Chapter 187: Chapter 187

Metsaitti approached the end of the rot cap field with a cloth wrapped around his face. Besides him was a digging worker bee, currently dancing on the ground, and Noiggakuq, also wearing a cloth around her face. She was tense and puffing her cheeks slightly, likely upset that he had prevented her from fighting this time. But Metsaitti wanted to scout past the rot cap field today, and for that he needed Noiggakuq’s nose. They could not afford for her to be drenched with stink bug scents even if she could handle herself now.

But they had made it through the field, so Noiggakuq could now take a more active role. Metsaitti nodded at her and she pulled down her cloth, sniffing at the air. Her face immediately scrunched up.

She shook her head and spat out her words.

“Nothing. Just stink, stink, and more…”

She suddenly paused and then her eyes narrowed.

“There’s stink…coming from the tunnel.”

Metsaitti narrowed his eyes slightly. That could have indicated another field of rot cap…but then the mushrooms should have extended down into the tunnel. Meanwhile the digging worker flew back to his shoulder and began to tap out a dance.

“Something there. Seven, King-sized.”

“Then…do I need to go speak with them?”

Chief Rohsuak shook her head.

“You need not do anything, Sacred Den Master, besides what your Sacred Den requires of you. And to be honest, I would not recommend that course of action. It is unusual for a Sacred Den Master to venture beyond their own domain. It would be an insult if they insisted upon meeting outside your den…at least after they have proof that we are sworn to you.”

Belissar crossed his arms.

“And what would work as proof for that?”

Chief Rohsuak smiled as she glanced towards the soldier bee army training in the field beyond.

“I believe a handful of your larger bees would do the trick. No one has ever tamed monster bees to my knowledge.”

Belissar rubbed his chin.

“And…what do you think these people want from us?”

Chief Rohsuak eyed him for a moment before starting to rub her own chin.

“Hm, it is good they have revealed themselves and spoken directly to us. They would not have done so if their current intentions were hostile. They opened by naming their king and calling us intruders, and did not ask to see the Sacred Den. That signals to me that they are more concerned with protecting themselves and their current possessions, and wish for us to acknowledge their authority, at least over their own lands. More than that I cannot say.”

Niobee buzzed her wings at that.

“If hurt King, will sting.”

The rest of the bees began buzzing as well. Chief Rohsuak chuckled and then nodded.

“Indeed. We, too, shall come to your defense should they have ill-intentions for you.”

She then looked him in the eye again.

“So, Sacred Den Master, how do you wish for us to respond?”

Belissar groaned. He glanced down and took a deep breath.

“…honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know the first thing about talking to people , or what I’m supposed to do…”

Indeed, this was the first time Belissar had to decide something …with time to think about it, at least. The karnuq had just sort of arrived, and Belissar had been distracted by the implications of the karnuq being people in the first place. This time, this time he had the time to think about it and realized once again how out of his depth he was. What did he know about negotiating with some king?

Chief Rohsuak’s face softened.

“There is no supposed to for you, Sacred Den Master. In my experience, Sacred Den Masters do as they please and then it is the duty of others to follow. You are the one who holds back the Hunger, after all. So, do not worry about what you are supposed to do. Ask yourself…what would you want from these people? Do you wish for friends and allies? To exchange goods with one another? Do you wish for us to conquer them in force, to take their lands and force them to bow to your authority? Do you wish for us to drive them away? Or do you wish to be left alone and interact with them as little as possible? That is a choice as well, and whatever you decide we will all do our best to see fulfilled.”

Belissar rubbed his chin once more. What did he want? Well, he ruled out conquering in force immediately. He had no wish to burn down anyone else’s village, that was for sure. And as he thought about it…he realized he didn’t want much at all. He was quite happy with his Tower and his bees and the karnuq, and as long as they kept growing strong enough to stop the shades he didn’t need or want much of anything else.

Though, at that moment, he glanced at his bees. He didn’t want much else…but his bees could always use more flowers.

Belissar took a deep breath and uncrossed his arms.