Regina finally got word that the war in the south had ended a little while after it actually happened. They still regurly sent people down and swapped out the garrison at the old Hivekind base, but since the teleportation needed quite a bit of power and was only possible from the new temple side, the teleportation pad wasn’t activated often. Still, it was a much more direct route and faster than traveling over the mountains, so it was how they got most news.

  Apparently, there had been several vilges burned during the course of this war between the city-states. Regina felt an uncomfortable twisting in her gut at the thought of what had happened to the people living there. Tim clearly knew, and he looked a little nervous. But Regina wasn’t going to blow up at him now. What was done was done. He’d done what he thought was best and it had clearly worked. It was also hard to say if his actions had truly led to anything that might not have happened anyway.

  Either way, the end result of the war seemed to be that not much had truly changed. Some borders had been moved, mostly to the benefit of Iliyan. Veragles had clearly not invested much into the war, after what had happened, which led to Iliucin, their ostensible ally, being much worse off.

  They would have to keep a close eye on the situation in case someone decided to turn covetous eyes to the base now that their soldiers were no longer occupied fighting each other, but Regina was still relieved to hear it was over. Especially without the base getting attacked or anything.

  Iseis seemed to be content to stay at the temple for now, overseeing both it and the teleportation pad. Regina didn’t mind, although she’d hoped for more lessons from her, which would have been easier if she’d come back to Cera. Still, it wasn’t worth compining about.

  Meanwhile, their pnned road through the mountains progressed pretty well. Getting the teleportation pad working had moved it down the priority list, but they were still continuing the project, with the help of their new dwarf allies. Regina still hadn’t met any of their leaders personally, but the coordination seemed to work out well. They had started reciming one of their older settlements and even started work on a new one, in a tactically sound position where it was sheltered against the elements and hard to access for monsters, which also slowed down construction. The drones who were assigned to this area spoke highly of their tamed earth wyrms for helping dig the tunnels their pnning called for, though.

  In the end, it would take a little longer for the road to be finished, but it was about time for them to prepare for when it was. That meant preparing delegations for Veragles and the other cities, and general preparations to establish trade links. Personally, Regina was looking forward to what they could import from south of the mountains. Since the teleportation link’s capacity was limited and they wanted to keep the base’s location secret, she couldn’t exactly use it for that purpose.

  It was also important because of the gnomes, who were still integrating into the Empire. Preparations were starting for negotiations about incorporating them directly into the Empire. Regina was gd they were able to take that step, or would be soon, but she also expected discontent and rising unrest once that time came. Aliekin had assured her that he would be able to handle things, but also warned her to be careful about potentially stirring up the situation.

  The general, now firmly established as head of their Executive Council, had done pretty well so far, she had to admit. It was probably due to his efforts that they hadn’t actually had to deal with a rebellion in the Gnomish Confederation since the end of the war.

  Right now, she hoped that prevailing on the gnomes to help with the road building project didn’t count as anything infmmatory. She was only trying to sooth tensions between them and the dwarves. If they were going to both be allied to the Empire, it was better to be proactive about that than let some ‘incidents’ blow up in their faces. That had been Janis’ recommendation, anyway, and Regina thought she was right. So, now there were some gnomish soldiers in addition to human Imperial troopers in the mountains, and builders, architects and demolition experts helping with the construction projects.

  Do you think we’re getting them to get along better? she asked Dan as she checked in with him.

  He shrugged, transmitting the sensation faintly through the psychic link. There’s an even chance some kind of fight is going to break out, I think. But once it’s over with, they should improve. Don’t worry about it, My Queen.

  Regina nodded. Her … third or fourth son (still weird that she had to count them like that) seemed like too much of a restless soul to stay sitting around in the Empire for too long, so a posting to oversee the protection of their road building project suited him well. He worked with Max, Tim and Ben, and surprisingly, seemed to be highly regarded by the dwarves. Despite his cims that he was a bad diplomat. Regina wasn’t sure about that, but she didn’t argue about it, just let him do his thing in the south.

  Have you heard more about what’s been happening further south? she asked.

  Veragles is sending people into the mountains, Dan reported. There’s always been a few adventurers, apparently, but their numbers have increased. I’m not sure if it’s connected to our efforts. We have been thinning out the monsters, and some must have been migrating away from our area of operations. So, it could just be in response to monster activity. Or maybe they’re curious and hoping to profit off it once we finish securing this route.

  Regina frowned. We have to keep an eye on that, she said. I won’t exactly mind if people from Veragles use the road to visit the Empire, allowing trade and travel is kind of the point, but we do need to keep control of it. And not allow them to sabotage us, either.

  If they send the kind of numbers needed for that, we’ll definitely notice, Dan assured her. We’ll watch them.

  Regina didn’t say anything to that. She was probably jumping at shadows. Either way, she trusted Dan and the others to monitor their assigned area of operations.

  There have been more dwarves moving north as well, Dan continued. Some of them are probably venturing into the mountains for the same reasons as the humans, but the others seem to be looking for dwarven settlements, to join them. Their numbers may be rising if this keeps up.

  That seems likely, yes, she agreed. So far, she didn’t think news of their alliance or the details of it had spread very far, and travel from further south would take time. And some people were probably waiting a little longer to see what came of it before they decided to move. She’d venture a guess that the number of immigrants would only increase. Assuming it could count as immigration. Some of them were probably originally from the mountain settlements, or their parents were.

  Well, if our allies are getting more numerous, I don’t think it’s a problem, she finally commented.

  I wasn’t compining, my Queen. But speaking of allies, our scouts have also seen more movement from the elves in the northern part of our range. It might be connected to our efforts to clear the mountains.

  We’re already in communication with them, she assured him. There were a few compints because of monster migrations.

  She often wasn’t quite sure where she stood with Ariedel, to be honest. The elves seemed friendly and had certainly helped her hive in the past, but they’d also been dragging out the negotiations about joining the Empire interminably. At this point, she figured the negotiations wouldn’t progress unless something changed.

  Maybe they were just being cautious. Getting in good with her but trying to retain their autonomy as much as possible. Regina wouldn’t bme them. The world was changing around them, their victory against Cernlia and Nerlia was almost meaningless right now and their retion to the Hivekind was clearly still fraught in a historical sense. Though the st part didn’t exactly make her sympathize with them. Still, maybe she should at some point stop softballing it and maybe raise tariffs a little or something, only to ‘encourage’ them to come to a decision.

  But there was something else she’d learned from her knowledge of another time; there was sometimes little difference between a close alliance and actually joining some kind of federation (or country with a federal organization) if there were enough treaties and commonalities. If the elves didn’t join the Empire but joined a common economic area, even a shared currency area, and a close military alliance with mutual defense pacts and more — it wouldn’t make a huge difference in the end. Especially depending on how much local autonomy they would have anyway.

  For now, Regina was content with the fact that they were allied, and, in any potential conflicts in the foreseeable future, they would probably be on her side.

  It did help that Ariedel had sent a few envoys she knew and liked. Anuis was back in the city and probably getting bored, as she’d heard she’d started a stint working with what passed for their general staff. It didn’t take a genius to see Anuis was set up to rise high. But instead, Bianorn was one of the people sent in the newest diplomatic team, joining a few elves already staying at a new permanent embassy in the capital.

  “Commander Anuis asked me to pass along her greetings,” he told her as they talked privately one evening. Regina had hosted a dinner for some diplomatic envoys — only the ones she liked, really — and invited him to stay for a drink after that. “She would have come herself, but said she was needed in the city. Politics, I can assume.”

  “I understand,” Regina told him. “It is good to see you again, either way.”

  He was silent for a bit, looking out over the royal pace. They were standing on a balcony with a nice view, especially since it was evening and some torches and lights had been lit. “There is some debate in the Elvish Free State,” he said finally. “I’d guess that doesn’t come as a surprise to you, Empress Regina.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  “No, I wouldn’t go that far. Few people are outright questioning our alliance with the Empire.” He shrugged. “However, you might have heard there has been a new delegation of diplomats from the Western Confederation, and they have found more than enough willing hosts for their stay.”

  Regina frowned. She’d been informed of that before, but hadn’t paid much attention at the time. “Is that so? I admit I’d rather your people didn’t welcome them.”

  “On what grounds?” he asked. “You have hardly sworn an official oath of enmity to the Western Confederation … Your Imperial Majesty. We have little reason not to allow diplomats access to the city, or to not speak with them.”

  “Yes, of course. My apologies. I know Ariedel profits from trade and wouldn’t lightly close any doors to potential partners.” Regina didn’t have to like it, but she also knew she could hardly begrudge the elves talking to Confederation diplomats.

  Bianorn sighed, crossing his arms and leaning against the balustrade. “I’m only a military man, not a politician, Empress Regina. Personally, I understand where you are coming from. But it’s my job to think about fighting, and other people focus on how to prevent war. Some in the government are apparently suggesting that Ariedel could mediate between your nation and the Western Confederation.”

  “Mediating?” Regina tapped on her mandible. It was an interesting suggestion. “Officially, I take it?”

  “Personally, I would recommend against it,” he warned. “There is no fight between the Empire and the Western Confederation, no official source of open conflict, you do not even have a border dispute. Admitting the need for mediation may simply confirm that there is reason for enmity and deepen instead of resolve it. It would showcase any such conflict for all to see.”

  Bianorn had a point, actually. There wasn’t any real, official reason for enmity between the two nations, and they were still in diplomatic contact and even trading with each other. A mediation attempt might only make things worse, especially if the Confederation leaders didn’t want to py nice with the Empire. Or actually wanted to kindle conflict.

  “Sometimes it is better to preserve the facade of civility.”

  Regina smiled. “Are you quoting someone?”

  He seemed surprised for a second, then smiled back. “Yes, actually. The Special Minister.”

  Well, if Enais thought it was a bad idea, Regina should probably listen. Maybe she simply shared Bianorn’s opinion for the reasons he’d outlined, or maybe there were other factors at py, like the internal politics of Ariedel. “You can tell them I would be open to the possibility of mediation, in principle, as long as the Western Confederation is, but we don’t need to push for it.” She sighed. “Perhaps once this conflict is more … open, if that happens.”

  Bianorn nodded. “I understand.”

  Regina gnced back out over the city. “There has also been rising tension with Esemen,” she admitted. “They have raised tariffs somewhat and are discouraging merchants from visiting the Empire. It’s subtle, not an official policy decision, but the effect it still there.”

  The elf raised an eyebrow, looking concerned. “I see,” he murmured. “I’ll pass that on, too.”

  Regina nodded. She knew the information would also reach them through other, more proper channels. “I hope Ariedel is still doing well?” she asked.

  “Of course.” He started talking about their defenses and the reactions to changing monster patterns, which necessitated some updates to their defensive strategy. However, it sounded like they had everything perfectly under control. Obviously, this wasn’t the first time the elves had done this.

  Regina nodded along to his expnation, asking a few questions. The conversation slowly moved away from politics and then to less heavy topics.

  Later that evening, after he had gone, she checked on the drones she had in and around the elvish city. It seemed to bear out what he’d said.

  Regina found herself lingering a little on the minds of monsters she could sense in the farther reaches of her range. Lately, most of her hive’s combat, and a part of their Experience gain, had come from fighting them. They needed to make arrangements to keep it up, in accordance with the elves.

  Personally, she was waiting for her next level, when she’d choose her next Ability, which should happen any day now. Recently, her leveling had slowed quite a bit. Partly that must be because she was reaching quite high levels, obviously Experience gain and leveling would be slower. But it was probably also because the war had ended and her hive wasn’t fighting anyone, or at least not as much.

  It was something she tried to feel proud of, right now. Peace was good, after all.