It occurred to Regina that most people would probably consider finding some way to work things out with the gnomes peacefully.

It was a logical notion. After all, a war between their two polities would cause a lot of death and devastation for both of them, even in the best case. And all things considered, she’d only lost a handful of people. Their attitude and apparent ideological stance towards the Hivekind didn’t exactly inspire hope for a resolution, but it didn’t seem completely impossible.

Still, while Regina realized and understood that line of thought, she just didn’t find it in herself to actually consider it.

The gnomes — whichever factions were actually responsible, their official government was almost certainly involved — hadn’t just killed a few people, they’d launched a direct and unprovoked attack on her hive. It was an act of war any way you looked at it, really. Not to mention the not-so-nice things they’d said about her entire species. Things that were, apparently, official policy, at least in the broad strokes. She doubted they were just going to stop now.

As a matter of fact, Regina was pretty sure that even having thought about the possibility of peace put her ahead of most of the people in her hive. She’d never felt them that … bloodthirsty. Well, maybe that wasn’t quite the right word, but she couldn’t think of one that fit much better. Either way, for the first time, Regina found herself actually thinking about her ability to control her hive, not just in the abstract.

“My Queen?” Max asked.

Regina looked up and shook her head. She was currently standing on the roof of the hive’s main building again, which had recently been expanded.

“I was just thinking, Max,” she said absently. After a moment, she turned to look at him. “If I wanted to make peace with the gnomes, just like that, would you accept that?”

He blinked, then hesitated for a moment. “You want to just let this go?”

“Just answer the question,” she answered irritably.

Max started and nodded. “Of course I would, my Queen. If you mean ‘you’ more generally, though — you’re our Hive Queen. It’s our duty and pleasure to obey your will.”

Which wasn’t precisely a complete confirmation and assurance, Regina noted, but on the other hand, it was pretty unfair of her to put him on the spot like that.

“Well, you don’t need to worry, I’m definitely intending to make the gnomes regret even thinking that they could ever threaten me and attack my hive,” she said. “Anyway, Tim and Thor should be reaching Janis soon, so don’t mind me if I’m a bit distracted.”

She’d sent the two of them in with twenty Winged Drones. Well, other Winged Drones. Thor was the first Winged Drone Mount who’d reached sapience. The others had apparently all decided that he was going to be Regina’s own mount, whenever she needed one. She found that a bit amusing, but didn’t really mind. She’d still sent him to retrieve Janis now, just to be sure the young demihuman would come back in one piece, together with Tim on another high-level Winged Drone Mount and some of the strongest flying drones.

At this moment, Janis was talking to Volance again. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem like she was having any more luck than the first time.

“Look, Janis, I told you, your Hive’s problems with the gnomes are your own,” Volance said, sounding a bit irritated. “I don’t mind protecting you if a few idiots come running after you, like these intruders, but I have no interest in attacking them for your sake.”

“Are you sure we can’t convince you to reconsider?” Janis pressed, walking after her grandmother as the elemental floated over the meadow.

Volance turned to glance at her, without reducing her speed, and shrugged. “If you can launch a successful campaign on the Confederation that’s actually going to succeed, and if you can offer me something I want, then sure. I might even help convince a few of my fellows to join. If they feel like it.”

Janis sighed softly. But before she could continue, she glanced up, obviously sensing the arrival of the drones. Regina watched as Tim contacted her and they quickly coordinated his approach. A minute later, Thor and the other flying drones descended and landed on the grass.

Tim hopped down and turned to face the two of them. He bowed his head politely towards Volance. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Volance. My name is Tim, and as Janis told you, I’ve been sent to pick her up and escort her home.”

The elemental took a step closer and regarded him intently for a second. “The pleasure is mine,” she finally replied. “I’m glad your Hive seems to take such care of Janis.”

Actually, maybe you should ask her if you can come back, Regina said to him. I’d like to start establishing outposts, or even real fortresses, in the area, and having her cooperation would be good.

Tim related her words to Volance, who looked thoughtful.

“Not in my core territory,” she finally said. “But I won’t mind if you build some defenses down that mountain. There’s a small valley, between two gnomish outposts but further back, with a ridge that’s well-placed as a jumping-off point or to establish a chokepoint.”

Tim smiled and she could sense his excitement. The two of them spent a few more minutes talking and discussing the details, and Tim made plans to route their flight back over that spot to take a closer look.

“Alright then, off with you,” Volance finally said. “You’ll take good care of my granddaughter, I trust.”

“Don’t worry, we will!” Thor replied cheerfully. He stepped up beside Janis and crouched down so she could climb on more easily.

Volance and Janis both gave him a curious look, though with slightly different shades, then Janis climbed on. Thor gave a mental command to the rest of the flock, and soon they were airborne.

Regina considered the terrain between their present location and hers while they flew. She was going to expand the hive quite a bit more than she’d originally planned, now, but she had a good feeling about it.

The Drone Breeders really were a game changer. She could just make more of them, as many as she could handle, and then she could build up outposts radiating out from her hive’s settled territory, towards their goals. And, obviously, in strategic locations. With the Drone Breeders sent there along with some other drones to protect them and build up a base, they could quickly start churning out new drones and be basically self-sufficient while doing so. If she took care not to let the numbers get too big, or split off more groups once they did, they could feed themselves by scavenging the surroundings. Spring made that easier than winter. And in the meantime, it would give her exponentially growing forces, a true swarm.

She’d need to make more sapient drones herself to keep the numbers in check, but her recent ‘upgrades’ to the psychic link made it easier to manage Swarm Drones even in large numbers. Not to mention the way her hive limits were growing with every level.

It might take a few months until she had the army she really wanted, but that was okay. The gnomes might start pulling together their forces, if they were smart, but she doubted they could really stop her. Not ultimately.

I’m done fucking around. Regina nodded to herself, pleased with the decision. Flying drones were going to be essential, and she needed to teach as many of her magic-users Conjuration as she could, but she might just have to pour hordes of War Drones into the gnomes’ tunnels, too. If that’s what it takes, so be it.

Regina’s eyes snapped open as she got another idea, and she unfurled her wings. There were other people she should talk to. Well, quite a few, actually.

She paused as a thought occurred to her and she debated it for a moment, then turned and dropped off the building.

Ray stopped in his tracks on the street outside. “My Queen?”

“I was thinking about sending an envoy to the elves, and I thought you’d be a good choice,” Regina explained.

The young attendant’s eyes widened. “Oh. Of course, my Queen, I’m honored that you think so. I’m not sure if I would be up to the task, though — I’ve never acted as a diplomat before.”

“Few of us have, and I can’t spare Tim for this.” Regina pushed away thoughts of Bea and continued. “I’m sure you’ll do well, and don’t forget that you can always reach out to me if you need to.”

Ray nodded. “Thank you, my Queen. I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.” He frowned thoughtfully. “I assume you want me to talk to them about what happened with the gnomes? Do you want to get the elves’ support against them?”

“That would be ideal, but I realize getting them to fight with us would be a tall order,” Regina replied. “If nothing else, though, we should talk to them.” She shrugged. “They obviously know about us being Hivekind, and they have to have at least some idea of how the gnomes think about us. Enais knows, anyway. It’s probably better if you can confer with her before starting any real talks with the government at large, but that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Ray nodded in understanding. “I’ll learn what I can, my Queen.”

They spent a few more minutes discussing Ray’s proposed mission and the situation, before Regina turned and headed off. She’d talk to a few others over the psychic link and arrange a proper escort for Ray, but they didn’t need to set off right this second.

Meanwhile, she contacted a few other people, then turned her attention to Forest’s Haunt, which was still well within her range and had a few drones present, so she had a good idea of how things stood there.

“Where are you going, Regina?” Max asked.

She turned to look at him. He might have thought he’d snuck up on her, but she’d been aware of his presence as he came out to join her.

“I thought I would go visit Forest’s Haunt,” she said. “I need to talk to Neralt, I think I may have a job for him. He is supposed to be some kind of earth mage or whatever, after all.”

Max’s eyes lit in understanding. “Just wait for a few minutes and I’ll get a Mount. Via and Ira should be able to fly on their own, and we can take a half-dozen flying drones.”

Regina rolled her eyes, but didn’t object. She waited for a few minutes until Max organized who he wanted her to take with them, before she beat her wings and ascended into the sky, Via and Ira following while a small flock of Winged Drones formed up. She didn’t think this was entirely necessary, but she should probably get into the habit. Especially since they were now at war. That might, in the long run, pose a greater risk than the odd high-level flying monster.

The flight to Neralt’s village didn’t take too long. Regina ascended higher up than she usually would, and enjoyed the chance to stretch her wings. She could tell that her two Assistants had more trouble, but they still kept up well enough. Max’s mount struggled a bit, but could have continued for longer. Once they arrived, there was a bit of a commotion, but it didn’t take long to settle down. This wasn’t the first time Regina had paid them an unexpected visit.

In the end, once they finally entered Neralt’s manor, it was late enough that Janis and Tim were almost back home, which was a good thing considering the encroaching night. Ken was still sitting in his cell, and she suspected they intended to let him stew there for a while. Better than some of the alternatives, at least.

“Hive Queen,” the baron greeted her with a bow when he came out to receive her. “What an unexpected pleasure. Would you care for some refreshments?”

“Only if it’s not an imposition,” Regina replied, glancing around at the manor’s sitting room. It hadn’t changed.

“I presume you have already heard about what happened,” she continued after a moment, taking a seat. The others followed suit, though Ira had stayed outside and Max took a guard position.

“Miss Ina told me,” Neralt acknowledged, “though I’m sure you already knew that. I have to say, I never expected the gnomes to do something like this. My condolences on your Hive’s losses.”

“Thank you.” Regina paused for a moment, then accepted a cup of tea from a servant Neralt must have signaled discreetly. “This is the reason I came to talk to you, though. I have need of you, baron. War is on the horizon.”

He froze for a moment, then put his cup down. “I am, of course, at your service, Milady,” he said. “Although I feel compelled to point out that I have grave reservations about any military conflict with the Confederation. I do not have nearly enough men to contribute to an actual war, even, or perhaps especially, one like this.”

Regina nodded. “I am not asking you to send soldiers, Baron,” she replied. “My hive will shoulder the burden of that, and I am confident we can meet the challenge. If not now, then soon. The task I have in mind for you is something slightly less direct, requiring your personal skills, not your men.”

Neralt leaned forward slightly. “I see. My Class Skills, I presume?”

Regina inclined her head in agreement. “I am intending to build a few fortresses to hold against any potential quick advances by gnomish forces, and to act as launching pads for offensives of our own,” she explained. “It occurred to me that you have a powerful Class, which should be rather suited to a task like this.”

“My Queen, despite the name of my Class, I’m not an earth mage,” he said. “I am not sure how much help I could be.”

Regina drained her cup and set it down, leaning forward slightly to fix him with her gaze. “Baron Neralt, you are in the fourth Tier,” she said calmly. “Let us be frank, I can’t pretend I don’t suspect you may have been deliberately downplaying your abilities. Not -“ She raised a hand to stave off any protests - “that I blame you, Lord Elric. But I need your help now.”

He looked at her for a moment longer, before his expression firmed up and he bowed in his seat. “And you will have it, Milady. To be equally frank, I do indeed have a habit of … not showing the full breadth of my capabilities, shall we say? But I promise I will do what I can to help now.” He smiled wryly. “After all, it’ll be my land being invaded if the gnomes sweep through your territory, as well.”

Regina smiled and nodded. She figured that with his help, they should be able to get at least a decent fortress made. And his knowledge of the terrain and similar considerations should be valuable for planning, too, besides his ability to shape earth. She just hoped it would be enough.