The Nerlian patrol startled like a flock of geese scattered by a predator. They didn’t quite seem to know where to go for a moment, before they drew together into a tighter circle, putting their backs to each other and hefting their swords and shields, some of them drawing javelins. They appeared to be regular soldiers rather than specialized scouts or skirmishers, going by the equipment.

It didn’t help them. From behind a tree trunk thirty meters away, a small javelin struck one of them in the throat. The man gurgled and dropped, leaving a hole in their formation they immediately tried to close. Before they’d finished that, though, another had already staggered back, blood leaking from under his helmet.

A small hail of javelins and arrows rained down on the rest of the unit, who hunkered down behind their shields. After it stopped, their leader barked an order and they tightened ranks again, stepping forward hurriedly.

Unlike they clearly feared, they weren’t greeted by another volley of projectiles. Instead, the drones who’d shot at them had already departed, melting into the cover of the sparse wood.

Perhaps they’d engage again in an hour. It would depend on how the humans fared.

Regina smiled and let her focus drift away from them, moving on to other drones in the region. This was not the only encounter she’d watched over the last little while. Although calling it that might be a bit too much. The hive’s fighters hadn’t been hurt, they hadn’t even been seen, while they’d bled the Nerlians a little. That was how she preferred things to go.

The Nerlian-Cernlian army had advanced into Whitor’s earldom after the battle at its borders. They’d probably moved a bit more cautiously than they’d originally intended, she suspected, after the way that battle had gone. It was technically a victory for the allied countries. If you squinted and didn’t look too closely at casualty numbers. Those had definitely been in the hive and its allies’ favor. She was pretty sure that wasn’t lost on the enemy leadership, though.

Either way, neither of the two sides was currently aiming for another field battle. The Nerlians clearly just wanted to get home in time to stop the hive from conquering more of their territory. And the hive, or at least Ben, considered it safer to harass them instead of going for another battle where they’d still have lower numbers.

Following the plan, the hive’s drones had been skirmishing with the Cernlian and Nerlian soldiers since then. Whitor’s soldiers were also involved, although the drones bore the brunt of it. They might still be individually weaker than human soldiers on average, and Swarm Drones had to be controlled by someone intelligent to be really effective, but the hive had a lot of advantages. They didn’t have to worry nearly as much about supply lines or the state of the roads, they saw well at night, and, of course, Winged Drones were another trump card entirely.

The allied army mostly tried to stay together. Unfortunately for them, the roads in this part of Cernlia weren’t great, and you definitely couldn’t have thousands of soldiers walking down them at exactly the same time. They’d also learned not to neglect scouting and their forward screen, or they’d make it easy for the hive to set up ambushes for the army to blunder into. So, despite presumably hating it, their commanders couldn’t really stop sending people out. They were trending towards larger numbers, which made ambushes like the one she’d just watched harder, but it also limited them.

Regina turned her attention to Janis and Dan. The two of them had mostly stuck together recently. It might have made more sense to split them up so the hive could have them serve as commanders and rallying points in several locations, but Dan still refused to act like an actual senior officer, and, with the psychic link, they really didn’t have to be with drones they were talking to or leading, so Regina let them do as they wished. Or Ben did, rather. She wasn’t going to interfere in things like that without a good reason.

Right now, Dan was sleeping, while Janis had stayed awake. She was leaning against the rough wooden wall of the hut they’d put up their cots in, tolerating the way Dan lay curled into her side and pushing his blade-arm further away from her as he shifted. That could actually get a bit dangerous for someone without a Hivekind shell, Regina reflected. Then again, they’d clearly worked things out and Janis had never been a coward. Not that she was stupid, either, Regina wouldn’t be surprised if she was practicing her Magic Armor Spell.

Regina gently brushed her mind and told her, You should get some rest. Haven’t you been up and about for over sixteen hours?

Closer to twenty, I think, Janis replied. But she looked up and ran a hand through her hair, careful not to jostle Dan. I just feel too restless to go to sleep.

Are you holding up okay? Regina asked, concerned. She felt like the question was stupid, but she didn’t know what else to say.

Sure, Janis responded quickly. Then she paused, and Regina could sense her subtly reaching out to assess Regina’s own state of mind. Well, I haven’t really been in a war like this before, she conceded. It wasn’t the same with the gnomes.

Because our enemies are human? Regina asked, making sure not to convey anything that could register as disapproval or seem accusatory.

Janis still winced a little. I wasn’t - I mean, gods, that makes me sound like an asshole, doesn’t it? But I don’t have any lingering loyalties to Cernlia, Regina.

You are still mostly human, and were raised as such, Regina pointed out mildly. I hope you don’t feel like you have to deny that, especially not for my sake. I’m not worried about your loyalty, and you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of - in either direction.

Hmm. Regina sensed her musing for a few seconds. Either way, I don’t think that’s really the reason why this is harder, mostly. With the gnomes, we were defending ourselves against invaders. And this time, well …

We are the invaders, Regina finished quietly. And there’s a lot of death.

Yeah. Janis sighed mentally. A lot of people are dying that might not otherwise have to, Regina. I mean, I’m not stupid, I know this civil war is already happening, anyway. It’s certainly not our fault. And the rulers of Nerlia joined it for their own reasons.

I get how you feel, Regina admitted. And it was true, she thought. Maybe she wasn’t as emotionally invested, not as moved on a basic level, as Janis. That didn’t mean she liked any of it. There’s no guarantee we aren’t just making things worse for everyone. But I am trying, Janis. I realized I wasn’t content to just sit quietly and let everyone fight. To let the world keep falling to pieces, or stay broken.

Can we fix it, though? Janis asked, raising an eyebrow.

I’m not sure. I’m not sure it can be fixed. And maybe I’m going about all this the completely wrong way.

But you’re going to try. And I will, too.

There was a short silence between them. Finally, Janis sighed and settled deeper into her bedding, closing her eyes. It helps to remind myself what we might have, I guess. I’ll try to get some sleep now, Regina. And thanks for caring.

Good night.

Regina withdrew her attention from Janis, giving her some privacy. She had originally wanted to discuss the state of the war, but it would keep. And Ben had things pretty much handled, anyway.

Instead, she spent a few minutes checking on the state of the hive in general. It was running pretty well, all things considered. Her new initiative to produce more foodstuffs was just getting off the ground, but she was confident it would be able to feed her hive’s ever-expanding needs and have some left over. A few drones were looking into producing fertilizer, even experimenting with getting nitrates the conventional way so they wouldn’t have to rely on Conjuration. Regina wasn’t sure how much it would help, but it was something. Their workshops were also coming along nicely, and the new forge was starting to actually produce usable metal stuff. They were looking into maybe starting a quarry in the mountains, too.

After she’d assured herself that everything was fine, Regina sighed and turned her attention to foreign policy, once again. She hesitated, then decided to take a break. She opened her eyes where she was sitting on her bed and got up, stretching a little. A quick visit to the bathroom and the hatchery later, she felt at least mentally more balanced and dove back into the psychic link, leaving Ira to look after things here.

Via was still sticking around Marquis Lyns’ army, both as a healer and, when it came down to it, to act as a liaison between them. Regina checked in with her regularly, but there was rarely a problem. She got the feeling Lyns preferred not to bother dealing with her if he didn’t have to. Actually, that probably goes for both me and Via, Regina reflected.

You’re not being bullied or ignored, are you? she asked Via.

Not at all, my Queen, she assured her. The nobles are still leery, of course, but they’re polite. And I’ve established myself as a healer well enough that most people are happy to see me. She smiled slightly. They even have a saying about always staying on the healer’s good side, did you know?

Then I’ll rest assured that you have things in hand, Regina replied with a smile of her own. Anything before I talk to Kiara?

She’s just come back from going out with a patrol, but she should be free right now, Via said. It’s probably the best opportunity before she gets into another war council or something.

Thanks. Keep up the good work.

Regina ended the conversation, then focused on Kiara and started calling on her magic again. This was hardly the first time she tried to communicate with the young noblewoman like this, and it was easier than back then, but it still took focus and a bit of time before she’d established a proper connection.

Kiara was still alone in her room, apparently, and didn’t dawdle when she was alerted to Regina’s scrying.

“Hive Queen Regina,” she said, bowing her head in greeting.

“Lady Kiara,” Regina replied. She took a quick look around. Kiara was sitting in what looked like a room of a proper house, decorated much like the tents she’d seen since the beginning of this. She was sitting on a sturdier chair, though, at a desk that was strewn with paper. She also had faint dark circles under her eyes. “How have you been doing?” Regina asked.

“Quite well, thank you for asking,” Kiara replied politely. “I hope you have been in good health, as well. My congratulations on your ongoing success in Nerlia.”

“To tell the truth, that hardly feels like my accomplishment, but thank you nonetheless,” Regina replied in a lighter tone.

They spent a few more minutes making polite small talk, which gradually transitioned into a more serious talk as they discussed several people around Kiara and the state of the war camp. It looked like the departure of the combined army had taken some pressure off, which Lyns’ army had desperately needed.

“We will not be able to march to your relief as quickly as I’d like, Your Majesty,” Kiara admitted finally, her gaze darkening. “Our supply situation is still somewhat uncertain, and our men are exhausted.”

“I understand,” Regina assured her. “I will help where I can when it comes to the supplies, but I would rather your men be fighting fit when it comes to a battle than at the end of their rope. But don’t delay too much in dealing with the force the king left behind. We don’t want them to dig in too much or cause trouble, and I’d prefer to keep the pressure on a little.”

“As you say,” Kiara replied, inclining her head. “I assume this is not the only reason you came to speak to me, though?”

“Indeed,” Regina said. “The Esemen.” She paused for a moment, cocking an eyebrow. “Tell me about them.”

Kiara sighed. Regina considered it a good sign that she let herself do that. She had a bit more trouble interpreting her expression, though.

“Things have somewhat escaped our control, I am afraid,” she finally admitted. “To be fair, I doubt we were ever in any kind of dominant position, but we needed to look for allies where we could. My father never counted on their support, but it would have been a great advantage. Now, it doesn’t look like we will be getting it, at the very least.”

“They still haven’t officially called off your engagement talks?”

“No. I think that is mostly a formality at this point, though. Maybe they are leaving it as an option on the off chance we can turn things around, and they can resume negotiations in a stronger position. I doubt anyone is serious about it at this point, and my father is just as likely to run out of patience and throw their envoys out.” Kiara actually smiled slightly. She clearly didn’t feel particularly bad about that debacle and didn’t see the need to hide it. Which was fair enough, Regina supposed.

“And you did not feel the need to share this sort of information with me, why?” she asked, keeping her voice even.

“We did not have much definite information,” Kiara replied calmly. “What should I have said, that I believed the Esemen might want to back out of the arrangement? I had already informed you they seemed less and less invested. To be fair, Your Majesty, I do not know what other information from other sources my father might have acquired. But the news that they appear to be mobilizing troops came as something of an unpleasant surprise to me, I have to admit.”

She didn’t even hesitate at throwing the marquis under the bus, Regina noted. Well, maybe that was putting it a bit too melodramatically. And considering he’d tried to send her off as a hostage the last time they’d met in person, any friction between them was probably to be expected.

Instead of delving deeper into that minefield of a relationship, Regina moved on to questions that were currently more relevant. “Now that I’ve shared my information, what have you got?” she asked. “What do you think the Esemen want?”

Kiara sighed silently again. “I cannot be sure,” she admitted. “My father is of the opinion that they may be intending to launch a play of their own in Cernlia, now that we are divided and vulnerable.”

Regina narrowed her eyes. That would be pretty bad. “I see. And your own opinion?”

Kiara hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “They might,” she said. “Personally, I cannot help but think they might instead attack Nerlia. There are old grudges between the two kingdoms, and with Nerlia’s army here and your own attacking them, they are also a tempting target.”

Regina rubbed the bridge of her nose. So those are our options? Fantastic.

“I suppose there’s no helping it,” she sighed. “We just need to be ready to deal with it if it comes to that. Although, if you can persuade them to refrain, please do your best.”

“We already are attempting our best,” Kiara answered seriously. “I hope that your Hive’s own displays of might may have helped, as well. Unfortunately, my tutors did say never to bet against opportunism. Or greed, or shortsighted stupidity.”

“Wise words,” Regina snorted. “Alright, then. I’ll leave you to handle it. Best of luck, Lady Kiara.”

“And you, Your Majesty. Luck in battle.” Kiara bowed her head.

Regina closed her eyes once the connection faded and rubbed her forehead again, feeling the beginning of a headache coming on. She gave herself a moment, then returned her attention to the psychic link. There was still a lot of work to do, and brooding in frustration wouldn’t help.