The Oresta Orichalcum, an overstuffed barge trailing nets of foodstuff and anything else that Demes thinks would tempt Zelaks, shadows Demes and his small party of traders and advisors as they gather samples and prepare to descend into the tunnels. "Stay close, everyone," Demes warns. "A Zelak nest is no place to get lost – they'll kill to protect their secrets."

Chiri grumbles quietly to Gwyneth, "I wish they could have at least let us nibble on some of those fruits they had in storage, I can't see what the buhs like about them so much."

Envoy wonders just what sort of secrets those might be…

"Nestlings, most especially," Aski murmurs didactically. "But you will be able to recognize such locations by an abundance of smells, most particularly the smell of hydrochloric acid. And of course, the Zelak guards." He looks up as if trying to remember what else might be of interest to the traders. "Ah! Do not expect them to understand Rephidim standard. That is a skill left to the drones."

Gwyneth whispers back, "You can't eat the merchandise. Demes would have had a fit!" She gathers up her things, including her bow and cutlass, preparing to go down with Demes.

A Savanite slave with a couple of scars forming an "X" across his face looks about, adjusting the supplies he's carrying.

Demes smiles. "Don't worry, I've dealt with Zelaks before." He looks over at X, then grudgingly adds, "Well, once. Marcus took Faresk and me down with him on a trip like this one… Well. He made us stay on the surface. But we asked lots of questions." He grins wryly.

Chiri says, "Great great… lot of good that does for me, my nose has been a dud for years now."

Envoy flares her nostrils wide in an attempt to make up for her average sense of smell.

Demes winks to show he's joking, then gestures to Chiri to come forward as he slings his rucksack over his shoulder. "Stay close to Aski," he murmurs to her. "I know your Zelak may be a litle rusty, but we might need every bit of persuasive power we can get."

Gwyneth swings her bow over her shoulder for a moment, wings brushing against the side of the ship. "Trust me, I think anyone else who smells it will let you know, Chiri."

Envoy stays a pace or two behind the scholar, as she was instructed.

Chiri halfsmiles to Gwyneth and rolls her eyes before walking up to join the Rath'ani scholar.

The just-mentioned raccoon takes his spectacles off and cleans them. "Well. Shall we begin?" He looks over to the orange-and-white Khatta as he puts the glasses back on.

Gwyneth walks up behind Chiri and Demes, ready to go. She pokes Chiri lightly in the back. "Bug talker." She grins teasingly.

Demes nods. "By all means, Aski! And do let me know if we're stepping into something we shouldn't?"

Chiri smirks at the varhian. "That's me. The rat who talks to bugs." she pats her belt pouches. "Lessee here; gauze, needle, thread, ointments, tobacco… yep. I've got all the essentials with me."

The Rath'ani chuckles. "I shall do my humble best, my friend." He steps up to one of the hive guardians, the eerie insectoid 'taurs barely glancing his way, and then hisses and clacks. ( I and my friends seek audience with your hive-queen. We have come many leagues and brought precious gifts which we hope your queen will find of some small value. )

Gwyneth whispers at Chiri, "What'd he say?"

The guardian swings its fore-arm over, twin multi-faceted eyes glinting. Light traces the blade grown from its chitin downward, before it nods. ( Your presence is anticipated. Wait here. ) It turns and begins to lope into the tunnels.

Envoy listens carefully to the clicking speech, building up her memorized vocabulary.

Demes repeats much the same question to Aski, who shrugs. "They will bring an escort for us."

Chiri takes a step back and whispers to Gwyneth, "Some junk about how far we've come… blahblahblah. We're going to see their queen apparently."

Envoy thinks, o O { They either breed specialized forms for certain tasks, or else the Zelaks actually consist of many different species. }

Gwyneth hms, settling back a little bit as its probably going to be a wait. "I thought nobody ever saw a Zelak queen."

Envoy says, "Somebody must have, or else how would we know they were such things?"

Chiri scratches at the back of her head. "I guess that fruit we're bringing is some good stuff. Makes me wish I'd managed to snitch a piece." she keeps her voice low, out of Demes' range.

Uneasy moments pass, and Demes cracks a weak joke about "Zelak queens must be like any other nobility; the longer you wait, the more important they feel." At last, the guard 'taur returns with a smaller biped drone of an interesting mottled gray and black color. The drone's face looks almost human, though it is composed of multiple segments of exoskeletons; it has none of the wicked blades that the guards and warriors do. The drone's escorts comprise six of the ordinary warriors, who take up places beside the party as if an honor guard.

"You are welcome to Shkarkin Hive, honored travellers," the drone says with an excellent grasp of Rephidim standard – no accent at all! "Please, come this way. The Queen will be most interested to hear what words you have brought of the outside world."

Gwyneth perks her ears up. Looks like she won't have to listen to squeaks and clicks and clacks all day. She breathes a sigh of relief.

Envoy's eyes light up at the sight of the new drone. It's function must close to her own former one as a remote.

Chiri keeps quiet as the drone speaks. Probably not a good idea to make crass remarks about the zelaks around the ones that understand what she's saying. She shoulders her medic bag and prepares to enter.

Demes looks surprised, and then relieved as he bows to the drone. "Ah! A princely welcome," he says effusively, with glances to the warrior escort.

The cheetah's tail twitches a bit, betraying his nervous state. He is not so comfortable around these … bugs.

The drone replies, "It is the welcome that the Queen has chosen for you. Please! This way. The Queen expects you." Despite its near-perfect command of the language, the drone's intonation betrays no emotion.

Envoy forces herself not to run up and start talking to the drone, instead keeping close to Aski.

The party proceeds into the tunnel, swallowed up by the strange and many-flavored scents of the Zelak everyday life… Such as it is. It passes by workers whose simple optics catch light dully like garnets as they labor in the earth, an assortment of drones hurrying hither and thither like messengers and pages, more workers of a different type who are extruding a shiny liquid from their mouth-palps, and working it into the shapes of swords and armor…

Every few minutes, the drone repeats its message. "This way please, honored travellers."

Chiri winces and rubs the chitin belt around her waist. Who'd have thought that it was something upchucked by a bug. She fixes her eyes on the drone and hurries along.

Gwyneth hms, following Demes. She keeps glancing behind her, and sometimes down some of the darker corridors.

Demes mutters, "By the First Ones, I hope someone remembers which way we came. I don't think I could find my way out of here by myself," to X.

The X-marked cheetah looks off to one side as if something caught his eye, but he rushes along to keep up with the party, furrowing his brow. He snaps out of it, nodding absently to Demes.

Envoy, of course, remembers every detail of the path that she sees, even though her attention is mainly focused on the various Zelaks instead of their environment.

The tunnels plunge beneath bedrock, now made of rock that has been melted, or etched with powerful acids. More drones populate the hive at this level – they cluster around in connecting rooms, clacking and hissing between each other before breaking up from their 'meetings' to go elsewhere.

At last the drone steps out into a huge space… But one guaranteed to strike a chill into the hearts of most, for it is here that the Zelak hive-queen presides over what appears to be a virtual grid of cells, each containing what might someday be a new Zelak. A few are mottled green and black, others shade toward pure green, some appearing an ominous red. The Zelak queen herself towers over everyone, some twenty feet tall and possessed of eight legs and two arms, a fully insectoid head with twin glittering eyes, and a long skeet-like tail that ends in what appears to be a deadly stinger. Twenty guard 'taurs stand nearby and what look like modified workers run back and forth, tending mysteriously to the eggs with viscous substances. A pale light comes from the moss covering the walls of this cavern.

Demes stiffens, and then nods to the others, forcing a smile. "Well, we're here," he murmurs. "Smiles, everyone."

Chiri lets out a soft "eek" of surprise.

Envoy smiles and has trouble containing her excitement! You'd think she just discovered her first candy store.

The cheetah obediently adopts a smile that shows no teeth. He resists the urge to grab his own tail in a vain attempt to smooth it down.

Aski looks awed. "Far, far larger than I'd thought any Zelak could be," he says. "Her internal construction must be reinforced many times over!" Several nearby 'taurs look up at this and hiss and clack between each other. ( Unidentified intruders. ) ( They are expected. They are the Queen's guests. ) ( Stand alert. ) The Rath'ani hushes quickly, giving them a nervous glance.

The Skreek's ears flatten at the chittering noises from the Zelaks.

Gwyneth blinks. . o O (a monster.) Her wings twitch slightly nervously at all the clacking.

Envoy leans towards Aski and whispers, "Perhaps they use different doses of vitamins to control the growth and aspect of the larvae. That could be why they want fruits."

The disturbingly humanoid-seeming drone announces, "Welcome to the presence of Shkarkin, Queen of Shkarkin Hive, honored travellers." The queen herself appears barely interested as she turns her head upon a ponderous crane-like neck, rattling a few clicks. ( Are they the ones? ) "She asks that you introduce yourself and present the gifts which you have surely prepared for the privilege of beholding her magnificence."

The cheetah hurriedly removes the pack from his back, to produce the designated offerings for his master.

Gwyneth looks around at all the corridors, obviously too small for the Queen to be able to go through. Queen she might be but she's also a prisoner, she thinks.

"I am Demes Oresta," the orange-and-white Khatta says with a voice that trembles almost as much as the wavering tip of his tail. "These are my… assistants, as worthy and loyal as your own drones are to your magnificent self. Gwyneth, my apprentice. Chiri, our healer. Aski Medes, a scholar of your kind, and Envoy, his assistant. And of course my manservant, X. Behold! We have brought rare fruits from the continent of Ur, which are presently very difficult to obtain, as you may have heard." A double-pointed offer: gifts and information. He flicks his ears upright and waits for the drone to translate all this.

Chiri manages to keep herself glued to where she's standing. She cautiously watches everything around her.

Gwyneth pays attention to what Demes is doing. Maybe one day, she'll end up doing this sort of thing.

Envoy sifts through the dialogue, making sure the drone is not using some specialized language for talking with the Queen.

The drone chatters back to the Queen. ( They are the ones we were told to expect. They promise gifts of fruit and they talk about difficulties in the continent of Ur. The one called 'Envoy' talks about our larvae. Perhaps it is a scholar. )

Aski perks his ears up at this last statement and glances over to Envoy worriedly.

Envoy doesn't seem affected by the exchange, but then her grasp of the language is still limited. She's busy watching the various workers tend to the larvae.

The queen clacks, ( There are two of species I do not recognize. Do the outsiders practice our arts upon their larvae now? Find out. ) She then proceeds to squat upon all her eight legs, now appearing to be going through some sort of biological upheaval… Though none of the workers nor drones seem to be alarmed in any way.

Demes motions to Gwyneth. "Quickly," he hisses. "Let's set out our offerings. Make them look good… Ah! Here's that cloth." He spreads out a white tablecloth, as if for a picnic, then kneels to begin arranging fruits and samples of wood and vines.

Chiri blinks, and gives Envoy and Gwyneth a glance. Perhaps the queen means the halfbreed and the exile.

Envoy turns her attention back to the Queen now.

Gwyneth digs into the pack X brought, helping Demes arrange the goods in a matter that's pleasant to the eye.

The drone listens to the Queen's request, then says, "The Queen is most interested in the people that you have chosen to serve you, Demes Oresta. In particular, would you be so kind as to tell her about… Gwyneth? And Envoy?"

Chiri backs up and tries to keep out of the way.

The cheetah tries to be helpful, but he defers to the organizational skills of Gwyneth and his master. After all, he's merely brute labor, and certainly no diplomat.

Gwyneth perks her ears up at her name, and stares at Demes in mid organization.

Envoy smiles, but doesn't speak. The trader will probably want to bargain for the price of the information.

Demes looks puzzled, then motions for X to take over piling up the fruits. "Ah! They are truly remarkable people to have caught your eyes, are they not?" he says, standing and with a flourish, 'presenting' Gwyneth to the Queen, then Envoy. "My apprentice I met first in the Rephidim Bazaar – "

The drone interrupts. "My apologies," it says without a trace of emotion. "But the Queen wishes to know more about how they were born. Is that the right word for your people?"

Demes blinks and then looks over at Gwyneth and Envoy askance, as if wondering why this would have caught the Queen's interest.

The cheetah determinedly tends to the task of piling the fruits, silently wishing that fruits could have been SQUARE rather than round…

Envoy looks to Demes, and asks, "May I answer?"

Chiri mumbles to the Savanite, "I'd help… but most people don't want to eat food touched by a rat."

"Of course," the Khatta says. His eyes would say 'But don't say anything to get us in trouble' if they could speak – however, Envoy lacking telepathy, the words go unheard.

The drone looks at Envoy.

Gwyneth was about to say something along the lines of, "Don't say anything crazy," but Demes beat her words, so she remains quiet.

Envoy smiles and takes a step towards the drone, but addresses the Queen. "I am a Scout and former Drone of Queen Lothrhyn of the T'spyra-Rhyan. I was created by a process of morphogenesis from her own flesh."

Gwyneth rolls her eyes. Morphogenewhatsis? She's going to get us into trouble.

The queen's upheavals bear a surprising fruit… An egg! This unlikely-looking sac of some translucent fluid wobbles in vaguely oval shape as workers move in to grasp and then lift the egg to its place in the matrix. They begin to extrude fluids to glue it into place.

Envoy continues, "I was originally created to function as a liaison between Lothrhyn and other sapients."

The drone clacks to the Queen, relaying what Envoy says, and then listens to the response. "The Queen is fascinated," it says. "You do not appear like any Zelak, and the Queen has never heard of a hive queen named the T'spyra-Rhyan. You must have come from a great distance. The Queen asks as to your queen's intentions toward her hive."

Demes perks his ears up. His tail starts to swish much more frantically.

The cheetah barely understands anything that is going on, but he DOES understand his master's body language. His tail swishes frantically, too.

( I have the feeling that Gwyn probably should have gone first. ) Chiri thinks to herself.

The guard 'taurs look somehow more alert than before. ( She is a Scout. ) ( Scouts may enter other hives without hostility. ) ( We should challenge her. ) ( Defer to the Queen. The Queen knows best. )

Envoy says, "My Queen is not on this world. My purpose here is to learn about the various people and societies of Sinai, then report back when possible. As she is unaware of your existence, she can have no intentions towards your hive."

The Khatta looks over at X, then around the walls as if looking for likely escape routes just in case something goes wrong.

The drone relays this to the Queen, then wilts beneath a veritable hailstorm of clickings and rattles.

"Shkarkin Queen is displeased that a Scout of another hive would not trust her to respect her hive-queen's territory. She has no intention of challenging your Queen for her territory and is interested in exchanging knowledge, as your hive appears learned in certain ways," the drone says. "But as there is no traffic off of the world of Sinai, she asks you to clarify your words. Surely no insult to her credulity is intended?"

The drone's smooth voice belies the original hostility of the queen's statement.

Demes motions Gwyneth and Chiri closer and whispers, "If we have to run, forget the fruit. We can get more. Chiri, what are the guards saying? They keep clacking… "

Aski wrings his hands. "Oh dear. I do believe they think that you are a Zelak of an unknown type," he murmurs to Envoy. "They are very… protective of their territory."

Envoy nods, "I apologize for any misunderstanding. The internal structure which allows me to communicate with my Queen does not function in the atmosphere of this world. Until such time as conditions change, I can only store information within it. I have no way to commune with Lothrhyn at this time, but I do possess the cumulative knowledge of her people up until the time of my arrival on Sinai."

Chiri slowly walks to Demes, her ears perked. "They think she's a zelak scout, Apparently they were told to expect somebody, and they want to know if her arrival has changed what they've been ordered to do. Some of the other zelaks are nervous… "

"I don't like nervous Zelaks," Gwyneth mentions quietly.

The drone manages to look puzzled despite the insectile immobility of its face. "Do you mean to say that you are a rogue Scout, acting without orders?"

Aski wrings his tailtip. "Oh dear. Oh dear."

Demes says to Envoy tightly, "Tell them no," before being motioned to silence by the drone. The Queen watches Envoy fixedly.

The cheetah slave makes the sign of the Star and Anchor across his chest, and silently (of course) says his prayers, keeping his gaze lowered.

Chiri hisses through her teeth. "Can't you DO anything captain? The aeolun is crazy… she was bloody well talking about magical Savanites and eating people's brains just a couple of days ago."

Envoy says, "I am independent beyond my base imperative to gather information. As such, I have no official capacity to speak or negotiate in the name of my Queen."

Gwyneth continues where Chiri left off, "… and now she thinks she's a Zelak?"

Envoy frowns at the conversation going on behind her, but thinks turning away from the Queen now would be taken as a sign of disrespect.

The drone clacks twice, then begins conversing intently with the Queen. Even Chiri's grasp of the language does not allow her to catch more than one word in ten.

Aski's tail looks all fluffed out now as he wrings it. "Oh dear, oh dear," he continues to mutter.

The drone turns back to Envoy. "The Queen has chosen to honor you with a unique token of her esteem," it says. "As you are presently independent of your Queen, she will graciously take you into her service and charge you with new missions befitting your unique talents and abilities. This is a rare honor."

Gwyneth erps quietly to herself. Now Envoy will *be* a Zelak. Maybe they'll make her saner.

Envoy smiles again, "I am indeed honored to be able to put my talents to suitable service."

Warriors clatter between themselves like a row of teapots hissing. ( Rogue Scout. ) ( Serve the Queen. The Queen is wise. ) ( The outsiders will serve the Queen. )

"Please advance to be marked by the Queen," the drone instructs Envoy.

Envoy walks towards the huge Queen, stepping carefully to avoid disturbing any of the brood cells.

The cheetah doesn't look encouraged by any of these events. He glances worriedly at his master, as if anxious to find some command – anything – rather than just to stand and watch all these proceedings play themselves out.

Demes stands and looks puzzled from the neglected display of fruits. He whispers to Chiri and Gwyneth, "We were expected… Did you see anything strange around here? Like, maybe, other people?"

Gwyneth whispers to Demes, "You mean, non Zelaks? I think I saw someone… but I can't be sure."

The Zelak queen takes one of Envoy's shoulders in a massive clawed hand. Her breath smells of complicated chemicals, and her eyes glisten like black mirrors cut into many facets, each holding an image of Envoy. Aski gulps, fixed with the image of his assistant about to be somehow 'marked'… Then convulsively takes his rucksack off and grabs out his sketchpad. As little bits of chalk and wood start clattering, he starts drawing the scene with crazed and energetic activity.

Demes whispers to Gwyneth, "What did you see? Someone furred?"

Envoy looks up into the Queen's face and smiles, admiring the symmetry and efficiency she sees.

The cheetah, close enough to catch the whispers – at least in part – looks desperately to his master again, then to Gwyneth.

Demes's tailtip twitches as he watches Envoy. He's never had to negotiate over a dead body before. Why didn't his dad ever warn him trading with Zelaks was this bad?

Chiri scoots closer to Gwyneth. "She's gonna bite her fool head off… I know it." The rat murmurs to herself.

The cheetah turns to the rat who patched him up earlier, and signs in halting gestures, "I think I saw gold fur in tunnel. Not sure?"

With a blinding strike the Queen whirls about and… bites into Envoy's neck. Viscous white fluid bubbles over the gash, twined with streamers of a black substance, all masked by the bulk of her head before she draws back. She rasps her mandibles. ( Serve. )

The warriors chatter between themselves again. ( The Queen has chosen a new servant. ) ( Glorious is the Queen's wisdom. ) ( Are the others to be likewise marked? ) ( Wait and see. Stop them if they try to escape. ) Their long legs scythe across the cavern floor.

Envoy staggers slightly before falling to her knees. Part of her wonders if she needs to maintain a visible scar or not.

The drone says, "The Queen is gratified with your cooperation in this matter, Demes Oresta. She is certain that your companion will prove to be a most excellent servant. Your gifts are accepted." Is that just a hint of smugness in its voice?

Aski draws with frenzied speed.

Envoy gets back to her feet. Her tunic is half-soaked with the Queen's fluids and just a little bit of her own blood. The Aeolun just stares off at nothing for some moments afterwards.

Chiri blinks at the Savanite, then elbows Demes. "Your slave says he saw some gold fur in the tunnel." she whispers in his ear.

Envoy finally refocusses on the present, and bows to the Queen. "Thank you, Queen Shkarkin."

Two workers move to the fruits and begin to collect them; a worker, four-legged and two-armed, one arm larger than the other, takes a kyootcumber and offers the golden-fuzzed treat to the Queen. She gulps it with what would be relish in an ordinary person.

Demes oofs at Chiri's elbowing, then whispers back, "What? Fur?" He rubs his chin, and then tells her, "As far as the warriors will let you, see if you can hear anything other than Zelak-speak around here… "

The drone continues, "The Queen presents her new servant, Envoy, with a warrior of Shkarkin Hive, to ensure her safety. She is bid to seek out her former hive when she has opportunity, and inform them of Shkarkin's interest in exchanging information and other things that may prove to be of value." A green-and-black warrior of the standard two-legged, two-armed sort stands next to Envoy and clacks.

Chiri slowly begins to relax. "Perhaps they're not going to eat us for dinner after all."

Envoy nods to the drone.

Demes pastes on a smile again. "We are honored with the gift you have made us," he says to the Queen. "And I hope you find our gifts of interest as well – "

"Please tell us about your apprentice, Gwyneth," the drone interrupts.

Demes gives Gwyneth the 'I can't take this another time' look.

Envoy sniffs her warrior.

Gwyneth looks back at Demes, "I suppose I should?" she looks up at the Zelak.

Aski continues to draw furiously. "By the First Ones," he mutters to himself. "This says *volumes* about how Zelak hives relate to each other."

Chiri flashes a grin at Gwyneth. "Let'ssee if you can top the Aeolun's story." she whispers to the Varhian.

Demes whispers, "Please, please, don't let them think you're one of them!" to Gwyneth. Then, calming, says to the drone, "Of course. My apprentice is an example of the Oresta family's dedication to service. She would be delighted to tell the Queen about herself."

Demes rubs his chin again, in deep thought.

The cheetah servant looks with concern at the winged part-equine to whom he might well owe his life … or at least all his ribs.

Envoy returns to Aski's side, and smiles to the scholar before quietly asking her bodyguard about its nutritional requirements.

The warrior moves silently by Envoy's side. "This unit is capable of providing for itself," it rasps with its bladed fore-arm gesturing as if to suggest just how it does so.

Gwyneth steps forward lightly, and clears her throat a bit, "I'm afraid I'm no where near as interesting as my companion Envoy," she begins, "but I will be pleased to tell you about my parents. My father was a Vartan – I'm sure members of your hive have met those. I have him to thank for my wings. My mother was a Rhian, and I tend to take after her. So, as you can see, I'm a halfbreed, and proud to be one." She pauses after her brief speech.

Envoy nods and whispers, "Very well," to the warrior.

The drone exchanges clacks with the Queen, who stops looking so intently at the Varhian. It replies, "Such crossings have not been spoken of before. Is this a frequent occurrance among your species, Apprentice Gwyneth?"

"There isn't much mixing between each of the tribes I hold heritage to, your highness," Gwyneth says politely, "But some Vartans have produced crossbreeds among other races. I am the only half Rhian I know, but there could be others."

The cheetah's tail POOFS out. He dares to tug on the sleeve of the Skreek, trying to "subtly" point back up the corridor. Stealth, however, isn't his strong suit.

The drone says, "Indeed. Thank you for edifying us, Apprentice Gwyneth. Your willingness to aid Shkarkin Hive reflects well upon your master." It turns its attention across Chiri and X, and then Demes Oresta.

Chiri glares at the Savanite and then squints her eyes as she looks down the corridor. Her nose is useless, as is her sense of taste… but her eyes are keen.

The Savanite stops pestering the rat. His senses aren't particularly keen, either, after all, and he certainly can't point out what he can't see. Having done his duty, he does his best to stand still again and keep alert for the commands of his master.

Gwyneth steps back to Demes. "I hope I did well."

Chiri frowns, and gives Demes another sharp poke in the back. "I think there are Vartans here." She whispers.

Demes beams. "Yes, excellently spoken," the Khatta says, putting his arm around Gwyneth's shoulders. "My apprentice is a trustworthy and loyal servant of the Oresta trading concern. And I hope to demonstrate these virtues can serve the Shkarkin hive likewise. Did you like the fruits that I have – " He finishes the sentence, "brought?", then turns to Chiri. "What? Vartans?" he whispers.

Gwyneth flicks an ear around. "I thought I saw one," she whispers to Demes and Chiri. "Earlier."

Chiri tilts her head towards the corridor. "They don't sound all that cheery either. they sound like they're walking in circles."

The cheetah furrows his brow, and absent-mindedly scratches his head.

Demes's face firms. "We have saboteurs," he hisses, tail bottlebrushing. Then turns to the drone. "I regret bringing up what may seem a minor concern to the lofty concerns of Shkarkin Queen, but… Have you received other guests recently? Perhaps, those that spoke of the name Demes Oresta in less than flattering tones?"

The drone clacks to the Queen. ( He asks of the ones who came to see us three days ago. )

The Queen rasps and clatters, gesturing almost negligently as she consumes another of the fruits, this one a tan ovoid resembling a loaf of bread. The drone translates her answer diplomatically. "This is true. However, circumstances have changed. Your associates are intriguing. We may find it more advantageous to ally with your concern. Those of the entity known as 'Faresk Oresta' have proven less than completely satisfying."

Demes shoots a look at Chiri. Confirmation of a sort.

Chiri frowns, scratching at that same spot on the back of her head.

Aski continues to draw, almost oblivious to the conversation going on.

The cheetah's ears flick at mention of his former master who saw fit to discard him like so much rubbish.

"We would be most pleased to enter into trading negotiations with Shkarkin Hive, and demonstrate the wisdom of her Queen's observation," Demes says slowly, as if trying to think out just how to put this most delicately. "Perhaps we might be of service by removing some potential nuisances from her nest, so that they will not disturb her tranquility?"

Envoy looks at Aski's drawing, and wonders why Demes's relative would be a problem?

The drone clatters to the Queen, then translates her response. "There is no nuisance."

Chiri's ears lay back. ( Bah… we've gone from being traders to exterminators… exterminators for bugs. )

"We will bow to your wisdom, Queen," Demes responds. He whispers to Chiri to keep him updated on the chatterings of the warriors, and to tell X to listen for the Vartans, and then begins to negotiate hard and fast.

Envoy observes the negotiations with interest.

Chiri frowns, she's not a happy rat. She manages to keep her ears upright and listening though.

Gwyneth listens intently. She has to learn how to negotiate like this if she ever wants to be a master trader.

The cheetah obediently keeps both ears on the alert. Now, if only he could UNDERSTAND Vartan…

The negotiations proceed for what seem like hours… But are actually only minutes. As Demes pants for breath between paragraphs of details, a piercing scream sounds from the corridor, and the sounds of fighting. None of the warriors so much as look up; Demes glances toward the exit, then back to the drone and launches again into the debate. And a few minutes later, they reach what appears to be a bargain, all the terms verbally promised – the Zelaks don't have writing.

The drone says, "Shkarkin Queen is pleased with the arrangement that the entity Demes Oresta has offered. She trusts that our renewal in twenty years will go easily. The warriors will escort you out." It does not move to follow them.

Chiri thinks, . o O ( The zelaks are right about one thing… they're smart enough to be led by a queen instead of a king. )

Demes waits until the tunnel entrance to turn to the others. "This is a calculated risk… but I want you to listen for the others you heard, Chiri. If possible, try and get them to join us. I don't think the Zelak warriors will bother you." Aski has to be pulled up to join them, but nods agreement on this. "I won't leave anyone to suffer Zelak punishment without even a chance at a fair trial." His eyes are distant, as if they could look through the earth.

The tunnels almost seem to breath, the quick and heated breath of someone on the run from pursuers.

Chiri frowns and tries to tune her ears down the tunnels. "You want me to go after the Vartans? hooboy… "

The cheetah looks to his master for direction, not certain as to with whom he is to be travelling.

Demes frowns as they walk along. "We don't owe them anything… But I like to think that someone would think to do the same for me if I were trapped down here," he says quietly. "X, keep your ears open too."

Chiri peers down each of the passages in turn, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone.

There – though the echoes make it hard to tell – down one side corridor, the non-Zelak activity sounds the loudest. But the corridor curves, cutting off any glimpse of beyond.

The cheetah's ears flick with every sound – real or imagined – and he's given up on trying to smooth his tail back out.

Chiri waves to Demes and X. "Down here… I think. Rotted darkness."

Envoy asks her Zelak escort what lies beyond that corridor.

"Here. Take this lantern," Demes says. "Envoy, hang back as much as you can, you have a pet Zelak, he should be able to get you out. I'll try and distract the warriors as we go." He frowns, then motions to X. "Go with her, keep her out of trouble, you hear? I want you all back safe and sound, first and foremost."

The Zelak warrior says, "Grain."

X bows his head to his master, and keeps a close – but respectful – distance behind Chiri.

Chiri snatches up the lantern and as quietly as she can, moves down the passage.

The passageway turns one way, then the other, the sounds of fighting getting stronger… Two Vartans and a Savanite slave! The Vartans look not at all like proud gryphons, their hides beaded with healing wounds and their tails bedraggled, and the Savanite has fared no better, but it seems that the reason they have not been able to make good their escape is that one of the Vartans has had its leg pinned beneath a fall of several heavy sacks of grain and fallen stones. Workers cluster about, approaching with questioning curiosity and being driven back by the desperate defenders.

"You had better be as good a fighter as they say, spottytail." The rat mutters to the Savanite behind her. "Because a zelak hive is not the place in which I have intended to die."

The moss glows not at all in this dry and low-ceilinged room, making the lantern the only source of illumination here. One of the Vartans sees the light and cries out, "Help! Help us, please!"

The cheetah looks grimly at the scene, then back to Chiri. "I obey your orders, Mistress. What do you bid me do?"

Its voice rasps painfully dry.

Chiri straightens herself. "We're both from Demes' ship. He bid us to come here and help you. If we do… do you swear to cause us no harm?" ( Vartans always keep their word… as for the slave, what harm could he do… )

"We swear! We swear!" the Vartan yelps. He clubs at a worker with what looks like the limb of another worker. "Just get us out of here! Knew nothing good would come of going in a Zelak hive… "

X tenses, crouched down and poised to break into motion at a sign or word from the rat.

"Free them." Chiri says to the slave, and she goes over herself to try and pull some of the sacks free.

X springs forward, sprinting toward the Vartans and their slave, and grabs for the burdens to wrench free what he can.

The Savanite slave looks wearied from lack of sleep, but nods to X as he helps to keep the workers away from the fallen Vartan, who looks to be unconscious.

The workers click and chatter. ( Intruders detected in the granary. They interfere in the work. The work must be performed. ) Over and over again. It gets monotonous… But the shrilling sounds an eerie background as the survivors of Faresk's expedition try to keep the workers back, so that Chiri and X can move the sacks.

The scarred cheetah's muscles work furiously as he uses every ounce of his strength to move the weights in as fast of a manner as he can manage without risking dumping something accidentally on the Vartan he's trying to free.

The Vartan sighs. "Too Dagh-taken close… Another hour and we'd have had to abandon Heghi. Wish I'd never signed on this Dagh-taken expedition," he growls as he kicks and flaps his wings.

Sacks of grain get moved… Finally, Heghi is in a position where he can be freed from the pinning stones and bags.

Chiri looks to the conscious Savanite and Vartan. "Can both of you walk? The slave can probably only carry one of you."

X wastes no time, struggling to remove the last remaining obstacles and then to move the Vartan at first opportunity.

The Savanite nods. The Vartan gripes, "The way I feel, I'd FLY out of here if I could."

"X, grab the Vartan and let's get the blazes out of here then." The rat says.

X hefts the Vartan up and over his shoulder with a strength fairly rare among his kind … and then pursues "Part B" of the rat's command by heading away from the debris.

The Vartan and the other Savanite slave follow X… Curiously, as soon as they move away from the place where the sacks were disturbed, the workers pay them little heed! The Zelaks begin silently moving the sacks in the darkness, as if able to see them without any light. "Falling cities," the Vartan moans. "That was too tight a spot… "

Chiri clutches her lantern and moves back to the opening that they entered from. "Too tight. How did you end up there?"

X continues on, pushing himself as hard as he can to be able to keep up a good pace to match what the others can without the burden of an unconscious Vartan.

"Tryin' t' keep from being bug-bit," the Vartan answers, wheezing for breath between phrases. "Heard you going down to the Queen's chambers. Thought we'd see your last minute. It was almost ours!"

Away from the cavern and the milling workers, the going gets easier. They round the bend and come back into view of the main tunnel…

Envoy rocks on her heels at the junction to the main tunnel.

The Skreek drops back to examine the Vartan slung across X's back. Checking to see how gravely he's wounded. "I'll not get much sleep tonight… hopefully we'll have enough bandages for everyone."

The Zelak warrior stands motionless as it watches the others.

The Vartan acks! "It's a warrior!" He turns around and starts to head the other way.

X's ears pale at the sight of Envoy and her … escort. His mind reels at his vain attempts to grasp just what in the Lands is going on.

Envoy waves! "Oh, you found the Vartans. Can we go now?"

Chiri makes a grab at the escaping Vartan. "It's alright. He's just one of the dumb ones… If you leave I'll not go chasing after you again!"

The Vartan stays behind the curve of the tunnel, hoping that if the warrior doesn't see him, the warrior won't do anything. "You're sure? Cross your heart and hope to die?" He frets, his draggled tailfeathers flicking.

X is forced to slow to a stop, lest he outpace Chiri. His tail flicks impatiently, as he glances all about … and pointedly avoids looking at that … "warrior".

Heghi, being unconscious, makes no sound.

"Oh… for the love of the First ones." Chiri rolls her eyes. "Yes yes yes… now let's get back to the ship before it does start getting dangerous."

Envoy nods, and heads up the tunnel towards the exit.

The Vartan says, "All right, but if you're wrong, I'm coming back to haunt you." He follows the others, looking around nervously.

Chiri says, "Fine. I've already got plenty of other ghosts haunting me. You'll be in perfectly good company."

X is faintly relieved that they're moving again, and starts off again at a jog.

Chiri follows behind X, keeping her eyes on Heghi.

The Savanite slave signs to X, ( Long time. Thought you were dead when Faresk talked about firing you. ) His name, X seems to remember, is Vermite-Hunter, so denoted when he brought home a dead vermite as a cub.

X only nods in response. He can't risk dropping his "passenger" while freeing a hand to "chat".

Though Demes's escorts have long since preceded them up the tunnel, Envoy and her warrior prove perfectly capable of guiding them back. It is with welcome warmth that the sun greets the weary travellers, and a worried-looking Khatta stands nearby, with a Varhian not far behind. He whoops as they emerge. "Excellent work! Bonuses all around."

Envoy smiles, although the slobber on her shoulder is starting to smell a bit.

The Vartan tries to hunch his wings up around himself, hiding his face from the Khatta that he nearly got killed. "Erk."

X smirks at Demes' words, then looks about, not entirely certain they can be in the clear just /yet/…

Chiri says, "Wonderful. X, please be so kind as to put your comatose passenger in my office on the ship, You two come with me as well. I'll probably end up using a mile of thread to stitch you back together… "

X bows his head, takes a few deep breaths, then heads off with the unconscious Vartan with the intent of delivering him to the Skreek's office.

The way appears to be quite clear… Perhaps any other airship that arrived earlier has long since left, to avoid being evicted by ungracious Zelaks. The Orichalcum bobs merrily from its gas bags, and the crew waves to the traders as they emerge. "Oresta!" they cheer. Demes's ears color as he walks with the others back to the airship.

Demes looks over the unconscious Vartan and the hiding one… Then grins. "And as for our newfound guests… Well, much as my brother hates to think it, I really don't bite. Come on." The crew lowers a stretcher into which Heghi's body can be loaded.

Envoy queries Aski, "Is there anything I should know about keeping a Zelak warrior?"

Aski blinks at Envoy. "As long as you live in an area where there are plenty of vermites… No, no problem at all. Goodness. This has been a *most* invigorating expedition."

X carefully places the Vartan onto the stretcher, and then steps clear, doing a bit of stretching himself after carrying that weight for so far.

The crew starts to raise Heghi onto the ship, as Demes watches with a happily twitching tail. "Right," he says. "Now we can offship the rest of this junk and take on our first load. Prime-grade chitin armor, just what the fashionable warrior needs to make a good appearance." He smiles and nods to Chiri. "And thank you again. I really ought to pay you all combat pay… But since there's no such thing in our contract, I'll just have to write it in." He winks.

The scarred cheetah looks to Vermite-Hunter now that his hands are free to sign. "I am most confused. I have little notion what just transpired." He may be able to breathe more easily, but he's still somewhat bewildered.

Chiri stands alongside the large Savanite. "You know the one thing I like about you, spottytail?" she whispers to him. "You're quiet."

Vermite-Hunter signs back, "That makes two of us. I am just glad to be alive and out of that hive."

Envoy tries to scrape off the dried goop, wishing she had a specimen jar…

X internally bristles at the rat's double-edged "compliment", but he bows his head in deference to the ship's doctor.

Aski produces a small glass vial. "No! No, don't waste that!" he urges.

Chiri gives the Savanite a poke in the ribs, smirks, and heads back onto the ship. ( Three patients… good thing I didn't make any plans… )

Envoy obliges Aski with samples…

Demes grins and then reaches up to one of the cargo nets and hands one of the fruits inside to Chiri. "Go ahead, you earned it," he says with a grin. "And I don't think the Zelaks will miss one… "

A little kyootcumber rests in the Skreek's hands, black leaves on a golden fuzz-covered fruit, ending in little points.

Chiri looks at the fruit. "Thanks." ( Drat… he overheard me. Hmm… I hear kyootcumber makes a good ointment… )