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

the first thing they used it for

us cake,

defined as if cut by a razor. On closer inspection, she could see glistening

It was delicious.

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

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

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

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

considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving

interested. To be more clear, they don’t think the Queens will like them, but they are willing to offer some, just

“Very well.”

selection of the highest quality pieces were brought to the fortress as

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

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

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

was some level of

the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused with water mana, we

level of stillness went beyond just their heads,

“They… hmmm.”

with it, Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint of her irritation crossing her

perhaps even

Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none

apologise. They suggested they would love to purchase a sampling of our wares, but only so they could study them. The ants are confident they can make superior

affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely

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

was approaching this

be prepared to sell