"We can’t just burn it? Why?" Researchina asked.
I’d really like to know the precise composition of this layered hill, but Watcher was no geologist. Everybody was no geologist, because geology wasn’t invented yet!
If my guess was right, however…
"I think that black layers that Watcher described are coal or peat, and starting a large fire nearby will turn the entire area into a bonfire! Remember coal, girls?"
"Yes, you explained it alongside other natural resources. I have *excellent* memory on those." Researchina raised her nose smugly and tapped her head. "Gold, copper, tin, coal, clay—"
"We got it, Researchina! I remember that, too!" Things-Things interrupted.
"Girls, girls, don’t fight! Fighting among each other is *bad*!" I said sternly and wagged my finger.
They both looked sheepish, but Researchina much less so.
"Father, but how else can we destroy the nest?" Bloodhero asked.
I sighed wearily.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
"If only I knew of a good way… Ahem. I mean, of course there *is* a way! We just have to come up with it. Perhaps we can drown them instead…"
"Father, this only works with ants because they are too slow and unable to fly. Hornets will demolish any digger who gets too close!" Workharder said, clenching her fists. "If not for them, sure, we’d dig through any ground, rocky or not—but those bitches…"
I nodded.
’Yeah, that was a stupid idea to begin with.’
Meanwhile, Workharder was struck with some idea. It brightened her entire face.
"Father, you think that it’s coal, but what if it’s not, Father? There’s a lot of black stuff underground! Could be just soil."
Tabletina nodded along like someone with experience in living underground.
I frowned.
"There’s only one way to find out, and it’s risky. Someone has to take samples. From a safer distance this time, I hope."
Watcher shifted on her feet. I could sense her desire to say something, kept under all the aloof exterior.
I stared at her with narrowed eyes.
"Do *you* want to go, Watcher?"
She nodded.
"Alone."
Suddenly, I felt five years older and wiser—or maybe it was my intelligence boosts talking. I could only put a hand over my face and shake my head.
"Girl, oh girl… Let me see, you want to redeem yourself somehow by going there? But what if a lone hornet attacks you on your way, or a wasp, or something else? I instructed Bloodhero to send out scouts in squads so you could fight threats like these off. You are acting like a teenager right now!"
Watcher’s shoulders tensed.
"True. And you’ve already requested a demotion… A responsible task like this will definitely be given to a squad," Ambrosia said. She looked thoughtful. "This isn’t a lone example of this ill-in-the-head behavior among youth, though. As the Culture Adviser, I’m the one responsible for preventing this… It looks like I’ve been failing."
Watcher looked even more ashamed now…
I couldn’t watch it anymore!
I just wanted to give her a lesson about silly revenge-slash-redemption things, but now Ambrosia also began thinking that she’s been a poor mother to all her children! Which…
Well, she did her best. We all did. The standards of basic education have been growing every week thanks to her efforts, and most bees have been put into the jobs most suited for them.
But it looked like my daughters have been emotionally maturing from children to teenagers, and Ambrosia wasn’t ready for that!
Neither was I…
I walked up to Watcher, put my hands over her shoulder and leaned to stare her in the eyes.
"Watcher, just forget it all, alright? Your parents will love you no matter what! You will be one of the citizens of the Bee Empire and my daughter, no matter what! You don’t have to risk your life for that, especially in stupid ways. If you want, become a Nurse Bee or a Builder Bee *right now*—nobody will object!"
Bloodhero opened her mouth, then thought better and closed it.
"Can I be in the squad anyway, Father?" Watcher asked timidly.
I smiled. At least she wasn’t risking herself *pointlessly* now…
"Sure. Bloodhero, arrange the mission. We need samples, and we need them soon. And since this will take two days, we all can think about what we will do if Watcher will bring coal. Let’s hope she won’t…"
***
She did, of course.
My luck was a fickle mistress at worst and a double-edged sword at best!
At least this time nobody on Watcher’s squad died.
I took the pieces of coal brought by Watcher. They were more brown than black, but left a distinct black residue on my hands.
From my assorted trivia knowledge, I recalled that there were different kinds of coal, based on how old they were—the older the better. Peat was barely coal, and anthracite was the oldest and hottest coal. The one I held in hand looked like barely a step above peat.
"I’m sure this will burn hot in our kilns. Plus, we will be able to make ink from it and finally move from wax to paper. Digging coal out is much easier than making coal pits and making coal from wood that could be used for other things."
I gave the coal piece to Researchina and turned to the rest of the Empire Council.
"Now, any ideas on how to deal with the hornets?"
Silence.
After several seconds, Bloodhero broke it.
"Kill them all. With our bolas and hammers!"
"Impossible," Ambrosia said immediately. "Not inside their own nest!"
"We can wait until they leave, then kill them all!"
"That’s just stupid!" Researchina snorted.
"No, that’s a good idea. At least, that’s the best idea we have."
Although war always meant that my daughters would risk their lives, a part of me was growing giddy with anticipation.
Finally, we were about to bring the fight to the murderous bitches, without tricks (just basic war tactics)… And I had a feeling it would be well within our power to win!
I raised a finger in the air.
"Girls, it will take a lot of time, a lot of resources, and likely a lot of lives, too—but as little as possible, I solemnly swear. We are going to besiege the hornets!"
