Side Story 203.1 - The Best Laid Plans of Non-Bees

Side Story 203.1 - The Best Laid Plans of Non-Bees

With the victory celebrated and the choices made, the time came for everyone to depart for the night. Belissar turned to Tarwantrad after dismissing the queens back to their hives.

“So...I should inform you about purifications, huh? Both when we start and when we finish?”

Tarwantrad nodded with a serious expression.

“Indeed. If you are willing to have me there, I would even join you for the purifications. I will not let your tower fall.”

Belissar blinked at that for a moment before tilting his head as a question came to his mind.

“What about the daily purifications?”

Tarwantrad stiffened.

“...daily purifications? As in...you face a purification like this...every day?”

Belissar waved his hands as he shook his head.

“Ah, no, not one like this. One of the smaller ones, you know, the ones the Tower makes us do once a week but that we can do early? We do one of those every day, they aren’t as dangerous since they’re smaller and don’t send anything new at us that I’ve seen.”

Tarwantrad’s expression remained stiff.

“I...see. Belissar, if I may ask, how long has it been, then, since you’ve become a Tower Keeper?”

Belissar paused, tilting his head once more.

“Huh, I’m not sure, actually. I haven’t really been keeping track. It’s definitely been longer than a month, maybe a couple? The seasons don’t change in the Tower so it’s hard to tell.”

Belissar blinked as he found Tarwantrad gaping at him. He was trying to think of what more to say when she closed her mouth and flattened her expression.

“I see. In any case, no, I don’t think it will be necessary for you to inform me about the daily purifications if you have been handling them without issue thus far. Do inform me about any larger ones, however, or even if one of the daily ones causes you concern. I will help you however I can, Belissar, and if need be the Circle will as well. Do not forget that our people’s future depends on your tower’s survival.”

Belissar blinked once again before slowly nodding.

“Got it. I’ll let you know if anything happens. And...uh...thanks, Tarwantrad. I appreciate the help.”

Her face softened back into a smile at that.

Tarwantrad walked through one of her gardens under the night sky. She furrowed her brow and rubbed her chin, muttering to herself. She hardly paid attention to where she walked but roots and vines seemed to move themselves out of her way.

Belissar had proved far different from what she first assumed from the tour. Many of her and Urubran’s takes on his dungeon had just been proven wrong, or else inaccurate in magnitude. The most concerning of which was the sheer danger Belissar faced.

Daily purifications. Daily. Belissar’s dungeon was purifying so much Hunger that it could manifest a purification every single day. The dungeons of the Circle did so once a month, if that. They channeled their power through the Compact’s wards to protect the entire land of the fair, and yet did not face that level of assault outside of emergency situations. Tarwantrad trembled when she thought of what those situations might translate to for Belissar’s dungeon. And all that on top of not only being rejected, but actively attacked by his own people.

And yet, Belissar had survived. Not only that, his dungeon was far younger than Tarwantrad had assumed, and yet had still survived. That, along with his handling of the dungeon’s purification rewards, painted him in a different light from her first impressions. His achievements grew far greater and his flaws much lesser in light of the far shorter time frame in which they had occurred.

Additionally, the council he had held afterwards revealed that the dungeon was not as monster-led as Tarwantrad and Urubran assumed. Belissar had been clearly in command, the bees hung on his every word while the karnuq deferred to him in dungeon matters. He had done his utmost to listen to all the defenders of his dungeon and take their opinions into account, yet he had clearly been the one making the decisions in the end, and setting forth the direction the dungeon would take. She had wondered whether the efforts the bees were making had been them taking matters into their own hands, but now it seemed they were striving to achieve Belissar’s vision with their own efforts. Belissar was simply not micromanaging them at that level, giving them room to grow on their own.

Tarwantrad wasn’t sure whether to be worried or relieved. Belissar faced far greater danger than she had assumed and she could not help but fear what may befall his dungeon in the future. Yet, Belissar turned out to be a more capable leader than she had feared and had achieved much in the face of adversity greater than any master of the Circle could imagine.

That gave Tarwantrad hope. Hope that not only would Belissar be able to adapt and survive, but that he wouldn’t need to change who he was to do so. That he could remain the man who built Belissar’s Beehouse while leading a dungeon strong enough to endure what the Hunger and the world would throw at it.

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The high councilor scoffed.

“Of course you didn’t, Starami. The movements of the High Council are not yours to know.”

Starami held his expression.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Stadvolous waved his hand as he took another sip of Starami’s dwindling mead supply. His only consolation was that Stadvolous paused after the sip.

“Huh, this is unexpectedly high quality. It even bears the hints of mana. Where did you acquire such a drink?”

Starami’s expression darkened.

“From the village that fool burned.”

Stadvolous shook his head.

“So yet another egregious failure on your part. I will have to make do with what remains, then.”

Stadvolous then sneered as he placed the cup on a side table.

“But I am sure you grow tired of the reminders of your current position. So, rejoice, Starami. Circumstances are such that you have the opportunity to redeem yourself in our sight and bring such things to an end.”

Starami narrowed his eyes but nodded.

“Go on.”

Stadvolous steepled his fingers.

“Your failure nearly cost us everything. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what the sudden inspection of your affairs by the High Council meant for our designs, or the lengths we went to prevent such an outcome? Even now, the High Council’s gaze is fixed upon you.”

Starami frowned and nodded silently. Stadvolous then slowly rose to his feet with a smile.

“But therein lies your opportunity. We have confirmed the High Council’s gaze is fixed entirely upon you at present.”

Starami raised an eyebrow slightly. Internally, however, the dots began to connect in his mind. High Councilor Heigiosa spent all her time chasing the gods above, while High Councilor Rippotis thought of nothing but war. He was now leading a war that the gods themselves had directly intervened in. It was a miracle neither high councilor had insisted on leading the effort themselves.

“I see. So, you wish for me to keep their attention?”

Stadvolous smirked.

“I am glad you still possess some wit about you. Indeed, you have made good time thus far. It would be suspicious for you to linger now and we need updates for them to hear, so you cannot slow your pace. That does mean, however, that you will reach the edge of the rogue Towers you have scouted before we are ready. You must find a way past the sea of the Hunger by the time you do, so that you can continue to make active reports to the High Council past that point. And if you manage to arrive at your destination after all, you must ensure the situation becomes as complicated and drawn out as possible.”

Stadvolous’s smile turned slimy.

“If you manage to survive and if you manage to hold their attention long enough, then perhaps you might still be of use to us, enough even to justify our efforts in keeping you around. So do try not to disappoint me again, Starami.”

Starami narrowed his eyes as Stadvolous took yet another drink of his mead.

“As the High Council commands.”

Stadvolous gave him another smirk at that.