The peace deal was finalized and signed by the respective heads of state two days after Regina learned of it. She got notified of that by another letter, this time apparently not written by Enais, but some government official. It enclosed a copy of the finished peace treaty, which she made sure to read carefully.

For someone at least passingly familiar with the old world’s legal system and contracts, which she must have been - if only through the media - it seemed pretty simple and straightforward. Granted, it did use flowery language, but at least there was no long-winded preamble defining what a contract party would be referred to, or all sorts of legal disclaimers. Admittedly, comparing it to her vague notion of license agreements was probably like comparing apples and deep-frozen oranges, but dealing with those would still be simpler.

The treaty laid out the reparations the Nerlians and Cernlians would pay. Mostly the former, it seemed, which made sense, since they’d been the real aggressor. At least from the elves’ point of view. Nerlia also officially renounced all claims to a particular area and the mines and mineral wealth enclosed within it. Regina was more interested in the part dealing with her hive. The document even named herself, though the term ‘Starlit Hive’ wasn’t used. From what she could tell, it was pretty much exactly what Enais had said. Either of the human kingdoms attacking her would be seen as breaking the treaty, and leave the elves free to act against them.

There was also a section on the exchange of hostages. Regina didn’t recognize any of the names.

Still, with that resolved, she felt she could turn her attention to other concerns. Like her new territory, of course, and the new settlement. The land itself was being cleared further, which mostly meant fighting monsters. That provided a steady stream of experience for her War Drones, Winged Drones and most of the sapient drones. Even the workers got in on it, fighting a few of the closer and more manageable monsters, and a few the warriors had already more or less defeated.

Regina still dithered for a bit, before another Winged Drone’s Evolution to Winged Drone Mount decided her. She now had seven of them, more than enough for her, Max and maybe someone else to take for the trip, and still have enough left over to carry scouts or for emergencies.

Arguably a harder decision was who to take. She’d talked with both Tia and Mia at length about the new settlement effort, about matters of construction, and especially about food. She wasn’t inclined to disbelieve the warnings that the new land they’d got was not good for farming. But that it wasn’t good for farming human agricultural crops didn’t mean nothing could grow there. They just had to find the right plants for this environment.

Which was going to be a long-term project, of course. In the meantime, Tia wanted to look into options they might be able to grow underground. Probably mushrooms or something. That might be pretty useful, since it would allow them to stack layers of farming atop each other. Mia had had a lot of comments about it, and Regina didn’t want to have to act as a bridge for their conversation all the time. At least, it would be easier if they could talk directly, which necessitated closer contact. So, she made up her mind and brought Mia along as well. That left Bea, who’d just returned, in charge of the drones in the village, at least on the ‘civilian’ side.

And she’d already sent most of their Harvesters to the new settlement. Together, she was confident they would figure things out, even if Regina didn’t involve herself much.

The flight was nice, but challenging. Regina had underestimated how hard it would be to keep herself in the air for an extended period of time. Probably because I never take the time to go on longer flights, she reflected. That was partly because she was busy, but also because of a security concern. Every time she went out to fly, Max and the others got antsy, since they couldn’t go with her. Although the Drone Attendants had finally learned how to go beyond just gliding, they were still not able to keep up with her, especially across any kind of distance. About halfway there, Regina gave in and spent a bit of time resting on a Winged Drone Mount, slowing down considerably, before she took wing again.

When they finally touched down, she couldn’t help but feel relieved, not just because she was seeing their new settlement through her own eyes for the first time. The need to keep an eye out for any flying monsters had only made the trip harder. Once, she’d had to chase some kind of hawk derivative away with two Fireballs, bringing her glacially-regenerating mana down even further. She might have to reduce the next batch by two or three eggs, to make sure she had a bit more mana in reserve.

Tia looked excited when they met again. She seemed like she was barely restraining herself from jumping and hugging Regina. Maybe that was because she did hug Max and Mia forcefully. Regina grinned and clapped her on the shoulder.

“You’ve done very good work,” she praised. Glancing at the other drones who were gathering around them, she continued, “You and everyone else here. I’m proud of your progress.”

It was nothing she couldn’t have said over the psychic link — nothing she hadn’t said, in fact — but they still seemed to stand straighter and brightened visibly. Regina grinned again. She was happy to see them.

“They’re like children who have just been praised by their mother,” Janis drawled, stepping forward to stand beside Ada. Her smile was more of a smirk. “Not that I don’t appreciate the praise.”

Ada shot her a look and rolled her eyes. “Ignore Janis, my Queen, she’s just a bit grumpy because she hasn’t figured out all the details of her new Class yet.”

“I think I did,” Janis corrected. “I just haven’t figured out exactly how it enhances my use of certain Spells yet.” She looked at Regina. “I definitely find Basic Heal and Lesser Basic Conjuration easier to cast now, and even Fire Manipulation seems better. Although it is hard to tell if that is not simply due to the increase in my Int and Wis, and the additional knowledge I’ve learned since the beginning.”

“That’s good to know,” Regina commented. “We’ll definitely need to chat about this more in detail later.” She’d like to know if any of her drones could get this Class, too, or one like it.

It took a few more minutes to greet everyone and check up on them. Finally, the drones started drifting away to get back to their work, and Regina was left standing in a clearing across from the recently constructed buildings, looking around. The camp looked exactly like she’d expected, as she’d seen from her drones’ minds.

Earl Whitor hadn’t joined the throng, but now he stepped forward, a bit of hesitation apparent in his slowness. He’d managed to get a change of clothing from somewhere and looked a lot less like a noble lord now, more like one of Neralt’s senior soldiers, wearing simple but well-made pants, shirt and jacket in muted colors.

“Earl Whitor,” Regina greeted him cordially. She didn’t use formal address, and wasn’t entirely sure what would be appropriate, anyway, but she still tried to be polite. “It is good to see you again.”

“Hive Queen Regina.” He inclined his head. “Likewise. I wished to thank you again for the opportunity to be here.”

“Think nothing of it.” Regina glanced around, then started moving and gestured for him to join her. “Walk with me, please, there’s no point in blocking this spot.”

Of course, she mostly wanted to talk privately, which he clearly understood. Max tried to tag along, as did Tia and Janis. Regina gave them a look, and the two girls backed off, though Max stubbornly stayed. Regina shook her head slightly and turned her attention back to her guest. They walked out past the buildings and a preparation area for slain monsters, into the semi-wilderness around the camp, and turned to curve around it.

“I wanted to thank you personally for your actions down there,” Regina said. “I appreciate the way you protected my hive members.”

“It was my pleasure,” he replied with a small shrug. “It is not as if that monster was a great danger to me.”

“Still. I have to admit I feel more at ease about your presence here now.” Regina glanced at him from the side. “Have you found what you have been looking for here?”

He started slightly. “I am not sure. I have not explicitly been looking for anything, Hive Queen.”

“I assumed you were looking for information.” Regina took care to keep her tone light and congenial. “Watching how my hive did things, how quickly and easily we settle a new area or deal with monsters. Let’s not beat around the bush.” She glanced at a bush a few meters away doubtfully. “I couldn’t blame you for being careful. I’d simply prefer it if we could speak frankly, or at least as frankly as possible.”

He remained quiet for a moment, clearly considering her words, before he replied. “Very well, Lady Regina. I understand. Of course, I was interested in gathering more information about this Hive. Anyone in my position would be.”

She nodded. “And speaking of. I am not sure if you are familiar with recent events.”

He frowned, and she noticed him tense up slightly. “Recent events?” he asked.

“The peace treaty between the Elvish Free State and the kingdoms of Nerlia and Cernlia,” Regina elaborated. “Have you heard of it?”

He stopped. “So they have truly signed a peace? I heard mention of peace settlements, but I believed those were simply rumors.”

Regina shook her head. Rumors weren’t really a thing among her drones, or, at least, they didn’t work the way they usually would. The influence of having a psychic link connecting their minds, certainly. Plus, drones were generally very open among the hive, and she couldn’t recall ever seeing one ashamed of anything besides an embarrassing mistake. Maybe their minds just don’t work that way? she reflected. Or maybe they just have nothing much to feed gossip, considering there are no romantic entanglements or anything like that. Which has to make up at least half of regular gossip, right?

“It is the truth,” she responded. “They officially signed the treaty yesterday.”

Whitor continued walking in silence for a moment. “Thank you for informing me of this,” he finally said. “I presume that the Cernlian army will be going home?”

“I assume so, yes.” Regina raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t like she was privy to the Cernlian government’s or military’s decisions.

“They will likely march through my county,” he continued after another short pause.

Regina blinked. She hadn’t made that connection, although it made sense. After all, the front was to the northwest of her base, and Whitor’s demesne to the north.

“Then you can expect that it will be secured,” she commented.

Whitor gave her a sideways glance. “Perhaps. Lady Regina, let me ask a blunt question. Are you going to ransom me?”

Regina tilted her head. She’d half-expected that question. “Well, do you believe they will send a proper ransom offer, Earl Whitor?”

She caught the slight hesitation in his expression, the breath that passed before he answered. “Yes, certainly.”

“I suppose I will make a decision when the time comes,” Regina said. Which was true, she wanted to see how things developed up there. She was loath to give up a prisoner as important as Whitor, although having a sympathizer at large and in a position like his might be very useful. Especially compared to whoever the king or his family might leave in charge instead.

“I suppose I will have to be content with that,” he replied.

They turned a bit, angling their path back to the settlement. He was quiet for a minute, and Regina saw no reason to break the silence. She was smart enough to realize that he had to be wrestling with conflicting feelings and impulses.

“I have to admit I was never very fond of the Delvers,” Whitor finally said in a thoughtful tone. “Recently, however, I have caught myself wondering if they might not have a point.”

Regina blinked. She wasn’t expecting that kind of admission. “You seemed to get on very well with us local nonhumans,” she said cautiously.

He shook his head. “I am not talking about that, my apologies. I do not understand their prejudices any more than I did previously. Rather, I was thinking of the point they like to make, regarding what some call humanity’s lost glory and our current stagnation.”

Regina nodded. I can definitely empathize with that statement. Then she mentally started. Wait, I’m actually thinking that about a position advocated by the Delvers? I guess they can’t just be xenophobic bigots.

“Oh, in that case, I believe I understand what you are getting at, and the sentiment. But may I ask why your … stay as our guest has prompted it?”

Whitor shrugged. “I suppose I have seen you, well, innovating, for lack of a better word. Your Hive has demonstrated some remarkable ingenuity. And then, of course, there is the presence of other people. Much as it pains me to admit, the elves have the advantage over us in several respects. A city-state as small as theirs vanquishing the combined armies of two human kingdoms has rather lent that issue a certain emphasis.”

Regina smiled. “I can imagine. Well, I can’t fault your reasoning. Perhaps we will manage to part on cordial terms, if not as allies, and I might give you a few pointers regarding our ingenuity, as you call it. It would make me quite glad to see our neighbors work towards bettering themselves.”

“I imagine it would,” he said with what might have been a slightly amused undertone. “It is a sentiment I am sure the Goddess of Progress approves of.”

Regina blinked. “Meaning what?” she asked more coolly.

He raised a hand defensively. “I was not trying to make any insulting insinuation, my apologies if that is how it seemed. But I did sense the remnants of divine mana on you, and I have become more certain that they are of Alianais.”

Regina frowned. She’d tried not to think too much about this Mark she clearly still carried. “No offense taken,” she replied. She also sped up a bit. They were almost back at the center of camp, anyway.

“Anyhow, it was nice to talk to you, Earl Whitor,” she said. “I am sure we will see each other quite often while we are both here.”

He half-bowed. “It was entirely my pleasure, Hive Queen. I will go discuss the disposition of those lizard monsters with Sir Tim, if you will excuse me.”

Regina watched him go for a moment, then shook her head and turned. Instinctively crossing her arms, she started making her way in a different direction.

The talk with Whitor had diverted her, but she still wanted to investigate whatever lurked under the ground near here herself.