The journey proceeds rather smoothly.
Smoothly and fast.

The drones widened and straightened the tunnel leading to Osari.
Probably, because Liseti was aware that this passage would be used frequently and maybe my own drones just caught up on this.
So we don't have to take many curves and the "carriage" doesn't have to squeeze together as often through narrow passages.

We'll soon arrive in Osari.
I'm longing a bit to see the surface and the sun again.
Also, and that's only a minor thing, I kinda feel great and important there.
Yes, I know, that I am important in the hive, but everything is so different and weird there in comparison when compared to the human society.
When I'm among humans it really hits home that I'm someone others have to respect.
It's something of a direct way for me to gauge my reputation.
Before I was a peasant girl and now I can tell the lord of the region whatever I want without having to fear any repercussions.

But I seriously have no intention to abuse this power.
I'd feel guilty afterward.
But now that I got a bit used to it, it has its pleasant sides.
Maybe the way how my royal guards are truly looking like honorable, awe-inspiring warriors supports that notion for me.

Eventually, we reach the premise of our base.
I recognize this place but also notice that our former provisionally established base changed quite a lot.
Where the tunnels and halls were before simply dug out to provide room for our forces they are now to a good degree covered by the applicant.
Also, the area it covers expanded.
Not too vastly, as the number of left drones was limited, but considerably.

We arrive at a great premise in the base's depths where the carriage comes to a stop.
And then it happens.
Suddenly claws grab me, the nightmare carriage separates into the countless drones it consists of and slowly I'm handed to the ground.
First into an ocean of insects, then on a more or less vacant space as soon as they all gained some distance.

 

<Scri-scria!/Huh, that was certainly something. No idea how to describe this journey.> (F)

 

Estranging?
Creepy?
Horrifying?

 

After I overcome my travel sickness I can take in my surroundings.
Particularly, I notice the occasional thing from the surface.
It seems they found ways to obtain some stuff.

 

<So where are our quarters?> (H)

<Ehk, skria, scrak!/Ehm, it's customary to first visit the lord. We arrived kinda in his territory and it would be bad manners to leave him waiting while we're already here.> (E)

 

I said kinda, as Formicea can be a bit picky about the declaration of territory.
Especially if it's about differentiating between above or below the surface.

 

<Fine. I noticed that you're in a tense state. If you want to go nonetheless it must be important.> (H)

<Thanks. It's just up there. We should send a messenger to announce our presence.> (E)

<This already happened the moment we arrived.> (H)

 

Okay, then this leaves just going up there.
Before this, I tend to Miru, the unofficial leader of my royal guard.

 

<I have to warn you beforehand. There'll be many humans up there. The issue is that they don't use pheromones as we do. So you won't be able to perceive hostility as you're used to.> (E)

<Then how shall I discern which humans have to be neutralized, mother?> (M)

 

Oh god, that goes already in a worrisome direction.

 

<I need to ask that you all are as lenient as possible when we're up there. This is a diplomatic mission. Shedding blood would be the complete opposite of what I wish for.> (E)

<But I need to ensure your safety.> (M)

<Killing is only the last resort. You'll have to look for hints in their behavior. For example, if they point a weapon in my direction in a way that it's likely they will make use of it or they might show it in another way in their behavior that they're going to attack with deadly intent. Humans are quite expressive. Especially if they're nervous because they're up to no good.> (E)

<This sounds very difficult, mother.> (M)

 

Sigh, I'd like to put an end to this title.
But I fear banning those who without any doubt originate from me from calling me mother would make me a bad person.

 

<I know it's a difficult task, but I have no one else I can entrust with this. I hope you can manage.> (E)

<As you wish, my princess. I'll do my very best to satisfy you.> (M)

 

So we leave most of our drones down here as there's neither enough space up there, nor would I want to cause a panic.
However, it poses a slight security issue that will only increase once we reach the capital.
And the Formicea have slight issues regarding security issues with a princess.

 

<Our escort decreased considerably.> (H)

<Sorry, but I need to request that we have a smaller one than usual. Humans are easily scared and if we show up in full strength they might believe we're going to invade them.> (E)

<Which might be safer and simpler considering our vulnerability.> (H)

 

I ignore her disturbing statement and ask again.

 

<So, are you fine with being protected by my royal guard?> (E)

 

Those are still present in full number.

 

<I am content. You're not planning on killing me. The repercussions would be severe. And if even this brute Liseti recognizes them then their abilities should suffice. With this, I am convinced they will do a decent job.> (H)

 

Okay, at least she's lenient.
Or she just prefers them over the queen's brood as her escort.
We walk a bit further and eventually reach one of the human control points, which they share with our troops.
It certainly must be a weird job to constantly stare at them.
Do they get a bonus?
However, while they're nervous they seem to be expecting us.
So I carefully approach.

 

"Good day. You've got our announcement, right?" (E)

"Lady Erys. Yes, we were notified beforehand. If a bit sudden. I hope you'll find the welcome satisfying. The lord is eagerly expecting you." (guard officer)

 

Lady, huh? Has a nice ring.
I'm a lady.

When I look over my shoulder, my mum is looking at me with a mix of pride and thoughtfulness.
I just had to see how she would react.
Yet Kyska emits discontent pheromones behind me.

 

"Ehk, while it's not so important for me, the others like it better if you call me princess." (E)

"I'm sorry. I had no intention to offend you." (guard officer)

"Ehk, no harm done." (E)

"Is your... entourage accompanying you?" (guard officer)

"That's unfortunately obligatory. I couldn't even forbid this if I wanted to." (E)

"As you wish. Then please follow. We took preparations at the governmental district." (guard officer)

 

From the sound of it, he isn't too fine with my escort.
But who in their right mind would deny them?
I follow the human guards.
From this station, there are three passages leading to the surface and we take the middle one.

Actually, already the possibility to walk from one district of the town to the other should be quite convenient.
Not like anyone would pay us for their construction.
Eventually, it gets brighter and after a long time, I finally see the sun again.
It hurts!

Okay, I went a bit too fast about this.
I should've been more aware of how long I was down there and how much I was used to those light conditions.
Mum, with her new adjustment, is the same and thoroughly rubs her eyes.
From Honiu, I notice the usual way that she doesn't like it, but as a real princess, she isn't showing any outer signs of it.
My royal guard meanwhile flinches extremely hard.

 

<Skriek!/Everyone, the sun hurts in the eyes the first moment. Be careful when stepping out!> (E)

 

I shout this warning for all the rest of my escort.
After all, none of them has ever seen the sun before.
Maybe I should've considered this earlier, but there's no reason to let the others suffer as well.
My eyes are extremely sensitive, but I can make do by adjusting my second eyelids to protect them a bit. 
And my royal guard has the same advantage.

The only one I can't gauge how she's coping with this is my mother, however, she seems to manage for now.
Maybe her old eyes' function still works to a degree.
The guards look for a moment, but my small shout was apparently still within their expectations regarding weirdness.
We arrive at a larger plaza close to a huge fortress.
Talk about governmental buildings.

Around us formed quite the crowd.
Guess it's hard to keep it a secret when a greater delegation of giant insects is arriving.
Not to mention that the guards had to position themselves beforehand so the concrete location was known as well.
I spot Jorad, the lord of this town, coming from the entrance.

 

"Princess Erys! Wonderful that you could make it. There's much I'd like to talk about." (J)

 

He walks in my direction but stops when he sees Honiu.
A princess after all warrants some attention.
It's hard to tell how vast her political power is but obviously, her brood exceeds mine by far.
Also, she got formal control over all the queen's brood that accompanies us.
My own makes only a small partition.
So it's not strange but also recommended that he greets her as well.

 

"Princess Liseti! How pleasant that you as well grant us the honor of your visit." (J)

 

Is it appropriate to facepalm? I certainly feel like doing so.
For a long, uncomfortable moment Honiu stares at him.

 

"Even if this kind of communication is new to me, I'm very sure I heard this right. Did you truly just now compare my magnificent self with this brute Liseti, human?" (H)

 

Lord Hawkspear just stares at her with his mouth open.
In my opinion, in equal parts, because this answer was absolutely unexpected and just shows how much of a diplomatic slip-up that was just now, and on the other hand because he didn't expect an answer in human speech in general.
There were hints before, but now I become aware of how proficient Honiu is at human speech.
There's still a slightly creaky and shrill tone to it but not even in a way one would consider it coming from something inhuman.
A bit uncanny, but surely nobody would be able to link it to the source.

However, right now I worry if this kind of offense is enough for her to drown this city in blood.
Is she even allowed to order this?
I fear yes, as this kind of thing was probably not excluded when she got formal control over the queen's brood.
So just maybe I should say something before this takes a turn for the worse.

 

<Honiu, humans can't use pheromones to recognize each other.> (E)

<They can't? Then how do they distinguish each other and their corresponding role?> (H)

<Well, purely by the outer appearance. So Lord Hawkspear, the human, cannot tell you apart.> (E)

<But I and Liseti look completely different!> (H)

 

Sigh, not for a human.
Okay, her mandibles might be a little bit smaller, her frame slightly more delicate, and the coloring just a tiny shade darker, however, I only realize this because I already live for so long among them and am personally involved with those two.
And even I am troubled to tell the drones apart if not for their pheromone mark.
Jorad meanwhile is stepping uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

 

"Ahem, I'm sorry about this faux pas of mine but may I inquire about the nature of your discussion?" (J)

<Not even able to understand! We desperately need to change this.> (H)

<You're not going to shove your claw into the lord's nose! If not as an attack this will definitely be judged as an offense!> (E)

<Such strange customs. I would just help him to improve himself.> (H)

"Really, could you please just not completely ignore me?" (J)

 

Hey, I'm trying to save your ass here!
Yet I should respond a bit more diplomatically.

 

"Honiu is interested in providing you a treatment that will allow you to understand our speech. I said she's too rash about this." (E)

"Ah, yes. Lady Lorata mentioned something like this in her report. However, this would certainly be the wrong time and place." (J)

 

Yes, inducing vomiting in front of his men might be the wrong approach for making a good impression.
The lord's gaze meanwhile wanders over my escort.

 

"I see you've made changes to your... entourage." (J)

"Yes, you remember I am not allowed to go anywhere without an escort. However, I specially prepared these. I hope they make a good impression." (E)

 

Or at least they cause not as much terror as an army of guardians.

 

"Well, they certainly leave one." (J)

 

I take this as a win.

 

"Please, follow me inside. There's quite much to discuss, especially regarding your recent invitation, and we shouldn't have to stay out here. Your escort is naturally welcome." (J)

 

Well, this worked smoothly.
The crowd still gasps when more and more of my royal guard emerge from the hole and mumbling spreads.
Suddenly Miru jumps next to me and lashes out.

Again a stone!
Just what happened to fruits?
However, it's far from over.
Before I can really process what happens here, a troop lifts their cloaks, rushes flying into the crowd, and I only hear shouting.

When the people part in slight panic, I see the display.
A bald man, with a terribly red head, is held there by them.
Two royal guards on his side use spears, holding them to his neck and the other arms to keep him down.
On his back and front are two more which point with four blades at once at him.

 

"Let go of me, you vile fiends!"

 

Jorad grows visibly pale.
The bloodlust of my royal guard is clearly perceivable to me.
Directed at the one who was going to harm their mother.
I need to do something.

 

"Don't kill him!" (E)

 

I shout this!
The pheromones carry my intention to my guard and I use human speech for the people around to hear.
I can't have anyone getting killed and people should know that I'm not bloodthirsty.
The guards perceive this and the grip on their weapons loosens ever so slightly.
However, the man is still in their grasp and the moment he makes one wrong move he'll certainly get skewered and beheaded.
This doesn't keep him from shouting and rambling more about us.

 

"You won't deceive me! I know what you want!"

 

But it's enough to sigh in relief.

 

<You can't be serious!> (H)

 

With a questioning expression, I look at Honiu.

 

<This human was going to harm you, a princess! This reaction isn't appropriate! Are you even perceiving the scale of what is at risk here?> (H)

<What should I do? I can't go around and order people to get killed!> (E)

<You can't truly intend to allow such a thing to happen. What if it would happen to your own brood next time? What if he had succeeded? Do you believe your brood could just ignore this? You need to correct such behavior! Especially when they claim that we are safe!> (H)

 

She... is right?
I'm only able to not make a big thing out of this because the stone didn't hit me.
But in reality, this was an attack.
Politically seen it's a huge thing.
Not only a foreign ambassador but one of the highest ranks were attacked.
Just what should I do in this situation?

 

<Still, we can't go around punishing the people. This isn't our territory.> (E)

<Yes, you're right. It's his. And that makes it his mistake. One is responsible for one's brood.> (H)

 

Not sure if this statement is totally accurate.
With pheromones, it would probably translate to "subordinates" but there's no real equivalent in Formicea as usually, all subordinates are brood.
But I can understand her reasons.
And the way she's brooding while speaking tells me there might be repercussions for me if she's displeased with the way I'm handling this.
Yet I don't know anything about punishing people.
The only compromise I can come up with is this.

 

"Lord Hawkspear, I would like to hand this man over in your custody. I have to ask you to punish him, yet I'll leave the decision to you." (E)

 

Good.
Responsibility successfully loaded onto someone else.

 

"It's a bit difficult at the moment." (J)

"Look, I'm not asking for blood, but I need you to be aware that I'm not only speaking for myself. Something like this shouldn't happen. I'm quite sure there are customs when this happens to emissaries from other countries. We shouldn't be treated worse, right? Whatever you deem appropriate, I'm fine with it. But there have to be consequences." (E)

 

I look a bit anxiously back at Honiu to see if she's somewhat satisfied with my response and hope that Jorad gets the hint.

 

"Yes, I understand. The matter will be handled." (J)

 

My elite insects let the human guards apprehend that man.

 

"Would you now accompany us inside? I believe it's much calmer there than here." (J)

 

Certainly right.
Alone the stirred crowd is already an issue.
So I don't waste any time and follow Jorad into his castle.