Owin had started to consider that he should have probably put a little more thought into the chain of command and the question of who was actually in charge here.

  Well, the ultimate commander was, of course, Tim, even if he still hadn’t been a prince of the Empire (although he would still be Champion), but that didn’t resolve everything when he was away and in only sporadic communication. For their forces gathered here, the situation was a bit more complex. In the time after they had fought and succeeded in at least most of their objectives, that was a little clearer to Owin.

  Anuis seemed eager not to have a fight about the question of command, which he supposed he appreciated, although perhaps having it out once and for all might have been good. He’d started to have doubts about it, Owin had to admit privately, and not just because he was relying heavily on her, anyway. In something resembling Delver operations, he was confident in his expertise and leadership, but when it came to military actions, he knew she had the advantage of him. And he’d been reminded she also had at least several centuries of experience on him, either way. In a straight-up fight, Owin wouldn’t worry about his own fitness to lead, but the implications and plans of whether to assault an enemy force to secure a tactical position in hostile territory were a bit different.

  And that had just been their new status before unexpected variables showed up. In particular, the Veraglian archmage who had apparently tracked them here and come to say hello, showing no concern at all about being surrounded by armed soldiers with every reason to be wary of uninvited guests.

  Either way, it would have helped to have a clear leader who everyone respected when it came to dealing with Lucian. Owin tried not to take it personally, but he was truthfully a bit offended that the man spent more time looking at Zephyr than at him. He also almost entirely ignored Anuis, though Owin wasn’t sure why — sexism, racism, or simply considering her an unimportant subordinate? He supposed either bigotry or a more specific failure of imagination or observation would just constitute a blindspot she’d want to exploit.

  (It felt odd to think about it with such judgment, but he had been working to overcome his own bigotry, for years now. Perhaps he could consider it a small accomplishment.)

  Finally getting this minor conflict settled was only one of the reasons he was glad to see Tim suddenly show up, but it was certainly a good thing.

  The boy — he probably didn’t count as one anymore, but Owin remembered when he hadn’t looked fully grown and it wasn’t that long ago — had clearly learned a thing or two in the last few years, too. He sat on his improvised seat with all the poise of a prince, effortlessly commanding the attention of everyone around him. It was like he acted with such assurance that, of course, he would be in charge and the Imperials would follow and obey him, that he simply made it happen. The soldiers and even the other officers just seemed to fall into place behind him like, well, like Swarm Drones in the Hive, he supposed. Metaphorically at least.

  The only one immune to the effect was Zephyr, who looked almost bored — Owin suspected it was a habitual reaction when he was involved in anything resembling royal politics — and, of course, Lucian, who simply smiled politely but with a distinct edge of smug satisfaction. Clearly, he thought showing up here to surprise them was a grand victory.

  “Well?” Tim asked after a short silence, raising an eyebrow at Lucian. “You said we had things to discuss. I take it you sought me out to ask a question?”

  The archmage smiled. “Quite, young prince. I would like to discuss your travels so far. In particular to this rather … peculiar destination.”

  “Now that we are on the subject,” Tim hummed, “you still not did give a sufficient answer as to how you located my people. I think that should be the first point of discussion, as it were.”

  Lucian didn’t answer right away, just looking at him, before he inclined his head slightly. “Tony had a tracker,” he said. “I noticed it spent a while here, ostensibly in the middle of nowhere. It was the obvious destination.”

  “And you didn’t want to visit Iliucin,” Tim mused.

  The Archmage of the Present waved a hand idly. “That would have been a lot of fuss and bother. Better to spare everyone the headache, wouldn’t you say?”

  “How modest,” Iliam muttered under his breath, but Owin still heard it.

  “And then you decided to visit us here, even in the middle of nowhere,” Tim continued. “Why now?”

  “Oh, I think you know that, Your Imperial Highness.”

  “There have been rising tensions in the area,” Tim acknowledged.

  “That is one way to put it.” Lucian sighed, then finally sat down on another tree stump opposite Tim. “Shall we stop beating around the bush?”

  “Fine. Then, do you know what there is here?”

  “I have some idea.” The archmage glanced at the rest of the gathered people, before he focused on Tim again. “It must have sentimental value for your people, certainly, although this level of conflict over it is perhaps a tad surprising.”

  “Well, I don’t quite know why the current occupants are here or what they might be looking for, either,” Tim conceded.

  Owin cleared his throat softly and gave Tim what he hoped was a discreet look. They did, in fact, know a few important things now. They simply hadn’t had the opportunity to inform him yet. Putting it in a letter to Iliucin would have been foolish.

  “Regardless,” Tim continued smoothly, “the question that suggests itself to me is why you might be interested. You or the city of Veragles, as a whole.”

  “We have our own interests in this area,” Lucian said, shrugging a little. “Apart from that, I assure you our only interest is that of our allies.”

  Owin frowned. Lucian had clearly found out at least something of what the location meant. The easiest answer as to how was that he’d spoken to the people occupying it, or rather the people behind them. Iliucin and Veragles were allies, after all. Tim seemed to think that the greater city might not be involved, or so it appeared, but he wasn’t sure about that.

  “But you still hurried here?” Tim pointed out. “Did you just want to avoid a conflict between us and your allies in Iliucin?”

  Zephyr stiffened slightly, but Owin was paying more attention to Lucian, who raised an eyebrow. Maybe it was his imagination, but he looked a bit more tense now, too. “That would imply that the people you might be fighting are our allies in Iliucin.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Tim leaned back, studied nonchalance draped about him. “Well, I don’t know, Thande. They’re a group of men from the southlands with conspicuously coordinated equipment but no banners, emblems or signs of any affiliation. Rather like other groups that have been roaming around this area, aren’t they?”

  “So they are,” Lucian mused, leaning back on his own seat and frowning finally. “I see.”

  “Don’t tell me you have no idea who they are, please.”

  The archmage paused. “I wouldn’t insult you by pretending we have no eyes in the area,” he finally said. “Of course I have heard reports of these groups, as you call them.”

  “I’m almost certain they’re from Iliucin,” Tim said. His tone was sincere, almost open. Owin wondered if he’d become a better actor or was just trying to weaponize the truth. “And not just from there, but based out of the city, working on the orders or at least in accordance with the city government. The signs are all there.”

  “So you don’t have proof?”

  “Perhaps not, but do you need proof?” Tim leaned forward again slightly, fixing Lucian with his gaze. “Will you only accept what I tell you and act on it if I can deliver evidence up to your standards? Because that would raise some questions in my mind, you see. Regarding just how much you do know about what your allies are up to, and who might be involved.”

  The archmage straightened up. “Do not treat me like a criminal being investigated, Tim,” he said, voice hard. “I am not under suspicion here.”

  Tim leaned back fractionally. “Perhaps not, but then, aren’t you?” he mused. “They are your allies, more than we are. Why shouldn’t I be suspicious? Do you have any assurances that you knew nothing of this?”

  “Will you only believe me if I give you hard evidence as assurance?” Lucian asked, turning his question back on him, eyes narrowed. “Whatever that may even look like. Do take care not to burn your bridges.”

  “That is the last thing I want,” Tim told him, smiling faintly, “although I am not as isolated down here as you may seem to believe.” His eyes flicked to the others present, finally, sweeping across the people standing around and watching the conversation like a particularly tense game of cards.

  Owin cleared his throat, deciding he might as well take this opportunity to step in, and perhaps he could defuse the tension a little. He didn’t think Tim really wanted to fight with their visitor. “Regardless of alliances, we do have enough strength gathered here to take our objective, if that is His Imperial Highness’ wish,” he said. “It would be valuable to have assurance that we will not have to worry about further hostility.”

  “Clearly, your alliance with Iliucin is not something to take lightly or to throw away without cause,” Anuis added. “But the game has, as they say, developed. The good lords of Iliucin may appreciate some counsel from their friends.” Or they could use it, even if they don’t appreciate it, he thought. “It would be in everyone’s interest to deescalate, and make sure there was no … unnecessary conflict. Clearly Veragles would not wish to be dragged into something like that, would it? Beyond what your plans here already entail. We don’t judge.”

  “Precisely,” Tim agreed. “Our interest is merely in this site, and accordingly, securing the area. I am willing to let the matter rest at that.”

  Owin was pretty sure he knew what they were saying; that Tim was willing to ignore or forget it even if Veragles — or Lucian — had been involved with Iliucin’s plot, as long as they stopped now. It was a very … political move.

  Clearly Lucian knew it as well. He nodded, grimacing faintly. “I resent your implications, as I truly did not know of this, My Prince,” he said. “But I take your point.”

  "Of course,” Tim replied, a little more softly. “Then you will … impress on your allies the folly of their course of action?”

  “Indeed. I will make sure the Prince is aware, but I do not doubt he will have me talk to the high lords of Iliucin. They should be reminded that such unilateral actions in defiance of their friends’ wishes are not a wise course of action.”

  Tim nodded, and Owin saw some of the tension draining out of everyone. He still wasn’t sure whether he believed the man, or whether Tim believed him, actually, but their prince had clearly decided to settle for this for now.

  The conversation continued after this, but it was more subdued, more relaxed. Owin still paid attention, but he was occasionally lost by references to people or places he didn’t recognize; clearly, some that Tim had seen when traveling and during his stay at the city. The others relaxed as well and the loose circle formed around them broke up, with a few men stepping away and others settling down where convenient. Owin stayed standing beside Anuis, watching their troops as well as the conversing leaders.

  The conversation stretched on, and Tim started dropping hints that Lucian should leave. Owin suspected the southlander only stayed after that in order to annoy him, or perhaps to prove a point that he couldn’t be ordered around like a soldier. However, he did leave before Tim had to get more forceful.

  Standing up, the archmage offered a stiff half-bow. “I will proceed as we have discussed, Prince Tim. Please accept my well wishes for your success here. And please take care of yourself, it would grieve me to hear you were injured.”

  Tim bowed his head in return. “Thank you, Thande. I will certainly take care, and I hope you will as well. Don’t underestimate these people, they certainly haven’t started all this without some resolve to see it through to the end. Safe travels.”

  There were a few more words, before Lucian turned and walked off. After a few steps, his form almost seemed to blur as he sped off down the path. Some kind of modified Haste Spell, perhaps? Owin didn’t suppose that he would travel the entire way to Veragles like that, but if he had other means of transportation, he clearly didn’t want them to see.

  Tim sighed, rolling his shoulder. He looked tired suddenly, and Owin felt a brief pang at the thought of adding to his burdens and keeping him from sleep. Unfortunately, they did have important things to discuss.

  “I notice you didn’t quite agree when I said I didn’t know what they had,” Tim said, turning to him. “Did we find anything out in the meantime?”

  “Yes. Well, sort of. Galatea showed up with Dan, she had important news for us.”

  “From back home, if you can believe it,” Dan added, taking a step closer. He’d been very quiet, which Owin suspected was purely due to not wanting to get roped into further diplomacy. “She went off again to go to you, but she was hesitant about visiting Iliucin. Maybe you missed each other.”

  “Alright,” Tim agreed, then cast a glance around. He beckoned them closer, and Owin stepped up along with Dan and Anuis, leading them to a slightly more secluded spot on the outside of the camp.

  “Now, do we have word from Mother?” Tim asked. There was a faint note in his voice Owin hesitated to label. Maybe because the closest word he could think of was ‘longing’.

  “Yes. You won’t believe what happened, Tim. Apparently, this golem artificer showed up, traveling over the mountains. She granted him audience and he offered information on what they were doing here.”

  “And?” Tim leaned forward slightly.

  Dan hesitated for a moment, glancing at the two of them. Owin decided to stay silent; this was clearly closer to Hive business than something for him to speak about, and Anuis followed his example.

  “It definitely is an old Hivekind base. He told us a few details, which we can verify once we have control of it again. But the most important thing is that there might be a missing section, or something like that. Apparently the artificer suspects it is underneath the regular base, completely separated with no connection or airflow. There is some kind of material or magic inside that prevents mana from flowing through it. At least that’s what he thinks, there were traces in other things found in the base. They’ve all been cut out and carried off by now, though.”

  Tim blew out a long breath. “I see.” He glanced at them, clearly hesitant. “I’m not sure what this all means, to be honest,” he said. “It sounds like it could be quite important, though. Do we know anything else about what’s there?”

  “Not that I know of,” Owin finally spoke up. “We will have to look for ourselves.” Personally, he was quite excited at the prospect.

  Tim nodded. “I guess.”

  “We are in position to do it,” Anuis cut in. “Our troops are ready, we have gathered all reinforcements we are going to get on short notice. My advice is to strike quickly, before they are further entrenched.”

  Tim stayed silent for a second, then nodded again. “Alright,” he said softly. “Soon, we’ll fight for a remaining piece of our heritage.”

  “In the Empire’s name,” Owin agreed.

  “In the name of the Hive,” Dan added with playful severity. “For the Hive Queen.”

  Tim repeated his words, more softly, and more seriously.