Many have tried to set up a true noble class. Ultimately this always fails as a clan, sect, or any other group able to hold onto power by virtue of their birth and lineage alone simply does not exist. Bloodlines can be stolen, by bastards and rituals both, and geniuses can arise in even the most destitute corners of our world to punish those who would hold themselves high. Our history is ancient and well-preserved and all the major powers that be know this… Not that it’s stopped anyone from trying. –Nancy Calloway, wanted pirate from the Summoned Isle

* * *

Despite its flowery name, Hanai was everything that the Honey Hive was not. Where Queen Pollen grew great flowers and built a fairy tale palace on a crystal lake, the Hornet Queen had a militant camp built into the very earth. A thousand holes were dug into the earth to access what I assumed was a massive complex of tunnels beneath the surface. Though there were patches of flowers growing here and there, they were small and wild, clearly left to their own devices rather than intentionally cultivated. Overhead, several orb-like nests hung from the trees, catering to other species of wasps, but that was the closest element of “decoration” I saw until we reached the inner court.

According to the Commander, the Queen held court in a small cave system that was big enough to accommodate her humanoid form. When they mentioned a cave, I expected a damp, dark hole in the ground. However, it seemed that much more work had gone into keeping the Queen happy than into the rest of the nest. The cave was smooth stone with soft moss growing on the walls. Whenever we approached, the moss started glowing with concentrated sun qi to light the way.

“It’s our Queen’s design,” the Commander explained. “The moss feeds off our sun qi to produce light for us, even underground.”

I nodded, mildly impressed, and we descended further. Eventually, I was brought to a small antechamber with a pool of water and a small table. There, I was told to wait until the Queen was ready to see me. I agreed, and the Commander left. There wasn’t much to do besides wait, so I turned to cultivating, cycling my qi out to my extremities and bringing it back to my core. As always, it was dull, but it beat staring at the ceiling.

I almost worried that I’d been forgotten before a different hornet entered and bid me follow her to the Queen’s throne room. I jumped up and followed dutifully, ready to fulfill the deal I made with Pollen.

The throne room was opulent but lacked the elegance of Pollen’s palace. Though gold silks adorned the walls and central dais, it was still fundamentally a cave. Moss lit the room with a brilliant light that would have probably burned my Void-Twisted form. Luckily, that form had disappeared earlier that very morning. Along with the sun moss, a brilliantly designed sun emblem was carved into the stones behind the throne itself.

And, on that throne already sat a beautiful woman. She was pale with sharp eyes and a thin face. Much like Pollen, her hair was a striped mix of blond and black, done up into a headdress that perched atop her head. Her dress was gold, and she held herself with a cold majesty that made everyone aware of just how superior she was.

“I am Queen Taiya Suzume,” she announced. I immediately knelt and kowtowed before her, as was respectful.

“It is my honor to meet you, Majesty,” I greeted. “I am Tsuyuki Yoru. I must say I’m pleasantly surprised to hear a name like the ones of my homeland. It is a good name.”

“You are from the west and north, then,” she said. “Our mother is from those lands. The patrol you encountered in the nearby town tells me of your bravery and skill against the wicked spiders.”

“I was simply trying to protect the human mortals. It is your people who won the day.” I rose to my knees to look up at her.

The corner of Queen Suzume’s lips tweaked upward. “You honor us with your praise. I’m pleased you accepted our invi-”

The doors to the right slammed open and another humanoid spirit beast entered in a flouncing flurry of gold fabric. To my great surprise, however, it was a man…albeit a scantily clad one. His golden robes draped only over one shoulder, leaving half his chest completely bare. Under the robes, his skin was striped like that of a tiger, though in shades of gold and black instead of orange and black. However, unlike the other humanoid insects I’d met, this man’s hair was bright blond, as if kissed by the sun itself.

“Suzumeeeeeeeeeee!” the man cried. “There you are!” Immediately, the cold façade upon the Queen’s face turned slightly sour.

“Pharyx, the Queen is busy,” she said.

“I can see that, but I was bored,” the man grinned and sat down on a few cushions arranged at the arm of the throne. The Queen reached out and ran a hand through Pharyx’s hair and he grinned up at her happily.

“Apologies for Pharyx, Master Tsuyuki,” the Queen said, turning back to me. “My chief concubine can be quite difficult. He’s lucky he’s blessed with the bloodline of our people. Without it, even his pretty face wouldn’t excuse his behavior.”

I had to admit. Pharyx was quite handsome. His features were delicate, and framed by whisps of hair that fell from his short ponytail to frame his face. In fact, he was so beautiful that, were it not for the fact that he was quite indecently clothed, I might have mistaken him for a woman, so fine were his features.

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“A bloodline? That’s quite rare for spirit beasts to have.”

“Oh, of course!” Pharyx answered before the Queen had a chance. “Our bloodline technique of Subjugation come from the Dawn Empress herself! She is the mother of the nest, and the mother of my lovely Suzume.”

When an artist reaches a certain point in their cultivation, they have the chance to develop blooded techniques. These techniques become the foundation of their cultivation and are extremely difficult to block, being tied directly into their blood. Any descendants born after developing blooded techniques have a chance to inherit them, as well, thanks to the genetic compatibility they share with their ancestor…which is part of why I never married or had children. I was enough of a menace to the world without adding a child who could also witness possible realities and bend them to their whim.

These hornets had access to a bloodline related to the subjugation of others, if the concubine was being truthful, and I had no reason to suspect he wasn’t. That was probably how they commanded such a wide variety of wasp species, held such a large dominion, and why Pollen was so afraid of them. The details might not be known, but the intent behind it was clear.

“Yes, Pharyx, quiet,” Queen Suzume instructed. “Now, Master Tsuyuki, I see everything within my domain. You impressed my commander, and, thus, have impressed me. You have fought against our enemy and did not shy away from us on your journey to Hanai.”

“I am hardly in a position to judge others,” I admitted, bowing my head. “I’m certain your commander informed you of my curse. I am simply grateful that it has not hindered relations between us.”

“Of course not. Many look upon us as if we were little more than pests.” Suzume reached out and began idly stroking Pharyx’s hair. The concubine rested his head on her knee as he looked at me with a surprisingly intense gaze. “We care little for a creature’s form, instead preferring to judge the actions they take.”

I felt Pharyx’s eyes burning into me. He studied every inch of me, always maintaining a smile that never quite reached his eyes. Instead, there was a similar coldness in his gaze as his mistress possessed, but it only seemed to add to the regal presence of the concubine. This was not a man to be underestimated. He was a tiger lazing at the feet of his mistress, but even a tamed tiger is still a predator. I’d have to keep my eye on him.

I forced my attention back to the Queen who was still speaking. “I would like to offer you employment. We could use all the allies we can get defeating the arachnid scourge before they overrun us.”

Employment? A deal to defeat the spiders? That was more than anything I could have hoped for. Perhaps Queen Suzume would be more willing to discuss dealings with Queen Pollen if it meant working towards their mutual goal.

I bowed before the Queen. “Your Majesty honors me with the offer, but I’m afraid I must decline, as I already am employed by another. In fact, it is she who bid me seek you out to broker a deal between you.” The Queen narrowed her eyes, and Pharyx leaned forward in interest.

“Then speak. What foreign party already holds your loyalty?” the Queen hissed.

“Please forgive me for not mentioning it sooner. Queen Pollen warned me that the Queen of Hanai was not open to negotiations, and I did not wish to reveal my intentions too soon for fear of being turned away. However, I believe that this deal is in the interests of both the bees and the hornets.”

“You would have us treat with prey animals?” The Queen was seething in barely contained anger, and I suddenly felt exposed in the middle of her court. Hornets buzzed all around. It occurred to me that negotiations like this in my old kingdom were backed by my considerable strength. That was not the case here, much to my annoyance. They could probably kill me before I even reached the surface and none would be any wiser.

“Wouldn’t you hear me out?” I asked. “Prey or predator, actions are what matter, no?”

The Queen considered this for a long moment before tapping her concubine on the arm. Pharyx nodded in understanding, then stood and approached me. He walked with the purpose of a king and the grace of a dancer, with only the slightest limp from some injury or another. I watched him with soft eyes as he circled around me, appraising me as one might a prize cow.

I kept my expression and demeanor soft and unchallenging, relaxing my shoulders and just waiting patiently for his analysis to be complete. After several circles, he approached and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Well, you really are the servant of the bees,” he whispered, sending a shiver down my spine. “You even smell sweet. Serenade us with your honeyed words, yes?”

“Pharyx!” The Queen scolded, leaping to her feet. “Behave yourself or I will put you in isolation for a month!”

Pharyx sighed and pouted but released me from his grip and flounced off to sulk in the corner behind me. I took a moment to straighten my robes, hoping desperately that the spirit hornets wouldn’t see the blush that burned me from the inside out.

“Speak your piece,” the Queen ordered, sitting back in her throne.

“Right.” I cleared my throat. “Queen Pollen wishes to see the spiders destroyed, much as you do. She believes them beyond reason, which could form the basis of diplomatic ties between your two peoples.”

“What need do we have for diplomatic ties with the bees? After the spiders are defeated, we intend to subjugate them and their precious little palace.” Suzume’s words were cold as ice, but her eyes flicked to the side as if she were truly considering it…or perhaps just keeping an eye on Pharyx to make sure he was behaving.

“You are mighty, this is true,” I continued. “But subjugating the bees is a very short-termed solution. Who could conceive of a more optimal use of their skills than the queen bee herself? After all, they are exquisite artisans and crafters, and those arts are best produced under peaceful and happy circumstances. By entering into a partnership, you could receive the benefits of their hard work at its finest degree without having to manage them. But, only if the spiders are out of the way.”

Suzume did not answer. She seemed to think it over extensively. She seemed almost convinced, but eventually shook her head.

“It cannot be done,” she insisted. “We are insulted by the very idea of working with such a lesser species.”

That…was such a complete change of attitude from her previous stance regarding my Void-touched visage. What happened to caring nothing for the forms of others? Was Queen Suzume two-faced, or was something else going on here?

It dawned on me with the full force of a midsummer day. There was something else going on here, and I’d just figured out what it was. A coy smile crept into my expression as I turned to the back corner of the room where a sulking concubine still waited patiently.

“Then perhaps I should ask you what you think about the proposal?”