Kiara pulled her horse to a stop, surveying the land in front of her with a critical eye.

They were in her father’s march at present, although she had not spent much time in this part of its eastern reaches before. The terrain was open, with only some slight hills causing any dip in elevation, which made it easy to survey one’s surroundings from the ground with the naked eye. She’d stopped on top of a low hill, as well, sweeping her gaze along the horizon behind her and then forward to the camp being set up in a shallow valley ahead.

The sight did not provoke fond feelings. While their forces had not been driven quite this far back, they had already been pushed quite a distance beyond the Dannan. Their army was encamped only a few days’ ride to the east, perhaps less for a messenger who did not spare his horses.

“Do you see any cause for concern, Milady?” her companion asked.

Kiara glanced at her and shook her head. “Not as such, Lady Margaret, I was merely taking in the view,” she responded.

The other woman inclined her head in response and fell quiet. She was a few years older than Kiara, and quite fetching with honey-blond hair and expressive sea-green eyes. They made her look more innocent than Kiara knew it was wise to think. She was not supposed to know about the young lady’s hidden suitor, but Kiara had found out quite quickly.

In normal times, less than a year ago, Lady Margaret would have been considered Kiara’s superior, as the daughter of a duke, not a marquis. They were both their houses’ heirs. Of course, Kiara supposed her own royal blood might have complicated things even then. Today, the daughter of Duke Bluegrass seemed perfectly content to follow Kiara. She had also more than proved her worth as a companion and was quickly becoming a friend.

Now, Kiara gently nudged her spurs into her horse’s side and set off down the hill. Margaret quickly followed, as did the two knights at their sides.

“There, do you see, Milady?” Margaret asked after a short pause.

Kiara squinted, following her gesture, then smiled. “Good eyes,” she praised her. “It seems our guests are arriving.”

The other noblewoman returned her smile. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Do you believe your father will find the success he seeks?”

She sighed softly and shook her head. “The answer to that question is beyond me, I am afraid.”

Kiara tried not to show her frustration and smoothed the frown starting to take shape on her forehead as she thought about it. They seem to be as oblivious as Lionits to anything I wrote, she complained to herself. At least Janis should have understood something … She suppressed a sigh. Perhaps I should have been more explicit.

And perhaps, she reflected, they had understood more than she assumed, and simply not committed it to writing. Which, if so, might not bode well for their attitude in the coming meeting. Or perhaps she was giving the Hive Queen too little credit. She rather doubted the Hivekind played games of intrigue among themselves — although, despite her efforts to learn anything she could about them, very little of substance could be found, so she could not be certain of her information — but Regina had shown she was far from simple-minded, despite her evident youth.

These thoughts carried her into the camp. Since her father had only brought a small entourage, including some of his most important supporters and twenty knights, it was not hard to find anything one might seek. Kiara dismounted and allowed a servant to take her horse, then looked around.

“Sir Richard, inform my father of what we have seen,” she instructed one of the knights.

He gave a short bow and left, while Kiara’s attention was captured by another figure slowly moving closer. She hesitated for a moment, then started walking to meet them.

“I presume you have spotted the guests you expected, Lady Kiara?” the other woman asked with a courteous bow of her head. If she felt at all uncomfortable dressed in dark clothing more suited to an adventurer’s party than a noble gathering, carrying several weapons on her person along with a lute, she showed no sign of it.

“It appears so, Lady Gwen,” Kiara replied, inclining her head in response.

The woman might not act much like it, but one was well-advised to show courtesy to someone of the governors’ blood. She might be a Delver, but Gwen Cern remained springborn. While only a cousin of the current lord, his lack of heirs meant she was reasonably high in their house’s line of succession, as well. Besides, Kiara knew her father had been overjoyed to welcome a Delver representative. Any indication that the adventurers’ order might choose to join the war on his side was welcome. Personally, Kiara suspected Cern was less interested in that than meeting the Hivekind. She was curious what they might wish to speak about, although she knew she would most likely not have the opportunity to sate that curiosity.

“Have you seen these new people before?” Margaret asked, also sounding curious.

Gwen Cern’s hesitation was faint, but Kiara was confident she had seen it. “In passing,” she acknowledged.

“I imagine your order is not eager to have dealings with them,” Kiara commented, keeping her tone neutral.

The Delver sent her an undecipherable look. “Not all of us Delvers are xenophobes, Milady,” she replied. “Whatever people may say.” Her look softened after a moment. “That said, you are not entirely wrong.”

“Shall we go watch them arrive?” Lady Margaret asked, possibly trying to move past any tension.

Kiara followed her to the edge of the camp where they would have a better view, while Cern kept back. It did not take long for her father to arrive, and he beckoned Kiara with a gesture to join him. Duke Bluegrass was also close by, and smiled at his daughter as they met.

The Hive’s envoys could certainly have arrived by air, but it seemed they had chosen not to do so. Although Kiara supposed it was possible they had traveled part of the way in the air and only made their final approach on the ground. Instead, they were clearly putting on a show, a small display of their strength.

Two columns of War Drones flanked the sapient members of the Hive at the core of their delegation. As they came closer, Kiara could see that all of their levels were above thirty, and there were several Classes (if such a term was applicable) of War Drones she had not seen before. They moved with perfect coordination, every step falling exactly in time with the other escorts’, keeping precise distances as they flowed around their masters, their columns rippling in a wave-like pattern. It might have use as a combat formation, although Kiara could see potential weaknesses in addition to the advantages of a changing front line, but it certainly made for an impressive display of skill. As they approached, they even began to fan out, spreading into wings while keeping up their rotations and presenting the bladed ends of their natural weapons.

At the center walked Hive Queen Regina, her head held high and a serene expression on her face. She really had matured somewhat and grown into a more humanoid appearance since Kiara had first laid eyes on her. While clearly smaller than several of her companions, she looked to be around Kiara’s own height now. She wore a richly embroidered jacket and pants in the style of Ariedel, which must have been gifts from the elves.

Her companions wore similar, though more muted, clothing. Kiara recognized Max and Tim. Although Hivekind did not seem to show much variance in their appearance, with all of them having the same coloring, there were differences if you looked closely. Three of the drones accompanying their queen seemed to be warriors, although they each only had a single weapon on their belts. Kiara’s eyes were inexorably drawn to the one person of a different race among them, however. Janis looked good, and surprisingly powerful. Her hair and eyes proclaimed her non-human heritage to the world, but Kiara could not find it in herself to consider them a detriment to her beauty. Especially those eyes, like the deep sky on a summer day.

“So it is true,” Duke Bluegrass muttered. “If I had not seen it with my own eyes. They do have a Royal Champion.”

Kiara glanced around and realized that a lot of the gathered nobles and knights appeared to be looking at Tim. Some of them frowned, a few seemed disbelieving, but there were some satisfied smiles as well - if she had to guess, the owners had won bets on the matter.

“That is not the only thing, Father,” Margaret spoke up, frowning faintly in what appeared to be contemplation. “That Hive Queen — she has divine power laying over her like a shroud of silk.”

“You believe she is truly a divine Champion?” Marquis Lyns asked sharply.

Lady Margaret shook her head slowly. “I cannot be sure, but it does not seem that way. I do not think so.”

Kiara nodded. Margaret had actually met a Champion of a deity before, the god Benerron in this case. She herself was a paladin of the god often referred to as the ‘god of monsters’, something Kiara was sure had confounded many of their peers.

Perhaps it was good that they were meeting here, after all, instead of in a city. Kiara had hoped for a chance to see June again - it had been too long since she had spoken with her little sister - but it might be fortunate there were not even more people of status present.

Then the Hivekind arrived. The War Drones moved to the side and instead formed an honor guard at the sapients’ side. Regina stepped forward until she stood at the front of the group, Max looming beside her. Kiara glanced at her father as he also took a step forward.

“Welcome, Hive Queen Regina,” he spoke, inclining his head.

“Thank you, Lord Lyns,” she responded, mirroring the gesture; to the same angle, Kiara noticed. Faint muttering rose from around her seeing this.

“I am gladdened that you have followed my call,” he continued. “I believe we have much to discuss. If you will allow me to make introductions, there are many here who are eager to make your acquaintance.” He cleared his throat and took half a step back and to the side. “I believe you remember my daughter, Kiara.”

Kiara bowed her head slightly deeper. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Likewise,” Regina responded with a smile.

“Please let me introduce Duke Bluegrass, …” Kiara let her father’s words wash over her as he continued with the introductions, naming the important noblemen who had accompanied him.

She noticed Regina start slightly as he introduced ‘the Lady Gwen Cern’. Then the Hive Queen herself started with introductions. She ignored her War Drones and only gave her sapient companions’ names, mentioning their names and Classes, although all could see those through the use of the System. As Regina had apparently decided to go in the order of their levels, Janis was last, introduced as “my trusted confidant and advisor, Janis Starlit, granddaughter of Volance”. Clearly, that name meant nothing to most of those present, although Gwen Cern’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“We have set up a pavilion where we may talk in more comfortable surroundings, if you would follow me?” Her father continued after the introductions were finally finished.

The gathering moved into the improvised camp and the pavilion he mentioned, which consisted of a cloth canopy that fell down on two sides, allowing the spring warmth to enter on the other sides. It was comfortably furnished with carpets and chairs, as well as a table. Kiara’s father took a seat on the richest chair, while Kiara sat down beside him, with Duke Bluegrass on her other side. Judging by their visitors’ intent looks, this arrangement did not escape them.

“I have to admit I was surprised to receive your letter,” Regina began as soon as everyone had settled down. “I was not aware the war was in such a state that you could be spared from leading your army.”

“That is reasonable,” he answered calmly. “But I have capable lieutenants, and I trust them to manage well until we can return to the field.”

The Hive Queen inclined her head. “Of course, I see.”

“Firstly, let me thank you for the generous contributions of gold you have provided to our campaign,” he said. “They are much appreciated.”

There was a slight rustling in the tent as a few of its occupants shifted. Kiara knew some would not be happy to see her father express this sentiment to a demihuman, just as they were unhappy he needed such contributions from her in the first place. But the war had taught all of them lessons in pragmatism, so no one would complain.

Regina smiled and nodded again. “You are quite welcome.”

“We hope they have been useful,” one of the drones, Max, commented. “Does the war go well?”

Kiara repressed the urge to sigh and lean back in her chair as the conversation developed and they discussed the course of the war. Clearly, every person present was trying to be polite. Still, the news were suited poorly for pleasant conversation.

Then the duke steered the conversation toward the Hive’s own war with the Gnomish Confederation. They professed that it was going well, although the drones seemed reluctant to go into great detail on the matter.

“Word is that your Hive has greatly expanded in recent times,” Margaret commented in an idle tone.

Regina smiled, a touch sardonically. “I suppose you could say that. May I ask where you have heard of this?”

“I have heard it several times, as it happens,” she answered seriously. “Your Hive has been drawing quite a bit of interest, my lady Hive Queen.”

The Hive Queen nodded slightly. “I see, that is perhaps to be expected.”

“You also have gained a great many levels in a short amount of time, Lady Regina,” their host interjected. “Quite an accomplishment.”

“You flatter me, Lord Lyns,” she said dismissively.

“Certainly, your people have seen an enormous gain in strength,” he continued. “I daresay few could have expected it, and many will find it difficult to believe, but I have no doubt of it.”

Regina leaned back in her chair, her posture still casual. “I suppose you are going somewhere with this?” she asked mildly.

The level of tension in the pavilion seemed to tighten as everyone realized the discussion was coming to the real point now.

“Lady Regina, let me be frank.” Kiara’s father leaned forward, gazing at his guest. “I am here because I need your help. My enemy - our enemies - are winning, and if nothing is done, they will grind down our forces in a matter of months. After that, they will turn their gaze to the west and bring war to your people.”

“Marquis Lyns. My Hive is already fighting a war.” Regina’s voice was steady, but hard as stone. “Fighting against an enemy with considerably superior numbers, may I add. While I have no doubt about our ability to prevail, it is far from an easy task. We have our fight, as you have yours.”

He raised a hand slightly and answered, “I am aware of this, and, of course, we could never ask for your full strength. Still, I believe this is in all of our best interests. We do not simply come with pleas, either.”

“We really do need your help,” Kiara added. Her eyes darted briefly to Janis, before she fixed them on the Hive Queen again.

“You are fighting a civil war for the throne of your country,” she pointed out.

“A war you are already involved in, not simply by helping us,” he countered. “And I am prepared to make concessions. I have things to offer you should not turn down lightly.”

Regina frowned and glanced at the others. “I have my doubts about that, to be frank.”

“Understandable, but I am sure we can lay them to rest.” He smiled. “I think we can come to an agreement satisfying to all sides.”

The Hive Queen regarded him silently for a second, before she straightened up properly again and laid her hands on the table. “Well, let us talk, then.”

Kiara clenched and unclenched her hands. This was going to be a long conversation, but she felt cautiously hopeful.