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

thing they used it for

us

could see glistening fruits embedded in each section, strawberries in the

It was delicious.

thank them for the food,” she said, then turned and glared

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

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

Queens with the finest gems the fourth stratum has to offer, cut by our expert

and absurdly doting on their Queens, considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture

don’t think the Queens will like them, but they are willing to offer

“Very well.”

of the highest quality pieces were brought to

to the large one?” she asked of

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

longer. Would they want arms and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though

level of industry in the Colony,

in 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

herself that she was looking at their skeletons. They couldn’t move them. The level of stillness went beyond just their

“They… hmmm.”

Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint of her

troubled, perhaps even a little

rise to offence where none is intended.

only so they could study them. The ants are confident they

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

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

approaching this

things would they be prepared