Mirabella looked at the Hold's walls with a stony gaze. It had been a couple days since the guards had noticed movement of massive ants in the area. Now everyone had been moved into the walls to prepare. All of their preprations were done now, but something was nagging at her.
Beast waves usually started with a few sightings in the wild, and a clearing of native animals and monsters. Along with more attacks on roads from the dungeon beasts. You could say that everything was progressing like it normally would. And, that was unsettling Mirabella.
This dungeon hadn't done much that would be considered normal, and since no one had dared to dive it. Outside of a few who attempted the castle entrance. It would make sense for it to be bursting with monsters. Yet, it didn't stop her from having misgivings about all of this, and is why she sent a request for aid to the capital and cities.
Usually the kingdom wouldn't send forces unless it was an older, more powerful, dungeon, but Mirabella hoped they would all understand the risk of this one. Otherwise, she would be left alone to defend the nearly 400 people of the hold. It didn't help that they had limited fields within the walls, and the harvest was only a couple days away.
She had ordered the guards to help with harvesting to reduce the risks, and, if she was lucky, the wave wouldn't start until afterward. Though a part of her had a feeling that wouldn't be the case. Especially after the number of souls that had gone missing in it's depths over the last few weeks. Humans were smart and this dungeon was proving smarter.
"Lady Arcues, I have a report from the northern road." The Captain said briskly, he had similar feelings as his Lady about all of this. He had barely survived the entrance to the dungeon, and this was too textbook. Mirabella took a deep breath before reaching for her neck. Fumbling for something that wasn't there anymore.
"Speak, Captain." She kept her face passive.
"Outriders have failed to return to the caravans and walls, but we did get a single message from Lolacal about a caravan arriving. The Farspeakers have reported issues with their skills increasing over the last couple days. The Mage's are up in arms about the sky still, and the Caravan Masters are almost as bad." It wasn't quite the whole story, or just about the northern road issues, but it was enough for Mirabella to confirm her own thoughts on the matter.
The reports from the granary and stockpiles should arrive soon, but her last reports gave them a week of stable supplies before there would be heavy rationing. It was tempting to stretch things out with half-rations from the start, but it was unlikely that this would take so long. There had been whispers of eyes watching in the dark of rooms and in the streets. It was creating a lot of stress and unrest by itself, and adding in half-rations would adding to the fire that was building.
"So nothing is coming to help us then." It wasn't a question, with only one report from Lolacal it was sure that nothing else would be coming in. Unless a miracle happened in the next couple days, but that was unlikely. A true noble didn't hold out for some random chance, they expected only they would be present.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Very well, do you have further suggestions for the defense?" The Captain tapped his helmet, a sign of his thinking. He had been staying quiet since his failure to survey the dungeon, but had been far more active in preparing the defenses than he usually would. Which Mirabella appreciated since he had spent a number of years in the army of two kingdoms as a strategy leader before retiring. Her father even mentioned that he had served in the Borderlands.
"No, my Lady. Our best bet is to shield wall as I have already instructed the locals, per your quest." His response was a bit hollow, but it was expected after all the rushing to prepare.
"Then, we will hope the crops grow enough to harvest before it begins." Her hand reaching up to stroke the dangling time piece, and it's faintly glowing runes.
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Heavy chitin plates shift smoothly as the War Queen stirs the sand pit in front of her. Her sister had given her the castle to act as a base for this offensive, and the War Queen was happy with the results of her new magic. Mother had given her the core and veins along with her sisters only a few days ago, and it was already showing it uses over the [Skills] that she had used before.
Feeding Will and earth mana into the sand she could connect to her children to create a flowing map of sand. It shifted as people and things moved around and gave her another unfair advantage. Yet, Mother always said it was better to crush with overwhelming force, and she wanted the humans to be at the edge.
She didn't understand all the plans of Mother, but if she wanted the Hold to fall with maximum fear and despair. Then it would be done to the best of her ability, and she wouldn't give them any chances for something clever. The only caveat was to keep the Lady, Mother had marked her, from being killed to early.
She sent her commands to her children using scents and sounds so low and high, few others could even hear. She had wished that Kalos could have joined the frontlines in this fight. It would have been excellent to see his strength in direct combat, but Mother had declined that request. Kalos had his own role to play that Mother wished, and none would gain say her.
Clacking her mandibles together to pace the movement of the troops she had rotating around to the hills surrounding the Hold. War was a matter of position and timing that she was still getting used to. Though it was far easier with the ability to read and the knowledge that Kalos had given her. Her instincts mainly told her to overwhelm all with pure numbers, but this whole thing needed a careful hand.
They could crush, but this was more about gathering a special resource from Mother, which needed them to be broken in spirit. Like what she had done with those intruders that Kalos came from. It made her excited to feel the power of their Mother's Will. Perhaps then she would also get a name...
They all wanted one now. The names gave power and a blessing from Mother, and each wished to be granted such a title. Stilling her mind, it wouldn't be good to excite herself too much. If it was Mother's Will this would be enough. If not, then she would wage a war across the Kingdom until it all bowed before their Mother's authority.
If it was Mother's Will, her children would raze the Realm to it's foundations for her gentle words. For her joy, for the-
tick
The War Queen paused and thought it would make sense to create a tunnel along the roads. It would provide information down the way if they wished to do more. It was only right to prepare for more of Mother's wishes ahead of time.