Chapter 546: Losses and gains
The losses comprised 34 dead humans and 138 bees that were shot down by the crocodiles’ water jets before or during the main battle and trampled before they could recover their flight.
Malevolence considered these losses unpleasant but tolerable.
The gains were much richer. At least five dozen carcasses were fresh and ripe for eating or preserving. The river crossing was also open to Malevolence’s army now—the surviving crocodile-beasts fled the area entirely and swam downriver.
Malevolence gave an order for her forces to make camp and spend the rest of the day recovering and preparing meat for further transport.
Already, some sneaky insects tried to get it, and bees had to kill them. Without preservation, the meat will rot quickly.
Thankfully, the usnea trees could help in that, too. Malevolence used the practice that she had learnt just before leaving on this expedition: she ordered to plant some usnea trees in large pots and place them near carcasses and meat that had to be preserved.
The usnea trees would quickly freeze the meat and keep it fresh for any amount of time. Humans just had to be careful not to get their hands frozen when they take it out.
That evening, humans and bees feasted on fresh meat, while their carts were filled to the brim with frozen carcasses. Some of them had to be left behind, because Malevolence knew that their carts wouldn’t be enough to carry this meat over the river—this was how much of it the army got.
These crocodile-beasts were massive even when compared to humans. Even when stripped of their carapaces and hide, they had a lot of meat on them.
The meat itself was tough and plain, but at least it wasn’t poisonous—Physician Bees tested it and it was fine at least on first approach. The fact that the crocodiles themselves weren’t immune to venom confirmed it.
Food and victory put people in a more cheerful mood than it was right after the fight. The dead were buried already, and no matter how the meat tasted, when cooked over fire, it smelled delicious.
Humans made their giant campfires from living stone, and bees made their own at a safe distance from theirs, using ordinary wood. The evening was lit by the fire and darkened by the smoke.
Malevolence ate near one of the campfires of Beemarines, enjoying the camaraderie of her sisters as much as the food. All of them were complete greenhorns compared to her and were extremely eager to listen to her stories of old battles.
“…the Beemarines back then weren’t as tough as you are. Our armour wasn’t able to protect us from everything, either. So when that dragon grabbed sister Two-Slash, I—”
Malevolence paused when she saw Agent Eloquence fly to the campfire. The two dozen other Beemarines present turned their eyes to her all at once, too.
All bees were sisters, but this was definitely a campfire for Beemarines, not for Beehounds like Agent Eloquence. This was an unspoken rule of such groups—the things shared in them weren’t ones that someone from another morphotype would be able to fully appreciate. They were born with different genes, studied in different schools, chose from different professions.
Eloquence ignored that and boldly sat next to Malevolence.
“Grand Commander… I need to steal you from your friends for a minute. And I know that rest is important, but work never stops for us officers. You must understand.”
Malevolence did, so she was only mildly annoyed about being interrupted mid-story. Duty to the Empire was above all, and rest was a luxury that their Father bestowed upon them out of the goodness of his heart. And also practicality, but goodness first of all.
Other Beemarines understood, too, so they relaxed and nodded.
“We will wait for your return, sister Malevolence!”
“I will save you the tastiest meat-bits!”
Malevolence nodded at them in gratitude and followed Eloquence away.
The Agent flew to a stone outcropping from which bees could see the campfires of Wildmen. There were only a few of them, and they all bunched close together.
Thanks to this, as Ramwill stood in the middle and spoke something loudly to his people, they all could gather close and listen.
“Why have you brought me here, Agent?” Malevolence asked.
“I know you don’t like telepathy. It’s also sometimes best to see once yourself than to hear something a hundred times… Look! Human Ramwill preaches his own bravery to his people! In the speeches, he says now, he almost convinces them that the entire fight was won only thanks to him, and that the plan to lure the crocodiles out was his idea and not yours. And his people lap it all up…”
Malevolence scowled.
She wasn’t an Agent, but she knew what this meant—people loyal to Ramwill won’t be loyal to bees. It wasn’t the same as defining one human a ‘prophet’ and letting him proselytise among his people—not when Ramwill himself wasn’t loyal to bees much.
“Something has to be done if we want to integrate these people into the Bee Empire, Grand Commander. Otherwise, even my Agents won’t be able to do anything. I suggest we separate the Wildmen and put them as subordinates to already loyal humans. There will be a lot of friction, especially since some of our people don’t speak Vardish language, but the Wildmen won’t be able to worship Ramwill anymore.”
Malevolence’s scowl deepened.
“Unacceptable. This will gut our effectiveness just when we need it the most. What if we simply killed Ramwill?”
“His people will lose all morale, run away or turn on us.”
Malevolence chewed her lip. This human was becoming a problem… She hated it when humans created problems.
“Isn’t he afraid of us? Of bees in general?”
“Humans are complicated creatures, Grand Commander. He might have been afraid earlier, but now could’ve easily forgotten all your threats because there are no enemies in sight and the bees are far from his campfires, too…”
Both bees stood in silence for a few more seconds. Then Eloquence perked up.
“Grand Commander, I have another idea!…”