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.”

it difficult to contain her excitement, but she managed

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

FORTY PERCENT! I

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

things, and they served us incredible cakes, and tea, and the fortress was unbelievably huge, and there was an ant

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

and court magicians

The creature was immune to all of my Skills. A mutation?

water around her, fingers tearing gashes through the

flinched on his throne and

it really that bad? Do we

he thought they’d demanded his head on a

high percentage of the final price. My honoured Aunt did

were still flushed, but Eran managed to get control of herself and gave a

to put it,” she said

brathian, who tended to be slender and swift. Scars could be seen through the scales all over his arms

he said, his deep voice reverberating through the water. “I would like to hear about the threat that has shown

frowning, “I need to hear about these trade negotiations first. Mages, Eran, gather and speak to me,” he

sat, pensive, considering

able to be produced cheaply and in mass quantities. In such variety? This

low, shame written all over her face. “The final terms are

your Skills, you achieved the best deal that

as the Satrap rose from his throne, his