The Bee Dungeon

Chapter 185: Bee Wary

Tarwantrad grew some trees, bushes, and vines into a simple barracks that blended with the forest for the wardens. She ordered her monsters and assistants to provide furnishings and supplies while the wardens continued to monitor the nexus. Soon, Wardmaster Varilold returned with more wardens carrying crates and barrels filled with all the supplies necessary for powerful and lasting wards. The wardmaster got to work as soon as she arrived, having already spoken with Tarwantrad on how the wards would interact with her dungeon. Tarwantrad, however, still had something to discuss with her.

“Wardmaster, there is one more thing I need to discuss with you.”

Tarwantrad waited for the woman to nod at her, without bothering to look up from the ward formation she was inscribing right in the middle of a patch of flowers.

“I wish to pass through the door and speak with the dungeon master on the other side. He seems friendly, but we had only just met when the loremaster summoned me back. If we wish to keep the door open, we will need to ensure the other side is in agreement.”

The wardmaster just waved her off.

“Yes, I agree, you don’t need to convince me girl. Go ahead and figure it out. We’ll likely need to bring the master into the Compact eventually anyways.”

Tarwantrad smiled.

“Thank you, wardmaster. I’ll head over there right away. Please inform one of my monsters if you need me.”

The wardmaster grunted and continued focusing on her work. Tarwantrad walked off with a smile, humming a light tune as she made for the nexus door.

Back in the bee dungeon itself, just after Tarwantrad left, the reaction was one of confusion. All the bees and karnuq turned to watch Belissar and Chief Rohsuak. Belissar himself could only rub his chin.

“So…that was some kind of fairy, right?”

Chief Rohsuak slowly nodded.

“To the best of my knowledge, I would agree. She was neither human nor beastkin, and the mana of the room responded to her in ways it does not to any of us, not even you its Tower Keeper.”

Chief Rohsuak then frowned.

“I must caution you, Tower Keeper. Friendly or not, please take care with your interactions with her should she return. What little my people know of the fair folk is not encouraging, and they are especially known for deception and trickery. I’ll admit, though, that our knowledge is little more than bedtime stories and what few hints of their existence we happened upon during our journey.”

Belissar nodded.

“Same goes for me. Though, Tarwantrad didn’t seem so bad, and the God of Bees approves of her, apparently. What about you, Niobee? What do you think?”

Niobee danced right atop his head.

“Outsiders dangerous! If hurt King, will sting! If don’t hurt King and bring flowers, is ok.”

Belissar and Chief Rohsuak both chuckled and nodded at that.

“Perhaps we are overthinking it, Tower Keeper. Niobee’s approach may well work.”

Belissar smiled and brushed Niobee’s back.

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to see when she returns…if she returns.”

The when quickly became if as an hour passed and no one came through the door. At that point, Belissar dispersed most of the bees and karnuq with a small handful staying behind to guard the fairy circle in question. With no idea how long it would take, Belissar and Chief Rohsuak decided to do what they could. First, they took a trip over to Sehfitis to see if the Tower Lords had any additional insight into their mysterious visitor.

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Sehfitis’s jaw dropped when they explained the situation to him, following by him narrowing his eyes.

“Tower Keeper, I must ask. You are certain of this? You are certain she is fey?”

Belissar gulped at Sehfitis’s tone but nodded his head.

“As certain as I can be. She had this…otherworldly, um, aura, or something like that? And pointy ears.”

Chief Rohsuak chimed in.

“I agree with the Tower Keeper’s assessment. Additionally, the mana of the room that the Tower itself labels a fairy room reacts to her in a way it does not with anyone else…and in a more cooperative manner than we have seen thus far.”

Sehfitis nearly stumbled as he took a step back.

“By the gods. Tower Keeper, the situation is serious indeed. Knowledge of the fey is heavily restricted, but we do know they did very much exist. The kings of old had dealings with them, friendly and hostile both. And yet, for all the arcane knowledge of the ancient kingdom and armies of humans and beastkin they had at their disposal, the fey were neither conquered or dominated. Individual kings that dealt with them often came to ruin, regardless of whether the interaction was positive or violent. And…”

Sehfitis glanced around, as if looking for anyone eavesdropping as his voice dropped to a whisper.

“This is but rumor, as any documents pertaining to it are known only to the High Council. But there are whispers that it was some knowledge of the fey, or one of the fey themselves, that led the old kingdom to its downfall. We had thought the fey wiped out by the Hunger for whatever role they may have played in it, but apparently not. So, take great care, Tower Keeper.”

Belissar frowned.

“I see…but this one was approved by the God of Bees?”

Sehfitis rubbed his chin before shaking his head.

“Perhaps so. All I can say is…take care as well when deciphering the will of the gods. My late charge’s fate is a testament to what happens if you assume too much.”

Belissar grimaced at that. That whole set of affairs still left a sour taste in his mouth, so he tried not to think about it. He departed from Sehfitis and Chief Rohsuak as well, taking a bit of a walk to think about the situation. Eventually, he passed by the karnuq’s beehouses once more, where he saw Paisijik looking over the First of the Ninth’s hive. His chest slowly unknotted and he began to smile as he watched the karnuq and the bees get along.

He didn’t want to assume the will of the gods, that was for sure. But, in this case, he felt he understood the God of Bees’ intentions here. Tarwantrad may be some sort of tricky, dangerous fairy of some kind, but her love of bees had not seemed faked in the short interaction he had with her. She apparently knew of his beehouse feature, which meant that she had acquired that feature for her own Tower.

Additionally, he didn’t know how much he trusted Sehfitis or the knowledge the augur had access to. After all, the karnuq had not turned out to be the violent, bestial monsters Tower Keeper doctrine had pinned them as, nor were they the loyal servants of the wicked kings of old as even Sehfitis’s greater knowledge indicated. So, Belissar decided that, fey or no, he would try to form his own opinion of Tarwantrad, should she return. The God of Bees wanted him to invite her to his Tower and he did not believe the God of Bees would do so if Tarwantrad would bring him to ruin.

“King, leaves moving again!”

And he had decided just in time as a communer watching over the Fairy Grove reached out to him. Belissar steeled himself and then made his way over to find out just how true or not the legends of the fairies were.

He returned to find Tarwantrad standing in the circle once more. She still appeared as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but this time he was more prepared for it so he was not as stunned. He still couldn’t help but flush a bit as she saw him and beamed.

“Belissar! I’m so glad to see you again!”

He could not help but return a smile.

“It’s nice to see you too, Tarwantrad. Did everything work out with whatever drew you away? It seemed…urgent.”

Tarwantrad nodded and adopted a serious expression.

“Indeed, and we have a request for you as well. The Calwaskon Compact would like for us to keep this nexus door open indefinitely in both of our dungeons, as our future may very well depend on it. I know it is a lot to ask when we’ve only just met, I can promise you though that if you are willing to do so the entire Calwaskon Compact would be incredibly grateful. I will also offer my support and friendship as a fellow dungeon master.”

Belissar blinked.

“That’s…”

He nearly agreed of out habit, but his past forays into diplomacy as well as his recent conversations on the fey made him hesitate. Once he thought about it, he definitely didn’t want to commit to anything just like that, especially where the supposedly tricky and dangerous fey were concerned. Leaving a door open to his dungeon could also be dangerous, though he supposed if he moved the Fairy Grove to be the first room it would be no different than the normal entrance.

In any case, unlike the situation with the sigmaka, Tarwantrad did not seem ready to attack him at a moment’s notice, so he had a bit more time to think before he responded. He decided that before he agreed to anything, he needed more information about who he was dealing with, and what exactly they were asking him to do.

“I have some questions. First, what is the Calwaskon Compact?”

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