Chapter 529: 529

When the Colony gathers in the tunnels outside the ravaged outpost, we quickly take stock before we march through the tunnels . It’s quite an inspiring sight to me, the long column of ants pouring through the tunnels, obliterating everything they find . My pets and I bring up the rear and it’s great to finally get a chance to take a peek at their cores and admire the upgrades that they’ve achieved . Some good evolutions for Tiny and Crinis, and I can see that both of them have been working hard at improving their Skills . Invidia has also been putting in work, judging by the increase to his magical abilities . Considering the short timeframe that he’s had, his improvements in the magical fields that I’ve instructed him to work on are impressive . Although, when you take into account the sheer grunt he’s able to put behind his spells, it shouldn’t be that surprising .

“Quite a good haul it looks like,” I observe to Burke when she drops back to scout the rear of the column .

“Agreed . The wealth of cores we were able to obtain has got the Core Shapers drooling . “

“Was there anything other than cores that we got our mandibles on?”

“Oh yes . We cut apart and dragged away anything enchanted as well as a collection of mana empowered materials . The carvers and mages are going to be very excited . Not to mention those two prisoners you picked out . If we can extract anything useable from them then they might even prove to be the best part of the haul . “

I’m a bit doubtful .

“You really think they’re going to hand over reliable information? They aren’t exactly willing co-operators . “

“There’s a few things that we can try

“Did I see books getting carried away? What the heck are we going to be doing with books?”

The smaller ant wiggles her antennae indecisively .

“I’m not sure on the books, you might need to talk to one of the mages about that one . If I was to take a guess, I suppose it might be for trading with the humans in the village . “

I have to think for a second .

“You mean Enid and Beyn’s lot? What will they need with these books . We don’t even know if many of them can read!”

Another shrug .

“It’s worth a shot . It’s entirely possible that the mages have some method in mind to read the texts themselves . I’m just guessing here . If you don’t have any more questions, Eldest, then I’m going to scout . Pursuit should have started by now . “

“Good point . Stay safe . “

With a flick on an antenna to acknowledge my words, Burke vanishes into the dark shadows of the second strata, covering our retreat and hunting for signs of the Golgari . They must be out there somewhere, ready to hunt us down . We exposed ourselves by going back to retrieve Sarah and raid the Shaper outpost, but I have to hope it’s going to turn out to be worth it .

Then it’s back to marching along with the column . We cover ground quickly, as a nearly tireless army of ants should . Tiny is the first of my own group to grow tired . Hardly unexpected since Crinis is being carried by me and Invidia is hitching a ride on Tiny’s shoulder .

[Any chance you can cast something enervating on Tiny, Invidia? Big guy’s lacking a bit of pep in his step . ]

[I don’t know thisss magic . Can only heal . ]

[Fair enough . Going to have to tough it out big fella . ]

[Hrrrrr,] he whines in the back of his throat .

Despite his reluctance, Tiny keeps putting one big, ape foot in front of the other until the column is called to a halt . Hunting parties immediately peel off to try and secure Biomass for the group . Energy is low and it needs recharging! Shortly after the stop, the members of the council who are present find their way back to me for a chat, minus Burke of course, she’s still out scouting .

“How far behind do you think they are? We set a good pace . I wouldn’t think those meatbags would be able to keep up with us . ” Propellant proposed .

Bella the Core Shaper shook her antennae .

“Don’t underestimate them Propellant . They were able to capture the Eldest, I think they could handle you easily enough . “

“No need to bring that up,” I groan, “but yes, they can be very capable . Especially when their Warriors and Shapers are working together . It’s possible they have other castes that they can deploy in battle and I just haven’t seen them yet . So we have to be cautious . “

“Agreed,” Sloan cuts in . “The scouts have been deployed, along with a contingent of our Core Shapers and their pets to keep an antenna out behind us . We marched hard for the last few hours and we need to rest before we continue . I want to ensure that we stay well rested and well fed for the journey . If they manage to catch us and start a fight, I don’t want a single ant to be in poor condition . “

I like the sentiment . Keep our energy up, stay alert and push hard . Sounds like the Colony’s regular attitude, to be honest .

“What about torpor? We need to rest at some point,” I point out .

All of the members of the council look uncomfortable when I mention the hated word: ‘rest’ .

“Let’s think about it later,” Sloan clacks her mandibles, trying to move the conversation on quickly .

“Sloan… There’s no point trying to keep everyone rested and then not let anyone sleep . We have to rest if we’re going to be in fighting shape . “

Except for me, since the Vestibule kept me supplied with all the energy I can spend . I won’t need to rest until my mental fatigue piles up to the point I need to pass out .

“How long do we think it’s going to take to make it back to the nest?” I ask . “Probably take a little less time than it took for you to get out to me?”

Sloan nodded her antennae .

“We think it’ll take a week of hard marching, but only if we don’t get interrupted by pursuers . “

Which is likely . As if to fulfil that prophecy, Burke ran back into view at the end of the tunnel and approached us .

“They’re coming,” she announced, “an hour behind, maybe less . There’s a lot of them, and I think they mean business . They look decked out for a war . “

Not unexpected news, but still unwelcome .

“Do you think we can lose them in the tunnels?” Sloan asks .

“I’m not sure,” Burke sounds hesitant . “It’s almost as if they’re tracking us . If they keep coming straight, they’ll run right into us . “

Well that’s not good .

“We might have to cut this break short,” I warn the others . “I’m going to go back and take a quick look . “

“Be careful, Eldest,” Propellant warns me . “We only just got you back . “

“Not to worry, I’m not exactly keen to land in their hands again . Just going to have a cheeky peek and then I’ll be right back . “

Burke sends a few scouts to escort us with a flick of her antennae and we head off to see exactly what the Goglari have sent after us .