Chapter 140: An Informed Bee-cision?
The First of the Fifth was just hovering in the air, staring as scouts from all the different hives flew in and out of the new door. This…changed everything. The bumblebee soldiers could now fly right from their nest to the Flower Meadow. The Apiary queens had but to fly to the closest wall to make their honey deliveries. Her foragers could access every flower in every room nearly as easily as the mana flower patch next to her hive.
Her mind buzzed with the implications. Resources could now be pooled and shared between all the King’s hives. Specialized honey could be produced anywhere and delivered to anywhere. Hives far away from the Flower Meadow could contribute soldiers to the army as easily as the queens that dwelt there. Queens and messengers could meet at will.
She was truly proud of her daughter for this suggestion. And now, as the queen the King had tasked with organizing the others, it was her turn. She would have to see this wonder come to fruition.
She started to fly once more as she began to plan…
After setting up those shortcuts, Belissar made his honey-gathering and tribute rounds, then headed out for the karnuq floor. Chief Rohsuak was waiting to greet him when he arrived. The first thing they did was set up shortcuts for the karnuq as well. He placed two shortcuts in the karnuq’s flower meadow, setting up the doors next to the regular room exits. One led directly to the Tower’s exit so that the karnuq could come and go at will, while the other led to the Orchard to connect the karnuq with the rest of the Tower…and the bees.
After that, Chief Rohsuak, Metsaitti, and Juosiutik all gathered with Belissar in Chief Rohsuak’s house to discuss their encounters with monster plants…
“It, um, drinks…blood?”
Metsaitti nodded.
“The roots were covered in thorns and wrapped around anything that approached. We saw a bunch of desiccated animal corpses in their grasp. We saw one wolf-mole get caught…it wasn’t pretty. Ultimately, we took a detour around the area. Never saw what it looked like on the surface.”