09 — Migrating the Vespians

09 — Migrating the Vespians

The next day, we left for the southern forest at around the same time as our last outing and arrived with no issues. I decided to use the opportunity to make use of the hermit key.

“Mind heading inside for me, Forêt?”

I envisioned a door, let magic flow into the key, and turned it. Suddenly, the door became reality and swung open, revealing an entire stable inside. I had tried it once before, and it blew me away every time. It was a horse’s dream, complete with food, places to sleep and exercise, and even a massage room. Our steeds (aside from Forêt, that is) had seemed hesitant and confused at first, but quickly relaxed once they realized it was safe inside. Aside from Forêt. She never liked being inside it, and this time was no exception.

We didn’t have much time to waste, and I was afraid of upsetting the only horse to ever let me ride, so I compromised.

“If we’re doing this and you really want to come with me, I need you to promise to behave. Can you do that?”

She firmly nodded.

“That’s a clever mare,” Lionel commented.

“Maybe she’s bred from some kinda war horse line,” Ketty wondered.

Forêt immediately reared her legs up at her.

“Whoa, easy, girl! Ketty, apologize.”

I knew Forêt hated being treated like a simple beast, but she never got this angry. Maybe she was especially stressed out because of not getting to exercise for so long. She was a strange horse, that was for sure. No one but her would put on that much of a show.

“Hey, I didn’t mean nothin’ by it!” Ketty bowed. “Forgive me?”

“Oh, if I must!” Forêt brayed. Or that was what it sounded like at least. I realized I should probably let everyone know the situation, to prevent similar issues in the near future.

“I know some of you probably have second thoughts about taking her with us,” I announced. “But she’s smarter than she looks. She’s made that plenty clear in the time I’ve known her, so I trust she won’t get in anyone’s way. Everyone got that?”

“Understood!” they replied. I got the feeling that they were mostly keeping their opinions to themselves, though. I whispered to Forêt to prove them wrong, and we entered the forest.

Our group consisted of the same people as last time, plus Honeur and his attendants. I hesitated slightly when it came to bringing the elves but figured it wouldn’t hurt to give them a second chance. Ketty had, strangely enough, been all for it as well. So we ended up taking the girls along, under Lionel’s watchful eye.

Prince Honeur led us directly to the colony, and we arrived in no time.

“I’ll go report. We’ll be back shortly,” he announced, flying up to a nest hanging overhead with the other vespians.

I turned to the elves. “That thing that guided us last time. A leshy, was it? Are we not going to see it this time? And is the Spirit of Tides speaking to any of you right now?”

“We’ve seen and heard nothing so far,” Lycian said.

None of them wanted to lose their slave crests anymore, so the three had asked if they could be on spirit and sprite surveillance duty, which I had no problem with, considering I was the one who’d told them I would hold them all liable if one slipped up.

“Got it. Let me know if anything happens.”

The plan was to split into three groups. Lionel, Ketty, Honeur, Dhoran, Milphene, and I were on tree transplanting duty. Pola, Lycian, and Team Yulbo would gather lumber and magic stones from any monsters we encountered. Creia and Kefin’s men were going to watch our backs (and the air, just to be safe) for any enemies who might’ve been tailing us. I knew we needed more magic stones than this would afford us but ultimately decided to do what I did best: prioritize safety. As they say, slow and steady wins the race. And they had to say that for a reason, right?

“Sir Sage!” the prince called out happily. “We have approval. Once we’ve chosen our trees to transplant, thirty percent of the colony, about forty vespians, will join us. Does that sound agreeable to you?”

He was like some excited new homeowner, itching to show off the new place to his friends. It was kind of entertaining. But I had to make sure they knew what they were getting into.

“That’s fine by me, but they know this won’t be safe, right?”

“Of course! We’re well aware. I did want to ask if we might be able to construct hives beneath your guild.”

Where else were they planning on building those things? Not that I had any intention of declining. I’d meant to give them permission before.

“Do whatever you need to make yourselves comfortable. I expected more people to get involved, so there’s room to expand. Just be aware you won’t be making any trips back home for a while once everyone’s there.”

Obviously, I needed to provide a safe environment for these people, but exactly how to do that wasn’t so clear. As much as I would’ve liked the entire colony to move, I knew that would be asking too much. Most of the vespians joining us were relatively young. Many others had spent their entire lives in these woods. Given I was taking away an entire generation of their people, I had a responsibility now, to make sure this project was a success.

We got to work. The vespians selected trees in need of moving, Milphene spoke to them and shifted their roots while Dhoran lifted the earth, and I stashed them in the magic bag. Kefin’s team, along with either Lionel or Ketty, jumped into action at Forêt Noire’s signal, earning her everyone’s recognition at last.

And then it was over. We’d achieved our objective and acquired the plants we needed with almost disappointing ease.

“All right. Vespians, it might be a little cramped, but hop into the carriage,” I called out.

We were off to Yenice. I was well within my rights to bring the vespians into the city, since yesterday’s contract had given the guild freedom over producing and selling wares, but you could never be too careful. After all, sweet, sugary honey was liable to draw all manner of hungry insects.

Meanwhile, oblivious to my oh-so-brilliant metaphor, Ketty was on the alert.

“Don’t sense anyone watching this time. Must be ’cause the sun hasn’t set.”

“I hope it stays that way,” I said.

“What’s tomorrow’s plan?” Lionel asked.

“We’re going to the labyrinth to get some magic stones. I expect to be there for only half a day, but it could be a bit sparse now that it’s been conquered. It’s possible we’ll spend the night there.”

“A fine idea,” he agreed. “Let’s not forget to have Nalia prepare our meals.”

“We’ve got a full map this time, so you might even get to show your claws a bit, Chief!” Ketty suggested.

“We’ll see.”

We returned to Yenice soon after.

＊

I found myself remembering something. About the Spirit of Tides, and how it had told me I’d come to the forest too soon. This visit, however, was less eventful. Perhaps contact with the spirits wasn’t such an easy thing to make. It seemed we’d be left with more questions than answers for some time still.

We entered the Healer’s Guild directly through the first floor basement, carriage and all, to hide the vespians’ presence.

“We’re here,” I said to them. “This is only the first floor, so if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the third.”

The bee folk glanced all around, marveling at their surroundings. Some looked utterly flabbergasted and muttered about doubts.

“Wait until you see the third floor,” Honeur boasted. “This is nothing!”

His people hesitantly followed us down, but by the second floor, they were practically bundles of flying curiosity. Then we made it to the third floor.

“This will be your new home and workplace,” I announced.

Pure, stunned silence followed. I certainly couldn’t blame them. How often did you go downstairs only to find a second sun and pastures filled with fields?

“We’ll get the trees and seeds planted accordingly. Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll do what I can to help.”

The vespians seemed to all come together, brimming with sudden enthusiasm for their new haven, then all at once cried, “Thank you, Sir Sage!”

“Let’s make this happen.”

With the mood properly set, replanting began. Dhoran did the heavy lifting, while Milphene used her own spirit magic to ensure the process left the fruit trees with minimal stress. It went without a hitch, thanks to all the forest soil we’d brought along. Dhoran quietly returned to his workshop when everything was finished.

“Guess it takes more than that to motivate him,” I wondered aloud. “He did good work, though.”

I had given him seventy percent of the magic stones we’d obtained in the forest, but it didn’t even break the triple digits, so I imagined he wasn’t exactly satisfied.

“Grandpa only gets quiet when he’s in a good mood,” Pola replied, looking unmistakably disgruntled.

“You and Lycian have too many crazy ideas. Narrow it down to what you think might be useful to the most people.”

“Very well,” Lycian said, popping up behind us out of nowhere. She and Pola disappeared into the latter’s workshop.

“Those two sure make good friends,” I muttered.

I looked over the smiling vespians, pleased and ready to get our hands on those magic stones tomorrow. Little did I know of the traces left in the Flame Dragon’s Labyrinth of Will that we were about to stumble upon. Traces left by the Wicked One.

＊

After dinner the previous day, I put together an employment contract for the new vespians. A real one this time. No more verbal promises.

The first point covered wages: they would be provided with three meals and shelter, but they had to abide by the prescribed rate of payment. Second: any outings into the city above would only be done with permission, even in emergencies. For the time being, though, all outings were forbidden until the state was more stable. Third: they would have one day off per week. And fourth: they were to get along peacefully with other races if others came to work in their space as well. After a half-year trial period, if a viable production of honey had been established, they could be employed on a more permanent basis.

There had been no objections, and they were probably hard at work by now. I, on the other hand, was on my way to the labyrinth to acquire magic stones, accompanied by Lionel, Ketty, Team Kefin, and Team Yulbo. Lionel and Ketty were a given, of course, but any time I went outside the city, I tended to take two of the three regiments that made up Kefin’s slave team. I’d thought Ketty had ordered Kefin’s regiment to monitor the rabbit-folk today, though.

“Weren’t Verdel’s men supposed to be joining us today?” I asked Kefin.

The teams often switched places and shuffled around. I had been asked if they were allowed to do so today and had told them yes, but the ride to the labyrinth was boring. So I figured I’d ask what the deal was.

“Quite a few of Verdel’s boys’ve taken a shine to the slaves Nalia’s been teaching. They asked to stay behind to watch the guild,” he replied.

“What about the rabbit-folk?”

“Bet they split up,” Ketty cut in. “But they better not have, if they know what’s good for ’em.”

“Oh, to be young. Gotta savor those feelings while you can,” I sighed longingly.

“You’re only twenty yourself, Chief.”

“I do hear those in the Church tend to act older than their years, but you still have time to ripen,” Lionel quipped.

Way to overgeneralize, although, I had read that paper all that time ago. Substance X was supposed to slow down the alleged aging that came with Church-related classes. Suddenly, my hiatus from the substance started looking a lot more temporary. Wait, I was supposed to quip back, wasn’t I? Well, crap, the labyrinth had already come into view.

“That sucks,” I muttered as I lowered myself down from Forêt’s back.

Before heading in, I used the hermit key and gestured for the horses to go inside. Forêt reluctantly acquiesced this time. Good thing I’d had that talk with her about the dangers of labyrinths.

I addressed everyone one last time. “We’re following the map and pushing right on through, as far as we can go. Expect there to be fewer monsters, but don’t let your guard down.”

“Understood!”

We once again headed into the Labyrinth of Will.