The Bee Dungeon

General Rippotis held up the brooch in his hand and channeled his mana into its seal. A bright light lit up the tunnel, blinding everyone within for a moment. The general’s voice boomed and filled the tunnel.

“You stand before a member of the High Council of the Conclave, appointed by Hegiosa, Oracle of Light! Lord Starami! Have your guard stand down now and hear my command, or be designated a rogue Tower Lord!”

The light faded from the brooch and the Tower Guards ahead rubbed their eyes. General Rippotis gave them a moment…only for ground drakes to break through the walls of the tunnel behind him, sealing off his route back. General Rippotis narrowed his eyes.

“So be it. You are now a rogue Tower Lord, Starami. Until you come to your senses, I will deal with you as such.”

He carefully put the brooch away. In the meantime, the Tower Guard had recovered from the light and began approaching them. He lightly exhaled his breath…unleashing a cone of fire that engulfed the guards. They screamed as the fire burnt through their defenses, leaving small but painful bits of flame on their bodies.

They’d certainly suffer a great deal of pain, but they’d live. The general hoped that might convince Starami of his identity, before he had to begin killing good soldiers for their lord’s mistakes.

General Rippotis turned around to see his escorts fending off the ground drakes and narrowed his eyes. ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novelfire(.)net

“Perhaps you’ll believe my power, if nothing else.”

The general drew his sword and imbued it with his mana. The sword burst into flames, drawing the attention of the two ground drakes. They snarled at him but the general flared his own mana, letting it display his full might. The two ground drakes froze, and then began to back into the holes they had dug, whimpering as the general passed them by. They subsequently blocked any more of Starami’s forces from entering the main tunnel, giving General Rippotis a clear path to retreat.

He shook his head. A Tower Lord of Dragons should have known better than to send lone drakes as a vanguard. They were easily intimidated by displays of greater power, they had to be trained to fight alongside their handlers if they were to face an overwhelming opponent. Well, he supposed that Starami may have never faced an opponent on the caliber of the High Council before, so perhaps he was too harsh.

“We’re falling back, let’s go.”

His escorts fell into formation around him as he walked back. He furrowed his brow. This was…troubling. He expected Starami might believe him to be a trick of the fey…but the brooches given to the High Council were personally enchanted by Heigiosa, filled with the power of the God of Light in a way that only the Oracle of Light combining her powers with a Tower of Light could manage. All mortals could instinctively recognize divine power as such, it was not reasonable to believe the fey had imitated it to such a degree.

And yet, Starami still persisted in treating him as an imposter. Did Starami truly believe that; did he truly believe the fey could replicate the God of Light’s power? If so, he was less observant and reasonable than his record suggested.

And if not…then he had truly gone rogue. But why? Had grief over his son’s loss overwhelmed his judgement?

General Rippotis let out a quiet sigh. No matter the cause, he now had a very big problem on his hands…

Belissar watched as the bees guided General Rippotis back. More Tower Guards and ground drakes tried to follow him, but were diverted by Queen Vanieskon’s glamour. They had some time to address the situation, at the very least.

Time enough for the general to give an account for himself. Bees, karnuq, and silver elves surrounded the general once he returned, bringing him back to the negotiation hall with their weapons drawn. The alliance let him meet with the representatives again, not wanting to expose the leaders to danger given the circumstances.

Chief Rohsuak narrowed her eyes.

“You appeared to have failed, General Rippotis, member of the High Council of the Conclave of Tower Lords.”

General Rippotis frowned.

“So I have. Starami has decided to ignore my authority. I’ve declared him a rogue Tower Lord, he is no longer under the protection of the Conclave and to be subjugated accordingly.”

Third Queen Penaseconza of the sigmaka raised an eyebrow.

“And do you expect us to carry out that punishment on your Conclave’s behalf, at the cost of our blood? You can disavow him all you like, general, but it was the Conclave that sent him to our doorstep, where he now threatens us with his army.”

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General Rippotis sighed, letting his shoulders droop.

“Indeed. I cannot deny that it is our fault this situation has occurred and that it is not right to ask you to suffer for it. But I also cannot deny that I lack the forces to deal with Starami’s army on my own and I will not be able to bring reinforcements before he assaults your home. Under the circumstances, I have no choice but to ask for your cooperation in bringing him to heel.”

Henilett’s mouth curled into a smile.

“And…?”

General Rippotis straightened back up, looking at the representatives without flinching.

“The Conclave will pay restitution for all damage suffered as a result, in addition to the prior reparations we were discussing. I and the forces I have at my disposal will offer our full cooperation and will do our utmost to minimize the damage suffered. All captives and supplies taken from Starami’s forces will belong to you, though I would ask for the opportunity to offer ransom for their lives.”

Back in Tarwantrad’s dungeon, Belissar glanced around at his own table, where the leaders gathered. Forgemaster Ughlar scowled.

“I’m of a mind to be rid of them all.”

Wardmaster Varilold stepped forward but Forgemaster Ughlarer rolled his eyes.

“Yes, Wardmaster. I’m aware that is no longer an option, thanks primarily to you. Now our blood shall be spilt by the humans once again, so I hope you will be satisfied with the outcome. But don’t expect me to believe it is necessary for the survival of the Compact to trust the Butcher of Blackwood to slaughter his own people on our behalf!”

Belissar actually had a response to that.

“They did attack him first, though.”

First Queen Nyoyanke frowned.

“Enough, we need to decide what we’re going to do quickly, so that my king may return to his people. We will not leave them alone and leaderless when this conflict begins.”

Curuhaxa shrugged.

“We’ve trusted him until now because the gods vouched for him, why not leave it to them again? Have him swear another oath to his god and then we can use him without fear, right?”

King Taranskare nodded.

“I concur. And I do not wish to pass on any advantage we may gain in this conflict. It is my people who represent the bulk of the Compact’s army, after all.”

Nenavann shook his head.

“With respect, Your Majesty, it is Tower Keeper Belissar’s home that will be the frontline and his forces that will bear the brunt of the attack. So, Tower Keeper Belissar, what do you say?”

Belissar gave Nenavann a quick smile and then steeled himself.

“I say we have him swear another oath and then trust him. I want all the help I can get.”

Wardmaster Varilold glanced over at Loremaster Anyadre, who sighed and rose to his feet.

“Under the urgent circumstances, I propose we put it to a vote immediately. All in favor of accepting General Rippotis’ offer, with the condition that he swear to it by the God of Fire?”

Belissar, King Ratuatapi, and First Queen Nyoyanke immediately agreed. Nenavann joined them, while other signatories aligned with him followed soon after. Forgemaster Ughlarer heaved a deep sigh.

“What choice do we have? What choice have you given us? Let us pray this will not result in our doom, for prayer is what we are going to rely on, apparently.”

Finally, Queen Vanieskon smiled and gave her agreement as well, making the decision unanimous.

Belissar had no time to celebrate, though, as the leaders immediately began to prepare for war. With the leader’s permission, Belissar immediately contacted Chief Rohsuak to relay their terms to General Rippotis. The general agreed and immediately swore an oath that he would fight by their side against Starami, to do his utmost to minimize damage to their side, and not to use anything that occurred or that he learned as a result of the cooperation against the alliance, whether during the conflict or after its conclusion. Plus, as many terms and contingencies as Henilett could get the general to say before he grew frustrated.

With that settled, everyone needed to reorganize for war. They quickly agreed to make the nexus door room in Belissar’s Tower the war room and gather their commanders there to coordinate. As soon as that was arranged, King Ratuatapi and First Queen Nyoyanke evacuated back to the sigmaka’s home. They took with them Fourth Queen Pezuya to defend their home, so they left Second Queen Berbiya as their representative instead. The signatories of the Compact mostly evacuated back to the land of the fair as well, though Nenavann, Queen Vanieskon, and Curuhaxa of the dusk elves remained along with Wardmaster Varilold.

Belissar asked the First of the Fifth’s First Daughter to join as the hive of hives’ representative and Sehfitis and the First Spiderkin Queen to come along in case they had any insights to share. Wardmaster Varilold already had a command tent set up so the group gathered there.

The wardens were already rushing around, building what wards they could and preparing for the fight, while warriors from the Compact began to arrive in their groups. Captain Karpakynne gathered the royal pixie guard, then came a handful of green elves in cloaks with bows, then came the dusk elves with curved knives and staves of rotting and dead wood. A small army of silver elves arrived in an orderly column, wearing polished silvery-gray armor that gleamed whenever the light filtered between the leaves of the Fairy Grove. A company of cavalry rode upon white steeds at their helm, carrying silver lances and bows.

Then, in a surprise to Belissar, Forgemaster Ughlarer himself arrived, marching in front of moving wall of rock and metal, a full legion of golems. Forgemaster Ughlarer scowled while Belissar stared gaping at the force.

“Don’t give me that look, signatory. I still think you have become our doom but never let it be said that the black elves did not keep their word, even for a bargain as deceptive as yours. I won’t let the Compact fall, especially not for you.”

The Circle did not fail to support him, either. Finnakynne was already present, riding along Bumbly and apparently casting magic of some sort on the bumblebee soldiers. Tarwantrad, to her glee, was allowed to assist this time and brought a moving garden of mobile flower monsters. Tamosmed came with his own legion of golems, living armors, and weapons that floated on their own. Lomedys arrived, positively giddy as he hummed a song about mortal blood to himself. Hesfalle tried to stay as far away from him as possible…though she didn’t seem to be particularly upset about the coming conflict herself.

And then, finally, Chief Rohsuak and the representatives led General Rippotis into Belissar’s Tower and to the room where the alliance gathered. General Rippotis was brought to the command tent and stood before Belissar and his allies, face to face for the very first time. Curuhaxa of the dusk elves cackled and spoke on their behalf once he stepped into the tent.

“Welcome, General Rippotis of the Dragon Banner Army. Now, tell us how we should kill one of your Tower Lords.