Belissar and Chief Rohsuak made their way over to the karnuq’s settlement…at least until they heard a scream. The two ran over to find the first karnuq beekeeper running from a swarm of angry monster bees. They weren’t stinging her, but they were diving and buzzing as loud as they could. Belissar exchanged a concerned look with Chief Rohsuak.

“…I don’t want to keep Juosiutik waiting, but I need to handle that.”

Chief Rohsuak just nodded silently.

“I’ll go inform Juosiutik.”

Belissar ran over, waving his hands.

“Hey, over here!”

The beekeeper ran to him. The bees stopped once they saw him, starting a salute dance. Belissar let out a sigh and then turned to the beekeeper.

“What happened? What did you do?”

Her face scrunched up as she frowned.

“Nothing! I was just going to check on the hive like you showed me, Tower Keeper, sir, but they started attacking before I even got close?”

Belissar raised an eyebrow at that and then turned to the bees.

“Is that true?”

The workers began to dance.

“Drove away intruder!”

He couldn’t get much more out of the workers, but fortunately Niobee had already flown to the hive in question, and now returned with the First of the Ninth. Belissar gave Niobee a nod of thanks before turning his attention to the queen.

“Could you explain what happened here? Why did your hive attack?”

The First of the Ninth gave a salute.

“Like King said! Acted like normal, drove away intruders!”

Belissar raised an eyebrow.

“Did she do anything to the hive?”

The First of the Ninth enthusiastically danced the negative.

“No! Didn’t let get close!”

Belissar frowned and crossed his arms. Normal bees could act aggressively, of course, and Belissar had his fair share of stings back at his old apiary, but he still felt this was abnormal. He normally didn’t get swarmed by the bees, just stung by a guard bee or two…save during honey collection but he’d resort to smoking when he did that. Both the karnuq beekeeper and the First of the Ninth confirmed that the karnuq had only approached the hive.

Belissar was going to ask the First of the Ninth for more detail, but Niobee was already dancing with her and brushing her antennae, so he left it to her while considering thing himself.

His eyes widened as it hit him. He had told the First of the Ninth to act like normal bees. He had meant normal, mundane honeybees…but maybe the First of the Ninth didn’t interpret it that way. Maybe she thought he meant act like normal monster bees. After all, she was born a monster bee, so why would she know anything about her mundane ancestors? Why would she act like a honeybee?

As Belissar furrowed his brow, Niobee flew back to him.

“King! First of the Ninth said acted like normal monster bee! Doesn’t know how regular bee acts.”

Belissar let out a sigh. Well, that confirmed it. This would be a problem, huh.

He tilted his head. Or would it?

“Come with me. Niobee, could you bring the Second and Third of the Ninth too?”

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“Ok!”

He turned back to the karnuq beekeeper as the bees saluted to him.

“Sorry about that, I’ll have a talk with them. I’ll let you know once it’s safe.”

She slowly nodded and gave him a karnuq salute.

“As you say, Tower Keeper.”

Belissar then took the First of the Ninth over to Velebee’s hive, while Niobee brought the other two queens.

“Hive-Builder! Niobee! Happy to see!”

He smiled at her.

“Happy to see you, too. Um, I have a request, if you don’t mind.”

Velebee’s dance grew a little unsteady.

“Request? Hive builder has work, for me?”

Belissar nodded. Velebee’s dance once again picked up speed.

“Ok! Will do!”

He smiled again.

“Thanks Velebee. Could you teach these queens how to act like normal bees.”

Velebee again stumbled.

“Teach magic giants…to act like normal bees? Why?”

Belissar rubbed his chin.

“Well…they’re a bit too aggressive towards beekeepers. Could you teach them how regular bees act around, well, people like me?”

Niobee flew over and explained further. After a bit, Velebee danced a quick salute.

“Ok! Can!”

Belissar grinned and thanked her, then left her with the other queens. He let out a sigh. Well, hopefully that would take care of things. He’d have to observe tomorrow to see if they got it right.

Magic giants, huh? It was easy to forget but these were monster bees. Sure, Belissar found them even easier to work with given he could just talk to them directly, but it was true they were no normal bees. Even normal bees didn’t just let people take their honey at will, what would a hive with a soldier bee army do to a beekeeper who couldn’t communicate with them? King Ratuatapi even mentioned that his people had tried, and failed, to raise monster bees in the past.

He may have given the karnuq a harder challenge than he thought. Well, hopefully Velebee would be able to instruct the queens back to normal honeybee levels of aggression, otherwise he might have to rethink this plan.

In any case, he had kept Juosiutik waiting long enough.

----------------------------------------

He arrived at Juosiutik’s house to find the girl and Chief Rohsuak both sitting at a table. Juosiutik’s arms were crossed, she kept glancing around, and her leg was bouncing fast enough to rattle the table. Her eyes lit up as Belissar entered the room.

“There you are, Tower Keeper!”

She nearly shot up but Chief Rohsuak gave her a look, so she slowly, intentionally, rose to her feet and gave a salute.

“I’m glad to see you, Tower Keeper, sir.”

Belissar smiled.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Shall we get to it?”

“Yes! What kind of room is it, Sacred Den Master?! Is it an Apiary?! Or a new environment suited for new kinds of plants?!”

Chief Rohsuak just sighed and shook her head as Juosiutik lunged forward, running right up to Belissar. Belissar…expected this, so he just chuckled.

“None of those, actually. It’s an Apothecary’s Hut.”

Juosiutik went completely still and silent for a moment.

“An…Apothecary’s…Hut?”

Belissar nodded.

“It comes with a bunch of tools for potion-making, and is supposed to use the Tower’s mana to help you make stuff. It also comes with a garden that’s apparently supposed to grow difficult things more easily? Well, we’ll have to see…um, are you alright?”

Juosiutik had begun swaying about.

“An apothecary…made by a Sacred Den…that’s…”

Chief Rohsuak walked over, grabbed Juosiutik’s hand, and led the girl back to a chair before she collapsed. She again shook her head and chuckled.

“Suffice to say, she is most grateful for this, Tower Keeper.”

It took a bit of time for Juosiutik to speak coherently again, but Chief Rohsuak helped him place the door to the new room. She was most interested in the idea of shortcuts placed on buildings, though she didn’t make any requests at this time. Belissar and Chief Rohsuak then led a dazed Juosiutik through the new shortcut.

They came out into a hut made of stone and wood in different sections. There was a room with cauldrons ranging from tiny to massive all arranged around several fire pits. Another room was lined with tables covered in mortars and pestles and all sorts of containers and contraptions Belissar had never seen before. Some of the tables had geometric patterns carved into them as well, most in circular shapes. There were also storage shelves and barrels, along with a cellar, racks for drying, and even a separate smoking hut. Outside there was an empty garden with some small, pre-plowed furrows, poles and trellises for vines, planter beds, pots, and other empty places where plants could be grown. There were two ponds and even two small caves lined with soil. One was completely dark, while the other had a small hole in the roof to let in sunlight but felt surprisingly cold inside.

Juosiutik had to sit down several times, including now.

“Am…am I in heaven? This is the God of Alchemy’s home, right?”

Chief Rohsuak chuckled as she shook her head.

“I assure you, Juosiutik, you are still very much alive.”

Belissar nodded and then motioned about.

“I can change a few things if you like but, um, I don’t really know what most of this stuff is for. So, if there’s anything you’d like me to change, please let me know.”

Juosiutik reached out and laid her hand on the wall of the hut.

“No, this is perfect, Tower Keeper. I wouldn’t change a thing…”

Then her eyes widened a bit.

“Ah, actually, there is one thing. Would it be possible to make a shortcut to the Third Daughter’s hive? Ah, that is, the First of the Fifth’s Third Daughter. We’ve been working together, so I’d love to be able to show her my ingredients and potions directly.”

Belissar couldn’t help but smile. Juosiutik’s only request…was to give the bees easy access?

“I’d be more than happy to.”