When Scourge finally landed near Hive Supremo, the rest of my strength went to slide off its side instead of falling off. I was ready to kiss the solid ground under my feet.
My bodyguards looked similarly tired as they jumped off Scourge's back to stand in their usual formation behind .
"GRAAAAA!" Scourge growled over my head.
"Are you asking for headpats, too? Or just for food?" I asked, taking off my face mask and looking up at the dragon.
Once again, I was struck by how majestic it looked. A massive black beast, evolved for flight, killing and scavenging on carrion… But certainly not for carrying passengers.
Although the first few minutes of flight were aweso, afterward it swiftly went downhill.
Not only the headwind almost turned into an icicle even with a face mask, my hands hurt from holding onto the dragon for so long! The dream of being a dragon rider was a tough one…
'How do dragon riders manage without complaining?!' I marveled.
"Scourge says it had enough flying for now. He's going to rest," Invincible-13 said without leaving the beast's back. "I know his words well—better than Beehounds. Anyway, I was supposed to give Mother-Queen a report from you—but if you are going to see her yourself, Father, I should take care of my equipnt."
I nodded and flew up to return her mask.
"Thanks, Invincible-13. I will leave you to it, then. But if you can—make sure that at least one dragon rider is ready for a scouting mission today. Soone will need to visit the giants' village and explore its surroundings from the sky."
It would take ti for the escaped humans to return to their village—but not much. I hoped we could intercept them mid-way and recover the prisoners. These three can carry the word of how scary the Bee Empire was while they crawl ho half-dead from bee venom.
"Yes, Father!"
***
An hour later, Scourge and Disaster flew together in search of information. I watched their takeoff from the entrance to Hive Supremo together with Ambrosia and Bloodhero.
After the news I brought about our victory, we should've been celebrating. However, the possibility of so Beemarines being kidnapped made even Ambrosia's mood darker than usual.
"The dragon riders will return soon," Bloodhero reassured us. "And Beemarines are strong enough to withstand all trials honorably. They will rather die than give up our secrets to the giants!"
I winced.
"Even dead, they might serve as a source of information for the enemy," Ambrosia said. "Which already had more information about us than expected—they even brought nets with them to capture bees. It's like Nectus said—the green giants are cunning and aren't to be underestimated."
"More importantly, those Beemarines are *ours*. We *have* to save them, and as long as they are alive, we will," I said with conviction. "The dragons won't return until evening, but we can act already. Bloodhero, I need you to organize the rescue teams. Each must fit on a single dragon. Put there the most experienced and tough Beemarines, and a single Beehound to scout the way and track scents. Also, they will need special equipnt—I will give you a list later."
"Yes, Father! Should I take more experienced Beemarines, or those with the latest genes? The forr, I assu?"
I nodded.
"Yes. Make sure that one Beemarine in each team is a proficient dragon rider, too. And… I will lead one of the teams myself."
"Yes, Father—wait, Father, this is too dangerous!"
Ambrosia opened her mouth, but I interrupted both hers and Bloodhero's further protests with a raised hand.
"Of course it's dangerous! You think I'm too stupid to realize?" I huffed. "But out of the entire Bee Empire, I'm the only person who can take out a human—a giant, I an—on my own. My stinger should just regrow by the ti we fly out. The rescue teams will have to be as stealthy as possible, but if they will end up in a fight, they will have no chance. Unless I co with them, that is."
Ambrosia took a deep breath, then released it. She looked level in the eye from the height of the extra ten centiters she had on .
"Necty. No… Nectus."
'Uh-oh.'
"You say that you aren't too stupid, then take these risks. Everybody in the Bee Empire will agree that they would rather have a hundred of any bees die than for you to do the sa."
It was good to have four hands. I could fold my arms over my chest *and* wag my finger at the sa ti.
"No, you don't get it, Amby. The difference is, if other bees go on this mission, they might die. But if I go, I *definitely* won't die. The personal morphotype made too overpowered. I an, of course I will die if I do sothing super-duper reckless, like staying still when soone is trying to step on , or—"
The way Amby looked at made shut up. What kind of witchcraft was this?
Scary and unimpressed wife glare, that's what it was.
Suddenly, she reached out and pinched my cheeks with her long, sharp claws. I gaped at her in shock and confusion.
"What—"
"Shush. If this is the last day I will have with my consort, at least I'm allowed to treat him as I want. Right now, I want to pinch you really hard, so you surely will feel it even with tough skin. But it still won't hurt as much as thoughts that you will go out stupidly and stupidly die. The Empire will survive even without you, but things will never be the sa."
I felt tears appear in my eyes and began blinking rapidly.
"I will still go on this mission, though…" I mumbled through the cheek-pinching. "Ow!"
"Yes, you will. When you will, it will be good and glorious. But if I knew you would give so much chest-ache, I'd lock you in my chambers on the day of our first mating…"
To the side, Bloodhero made an awkward and slightly pained sound.
I suddenly rembered that we weren't anywhere remotely private.
"Ah! Rescue teams! Amby, I gotta deal with those! You can pinch all you want later, alright? It will surely spice things up in our bedroom…"
Amby looked at curiously.
"Spice things up?"
And that's how I got more things to fill hours until the dragon riders return besides preparing the rescue teams.
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