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 used

bring us cake,

defined as if cut by a razor. On closer inspection, she could see glistening fruits embedded in each section,

It was delicious.

said, then turned

upon her dessert and begun stuffing her face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed

tapped a finger to 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 with wanted, as

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

to have developed an

think the Queens will like them, but they are willing to offer some,

“Very well.”

the highest quality pieces

of you talking to the large one?” she

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

moment longer. Would they want arms and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some wore clearly enchanted rings

of

materials of the highest quality. Particularly, for

remind herself that she was looking at their skeletons. They couldn’t move them. The level of stillness went beyond just their heads, they barely moved at all. Only the antennae shifted and

“They… hmmm.”

demanded softly, no

perhaps even a

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

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

a far higher affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when applying it in enchanting. She could see why Irisod

that much confidence in their own craftswork? It took decades to develop those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and guidance.

approaching this

of things would they be prepared to sell