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

they

us cake,

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

It was delicious.

the food,” she said, then turned and glared

face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed under

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,

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

seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets. Perhaps

clear, they don’t think the Queens will like them, but they are

“Very well.”

highest quality pieces were

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

of industry in the Colony,

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

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 begin to interpret such movements. Her negotiating partners were a blank wall. Another thing she had never

“They… hmmm.”

with it, Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint

mage looked troubled, perhaps

Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none is intended. Tell me what

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

since they were the only sapient race to live in it. They absolutely did have 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 might have been rankled by such a statement, but Eran

those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and guidance. The Colony was young, yet

was approaching this

would they be prepared to sell to us?”