The Bee Dungeon

The next day Chief Rohsuak arrived with a large group of the bear folk, including Juosiutik. The young potion-maker was standing next to the chief and staring at the ground with a frown on her face. Belissar wasn’t paying attention to that though, but rather to the other bear folk carrying stacks of lumber.

“What...is this?”

Chief Rohsuak gave him a smile.

“Dry wood for construction, as you requested, Sacred Den Master.”

Belissar’s eyes widened and he motioned towards the wood. Chief Rohsuak nodded and he walked over to the nearest plank. He touched it with his hand.

It was completely dry.

“How is this possible?”

Chief Rohsuak smirked slightly and raised a finger. A small lick of fire appeared on top of it.

“A god’s blessing has many uses.”

“Do you have somewhere you want us to put this?”

Belissar started a bit and then started rubbing his chin. At first he was going to say anywhere was fine…but then he thought of carrying all that wood across the room by himself. And, well, she was asking him where to put it.

“Oh, um, further in, by the end of this room, if it’s not too much trouble, please.”

Chief Rohsuak’s expression turned serious.

“In that case, could we request your assistance with the shades? We will be vulnerable while carrying the wood.”

Belissar nodded.

“Oh, um, that makes sense. Hang on a second.”

He turned to Niobee flying behind him and the soldier bees watching over him.

“Could you gather the others and ask them if they can help guard the bear people?”

“Ok!”

He turned back to Chief Rohsuak.

“Ok, they’re on their way.”

Chief Rohsuak smiled at him.

“Thank you. Now, since we have some time.”

She motioned to Juosiutik, who flinched and then took a step forward.

“Um, I’m sorry, Sacred Den Master.”

Belissar tilted his head.

“Um, what for?”

Juosiutik’s face scrunched up.

“For, um, almost setting you and your Den on fire…and, um, being a bit rude…and, um, getting a bit excited and running off…twice…”

Belissar felt…itchy, for lack of a better word. She was…apologizing to him? He had no idea how to respond to that, he hadn’t heard an apology since…

“I’m…sorry, Belissar. Please…live on…be happy…”

…a long time. He shook his head and tried to calm his beating heart, glancing away from the bear people.

“It’s, um, fine. Just…be careful with the fire, please.”

Juosiutik nodded slowly.

“Um…do you want to continue the lessons? I, um, understand if not. I’ll, uh…”

The words caught on her throat but Chief Rohsuak put a firm hand on her shoulder. Juosiutik sighed and continued, her face twisting in anguish.

“I’ll…return…the honey…if so.”

Belissar shook his head, just wanting this conversation to be over already.

“It’s fine. I still want to learn about potions.”

Juosiutik’s eyes widened and then she broke out into a bright smile. Chief Rohsuak shook her head and chuckled. And then, fortunately, the full soldier bee army arrived, with Niobee leading one of the Flower Meadow queens to Belissar. Belissar quickly turned to them and smiled as the queen danced a salute to him. Right on time! ꭆàƝo͍ᛒËṤ

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“We’ll need to protect them from the remnants…um, little shades that will appear around them. Can you do that?”

The queen and the soldiers saluted as one and then began assembling around the bear people. The bear people eyed them warily but Chief Rohsuak just waved them off. Soon, the group set off.

Another mini-shade appeared…and was immediately set upon by a dozen soldier bees. It barely had time to cry out in pain when the soldier bees retreated and another dozen took their place, plunging their stingers deep into the shade. With the second wave the shade fell to the ground and burst into mist.

The lumber carriers slowed down as they stared at the spectacle. The hunters guarding them were gaping with their jaws dropped. Even Juosiutik couldn’t tear her eyes from it.

Chief Rohsuak glanced at Metsaitti. They both smirked and shook their heads. If their people were impressed by this much, then it truly had been too long since they had challenged a Sacred Den.

Their period of sojourn had been no pleasant journey, and everyone in her tribe had seen their share of hardship. But in many ways, they were still like cubs. They had been so focused on their own experiences that they were surprised by anything different. Like the Sacred Den Master.

Chief Rohsuak nodded to herself. This experience was good for her people. She knew that the Den Master did not present the most imposing figure, and that many of her people had been deceived by his timid demeanor. He simply did not act with the same confidence most of them possessed on account of the dangers they had faced and overcome, which led them to assume he had not experienced anything like they had...or that he lacked the capabilities they did. But regardless of how timid or harmless he seemed, he was still a Sacred Den Master.

So, it was quite a shock for them to watch him command the soldier bee army. The bees were an impressive sight even just hovering around, but that was nothing compared to watching them in action. The soldier bees were gigantic for bees, but they were ultimately still small, and Chief Rohsuak figured most of her people probably didn’t think much of them individually. That was no longer the case. They attacked instantly and without fear or hesitation, they flew at surprising speeds the less experienced among the group had trouble keeping track of, and their stingers stabbed as deep as any spear tip. They tore apart shades in mere seconds. Shades that the hunters trained by Metsaitti had to approach with caution. And the bees were barely using a fraction of their numbers. No doubt everyone here could do the math of how many bees were flying overhead versus how many hunters they had to protect themselves…

Chief Rohsuak imagined that everyone here would now understand the need to treat the Sacred Den Master with respect.

Which was why she insisted that Juosiutik apologize and offer to return the honey she had received. She knew Juosiutik got carried away when it came to potion-making, but even she was aghast when she heard how the first lesson had gone. The Sacred Den Master was not another arrogant young hunter who didn’t take Juosiutik’s instructions seriously. So, to hear what sort of tone Juosiutik had initially taken with him had been a shock for the chief. And then to hear that she had gone and set another potion mix on fire right in the Sacred Den…and then that she had run off and left him behind…

She put her hand on Juosiutik’s shoulder and whispered into her ear.

“Understand, now?”

Juosiutik slowly nodded and paled slightly as she watched another shade vanish under a swarm of black and yellow. Chief Rohsuak nodded in approval. The good news was that they had confirmed the Sacred Den Master to be of generally good-nature, as he was not at all angry. In fact, he seemed entirely confused that there was any reason for him to be angry at all. But that didn’t mean Chief Rohsuak could let up on Juosiutik, or any of her tribe. The last thing she wanted was for them to get overly comfortable, and then to cross a line they didn’t realize the Sacred Den Master had. Even this timid and cooperative Sacred Den Master could bring ruin upon them if he so chose and nobody save Chief Rohsuak herself had a chance of stopping it.

Chief Rohsuak watched the bees more closely. She watched as they moved not as individuals, but in small groups. How they each moved in coordination, staying out of each other’s way as they rotated in and out of the fight. How the big bee at the center of the swarm would dance and then the entire force would shift immediately.

…to be honest, she was not certain she would be able to face this swarm alone, not even with her mighty blessing. Maybe if she was in her prime, but at this point she wasn’t getting any younger. As of now…she had the power to destroy a swarm if it came at her all at once…but these bees seemed smarter than that. Intelligent, organized even. If they spread out and coordinated to come at her a few at a time…well her endurance wasn’t what it used to be.

She simply thanked the gods they had found a forgiving and non-aggressive Sacred Den Master, and resolved to keep her people as respectful as his power deserved.

But, the surprise wasn’t over. Gasps rang out among the group as they neared the wall of trees at the end of the room. There was a second shrine identical to the one by the entrance. Next to the shrine was some sort of monument, with engraved pillars surrounding a beehouse. But that was not what her people were focusing on.

No, they were exclaiming at the row of hives and the countless bees streaming to and from them. As well as the patches of flowers they were flying to. Juosiutik cried out.

“Chief! That’s…that’s…”

Chief Rohsuak nodded.

“Mana flowers.”

It was not just the one or two flowers Metsaitti’s group had encountered. It was an entire patch of them, their joint glow apparent even in the light of the sun. And they were absolutely surrounded by bees, with long lines of workers extending out from each flower, each waiting their turn.

Juosiutik was twitching and kept glancing between the flowers and the soldier bees above, smiling and frowning in turn. Chief Rohsuak chuckled. This trip was proving more and more useful. Her people could now see both the honey and the sting this Sacred Den possessed.

“Um, if you could just leave the wood over there, that would be good.”

Chief Rohsuak nodded and instructed her people as the Den Master asked. He then turned to her and Juosiutik.

“Um, maybe you could give me some time before the next lessons? I want to get started on this…and, um, maybe also prepare a safe spot for the lessons.”

Juosiutik jumped and quickly began nodding.

“Yes! Whatever you want!”

The Den Master looked confused but ended up nodding.

“Um, thanks.”

Chief Rohsuak rubbed her chin and nodded to herself as she watched the exchange. She felt more and more that they had a unique opportunity with this Den Master here…so long as they remembered to respect him. And after today, she hoped they would do just that.

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