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.”

rolled her eyes, but quietened. She flitted about in the water, finding it difficult to contain her excitement, but she managed to bottle it up long enough for them to arrive before

the door to her husband’s chambers shut, Eran’s smooth expression twisted in anger as she ripped the necklace from around her neck

FORTY PERCENT!

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

believe how clever those ants are. They can make all sorts of things, and they served us incredible cakes, and tea, and the fortress was unbelievably huge, and there was

precious jewel,” he smiled at his daughter before turning his concerned

please. The delegation and

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

the water around her, fingers tearing gashes

Umizan flinched on his throne

it really that bad? Do we

sounded as if he thought they’d demanded

price. My honoured Aunt did extremely well against the initial negotiator, an old woman the ants brought in to speak on their behalf, but when the monster entered the

but Eran managed to get control

put it,” she said

moment, Theraz’ father entered the chamber, nodding to his brother. Marzban Corozan was powerfully built for a brathian, who tended to be slender and swift. Scars could be seen through the scales all over

the water. “I would like to hear about the threat that has

these trade negotiations first. Mages, Eran, gather and speak to me,” he demanded, clapping

sat, pensive, considering what he had

cheaply and in

am deeply sorry, my Satrap,” Eran bowed low, shame written all over her face. “The final terms are dreadful for our

my wife,” the Satrap declared absent mindedly, 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 you could. In fact, I

from his