The Bee Dungeon-POFair 256.2 - Ending the Bee-bate

Nenavann sat around the stone where the Compact was carved once more, along with the other representatives of the signatories. Tarwantrad and Tamosmed stood behind him. Despite the fact that the three of them were just wrapping up their report on Belissar’s fight with the spiderkin, most the representatives’ attention was elsewhere. It was only natural, for today Queen Vanieskon had decided to participate in personal, in lieu of the usual representative herself. Not only was it highly unusual for her to do so, but the glamour she always had around herself pulled on their subconscious. Even the representatives here, who were all aware of the glamour, found their attention pulled in her direction if they were not actively focused on anything else.

Nenavann wasn’t sure whether the distraction was good or bad for him. He could only hope that Queen Vanieskon had not changed her mind since last they spoke. As it was, the only people present giving him undivided attention were Wardmaster Varilold…and Forgemaster Uglarer. The black elf raised an eyebrow.

“So, Dungeon Master Nenavann, this human has gone and attacked the people around him with an army of monsters. Does that not violate the Circle’s own rules, which you yourself laid down?”

Nenavann shook his head.

“The Circle has amended its rules and submitted the revisions to the Compact, neither letter nor spirit has been broken. It has come to my attention that a reasonable degree of offensive action may be necessary to secure the safety of a dungeon…especially a dungeon who, as of this moment, cannot rely on the wards of the Compact for his defense.”

Nenavann gave the forgemaster a pointed look at that. Forgemaster Ughlarer responded with a scoff.

“And you propose that wiping out an entire tribe qualified as reasonable?”

Nenavann didn’t flinch.

“A tribe of spiderkin.”

Forgemaster Ughlarer opened his mouth, then paused, then grunted.

“I see.”

Nenavann wasn’t sure whether to smirk or sigh. The spiderkin had been one of the most prolific troops of the ancient human kings, both he and Ughlarer knew firsthand what it took to dislodge them from an area. His amusement that Ughlarer withdrew at the simple mention of spiderkin was unfortunately matched by his own unpleasant memories involving them.

Nenavann did neither, of course, keeping his expression neutral.

“Dungeon Master Belissar has held to the Circle’s ideas even with the opponent he faced. He negotiated the moment the spiderkin themselves proved willing, and has taken in the unhatched eggs that have done no wrong. He is now working to resolve a blood feud the karnuq have with them, promoting peace and reconciliation. The Circle has no complaints as to his actions over this incident.”

Queen Vanieskon lazily glanced in his direction.

“So you say, dearest Nenavann. Yet, could it not be the case that he has ulterior motives for these things? Is he not gathering an army of hybrids as the humans seem inclined to do?”

Nenavann shrugged.

“Of course he is.”

Forgemaster Ughlarer blinked and then furrowed his brow at that. Queen Vanieskon just raised an eyebrow.

“Oh?”

Nenavann looked each representative and signatory in the eye.

“Before he is anything else, he is a dungeon master. He battles against the Hunger directly, holding the line for the sake of the world. Of course he is building an army, all of us do. All of us must. It is not a choice for him, any more than it is for us. It is a necessity for both his own survival and his duty as a dungeon master. We cannot expect him to fight the Hunger alone with his bare hands.”

Nenavann glanced around, but even the forgemaster just huffed at him without interrupting, so Nenavann pressed on.

“We cannot fault a dungeon master simply for gathering power, anymore than we can fault a tree for growing and blocking the sun. What we must consider instead is the means by which he does so and then what he does with that power. Dungeon Master Belissar has used reconciliation and negotiation wherever possible. He takes care of those who have sworn to his defense, rather than lording it over them. He prefers diplomacy to conquest, as in the case of the sigmaka. He treats his monsters as his own children and mourns the loss of each and every one that falls. He is not a man who will embark upon war and conquest if he has any other option.”

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

Nenavann gave them all a pointed look.

“We especially cannot fault Dungeon Master Belissar for defending himself while we deny him the protection and support every other dungeon master enjoys. He will continue to gather power by any means he can. He cannot afford to do otherwise. He is at odds with the other humans and their armies march for him. The spiderkin wander the Underway and attack on sight. The Hunger strikes at him directly. We’ve no right to question any of his actions unless we are willing to assist him with these challenges. If we are willing to assist him in defending our own lifeline.”

Forgemaster Uglarer frowned.

“Him being at odds with his own kind is another reason we should stop this foolishness here and now. Nenavann, you claim that not only have the humans survived and not only are they producing armies on the scale they did before the Hunger, but also that they are marching on this human with the intent to destroy him specifically. Your questionable opinion on this human you’ve known for mere weeks aside, if we engage with this human, if we even leave the door open to him, we are all but committed to war with the humans yet again! Humans who have access to dungeons now and all the powers that allows them! A war like that is the last thing the fair folk need at the moment!”

Nenavann let the forgemasters words wash over him. He let out a sigh and allowed his shoulders to droop.

“That much is true, but it cannot be helped. Our alternative is to let our wards fade away, dooming ourselves to a gradual, inevitable death as our powers diminish. I will not lie about the extent of the threat these humans pose…but that threat still pales in comparison to the Hunger. And do not forget, we also now possess the power of dungeons, as well as a unity between our peoples like never before in the history of the world. The combined lore and might of all that is fair can defend a single dungeon from the humans. It is a far more achievable feat than overcoming the Hunger.”

Wardmaster Varilold then rose to her feet.

“I’ll interject here. We have spoken at length about the necessity of this dungeon and keeping the connection to it open. Know that my evaluation of the situation as wardmaster has not changed even in light of the threats reported. Like it or not, we need this dungeon, and until we have a proven, viable alternative, we must do anything and everything necessary to preserve it and our connection to it. Even if that means confronting the humans.”

Forgemaster Ughlarer went silent for a moment, speaking his next words carefully.

“Wardmaster, do you claim the authority to send us to war?”

Wardmaster Varilold placed her hand on the table on which the Compact was carved. The engravings began to glow with mana.

Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.

“Not the authority, the responsibility, as demanded of me by the very words of the Compact. Of us all. We are to do everything necessary to ensure the survival of the fair from the threat of the Hunger, that is the Calwaskon Compact’s first and foremost demand, and as of now, our connection with this dungeon is the only hope we have. The time has come to conclude this debate, signatories, the incoming human army Nenavann reports only makes it more urgent that we engage with the dungeon master. The recent conflict has made it clear to me that the dungeon now powering our wards is under threat and we do not have the option of withdrawing. We must begin preparations for the dungeon’s defense now, or else we shall pay the cost in blood, whether it be at the hands of the humans or the Hunger.”

The signatories all went silent for a while. Queen Vanieskon eventually sighed, leaning her head into one of her palms.

“I suppose you are giving us little choice in the matter, are you, Wardmaster?”

Wardmaster Varilold met the pixie queen’s gaze.

“The Compact gives us no choice here, Queen Vanieskon. Nor does the Hunger.”

Queen Vanieskon silently nodded in response, causing the other signatories to murmur amongst themselves. Forgemaster Ughlarer crossed his arms and grunted.

“So be it, let us hope that you are not sending us to our doom. But just because the Compact is forcing our hands does not mean we must let this human run amok. If we are to allow a human into the Compact, then I require safeguards. I need not remind you all of what happened the last time humans gained possession of our knowledge and power. This human must not have unrestricted access to our secrets.”

At that declaration, the other signatories began to nod with grim looks on their faces. Tamosmed's eyes opened wide. Tarwantrad smiled at first, but quickly frowned as the forgemaster continued into his demands. Queen Vanieskon leaned back and crossed one leg over another.

“That being the case, we should consider the other side as well. The human’s dungeon is reclaiming the realm of mortals, is it not? If the Compact is to take on the responsibility to protect those lands, even to fight wars over them, then it is only natural we benefit from them as well, is it not? Perhaps we can gain more than sorrow from this turn of events.”

Tarwantrad couldn’t help interjecting with a huff at that point.

“If you don’t consider Belissar saving the Compact’s wards and ensuring our continued existence as a benefit.”

Queen Vanieskon just turned an amused smile to the elf.

“It’s a start, I suppose. But are we not already repaying him by committing to a war on his behalf? Indeed, we must be allowed on those lands if we are to protect them.”

Nenavann gave Tarwantrad a look. She glared at him, but he held his gaze. She huffed again but said nothing more. Nenavann turned his attention back to the representatives. With both the forgemaster and the pixie queen acquiescing, the others were agreeing as well. It seemed, at the very least, the Compact had decided to engage with Belissar after all…even to the point of war with the humans. On that point, they had scored a major win for Belissar.

Now they just had to decide what exactly the Compact’s relationship with him would look like. Nenavann held back a sigh. He had a feeling that wouldn’t be the last outburst from Tarwantrad.

“It seems we have much to discuss now.”

Nenavann’s feeling would prove to be correct. The discussions would take…quite some time.