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

the first thing they used

us

by a 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.

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

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

The Colony, as she now knew they preferred to be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she

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

developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets.

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

“Very well.”

something. She would ensure a selection of the highest quality

talking to the large one?” she

“Not currently, no.”

“Interesting.”

wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some wore clearly enchanted rings metal rings around

was some level of

purchasing equipment from us? Our forges produce materials of the highest quality. Particularly,

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.

“They… hmmm.”

she demanded softly, no hint

troubled, perhaps even

Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence

but only so they could study them. The ants are

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

confidence in their own craftswork? It took decades to develop those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without

was approaching this

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