With enough time, we will be capable of withstanding any assault. The order of the day is to delay. Which is likely why the Colony is making a show of strength alongside me. The best answer to a belligerent neighbour is a show of strength. Let them know you aren’t to be messed with.
So, I can understand where the Colony is coming from, even if I’m secretly hoping to get something started…
Wait! Don’t even admit that to yourself! Dammit!
Ten thousand strong, we march through the blasted wasteland of the third stratum, the larval demons cavorting around our legs as we pass. When we finally reach the border, the lizards have beaten us there, and through my connection to the hundreds of scouts pouring all over the area, I can tell that the hundred lizards in front of us are only a portion of what they’ve brought to the dance. Trying to hide from the Colony. Foolish!
When I get there, one of the older lizards is standing at the head of their group, so I politely march over with my squad in tow and reach out to make contact.
[Hey there, chief! Nice day to be out for a stroll. Kind of makes me want to find a hot rock and just snooze. Know what I mean?]
The ka’armodo eyes me through narrowed eyes.
[Yes. It is a pleasant day. The heat is dry, yet the ash is a constant irritation.]
[Couldn’t your servants put up a barrier to keep the ash out?]
[I would not drain the setsulah for such a frivolous reason. Our bond is a sacred trust.]
[Then enchant something. I can’t be the first person to think of this…]
[You are not. Why are we discussing sleeping conditions? I am confused.]
I can tell the last isn’t just directed to me, and one of the servants steps forward.
[I believe the insect is mocking you, Master.]
[What?] The centuries-old giant lizard turns its glare on me.
[What? Hey! That’s an unfair characterisation. I was trying to make conversation about a topic you would find interesting to build common ground between us. Something we’re both interested in. Ants also like warmer climates, keeps us moving, keeps us energised. The brood also need to be kept at a warm temperature. Much like an egg. See? We have a lot in common. Like termites, for example.]
The great lizard continues to stare, and I lean in closer.
[You wouldn’t happen to know anything about termites running rampant in the fourth stratum now… would you?]
The ka’armodo keeps glaring at me, along with its servants and those of another hundred lizards.
[I wouldn’t,] he grates, and all of a sudden, the air has gotten quite tense.
128. Rubbed the Scales the Wrong Way
The two sides stare each other down, the tension thick. Outside of myself and the elder ka’armodo, along with his attendants, nobody is listening in on our conversation, but apparently the body language is enough to put everyone on edge. In front of me stand a hundred giant lizards and five times that many setsulah. If that was all, perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad, but I know for a fact that twice that number are lurking in the area, laying low, ready to jump in case things go south.
Behind me stands an army of ten thousand ants, lined up in neat ranks, prepared to attack at a moment’s notice. I don’t doubt that more are mobilising in the area around us, but the Colony is currently spread across the stratum, making it difficult to pull massive numbers together. Given a few more hours, I’m sure we could pull ten times this number together, but we don’t have the luxury.
You’d think our odds would be good with these sorts of numbers, but in all honesty, the balance of power is even. The only thing tilting it in our favour is the presence of myself and the squad. With four powerful, tier six monsters hanging about, we have the advantage, and I think they know it. With the ant army backing us up, they don’t have the ability to quickly annihilate us, the number of shields that will appear the moment they get aggressive is absurd, so when the fight drags out, we’ll explode into their ranks.
What we have here is a good ol’ Mexican standoff.
The only thing I’m not sure of is whether the lizards want to rumble or not. The Colony doesn’t, for the most part, but the lizards? Nobody’s sure.
[Are you sure you haven’t heard of the termites, Mr. Ka’armodo? Causing all sorts of havoc down in the fourth stratum. Thousands of them, hundreds of thousands, hell, maybe even millions. They’ve been attacking the Mother Tree, pushing her to the brink. She might be forced to call on her allies, maybe bring the Folk in. If that happens… who knows what’ll go down.]
The giant lizard sets his jaw as he folds his arms across his chest.
They look weird, these older ka’armodo. Their bodies are slightly elongated, the front raised up to something approximating a human chest with two arms. The rest of them is still the same, an elongated body, possibly eight metres from tip to tail, supported on four thick, sturdy legs tipped with barbed claws.
Each one of these guys is basically a monster in terms of their physical attributes. Combined with their powerful minds, it makes a hell of a combination.
[I have already told you, we don’t know anything about these termites of which you speak. The Mother Tree is no friend of ours, and her suffering brings me joy. She is nothing but a monster, and monsters should be destroyed, for the safety of all.]
That’s a little direct. I’m fairly sure that when he was talking about monsters, he wasn’t just referring to the tree.
[That’s an interesting worldview. I’m sure the Legion would be delighted to help you out. Why don’t you call them over? Get them down here so we can all tango together.]
A long, slightly awkward silence drags out.
[You can’t call them? That’s weird, this is exactly their sort of thing. They’d love to be a part of some monster culling like this. Get their hands on the Mother Tree? They’d love it. Or perhaps, they don’t have your back anymore, on account of some… shall we say ‘toe over the line’ activity. The tree hears things, you know? She’s got her vines creeping all over the place.]
The ka’armodo looks decidedly unimpressed.
[You think we need the help of the Legion to crush you? You overestimate yourself profoundly.]
[Is that so? Then why don’t you step up and swing?]
A pause. Two armies, poised on a hair trigger, watch us. The lizard hesitates.
[…Swing what? My tail?]
[No, I mean… like… throw your hands.]
[…How do I throw them? By the sands, speak some sense, you absurd insect!]
[Dammit! I mean, attack! Make the first move! If you think you outmatch us so heavily, then attack us and see what happens. That’s what I mean.]
[Ah. I see your meaning. These idioms do not hold any meaning for us. I am surprised they do for you. You don’t have hands.]
[That’s fair. I should stop using them.]
[Indeed. This causes confusion.]
[Right… so… you want to fight?]
[Oh, no. We will return. For now.]
Before my disbelieving, and frankly, disappointed eyes, the ka’armodo force, which had been posing so aggressively just moments before, begin to retreat. I’m so shocked by the turn of events that I reach out to my opponent almost without thinking.
[Wait! You’re just going to leave? Why the heck did you come out here in the first place?]
What’s the point of mobilising all of these forces just to drag us out of our nests? Isn’t that a colossal waste of time? Damn lizards!