The next day, Belissar watched over another purification in the early morning, this one led by Hirkolos. Though, since Hirkolos was the only human combatant, he fought alongside the bumblebees…who brought Finnakynne along with them. The pixie princess and the bumblebees only ended up observing, however, as only a single, small wolf shade appeared. Hirkolos’s Bee-fender shield allowed his wyvern to charge straight through the wolf’s breath attack unscathed, whereupon the large lizard easily overpowered the far smaller shade.
Once the purification and his morning routine were finished, Belissar made his way over to the Compact for yet another round of etings and negotiations…to decide if the Compact would then hold another round of etings and negotiations. But any amount of etings was worth preventing bees from dying when the Tower Lords inevitably showed up, so Belissar had no issue with it this ti.
“So, Wardmaster, you have just finished forcing us to deal with this human, and now, within the very sa year, you are going to do so again with these hybrids? You are certainly declaring a great many ergencies lately, are you not? Why, one might even wonder why there are so many situations allowing you to claim authority over the entire Compact in such a condensed period of ti…”
Wardmaster Varilold didn’t react to Duchess Bereginna’s pointed questions, keeping her face neutral and professional as she replied.
“I’ve presented my case for the necessity of negotiating with the sigmaka, Duchess Bereginna. If the signatories unanimously agree that leaving a chunk of signatory Belissar’s territory completely unwarded does not present a major threat to the Compact, any of its signatories, or the land of the fair, then you may overrule my judgent. Or, do you wish to move for a vote of no confidence in my execution of the duties of wardmaster?”
Duchess Bereginna furrowed her brow and scoffed.
“You say that as if you are not consorting with the pixie queen to overrule this council at every turn, Varilold. You’ve done well in tying our hands, I’ll give you that, but you should be more mindful of your place.”
The wardmaster just let the duchess’ words roll over her.
“It is precisely because of the responsibilities of my position that I have called the signatories together.”
Forgemaster Ughlarer, anwhile, scowled over at Queen Vanieskon.
“And I suppose this is all your doing?”
Queen Vanieskon just rested her head on her hand with a bored look.
“I believed that the signatories would prefer to negotiate with a new faction collectively. If you’d prefer that I make a unilateral arrangent between myself and these sigmaka, then I will. But it is both in the letter and spirit of the Compacts that we cooperate and respect one another, is it not?”
Forgemaster Ughlarer crossed his arms and grumbled.
“Fine. As arrogant and domineering as you have been lately, I at least still wish to avoid seeing this Compact experience a catastrophe. We’ll talk to these mortals and get the wardmaster working so we’ll have so defense from all these threats you’ve exposed us to. But, the negotiations will be conducted by this council, with diplomats agreed to by this council, and there will be no dealings between any of you and these mortals until our collective negotiations are concluded. Understand?”
Queen Vanieskon just made a light smile.
“But of course. That is the reason we are eting in the first place, after all.”
Nenavann then shook his head.
“To clarify, none of us, including signatory Belissar, should make any new agreents or unilateral negotiations with the sigmaka. However, I should remind the signatories that signatory Belissar already has existing agreents with the sigmaka, including a defensive alliance, which may require him to interact with them independently before the Compact’s collective negotiations conclude.”
Duchess Bereginna rolled her eyes.
“Yes, yes, and I suppose we must trust you and Queen Vanieskon to keep him honest in this?”
Nenavann couldn’t help a grin.
“You are welco to deal with signatory Belissar yourself whenever you wish, Duchess, if you’d prefer to stay updated on his affairs from the signatory himself.”
Duchess Bereginna scoffed but said no more. Loremaster Anyadre glanced around and then sighed.
“Then…do the signatories have any further objections or clarifications to the wardmaster’s decree?”
There was so trading of scowls and pointed looks but no one spoke up. The loremaster nodded.
“In that case, the signatories of the Calwaskon and Estelende Compacts shall establish contact with King Ratuatapi of the sigmaka, with the primary aim of opening his lands to the wardens for their work…”
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Belissar smiled. All in all, he thought it went quite well. The eting may have been as unpleasant as ever, but ultimately the signatories had agreed to et with the sigmaka straight away. Far more quickly than they had agreed to et with him, in fact, which was both a pleasant surprise…and sohow irritating…
“…as the wardmaster has declared this situation an ergency, let us proceed imdiately to appointing diplomats to represent the collective signatories.”
Belissar’s smile waned. It appeared they were not finished just yet after all. In fact, from how the forgemaster and duchess now straightened up and focused, he was getting the distinct feeling that the eting had only just begun…
***
Unfortunately, Belissar’s feeling would prove accurate. The discussion on who to send as a diplomat proved to be far more complicated…and passionate…than the discussion on talking with the sigmaka. Midday quickly approached with no conclusion in sight…which, unfortunately, ant the cooldown for a minor purification would finish while Belissar was still here in the Compact.
Belissar, fortunately or unfortunately, had expected this might be the case, and instructed his defenders to handle the purification without him if he couldn’t get back. Of course, that assud that he could trigger the purification while outside his Tower. He glanced up at the ever-present bee on his head and sent her a tower ssage.
“Niobee, could you pay attention for ? I’m going to check on the Tower and try to start the purification.”
“Ok!”
While Niobee listened to Duchess Bereginna’s latest tirade on his behalf, Belissar tried to see if he could bring up the daily purification nu…
Please select a purification strength:
- Minor (Cooldown: 6 hours)
- Minor (Cooldown: 12 hours)
- Small (Cooldown: 18 hours)
- Small (Cooldown: 24 Hours)
It appeared that distance was no obstacle to the Tower after all. Belissar hesitated for a mont. He knew this was a minor purification the Tower would have no trouble with, but he couldn’t help but worry when he wouldn’t be there to watch and help.
Though, he very rarely if ever actually helped with the purifications. And the bees were in charge of the midday purification today, his most experienced defenders. Recalling that, Belissar went ahead and checked that the defenders were ready, inford them the purification was incoming, then triggered the minor purification. He would trust in his bees and handle his own battle…
“Oh, you don’t think I don’t know that signatory Ornetrad has recently joined your little cartel? His own grandniece was the instigator of this entire affair, and has gotten off completely free for opening an unsanctioned nexus door, I might add! You are an imbecile if you believe I will entrust these negotiations to those tree lovers!”
…he wondered if it was strange that he might actually prefer to face the Hunger right now.
***
The queens of the hive of hives glanced at one another as they hovered in the Orchard. This purification was supposed to be a simple one, and yet the entire hive of hives had gathered together, awaiting the King’s command…
“Ok, I can start one after all. Let know when you’re ready and we’ll begin.”
The bees hovered in place for a mont before the First of the Fifth’s First Daughter broke the stillness with a dance.
“…King has commanded. Bees will guard King’s realm alone.”
A wave of salute dances passed through the hive of hives. The First Daughter turned to the battle adow queens.
“Full bee army will deploy. Firstborn will command today.”
No bee objected. No bee made any ntion of efficiency or trying sothing new today. For today…the King had entrusted them with the safety of his realm. Fully, completely, without his guidance. No bee missed the level of trust the King had invested in them today. No bee missed the weight of this task.
There could be no mistakes this ti. There could be no holding back. The King had not entrusted a battle to the bees this fully since the fall of the First Dynasty of the First Spawner. Even though he had permitted them to fight, he had always stood behind them, always ready to intervene personally if the bees failed.
Not so today. So today, the bees would not fail. They would not betray the trust of the King. They would show him, once and for all, that his realm was now completely safe, that they could be fully trusted to defend it. That he would never again feel as bad as he did when the First Dynasty fell.
And so, the Firstborn took charge as the hive of hives jamd as many bees into the Dirt Tunnels as could reasonably fit. The Fourth of the Seventh’s monster bee trapper squad covered the gate to the Beyond in the web traps the spiderkin had taught them. Beero and the hive of the fallen began their dances, readying their spells. Squads of archers and sprayers filled the entrance tunnel, abdons already pointed towards the gate. Shining bees flew through the air, lighting up the tunnel so that all bees could see. The digging bees burrowed into the dirt floors, walls, and even roof, adding another layer of soldiers that could burst through at a mont’s notice. The Firstborn herself hovered behind the sprayers and archers with every monster bee knight she had raised.
The Firstborn checked, double checked, and triple checked. She made sure every possible preparation had been made, that every bee was in place and knew what to do. Then, and only then, did she dance her salute to the King.
“Ok, here it cos!”
The Firstborn felt the chill of the enemy approach…
“Attack!”
The shade had barely started coalescing when the hive of hives unleashed their fury. Stingers made of lightning, fire, and even ford from the dirt of the tunnels thrust forth as the hive of the fallen cast their spells. The entire air was filled with toxins as the sprayers attacked as one, while the archers riddled the entire gate with their stingers. The battlecasters, sprayers, and archers then fell back as the Firstborn led her knights in a charge…
“Wow, that was quick! You did it, nice work everyone!”
The Firstborn halted her charge…for there was no enemy left to fight. She turned to face the bee army and danced.
“We did it.”
A mont later, the assembled bee army burst out into happy dances. The Firstborn could feel the dances then ripple through the hive link as the entire hive of hives burst out in celebration. The Firstborn herself lowered herself to the ground and simply basked in the mont.
Finally, they had now avenged the First Dynasty in every way, putting a final stinger into the tragedy of that day. Now, finally, she could say she had succeeded in her mission with no caveats. Now, finally, the bee army was strong enough that the King could entrust the battle fully to them, and completely turn his attention to other things. Now, the King didn’t even need to consider intervening in the fight.
Today was the day when all her efforts had paid off in full. She danced a dance of gratitude to the Queen of All Bees and the First Dynasty that had shown them the way, and to the hive of hives that had supported her and made this possible.
And then, she resolved to get back to work, and ensure that this victory endured.
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