Chrysalis

“Do not discuss what we have seen or heard until we return home,” the Eran warned her people as they made their way out of the grand ant fortress.

Here on an expedition, her word was law and even her daughter knew better than to cause trouble for her mother at this moment in particular. The brathians were silent for the remainder of the journey. They marched in silence through the enormous tunnels of the fortress, didn’t breathe a word as they exited the vast gates and continued to keep their mouths shut as they were escorted by the ants through the monsters and down to the shoreline.

With dignity, they bowed to the ants, turned and walked into the water, their clothing floating around them as they walked deeper and deeper.

Once they were fully submerged, Eran Thouris gave her people a significant look and began to swim, weaving her magic to propel herself and the entire group through the water at an incredible speed. Enormous monsters churned through the water, closer than any would like, but the song of the siren filled the lake around them, and the monsters ignored them completely.

On they swam, through the murk and out into the brathian territory, passing through the barrier without difficulty.

“May we speak now?” Theraz asked cautiously.

“You may converse,” came the terse reply, “but no details about the negotiation or what we’ve seen. The Satrap will want our unfiltered thoughts.”

“That was so exciting!” Piris exclaimed. “An entire empire of ants! It’s incredible! And that fortress? How long did it take them to build it? Almost no time at all!”

Theraz swam closer and nudged his cousin with his elbow.

“We aren’t meant to be talking about it yet.”

She turned and stuck her tongue out at him.

“But it was so interesting! Have you ever seen anything like it?”

“No, I haven’t, but I know to keep my mouth shut before we meet the Satrap. You can talk all you want about it once we arrive.”

quietened. She flitted about in the water, finding it difficult to contain her excitement,

her husband’s chambers shut, Eran’s smooth expression twisted in anger as she ripped the necklace from around her neck and blasted it through the water against the

FORTY PERCENT! I haven’t felt

his seat, his expression growing faintly terrified as his wife showed her rage so publicly. He glanced toward Theraz, who shook his

can make all sorts of things, and they served us incredible cakes, and tea, and the fortress was

at his daughter before

and

saw the whole thing! The creature was immune to all of my Skills. A mutation? Some sort of evolution?

her, fingers tearing

Umizan flinched on his throne and

bad? Do we owe

they’d demanded his head on

a high percentage of the final price. My honoured Aunt did extremely well against the initial negotiator,

scales were still flushed, but Eran managed to get control of

put it,” she

brother. Marzban Corozan was powerfully built for a brathian, who tended to be slender and swift.

“I would like to hear about the threat that has shown up

trade negotiations first. Mages, Eran, gather and speak to

he sat, pensive, considering what he

cheaply and in

my Satrap,” Eran bowed low, shame written all over her face. “The final terms

then jumped when she raised her head to glare at him. “I mean it! Against a monster who was immune to your Skills, you achieved the best deal that

frowned, puzzled, as the Satrap rose from his throne, his hands behind