Then, without warning, the old Queen’s faceted eyes swivelled towards the humans. Mara stood motionless as judgement was pronounced. ‘The Queen daughter has chosen. She says she will bring her hive to the estate of Mara of the Acoma.’
Lax’l gestured. The messenger sped off up the passage for the last time, with word of defeat for the Lord of the Ekamchi. Keyoke and Arakasi exchanged small smiles of relief, while Mara briefly covered her face with both hands to smother a laugh of triumph. Her instinct had proven correct. Now the Acoma would gain a rare and precious advantage for years to come.
With her fatigue swept away by excitement and curiosity, Mara said, ‘If I may ask, why did your daughter finally choose Acoma lands, when the offers were so close?’
The queens exchanged remarks, then the elder said, ‘My daughter likes you. You called her pretty.’
‘That’s something most men would never have thought,’ Arakasi mused, ‘that even queens of the cho-ja are not immune to flattery.’
‘Indeed,’ observed Keyoke.
The old Queen inclined the polished dome of her head towards Mara. ‘And we both count it a great courtesy that you would come below ground to negotiate rather than use messengers, for you are the first of your race to do so.’
Arakasi almost chuckled aloud. He said to Keyoke, ‘Simply because most lords would not set foot within another’s house without first being invited to enter. It seems Tsurani civility is cho-ja rudeness.’
The Force Commander seemed less amused. ‘Swords may yet determine the outcome of this encounter,’ he reminded the Spy Master, with a jerk of his thumb indicating the less than friendly forces waiting above.
Mara did not comment on her retainer’s remarks, but instead looked up at the old Queen. ‘I have been led to understand that the young Queen’s retinue will be scant.’
The old Queen motioned with a forelimb. ‘This is true, patron of my daughter’s hive. I have birthed three hundred warriors, two hundred of which have been matured at fast rate to accompany her, the other hundred to follow when they have grown. I will allow her two rirari, two breeding males, and seven hundred workers.’
Mara pondered this. The presence of the cho-ja on the Acoma estate would prove a hindrance to any but the boldest enemy, for no one else was likely to know the cho-ja warriors were young and difficult to control. ‘In the normal course of things, how long do you judge before a new hive is able to begin commerce?’
The old Queen twitched her jaws, as if divining Mara’s intent. ‘In the normal course of things, two to three years.’
Fatigue returning in numbing waves. Mara’s mind drifted, and she forced herself to apply something said earlier by the old Queen. ‘I would like to bid for additional workers and warriors to be sent with your daughter.’ Careful to conceal her exhaustion, Mara stepped steadily back to her litter. She entered, and motioned to a slave to hold the curtains back to keep an unobstructed view of the two queens. Settled upon her cushions – and hoping she didn’t appear too wilted – Mara said, ‘I would talk terms.’
‘That is wise,’ answered the Queen. ‘The young warriors are fractious; older, more experienced soldiers will be needed to bring them quickly to order at the new hive.’
Mara’s heart leaped in pleasure; she had understood the old Queen’s comments on the nature of the cho-ja. Behind her, Keyoke murmured his astonishment. ‘They barter their own!’
The old Queen showed keener hearing than expected by saying, ‘Only the hive matters, Force Commander. And I am the hive. Those I sell will serve your Lady as they would serve me. She will be their new Queen.’
Mara said, ‘I wish only that your daughter have a stronger hive, as soon as possible. I buy workers and warriors as a gift for her.’
The old Queen nodded. ‘That is generous. I will keep that in mind as I set my price.’
Mara took a moment to consult her advisers. Then, making sure her shoulders didn’t droop, she spoke to the Queen. ‘I have need for twenty of your warriors, Majesty. I would also ask for artisans.’
Keyoke straightened in surprise. ‘I thought we came for warriors, my Lady?’
Mara assumed a faraway look, as she often had lately; as the Acoma position stabilized, she strove to plan for the future; more and more, she kept her own counsel. But an old and valued adviser deserved an explanation. ‘Since my betrothal to the Anasati son, our position is safe for the present. This young Queen can breed more warriors, in time. But their most valued skill is not inborn, I think. What I want is silk-makers.’
The Queen matriarch reared up as high as her immobile rear segment allowed. ‘For the makers of silk to be given over to you would cost greatly.’
Mara returned a half bow, that her boldness might not offend. ‘What price?’
The Queen waved her forelegs for a long moment. ‘A hundred bags of thyza for each worker.’
‘Agreed,’ said Mara without hesitation. ‘I require five such workers.’