BD - Chapter 448 - Managing Bee-lations (Patreon)

The next morning found Belissar sitting at a table, doing his best not to fidget or gulp. Across from him sat Almablom, the Oracle of Flowers…who hadn’t spoken a word since she arrived. She was just sitting there, frowning, while Belissar desperately searched for something to say.

Almablom had responded to his invitation by just showing up this morning. Belissar quickly made his way over to the gate room to greet her…and this was the result. Tarwantrad, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen, so it was just him and the obviously upset oracle.

Fortunately for Belissar, Almablom let out a sigh and then started the conversation herself.

“I am sorry, Tower Keeper. I shouldn’t be upset with you, none of this was your fault.”

Belissar shook his head.

“It’s alright, I understand. We should have thought of you when all that god stuff was going on…”

Almablom’s eyes went dead.

“It’s ok. It wasn’t your job to think of me. My friends should have…or my own god should have…it would have been nice to be remembered.”

Belissar hesitated for a moment…but, well, he was already involved one way or another, so he decided to speak up.

“The God of Flowers is sorry about that. That’s why I asked for you, the God of Flowers wanted me to give you this on her behalf.”

Belissar motioned to the jar of mead and tray of honey he had placed in the center of the table. Almablom gave him a nod…and then started to tear up. Before Belissar could react, she burst out sobbing.

“I-I’m sorry, Tower Keeper, it’s just…I like flowers and bees too! I loved flowers so much I dedicated my immortal life to the God of Flowers! So why did she forget me? Why did everyone forget me!”

Belissar started at her sudden outburst, then descended into panic. But he had no idea what he was supposed to do in this situation…

Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He glanced back and found the God of Flowers standing behind him, with a pained expression on her face.

“Sorry, Belissar, but I’m going to step in here. Also, I’m sorry to ask this, but do you mind if I delay giving you the rewards for this mission? I’m going to need to build up some more authority after this incarnation…”

Belissar just gave her a nod.

“Yes, of course.”

The God of Flowers gave him a quick smile and then moved to Almablom’s side, rubbing her back and soothing her. Belissar decided to leave it to her and slipped out of the room.

He shook his head as he stepped out into the gateway Fairy Grove. He was still getting used to the gods just popping into his dungeon whenever they wanted…and also dealing with people suffering from powerful emotions. But while he felt for Almablom, he also didn’t really know her, so he’d leave to those that did. The God of Flowers could easily call for him should they need anything he could provide.

He quickly ran through all his Tower’s denizens in his head, making sure he hadn’t forgot anyone who would have wanted to meet one of the gods that had incarnated, but fortunately there didn’t seem to be anyone else. He did, however, decide to leave a reminder for himself…

“Niobee, could you ask a memory bee to remind me to invite Urubran if the God of Fire ever shows up? Oh, and Nenavann for the God of Water…or just maybe all the members of the Circle if their primary patron appears. I don’t think we’ll be visited by the God of Death, the God of Blood, or the God of Crafts…but just in case.”

This time, Niobee took off from his head and danced midair in front of him.

“Ok! Also, King, First of the Fifth’s Fourth Daughter has concern. Think could use King’s help,  want help?”

Belissar blinked, then smiled.

“Of course! Thanks for letting me know, Niobee!”

Niobee zipped around in a “King is best king!” dance, then turned to lead him. Contrary to his expectations, though, she did not lead him towards the Beecity, but instead back towards the gateway. There, he found one of the Fourth Daughter’s communers watching the gate.

“Hi! Tell queen-mother King wants talk to, will help!”

The communer quickly danced a salute, then lit her antennae up. A moment later, Belissar received a frantic Tower message.

“King?! King needs something?!”

Belissar shook his head with a smile.

“No, but Niobee said you have a concern? Maybe something to do with your communer here?”

“I-Is ok! Have no problems! Nothing bother King!”

Before Belissar could reply, Niobee sent a mana dance of her own.

“Is ok! King wants help if can, doesn’t want anyone be forgotten. Will make King happy if let help!”

Belissar smiled and nodded along. The Fourth Daughter went quiet for a bit. Belissar simply waited and, eventually, a slow mana dance came his way.

“Ok…was looking for evil one, wanted ask how make strong mobile hives. But can’t find, evil one not here anymore?”

It took Belissar a second to figure out who could be evil one, but the strong mobile hives part tipped him off that it was Tamosmed. He should probably address that…but decided to prioritize helping the Fourth Daughter since Niobee had just convinced her to share her concerns with him.

“Ah…he’s probably been too busy to come and visit, I think he’s in charge of all the golem-makers now. I’m not sure when he’ll come next, but if you want I could ask if I can visit him and bring you or one of your communers along?”

“C-Can’t ask King leave!”

But as the Fourth Daughter tripped over herself to refuse, Niobee intervened again, sending a wave of soothing mana through the hivelink. Belissar decided to follow up by smiling and shaking his head again.

“It’s no trouble, I visit the fair folks’ dungeons all the time. You could even say it’s my job, and I probably should follow up with Tamosmed since we haven’t heard from him in a bit. Besides, you want to help the Tower and help me, right? So, it’s good for everyone if I help you do that, right?”

The Fourth Daughter went quiet for a lot longer this time. Niobee kept sending soothing and encouraging mana her way, but didn’t interrupt with any actual dances. Belissar took the cue and waited patiently, letting the Fourth Daughter deliberate for as long as she needed to.

And, eventually, she replied.

“Ok…if King wants to, then will ask. Can help?”

Belissar gave her communer the brightest, widest smile he could.

“I would love to. Let me reach out to Tamosmed and we’ll see what he says.”

Belissar was then hit with a powerful surge of mana through the hivelink, as well as bombarded by messages through the link between monster and Tower.

“KING IS BEST KING!”

Belissar just kept smiling, letting the Fourth Daughter praise him as much as she wanted. He was just happy she was letting him help her.

After the Fourth Daughter calmed down, Niobee then flew in front of him and began dancing.

“King, if meeting evil one, want bring karnuq? Evil one was teaching karnuq, but stopped since not visiting.”

Belissar’s eyes widened.

“Ah, right…Toivenaq, was it? I’ll ask Chief Rohsuak…oh, I should probably ask Wardmaster Varilold about bringing him to the land of the fair first. Maybe Finnakynne can help disguise him again…thanks for reminding me, Niobee! I guess there’s a lot I need to do!”

Niobee happily danced another “King is best king!” dance, then settled on Belissar’s head. Belissar thus got to work contacting everyone he needed to. Wardmaster Varilold was the easiest, she happened to be in the gate room at that very moment, so Belissar was able to ask her right away. She had some concerns about bringing a beastkin into the land of the fair, but decided that it would be fine so long as he alerted the other signatories ahead of time. Which meant even more people for Belissar to contact, but Wardmaster Varilold offered to assist so he was able to get started right away. The warden also offered to send word to Tamosmed, so Belissar was able to take care of that as well.

With the fair folk addressed, he told Chief Rohsuak about his plans. She duly asked Toivenaq, who agreed immediately. With that, all that was left was to ask Finnakynne if she would be willing to help with the disguise, should the signatories request it. He also thought about asking Tarwantrad, since she had accompanied him every time he’d gone to the Land of the Fair…but he hadn’t seen her since Almablom dragged her away. Given what was going on in his own Tower at that very moment, Belissar decided to hold off on contacting Tarwantrad until the God of Flowers finished speaking with Almablom…

So, he made his way to the bumblebee meadow…which was more of a forest than a meadow at this point…and found the First Bumblebee Queen’s hive.

And stumbled upon yet another commotion. Finnakynne was hovering in front of the entrance to the nest with her hands on her hips and a stern expression. A bumblebee worker hovered in front of her…or so Belissar thought, until he noticed said bumblebee wasn’t beating her wings and yet wasn’t dropping to the ground. Finnakynne stared the bumblebee down.

“Now then, explain why you were trying to infiltrate the bumbles. Please.”

Author’s Note:

…forgetting Almablom turned out to be kind of a big deal, huh? Well…let’s leave it to the Queen of All Flowers so King can get back to bees! Who he’s going to help! Amazing, incredible!

Who he’s going to help by…speaking to and visiting a bunch more non-bees? Ugh, they better help the bees build better hives this time, otherwise evil one will never get a new name.

Anyways!

Will the Queen of All Flowers work things out with her oracle? Will King help the bees by visiting more non-bees? What’s going on with bumble helper? Tune in next time, to find out!