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

first thing they used it for

us

closer inspection, she could see glistening fruits embedded in each section, strawberries in the red layer, and peaches in the orange. She took her

It was delicious.

she said, then turned and glared at

her face with it in a most un-decorous

her chin. The Colony, as she now knew they preferred to be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she negotiated

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

protective and absurdly doting on their Queens, considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets. Perhaps they would be interested in

Queens

“Very well.”

ensure a selection of the highest quality pieces were brought to

curiosity, are any of you talking to the large one?” she

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though

was some level of industry

Particularly, for metals and woods infused

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

“They… hmmm.”

softly, no hint of her irritation crossing

troubled, perhaps even a little

you dare show anger,” Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none is intended. Tell me what they

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

it. They absolutely did have a far higher affinity for water mana than

much confidence in their own craftswork? It took decades to develop those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and guidance. The Colony was young, yet they

was approaching this from the wrong

they be prepared to sell