[Don’t forget you have Granin and his Triad here,] I tell her. [They might be from the Cult of the Worm, but they’re good people, like the ones who originally took you in. They’ll be more than happy to help you with some advice.]
[Thank you, Anthony, I’ll think about it.] She smiles.
It’s a scary smile, but a smile nonetheless. The conversation turns from there to the Queen’s evolution and I ask her about it directly, but I get a surprising answer.
[I do not plan to evolve again anytime soon,] she says. [I consume enough resources as it is between my hunts and having to take in Biomass for the eggs. I am accumulating experience slowly, on my own, and eventually I will reach tier seven, but it will not be for a long time. I think this is fine, since reaching the next tier would force me deeper into the Dungeon and away from this nest.]
Come to think of it, I haven’t bothered to examine my own core since waking up. How am I holding up? I turn my senses inward and I’m a little dismayed to find that I’m leaking Mana. How’s this even possible? There’s a wave going on! Only then do I remember that the walls in this chamber are free from Dungeon veins, making the ambient Mana much lower than it would otherwise be. Even so, I’m quite shocked. It’s possible that once the wave is finished, I won’t be able to sustain myself at this depth without making a conscious effort to drag in Mana, and even then, I might not be able to do so indefinitely. Has the time come already to relocate farther down? I suppose the Queen is fine since her core isn’t as dense as mine, but Sarah might be in a similar boat as me.
[How are you doing at this depth, Sarah?] I ask. [Is your core able to handle it?]
[I’m probably the same as you are now,] she admits. [Before the wave, it was a little tough. In these chambers, the Mana is a bit thin. I can’t stay in here forever. Without the golgari enchantments thickening the Mana in my chambers, there’s no way I would have been able to stay in the second stratum as long as I have.]
[Does this mean you need to move deeper, child?] the Queen asks me.
[I think so,] I reluctantly confess. [Especially once the wave is over.]
The Queen shrugs her antennae.
[I do not see the problem,] she says. [Before long, there will be many ants who need to move deeper. You will do as you always have and move as the vanguard of the Colony. I am sure you will be able to secure a place for us in the depths before we need it. You have always been capable in that regard.]
[You sure you don’t mean to say that I’m capable of getting the Colony into a mess and then needing the whole family to drag me out of it?]
She frowns at me. It’s an odd thing, an ant frown. There’s no facial muscles, obviously, it’s more about the mandibles and antennae than anything else.
[I was trying to be nice about it,] she says. [Enough. I think it is time that you return to your duties.]
[Who, me?] I ask.
[Of course, you. There is much work to be done, is there not? The wave threatens our nests even as we speak, and the most formidable warrior of the Colony is sitting here idle. I will keep you no longer.]
[Ugh, fine.]
I push my legs under me and stand up.
[Sarah, Mother. It’s been wonderful to chat with you, but duty calls.]
I walk away, Invidia floating over my shoulder.
[Anthony…] the Queen’s mind rings against my own.
[Yes?] I ask innocently.
[You appear to be walking toward the brood chambers.] An undercurrent of warning runs through her mental sending, putting my hairs on end.
[Hah! Whoops! What a blunder. I think I better go this way, then… Thanks for pointing out the mistake. Haha!]
Dammit… Wait for me, grubs! I’ll be back!
34. What’s Been Going On?
Back to work, then. No rest for the wicked, so they say. Not that I’m wicked. Whatever.
Leaving the egg-laying chamber and embracing the rush of Mana that comes once I leave the Dungeon vein-free zone in the heart of the nest, I try to get my bearings and work out exactly what I should be doing next. Quite honestly, there’s a lot on my list.
I could talk to Granin and the crew, get some input on what to do mutation and Skill-wise going forward. Or I could visit the other golgari prisoners, it’s been ages since I dropped in on Irette Plamine and company. What the heck have they even been up to all this time? How do they feel about the golgari failing in their assault and being left behind? Come to think of it, what the heck are we going to do with them from here on out? Eh, I’m sure the Council will work it out.
There’s also White and Grey to think of. From what I’ve heard, Grey put on quite the show and absolutely humiliated the leader of the invasion during the siege, which would have been amazing to see. I should definitely squeeze in a convo with them before I leave the nest.
I should probably check in with the Council at some point also. I’m sure each of them are furiously busy, what with the wave and all that, but I’ve little doubt there are things I could do to help them out. If I end up visiting each caste, I’m sure to wind up with a laundry list of tasks as long as my body.
I could probably take the time to go and see the branchies again as well. They’ve proven to be quite a bit more powerful than initially expected, and if we can get their ‘mother’ on our side, then she would be an incredible ally. Not to mention it’d be nice to get to know another reincarnator such as myself. At least, one that isn’t likely to kill me.
I’d love to hunt down that miserable worm while I have a chance, but I just don’t believe he’ll be found. If he wriggled away and the golgari didn’t capture him again, then he could be anywhere. If my guess is correct, he’s well beyond our reach, burrowed into the deepest, darkest hole he could find, somewhere not even the Dungeon will reach him. Eventually the wave will end, and he’ll have to stick his nose out. When he does, we’ll be there.
Gah! I’m getting mad thinking about that traitor. I need to get to work and distract my thoughts.
Our first port of call is to collect Tiny. After kicking the ape awake and dragging him out of his comfy nook by the leg, we set a course looping through the nest in order to visit all the individuals on my list to catch up with. I find Grey and White meditating together in their chambers, as usual. I try not to cheese off the wolfish Folk over the course of our discussion. As our chat winds up, Grey lets me know that he will be leaving shortly.
[Oh? Why’s that? Our hospitality not good enough for you?]
[Far from it. Considering what and where you are, our accommodations have been above and beyond. It is merely time to return. White must complete her training journey, and it will be necessary for me to provide witness to our leadership before they can make a ruling on the matter of your sapience. Should things go well, then diplomatic channels will be opened with your colony, and you’ll be afforded the respect a new race deserves.]
[That’d make a mighty change from the treatment we’ve experienced so far,] I say.
He waves at the notion, frowning.
[You’ll find all of the so-called ‘new races’ have experienced harsh treatment from the old. Only through many battles in which we proved our strength were we afforded the space to stand on our own. Although the peace has endured for many, many years, anger still runs deep on both sides and small-scale fighting is incessant. You’ll never truly be at harmony with the old, but with time and further battles, you may be able to secure some measure of peace.]