they just developed their own gate.”

“What? When?”

“Just now.”

“As in…?”

during this

first thing they

us cake,

at the delicate confection, each layer as clearly defined as if cut by a razor. On closer inspection, she could see glistening fruits embedded in each section, strawberries in the red layer, and peaches in the orange. She took her fork and bit into

It was delicious.

for the food,” she said, then turned and glared at her daughter.

stuffing her face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed under the withering

preferred to be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she negotiated with wanted, as they

They could adorn their Queens with the finest gems the fourth stratum has

their Queens, considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets.

are mildly interested. To be more clear, they don’t think the Queens will like them, but

“Very well.”

the highest quality pieces were brought to the fortress as quickly

talking to the large one?” she asked

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some wore

was some level of industry in the Colony,

be interested in purchasing equipment from us? Our forges produce materials of the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused with

was looking at their skeletons. They couldn’t move them. The level of stillness went beyond just their heads, they barely moved

“They… hmmm.”

no hint of her irritation crossing her

perhaps even

you dare show anger,” Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none

love to purchase a sampling of our wares, but only so they could study them. The ants are confident they can make

affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when applying it in

Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and

she was approaching this from

sort of things would they be prepared to sell to us?” she