The Starlit Hive had just lost more people in the span of a few seconds than it ever had before, and Regina was furious.

Three of her sapient drones had just died. Three of her children. The fourth was heavily wounded, though still alive, and a few others were still in immediate danger.

Bea’s last moments had brought her anger boiling up to the surface, and Regina felt like her perspective was both widening and narrowing. She’d thought she’d been angry before, but that was nothing compared to this. This was not some momentary anger, nothing that would pass easily. In the back of her mind, Regina knew that it was transmitting to the other drones of the hive, especially those close to her. The news of what had happened was trickling through the psychic link, with predictable results. Max had barged into the room, almost vibrating with tension and an undercurrent of violence.

Regina took a deep breath. After a long moment, she turned her focus to Janis and her team, not letting go of the anger but putting a leash on it. Time was still of the essence.

They’re dead? Zoe asked grimly.

Regina sent wordless confirmation and a short impression of what had happened. She had established contact with Janis, Zoe, Ash and Ria at the same time, so she could talk to all of them at once.

Permission to use lethal force to take out our guide?

Of course. Regina didn’t even hesitate.

We need to act quickly to get away, Janis noted. Regina could sense her own anger, but like her, she was suppressing it and focusing on her own situation. None of us are familiar with these tunnels, but we’re probably close to the city. Assuming they’re not monitoring us somehow, we’re far back enough from the last watchpost that we should have a bit of time to get some distance.

Acting right now is probably going to make it clear that we really are Hivekind, Ria pointed out. At least it’ll give away that we’re in communication and found out what happened in the city right away.

Regina paused and frowned. That was a good point, and she weighed it in silence for a second. Nothing to be done about that, she finally said. They presumably know we’re Hivekind already, and we should assume they already know Hivekind have psychic capabilities. Getting you out is a bigger priority right now.

Understood, my Queen, Zoe and Janis responded at the same time.

The gnomes’ entire operation still seemed sloppy. Maybe they did think her hive members would just run right into their arms in the city. Or maybe they’d prepared an ambush, but something went wrong, or it could simply be that the delay when Janis’ group had taken a slightly different route had messed up their plan. Regardless, they had to be preparing to deal with them somehow, right now, if not earlier.

Zoe acted without wasting any time. Like before, the group was only accompanied by a single gnomish guide. He was almost level forty, but that was very manageable.

Zoe timed her attack just right when the gnome went around a bend, and her blade sliced into his torso. He ducked at the last second, enough to prevent it from being a lethal wound. Then Janis fired the Magic Missile she’d been casting. At this close range and with the power she’d put into it, the magical projectile slammed him into the rocky wall. Ash decapitated him half a second later.

Silently, he checked the gnome’s pockets, then the group turned and started back the way they’d come at a fast pace.

Regina considered sending her Winged Drones in the area to launch an attack run on a gnomish outpost, but decided to hold off for now. The surprise factor might be useful later. I really wish I had more avenues to act there, she thought with a mental grimace.

Long-term, hostilities with the Gnomish Confederation would be a major problem, even if the hive only lost a few high-level drones to this. Regina was more concerned about the immediate situation, though. Even if she felt more than a bit of frustration at her inability to raze the city right now.

Or the entire Confederation. She knew killing all the gnomes didn’t seem like the best solution, but it felt pretty appealing right now. She was angry enough for it. Well, that was getting far ahead of herself, either way, right now.

Janis and her team moved down the tunnels at a jog. They passed several intersections, and after a hurried conference, decided to retrace their steps. It would probably have been better to choose a different path than the one they’d taken, but they didn’t have a map or prior knowledge of the area, and there was no telling where they might end up. If they had to double back, they’d lose valuable time. Once they had covered more distance, it might be a better idea.

Minutes passed with no sign of any pursuit, so Regina focused more of her attention on Ken. He was the only survivor of the second part of the delegation she’d sent. Right now, the gnomes had tossed him into the back of a wagon, heavily bound, despite him still being wounded. He was also still suffering from the effects of a concussion, and with no window and just the rattling of the cart, it was hard to tell where he was or what was going on.

Keep your head down and focus on recovery for now, Regina told him.

I’ve still got my magic, he said. I might get a few Spells out.

She shook her head. You’re in the middle of a gnomish city, alone and wounded, there’s no way you’re fighting your way out. As long as you’re still there and they keep you alive, I’ve got a view into their city. They’ll try to limit what you can learn, but just your presence is already better than nothing.

I understand, my Queen. And I won’t tell them anything if they try to interrogate me.

Regina sent him a feeling of affirmation. She was certain of that, and she knew that he wouldn’t break even under torture, that he’d rather die than betray the hive. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.

After a few minutes, Janis’ group finally ran into trouble. Or at least opposition. It wasn’t really much trouble, since the group of gnomish fighters they encountered didn’t pick up on their presence before the drones found them.

Janis used her new Air Manipulation to muffle any sounds they made, and the party crept forward in the dimness of the tunnel. One of the approaching gnomes seemed to be carrying a lantern or other light source, but it didn’t reach very far in the winding tunnel. The party communicated mentally, then set up an ambush around a steep bend.

Janis acted first, shooting a Firebolt at the gnomes just as they rounded the corner. Before they could start to recover from it, Zoe and Ash laid into them. Ria hung back to provide support and healing, with her Mage Armor put on everyone.

The fight was over almost as soon as it had begun.

Ria glanced down at the group of six gnomish soldiers lying on the ground in puddles of blood, and Regina followed her gaze. One of them groaned weakly, still alive despite the blood gushing out of the slit veins on his thigh and armpit, and Ria slit his throat, silencing him. None of the others moved or breathed.

Let’s pick up the pace a bit, Janis said.

Regina felt the others’ agreement, and the four of them started jogging down the tunnel at a quick pace.

We’re close to the large entrance leading out into the foothills, Ash said after a short while. It might be best to split from our previous path now.

Alright, Regina agreed. Move northeast, there should be more cover there once you reach the surface. You could then turn west to head to Volance, or continue towards the hive.

As you say, my Queen, Janis replied. At the next intersection, she moved to the side, and the others followed.

Regina waited in tense silence while they continued to travel. She was almost starting to relax, when she felt a group of minds relatively close by.

Wait, she told them. There are other people nearby … I think. Stay as silent as possible, and it’s probably better if you slow down.

They complied, and Regina turned her focus to her psychic senses. Once more, she cursed the fact that the group was so far from the center of her territory and herself. It took her almost a minute to be reasonably sure of what she was sensing.

There’s a group moving through the tunnels, she said. At least ten, and I’m getting the feeling of alert watchfulness and tense anticipation. I’m not quite sure, but it does seem like they’re walking in a parallel tunnel. From the curvature, it might be the one you previously used, which is pretty close to your path right now. You should go on, but be safe.

Yes, my Queen, Janis acknowledged. That means they’re searching for us, and they should be aware of at least our general location.

Be careful.

The others started moving more quickly again. They even sped up a little. Regina knew that they wanted to get as much distance from their former position as possible. They were still careful, with Ash scouting ahead.

Regina herself tried to search for any other minds in their vicinity, to guide them away from any gnomish patrols or at least give them advance warning. It was nerve-wracking, and she barely had time for any other considerations. The few minutes until she felt the telltale sign of nearby plant and animal life that showed her where the tunnel would come out seemed to stretch into hours.

Then she sensed another patrol, and she suppressed a sigh. Twelve contacts ahead, she informed them. At least a hundred meters, moving almost orthogonal to you. I recommend letting them pass you by before you move on.

The party stopped and waited. Unfortunately, Regina sensed two of the group splitting off and coming in their direction. Two hostiles approaching, she warned. Take them out as quickly as you can and then hurry on.

They prepared, still in complete silence, and waited in ambush behind the nearest bend of the tunnel, even if it was very slight. Once the light of the gnomish lantern reached them, Zoe jumped out and Janis shot a Magic Missile over her head.

Unfortunately, the gnomes must have had enough time to see them and react, and both were immediately covered by a dark, metallic-looking shell that ate Janis’ projectile. Zoe didn’t waste time, but attacked them right away, with Ash coming up in support.

The two gnomes fought well, but they were outmatched. Janis switched tactics and used controlled bursts of air and puffs of flame to hinder, disorient and slow them, while Zoe and Ash battered them down quickly. They both received superficial injuries, which Ria healed immediately.

Then the group hurried on, running all out now, as silently as they could. Regina couldn’t tell if the other gnomes had heard the fight or had received some information from their comrades, since they were already out of her mental range, and she couldn’t pinpoint their positions, so Janis’ group took no chances.

Meanwhile, Ken was taken out of the carriage and half-shoved, half-carried into a building and down some stairs into a cellar. They’d put a hood over his head, so she didn’t learn anything more about this location. He could smell and hear half a dozen gnomes about him, as well as indications that they were in a less busy, but hardly abandoned, part of the city. Ken’s injuries flared up, but he managed not to show any signs of it, despite the echoes of sharp pain Regina could feel.

Then Janis’ group finally left the mountain, emerging into open air. Regina breathed a small sigh of relief, then paused. She could dimly sense some minds, almost at the edge of her range.

There are people some distance away, coming for you, I think, she said. We should probably make sure you aren’t there when they get here.

There’s also a gnomish outpost a few hundred meters that way, Ash pointed out.

Probably better to leave it alone and avoid it, Regina said, a bit unwillingly.

In the back of her mind, she recognized that she would not usually have considered ordering an attack on an outpost, complete with leaving no witnesses, like that. But it was like a switch had been flipped in her brain. The gnomes weren’t potential allies anymore; they were enemies. If she had to kill a few of them, even if they weren’t directly involved in recent events, she wouldn’t show any hesitation. Even if she didn’t have to, but a good opportunity presented itself. Thinning the numbers of the gnomes’ military would be an especially good bonus, either way.

The group of four set off, moving off the path and through a small, stony chasm to avoid the gnomish outpost and get out of the line of sight of the cave entrance leading into the tunnel network. And not a minute too soon. Regina could clearly feel the foreign minds getting closer. They were probably sweeping the tunnels, she supposed. Sweeping the mountainsides and foothills would be a harder task.

Should we get back to Volance? Zoe asked. Maybe ask her for help?

Regina considered that for a moment. That might be best, she said slowly. At the same time, we have to be prepared for rejection. She’ll probably be unwilling to attack the gnomes for us, but we might be able to lay some groundwork for the future. Janis, head towards her. She’ll be more likely to actually help you out, especially if you’re in danger. The rest of you should go home. I’ll get more Winged Drones out here to cover you, and maybe airlift you out. Janis, a Winged Drone Mount can get you home — from deeper in Volance’s territory, the gnomes aren’t likely to attempt to shoot you down.

Of course, my Queen, Janis responded, and the others echoed her.

Regina watched with part of her attention as Janis split from the others to head deeper into the mountains. This might be risky, because of the gnomes as well as the monsters around, but actually not as much as it might seem. Janis was strong enough that she could hold her own, especially with the support of flying drones that Regina had circling overhead, and she’d be safe in Volance’s territory. The others descended further away from the gnomish enclaves.

It took a few breathless minutes, but finally Regina couldn’t sense any other sapient minds close enough to pose a danger. Zoe, Ash and Ria found a trail that led them swiftly around a hillside and down a valley into the direction they needed to go, while Janis started climbing back to more familiar territory they had passed previously. Even if the gnomes started chasing her now, she was too close for them to reach her before she’d be high enough up the mountain.

At the same time as Janis and the others, Regina watched Ken’s environment through his senses. His captors brought him underground and into a cell before they pulled off the hood covering his vision. It was a small, bare stone room with a row of metal bars, tightly spaced together, on one side. What was worse, there appeared to be a guard station with several watchers set up, probably to keep a continuous eye on any prisoners, though he was currently alone.

I might get out of my cell, but I doubt I could fight my way through the rest, Ken said unwillingly.

Exactly, Regina agreed with a hint of bitterness. Just sit tight. I — She hesitated. I’ll try to rescue you if I get an opportunity, but I’ll be honest, I might have to leave you here.

I understand, my Queen, Ken assured her. The needs of the Hive come first, and if we lost other sapient drones’ lives to free me, there wouldn’t be much point, would there?

Regina agreed. She didn’t like it, but this was also her duty as Hive Queen, and she wouldn’t risk other drones’ lives unless she thought the risk was worth it. There was no point in planning a rescue mission right now.

That didn’t mean nothing could be done in the future. The gnomes certainly had a reckoning coming.

For now, Regina turned her mind to her hive. She needed to ramp up her production of drones. And adjust her previous plans on their composition. The hive would need a lot of War Drones, in addition to Winged Drones.