Path of the Hive Queen

Chapter 359: Phenomena

Regina was aware that the current status quo would probably crumble sooner or later, that the balance wouldn’t hold forever. Still, she hadn’t expected the first thing to give it a push to be a bloody simple, semi-regular natural phenomenon of all things. Even if she could admit it being a celestial phenomenon was kind of ironic.“A meteor shower, Max!” she ranted, throwing up her hands. “A god-damned meteor shower of all things? And that’s what they decide is a fu—farfetched expression of holy significance and the will of the gods?”

Kiara gave her a chiding look from two seats over. Probably because she was currently bouncing her little brother on her knee, not that he seemed very interested in their conversation. They were sat out on the veranda Kiara had most recently had added to the inner gardens in the course of her renovations, along with Janis, who was flipping through a stack of pages, and a few other drones, who were watching June try to teleport various objects without using System Spells. It wasn’t a scheduled meeting, but things had somehow worked out that way to find them all here.

“Meteor showers, eclipses and other celestial phenomena are traditionally seen as events of high significance, Regina,” Kiara said. “That is simply the way it works. How people think.”

Regina shook her head. “But the gods here are actually real, they can just express their will. And meteor storms are hardly a supernatural event! Obviously.”

“Is that so?” Janis muttered, turning a page.

“It’s just physics. Not portents that change depending on the state of the world. They can be predicted.”

Kiara looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “Can you, Regina? Predict the next one?”

Regina opened her mouth, then paused. She slumped back a bit in her seat, running a hand through her hair. “Me personally, with what I have right now, no,” she admitted. “We’re a little short on big telescopes, or detailed records of previous ones. Galatea might be able to. But, alright, Kiara, I get what you mean.”

“Besides, who’s to say the gods aren’t involved in this, just for sending a message? With the reaction if not the timing itself,” Tim added, looking over at them.

Regina pulled a face. That was unfortunately why she was inclined to worry about this. Beyond the obvious problems.

“I know we scheduled a meeting to talk about this later,” Kiara said. “Perhaps we should simply do it now? Since we’re already discussing it.”

“I’ll link you in and add the others,” Regina said.

She reached out to Kiara and June, pulling her apprentice in first before focusing on members of her psychic link and including them. The ‘imitation link’ was much like the psychic link on a smaller scale, but it did have a few peculiarities. Then she reached out to several other people, including Lord Daine, who was currently in his office a few stories higher. She checked that he was free, then mentally slotted his mind into place. Wordlessly, she asked him who else to include, then took the information to ‘invite’ them as well. It was a bit like using conference software, just more intense.

she started.

She paused for a moment. None of them were surprised. In this smaller psychic link, Regina got a broad overview of their emotional states almost by instinct, although she could either block it or look more deeply into it. She didn’t breach their privacy any further, though.

he began.

He paused, implicitly inviting questions or comments from the others.

Janis said.

Kiara said.

Daine agreed.

he continued.

Regina asked. It was still early days and she hadn’t heard much about those, but what she did know didn’t sound promising.

she said.

Orders of religious fanatics not-so-indirectly prepared to fight her and her people … ‘grounds for concern’ was putting it mildly. Regina did not fancy the idea of going up against those sort of crusaders. Zealotry might give them blinders and possibly make them predictable in some areas, but it would also give people the drive to fight on when everything was against them and any sensible person would surrender. Not to mention history had shown that people who thought they were doing God’s will could be wiling to commit any sort of atrocity in the name of their goal, secure in the belief they were supposedly exempt from or even atoning for their sins.

Janis commented. Her mental voice was ‘quiet’, contemplative.

Daine agreed.

Regina sighed. None of what they were discussing was exactly new to her, even if it was concerning. She should probably dive a little more deeply into their theology, such as it was and what there was of it, though.

she asked.

Regina made a face. That was probably the best she could hope for. With luck, a few less observant people thought it was the local leaders of the Western Confederation they were criticizing.

Janis asked.

Kiara spoke up.

Regina tugged on her mandible. It was autumn right now. Arguably late autumn. That meant the coming year would be here soon.

someone else spoke up hesitantly. It took Regina a moment to mentally place them. Physically, she could sense they were about a hundred kilometers further northwest. Including June and keeping the number relatively low meant she could extend the ‘range’ of this link quite a bit. It was a woman working with Daine, who’d been recently promoted, but she hadn’t interacted with her much.

she encouraged her.

she continued.

That piece of information didn’t surprise Regina at all. The news of new champions was more troubling, though. She had been called a champion of Alianais in the past, but knew she wasn’t really one in most of the ways that counted. She didn’t know how much a god could power up their champions, but it was a fair bet they would be powerhouses.

Janis asked.

Regina admitted.

Briefly, she pushed a memory of her conversation to the others over the link, making sure to keep it to a brief and condensed version, basically just transmitting the core information of their talk. Iseis had been able to do little more than confirm that Leian wasn’t involved — which was not exactly surprising — and that she doubted Alianais was as well, but was waiting for final confirmation on that point.

If nothing else, Regina supposed, lines being drawn between the gods might make this all a bit clearer. Maybe it’d get Leian and Alianais over whatever they were fighting about.

Janis finally commented. Googlᴇ search N0veI.Fiɾe.net

Regina agreed.

The conversation concluded with them discussing a few practical measures, but in the end, it didn’t amount to much. There wasn’t much they could do right now. Kiara and a few others with connections would reach out to the temples in the Empire. They would quietly raise their alertness level and Regina would talk to the Delvers.

As the meeting finished, she sighed and stretched, carefully monitoring the dissolution of the imitation psychic link she’d set up. The feeling was always a bit unpleasant, although she was getting used to it. Then she glanced at the others.

“I’m going out into the city,” she said. “Care to accompany me?”

Janis clearly considered it for a moment, then shook her head, determined to get through her current paperwork. Kiara was busy, and June kept practicing her magic. Tim stood up. “I’ll join you.”

They walked through the building mostly in silence, though Regina noticed Tim calling for more of the Star Guard. After a few minutes, they reached the stables close to the main entrance of the royal palace, in the inner city of Cera.

“We’re going to the temple of Alianais,” she explained.

“Should I have them bring a carriage?” Tim asked.

Regina shook her head. “I’d like to ride. It’s been a while.”

It didn’t take long for a horse to be saddled and brought out for her. A young gray gelding she was assured had a nice temperament. She greeted him with a few pats, then got into the saddle and let herself relax.

Being able to ride horses was one more clue to her past life, and she appreciated having that. It was a relatively uncommon hobby, not something everyone did, after all. Unfortunately, she didn’t often have time to go horse-riding and being in the middle of a city didn’t make it the best place for joy rides, either.

The skill also didn’t transfer to her drones, and Tim got onto a War Drone Mount instead. A complement of Star Guard formed up around them, most of them also riding Swarm Drones, usually evolutions of War Drones. A few human knights that were part of the guard were on horses, though. When everyone was ready, they set off.

It had been too long since she was out in the city, Regina mused as they passed through the outer palace gates and onto the streets of Cera. People paused and watched as they went. Word seemed to spread, and some people went out of their ways or appeared simply to watch them.

Regina tugged on her cloak, which she mostly wore for style instead of warmth. It was a rich royal blue with golden embroidery, matching her jacket and pants, and at least she was wearing her crown; the smaller golden one, not the large bulky one of the Imperial regalia.

They turned onto a broad avenue leading through the center of the city, and Regina watched as her guards fanned out a bit more, building a firmer perimeter to protect her from potential threats. A crowd was gathering around them.

she thought. Trying on a smile, she raised a hand and waved at her subjects.

They seemed to appreciate the gesture, at least. Sporadic calls of “Long live the Empress!” got louder.

She mentally nudged Tim, who was riding beside her. He glanced at her, then smiled at the crowd and waved as well.

The cheers increased very noticeably. The previous cries still remained, but shouts for the “Champion” and “Prince Tim!” were almost as loud, even separately.

Regina fixed her smile on her face. Her consideration was interrupted when a group of little kids with flowers appeared, and she got down to receive their gifts

Regina reflected. Gauging the mood of the people had been one reason for this trip. And it could certainly be worse.

Perhaps she should invite others of her inner circle along on future trips. Just to keep informed.

Janis would probably get the biggest reaction.

For now, she let little kids put flowers in her hair, handed out coins Jay discreetly passed her to the less fortunate on the street, and went on her way to the temple.