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

thing they used it

us cake,

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

It was delicious.

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

and begun stuffing her face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed under the withering glare of her mother and licked the

called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what

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

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

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

“Very well.”

highest quality pieces

talking to the large one?” she asked

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

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

level of industry

the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused

No expressions crossed their faces and she had to constantly 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 twitched, but she couldn’t

“They… hmmm.”

Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint of her

looked troubled, perhaps

give rise

only so they could study them. The ants are confident they can make superior works themselves, given

far higher affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when applying it in enchanting. She could see why Irisod might have been rankled by such a statement, but Eran was

It took decades to develop those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and guidance. The Colony was young, yet they didn’t

she was approaching this from the

of things would they be prepared