Path of the Hive Queen

Regina let her gaze sweep over her assembled drones. There were too many to fit into any building, or even to fit into the castle’s courtyard comfortably. Besides, she wanted to keep this meeting relatively private and there was no need to disturb the fort’s normal operations. So, they were meeting in a field off to the side of the most direct path between the village and the castle.

The drones mostly lounged on the grass, with a few standing or even lying down. Some Swarm Drones milled abound further out. Regina had brought all of the evolved Swarm Drones, most of them with an Elite class, out of a vague feeling that they should be there. They were obviously smarter than their weaker brethren, although she wasn’t sure if listening to the discussions would do them any good. Via had brought a blanket for Regina, which she was sitting on, but she’d conjured a few poles of metal and made something more like a proper elevated seat so she could see everyone. Or maybe a stage, since it was wide enough for a few other drones to be up there, too. She would have worried about the mana expended, but they could reuse the material later.

She still knew every drone by name, but Regina had a feeling that it might be becoming harder. She was committed to pushing the numbers of sapient drones up, even if she felt a bit anxious about making more actual people. Especially since they would be weak at the start and might easily get hurt in any confrontation. But that obviously wasn’t the healthiest mentality for a Hive Queen. Besides, there is that old ‘safety in numbers’ saw. That’s essentially the whole basis for my strategy right now, isn’t it?

“Thank you all for coming,” Regina started.

Everyone who had still been talking shut up and looked attentively at her. She could almost feel Max tense up slightly from his spot beside her, probably also a bit anxious about how this was going to go.

“We’ve never had a proper meeting with all of us together, except maybe at communal dinner,” she said. “So I thought it was about time.” She dipped briefly into the minds of a few Swarm Drones. She was using them to cover for the other drones’ tasks, so they could really all be here. Things seemed to go well enough. “Before we start, are there any matters you want to address in this meeting?”

Tia raised her hand slightly. “The hive still doesn’t have a name. I know we can just call it ‘the Hive’, since there’s no other one, or even ‘Regina’s Hive’, but we could give it a proper name.”

“That’s actually on the agenda already,” Regina answered with a smile.

Ada spoke up next. “I would like to know how many new drones will be joining us in the coming weeks, so we can organize training and patrol schedules. It would also be good to know for the new mentor program.”

“I can answer that right now,” Regina replied, giving her a brief smile. “There will be several sapient drones in each of the new batches of eggs for now, so roughly around ten a week, I guess.”

Ada nodded. Regina looked around, but no one else seemed to have any items for the agenda. Or maybe they were waiting to see what topics would be raised in the meeting. She supposed most other matters were more specific to certain fields and didn’t really need a gathering of the hive to settle.

Still, she started the meeting off by asking each of the leaders of the respective fields to give a short report. Max seemed to have anticipated it and gave a succinct account of the numbers of their various Templates, the training plan, patrol patterns, and recent efforts to turn the Winged Drones into more effective aerial combatants. Mia seemed a bit nervous when she spoke, which Regina privately found slightly amusing, but also gave a clear overview of the workers and the status of their current projects. Tia was more laconic and Mia had to prod her a few times to expand on a specific point. Tim didn’t say anything, presumably leaving it all to Max. Ada elaborated on a few matters related to the scouts, but otherwise didn’t seem to have much she wanted to say. Ivy talked about the farming efforts, cutting herself off when she realized she was getting too technical.

Regina nodded. “Very good. Great work, all of you, and thank you.” She smiled at them, noticing how most of the drones stood up just a little straighter when they smiled back with obvious pleasure.

“Now, are there any questions?” Regina asked the assembly.

There was silence as, once again, no one seemed to have anything to bring up. She was starting to think her drones just weren’t comfortable with speaking up in front of everyone. Something to work on, perhaps. Or maybe they just have too much blind trust in our leadership? She resisted the urge to shake her head to herself. On second thought, it’s probably better if the others address this. I’ll bring it up to them more privately later.

“Alright,” Regina continued after a short pause. “A quick announcement that I’ll be moving the open lessons to the evenings, to about an hour before sunset. There will be additional lessons in the mornings that are open to everyone, with the villagers welcome to attend.”

That announcement caused a short stir among the hive, and she gave them a minute to talk about it in hushed voices. She knew a few schedules might need to be adjusted.

“With all that out of the way, we can get to the question of our hive’s name, and probably our territory by extension,” Regina finally said. She grinned again. “Since I’m sure some of you are dreading what I might choose, let’s hear your suggestions.”

There was another moment of silence, before drones hesitantly began to raise their hands and speak up.

In the first two minutes, they got several suggestions that even Regina found a bit uninspired - such as simply ‘the Hive’, ‘Hivekindland’, and even ‘the Greatest Hive’. A few slightly more down-to-earth suggestions were ‘Radone’ (probably combining ‘Regina and ‘drones’) and maybe things like ‘Unlimited’ or ‘Harbinger’.

Regina was actually considering the last one, a suggestion from Dan, when she noticed Max glaring at her. She shrugged a little.

“So, you don’t want to call it the Hive of Three-Letter Names?” Tim asked. He looked so earnest it was obviously a joke.

A few drones and Janis snickered, Regina rolled her eyes and tried not to show that the joke had gotten her, and Max slapped him on the back of the head lightly.

“Maybe the ‘Great Forest Hive’?” Mia suggested after a short pause. “It seems like hives could easily be named after landmarks or where their territories are located, and the forest basically is that defining landmark for us.”

“Or maybe ‘Geeniver Hive’?” Ada said. “That’s what the river is named, right?”

Regina nodded, but made a face for a moment. The name was obviously some derivation of ‘green river’ and she didn’t like the way it sounded.

“Personally, I would go with suggestions like ‘Renaissance’ or ‘Rebirth’, or even ‘Resurgence’ or ‘Ascent’,” Max said. “They’re meaningful, and they have a connection to our history and maybe even the path we’re on.”

Regina sighed softly. “It sounds a bit - I don’t know, pompous? Or maybe too epic? But that’s just my opinion. Although, we might want something that’s not as obvious, since I don’t know if we want people to know about our history right away. Or know that we know.”

They all nodded, and Max thankfully didn’t look upset or dejected.

“Um,” Tia spoke up, “how about ‘Starlit Hive’?” She seemed to notice Mia’s look of surprise and shrugged. “We spent almost all our time above ground, and it seems like that was probably not the norm for previous hives. I mean, I know we got our start in the summer and everything, where the stars aren’t out for that long, but I thought it was poetic.”

Max and Mia looked skeptical, but Regina smiled.

“I like it,” she said. “The sun is technically a star, too. And we might actually get technology back to the level it was before, when people were just starting to really explore the solar system. Maybe we will get closer to the stars. I think it fits.”

With that, the matter was pretty much concluded. They held a short vote, but almost every drone raised their hand, and Regina knew that her own approval had clinched it. After a second, even the drones who hadn’t before raised their hands now, too.

The name was the last item on the (very rudimentary) meeting agenda, so the gathering broke up after that. Regina watched as the drones departed, until a gasp from Janis diverted her attention.

“My name changed!” the mage told them, looking wide-eyed between Regina, the Attendants, and the other drones still near her. “It’s got the name of the hive added to it now.”

Regina raised an eyebrow. “Really? Let me see.” She pulled up Janis’ status screen.

The young mage had worked hard, and with the help of the drones, Regina’s magic lessons and talking with the Attendants, as well as the Experience boost she got from Regina’s Infect, she’d gained a few levels in the last weeks. But the only thing that had changed from when Regina last looked at it was the name.

“Well, so much for sending you or future inducted hive members anywhere undercover while concealing their allegiance,” she said.

Janis snorted softly and shook her head. “It’s strange,” she said. “I mean, in many ways, whether you have a last name or not is up to chance. Some people are the bastards of some noble or adventurers who made a name for themselves or the like, and their children and grandchildren get the name too. I still never thought I would get one, unless, maybe, if I married someone. But that wasn’t exactly something I planned on doing.”

Regina grinned. “I know, you’re a strong, independent woman.” To be fair, she liked that about Janis. But Regina turned serious again quickly. “Is this going to be alright?”

“Of course,” the demihuman assured her. “I was just surprised, but I don’t really mind. It is ‘kind of cool’, as Tia would say.”

Regina glanced at Tia, who only shrugged. She shook her head and pulled up her Hive status screen again to check it.

“Alright,” Regina said. “I think with that, our meeting is really over. I should go back and check on the eggs, and I’m sure you have things to do.”

The others nodded and the group dispersed. Regina headed to the house they stored the hive’s new eggs in to take a look.

She still couldn’t pick out those who seemed to have been automatically generated by the System’s magic (or maybe some inherent Hivekind magic?) from the rest. Regina hadn’t actually seen them appear. When she’d first tested the new Ability, she’d just tried making a batch of four eggs, and then there had been a fifth lying on the ground when she looked. Since then, Regina had discovered that it always happened, apparently automatically, since the new Skill was clearly a passive one.

They had made several compartments dividing the room by now, separating different groups of eggs and other areas. Some of the Workers had built the wooden dividers, with the advice of a few of the village’s craftsmen, although those obviously didn’t know what it was for. Regina was pleased with how much her drones were learning from the tradespeople and crafters of the village. It might not be rocket science, but they had a wealth of useful knowledge.

And after initial difficulties, most villagers were happy to share their know-how by now. The drones’ help with the fields and various other tasks clearly bought them some goodwill, and it helped that they weren’t using it in a way that would create competition for the village’s crafters. At least not in the short term, Regina admitted to herself. Then again, they’ll probably be the ones who profit from a general increase in the level of technology. Assuming we ever get there.

She shook her head and left the building, since it wasn’t time to add to the eggs in development there yet. Instead, she made her way to the baron’s residence.

Once she arrived, the baron’s servant bowed respectfully and asked her inside, where she was invited to sit and offered tea. Regina accepted thankfully. She knew that tea was a valuable imported luxury around here, so this was generous on the baron’s part. Of course, ever since the marquis had sent a first messenger to ask for more ‘financial support’ and Regina had sent him back with another box of gold and a few diamonds, the baron’s respect for Regina seemed to have grown considerably. Although it probably had more to do with me gifting him a smaller box, she mused, smiling to herself. Not that there is that much he can spend it on out here, in the current situation.

She should have tried just buying people sooner, but on the other hand, she was suspicious of how far such bought loyalty would go. Well, live and learn, I suppose.

After a minute, Lady Marianne Neralt arrived. She looked like she’d quickly changed into a more presentable dress, though Regina didn’t know the first thing about fashion around here. It was in a pale green color and had some lacy parts, anyway. The noblewoman bowed toward Regina, while her gaze darted quickly to Ira, who stood behind her queen’s right shoulder rather than taking a seat. Not that what passed for the baron’s receiving hall was very big or had many chairs. Regina suspected it was also his office. There were a few nice tapestries on the walls, at least.

“I apologize, Lady Regina, my son is currently out riding. How may I help you?”

Regina smiled and gestured for the woman to take a seat as well, inclining her head politely in greeting. “That is no problem at all, Lady Marianne. I simply wanted to check in, to see if there was anything you might need or want to discuss.”

Neralt returned her smile, looking completely at ease. “Of course, Milady. We’re always pleased to see you.” Then her expression turned more serious and she hesitated for a moment. “In fact, there was something you should know. I would have waited until Elric was back so he could give you a more complete account, but since you are here now …”

Regina nodded and put down her teacup again, leaning forward slightly. “Do go on.”

“My son is out riding today with a few of his best men because we received a concerning report from the outer part of the barony. Where the forest meets the hills to the north, a local shepherd and hunter have found suspicious tracks. Not monsters, but rather a large group of people, apparently men in heavy armor.” She shrugged as if to show that she wasn’t familiar with reading tracks and was only relaying what she’d heard. “There have also been several livestock going missing, and a local hedge-witch says she’s felt someone working mana.”

Regina frowned, straightening up again. “In the future, please tell me of news like this right away. I appreciate that the baron wanted to investigate the situation for himself and learn more about it, but I do have means you don’t and I’d prefer to be kept abreast of developments in the barony.”

Marianne Neralt bowed her head. “Of course, Milady.”

“That said, I don’t think this sounds like cause for too much concern yet.” Regina glanced quickly at Ira, who gave her a nod. “I’ll see what my own scouts have to say. If there is a group of outlaws or worse out there, sending a flying drone might tip them off.”

Neralt nodded. What neither of them voiced was that it was less likely to be outlaws and more likely soldiers from the Cernlian central government or one of the nobles involved in the brewing civil war.

It sounded like that was finally reaching them, Regina mused. She’d known something would happen sooner or later. Although it might not be a big deal, yet.