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 this

first thing they used

us cake,

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

It was delicious.

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

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

Colony, as she now knew they preferred to be called,

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

an entire

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

“Very well.”

selection of the highest quality

you talking to the

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some

of industry in the

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

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

“They… hmmm.”

demanded softly, no hint of her irritation

mage looked troubled, perhaps even a

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

only so they could study them. The

would never be questioned, 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

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

approaching this from the wrong

things would they be prepared to sell to us?” she