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…?”

in, during

they used it

us cake,

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.

she said, then turned and glared at her daughter. “Piris! Manners!”

a most un-decorous manner.

be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she negotiated with

in jewellery? They could adorn their Queens with the finest gems the fourth stratum has to offer, cut by

considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets. Perhaps they would be interested in

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

“Very well.”

ensure a selection of the highest quality pieces were

of you talking to the large one?” she asked

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

arms and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the

some level of industry in the Colony,

forges produce materials of the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused with

level of stillness went beyond just their heads, they barely moved at all. Only the antennae shifted and twitched, but she couldn’t begin to interpret such movements. Her negotiating partners were a blank wall. Another thing she

“They… hmmm.”

Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint of

mage looked troubled, perhaps

rise

would love to purchase a sampling of our wares, but only so they could study

absolutely did have a far higher affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when applying it in enchanting. She

to an acceptable level, longer without

was approaching this from the

things would they be prepared to sell to us?”