Okay, this princess is intense.
She's barely come into view and her pheromones are already deafeningly present.
Seriously, she's shouting as she speaks, so to say.
Also, she seems to be celebrating.
Is Chera flattering her?
Doesn't seem a bit like her usual demeanor to be so polite.
So she already plans for future fights.
That's a bit concerning, as I didn't intend for things to go in this direction.
Venara?
Oh, that must be her co-princess.
Just like Chera wanted to make me for her hive.
At this, her head snaps hard towards Liseti.
(I)
Wow.
Suddenly she got quite emotional.
Is this level of attachment normal for co-princesses?
I suppose it's nice how they're looking out for each other.
On the other hand, I should probably change the topic, before those two extend their clawblades.
I wouldn't say so.
She just sent her elite units, which were outclassing them by far.
(I)
That probably depends.
Those acid strikes were devastating, but a spear might have further reach.
Also, the environment is to be taken into account.
The surface would favor my winged fighters, while cramped space is good for hers.
A duel?
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Oh hell, no!
Ehm, because they'd die?!
(E)
I never liked this part of Formicean thinking.
Just because doing something might bear the smallest advantage to the majority, this shouldn't justify sacrificing a single life, even if it might seem insignificant in comparison.
So I'm in the wrong?!
(I)
"Ahem. May I say something about this matter?" (St)
Lord Stormheart?
Did he catch on that we'd receive Princess Inati here?
Well, I suppose they are kinda involved and it's not too hard to figure out where an insect army was headed.
Though, now I kinda feel bad that we didn't invite him to this meeting and he had to figure this out by himself.
At a closer look, the sweat and slightly narrowed breath tells me he was rushing to this place.
From what I've heard, you're not giving them much of a choice.
"Fine. Then let me speak from here. This blow will certainly agitate the enemy side. They spent a lot of time and resources on building that trebuchet. Not to mention the magically enhanced parts to hold something of this size together. In this situation, I would recommend we make use of your more flexible capabilities for warfare and start harassing the enemy. Especially, your flying units should serve the purpose well to disrupt enemy supply lines. With the wall as our safe retreat, it should be possible to prevent them from recovering from today's blow. Of course, while keeping proper distance to their weaponry. Maintaining an army such as this requires a lot of resources. Therefore, cutting them off will establish a sense of urgency. In the best case, we can continue this until they can't keep up their active warfare anymore, which would just align with Princess Erys preferred end to this conflict. But even if this doesn't work, they'll at least be prone to rash actions. This strategy would offer the best possible results at a relatively low investment I would say." (St)
Don't believe I didn’t notice the part about how we'd have to do all the work.
Liseti too emits slight indicators of agitation in her pheromones.
Yet I can see the merits of this plan.
Maintaining a troop of flying units dedicated to only attack where they aren’t prepared for this is relatively simple, at most costs four to five laying sessions to get it prepared, and shouldn't lead to any greater loss for our side if done properly.
Not to say that having those units to scout the enemy movements would be the kind of thing we should do anyway if we don't want to deal with any nasty surprises.
However, I'm not the only one to make this decision.
And here we have another episode of Chera trying to make a deal that benefits her hive.
Yet this leaves just one.
(I)
Seems like this is settled then.
Oh!
I didn't say anything.
Suddenly, Inati extends a curved blade and jumps in my direction.
On instinct, I do the same, but before she's even close, my royal guard has intercepted her path with spears, much to the agitation of her own escort.
Only a prompt signal from Inati stops her royal guard from charging at mine, as they perceive them as a threat to their broodmother.
Is she serious?
Wait, why did she just send a stronger signal for her guard to stay put?
Huh?
Promptly, Inati steps again towards me.
My guard does its usual thing in going to protect me from what they perceive as a threat, even if killing her would have absolutely terrible consequences.
Yet before my guard can cause any harm, she grabs the first spear close to her, while dodging a strike from another angle, not deadly, but meant to incapacitate.
However, this lunatic just flings the whole spear holder away, grabs a new spear, coming from the side, and uses her hold with two arms to propel her knee right into the attacker's face.
At the same time, her still free other two arms grab each another spear and keep them away from her body, before she kicks, punches, and smacks with the acquired spear like a living whirlwind everything around her.
I can only let myself get pulled away, to find myself behind a wall of my guards, from where I end up finding Inati standing on a makeshift hill, consisting of ten of my guards, all lying completely crushed under her feet claws.
None of them dead, but certainly in no condition to stand up anytime soon again.
Those she just flung away not counting into it.
Just why is not a single being I'm working with in their right mind?!!