Chapter 436: (Author note is announcement of other new book)
Different from if the ant had been speaking to me with her voice, I understood more of her intent than I could have with mere words. This wasn’t her asking me to kill her people, however it was that the ants distinguished themselves, but instead of her own kind, those being offered were the ones that were currently being offered to my herds. Even so, I had no idea what specifically I was supposed to be doing with that request.
“I’m going to need a little bit more information before I can agree to anything or agree to anything.” I answered as diplomatically as I could manage. “After all, every one of us has seen that one of the best ways to find yourself buried in enemies is to engage in the wholesale slaughter of ants. Your people do not know fear or retreat.”
The Queen’s soldiers never tire and never give up. There was a certain pride in the feel of her mind as she said as much. What you are to hunt are my enemies. My queen’s enemies. They have been spreading deeper underground, consuming our farms, and hunting our workers. We need their attention to be brought back up to the surface.
“And that’s why you’re asking us to do that.“ I flared my frills, somehow knowing that my demonstration of understanding would be communicated to her. “But why would we do this for you? I don’t mind continuing to hold the truce that we’ve had since I first had communication with one of your people. It’s obvious that your people’s focus is primarily underground, not on the surface, so I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t merely continue our relationship as neighbors without inciting the rage of other neighbors we have no quarrel with.”
Because the Queen has asked of you.
Even without there being any words spoken, I could hear the disbelief in the ant’s tone. The Queen was an absolute existence in her mind, probably even more than I was for my people. I clacked my teeth together in denial, as I explained, “The Queen is not my ruler and I don’t know her. Do you do what your enemies’ Queens command of you?”
Mine is the true Queen. Of course, I only listen to her.
“And, to my people, I am the true Queen. What Queen would give way to another that was not her own, that had no jurisdiction over her?”
Mine is the true Queen.