Path of the Hive Queen

Whatever General Aliekin was doing to establish his power in the Gnomish Confederation, he clearly wasn’t wasting any time keeping the fight going. Their soldiers had already been in retreat from Ikris-on-Plains and were probably reorganizing anyway, so ironically, the disruption of the coup really didn’t have much of an effect. Probably less than on their political establishment, certainly.

Via wondered how things were going over there, with a bit of concern. She still wasn’t entirely sold on the whole sympathy thing, but ever since she’d started working as more of a dedicated healer she’d developed something more … well, maybe not empathy, but not functionally dissimilar. When treating patients, it was generally a good thing to care on some level what was hurting them.

The war had given her plenty of opportunities to nurture those talents. On balance, Via still wasn’t sure whether she preferred it to her old station by Regina’s side. Any drone would want one of those in principle, of course, but she was probably more useful here in a different way. Not that she’d ever really set out to be a healer or leader of other drones or working with their human allies, it had just kind of happened that way. Regina had needed someone to oversee the healers she was sending to her allies and Via had always been good with medicine and healing spells she’d learned from her Queen while Ira could pick up the slack for her.

Nowadays, she probably had more human patients than drones even while they were fighting the gnomes together rather than the Cernlian civil war. Partly, she supposed that was because everyone was more likely to leave Swarm Drones to die. They also tended to die outright to strong attacks while humans, often higher-leveled and with higher stats anyway, could weather them and walk away with an injury. Sapient drones were even rarer, since Mother was protective of them and they tended to stay in the back commanding Swarm Drones rather than get into the thick of the fight.

As always, the aftermath of a battle lasted longer than the battle itself, especially in the field hospitals. The assault on the pass had led to a staggering number of casualties and an unprecedented number of injured to take care of. Via suspected she might be getting close to beating one of the oldest drones at reaching the next Level Threshold, at the rate she was forced to gain Experience. It was a good thing she’d improved her magic.

Therefore, Via was a bit out of the loop when she finally managed to come up for some air. She’d kept apprised of the broad strokes, of course, but she’d ignored most of what was going on in the psychic link and even ignored many of the people trying to speak to her while she was focused on a patient, without following up with them afterwards.

Dan showing up to drag her away from her tent and towards the center of the current camp was the first real opportunity she had to catch up. They could have been housed in the city, but due to various concerns, the largest field hospital had been established outside of its bounds. There were a lot of drones around to make sure no gnomes got stupid ideas about striking at the wounded.

“So, how are we handling these raids?” she asked him, deciding it was easier than sifting for information in the psychic link.

“The Cernlians are primarily responsible for the situation at this point,” Dan explained. “Supported by us, of course. It seems like a well-planned campaign, probably something they’ve had in the works for a while, but it’s not the invasion a few people have been afraid of. They’re not really trying to take and hold territory, except maybe a few outposts or hamlets.”

“And?” Via asked.

“There’s been some damage, but we’re beating them back. The Cernlian reinforcements Kiara sent have been proving their worth. A few Delvers have been heading over as well and have done pretty good work. And more drones, of course, but I have to admit it’s not necessarily the kind of fighting we’re most suited to.”

Via cocked her head. She supposed she could see that, in terms of ‘stopping power’ and being on the defensive. Still, they should have some advantages. “I’d think our improved senses would be an advantage, and our coordination over the psychic link, and Swarm Drones’ endurance, the supply situation …” she trailed off, a bit surprised herself at the list.

Dan shrugged. “Sure, but we’d really need a good commander to take advantage of most of those points. Besides, the gnomes have grown pretty used to fighting us. They’re always attacking in the dark or using Abilities to hide from our Winged Drones. And they like to strike where don’t have enough drones for a real swarm. We don’t really have enough concentrated strength to force them to stand and fight, unfortunately. Still, the battles aren’t really the issue. This isn’t their main goal, just a way for them to force us to send away troops and resources.”

“And they can always threaten to turn it into a real invasion, so we can’t exactly ignore them even if we didn’t care for the civilians in the area,” Via murmured.

Dan smiled. “You really have gotten good at this, don’t ever let anyone tell you you’re not cut out to be a commander,” he praised her.

Via returned his smile and sent her appreciation over the psychic link. He responded with a playful nudge.

“How are things going with the healers?” he asked.

“There’s always more to heal,” she complained half-heartedly. “But it’s actually been a bit interesting, I’ve started getting patients from the civilian gnomish population. I’ve actually treated a few female gnomes now, for a change.”

“In here?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Via didn’t care. “I’ve been making the rounds to other places, you know that,” she reminded him.

Their conversation came to a halt as they left the medical area and entered the part of the camp dedicated to other things outside. Via could tell Janis had been standing around for a minute or so, and a few other drones were with her.

“Finally ready to show your face outside the healers’ tents again?” Janis asked her teasingly.

Via smiled and returned a mocking salute. “Sure, princess. Did you miss me?”

She did like Janis, despite the occasional headaches she was causing her. Via hadn’t approved of the decision to press the attack on the city, for example, but she wasn’t going to bring that up now.

“I always miss your biting wit,” Janis replied drily. “It’s a pity I might not have close access to it in person from today on.”

That made Via pay more attention. “You’re heading out with the army?”

“Yes. There’s no point in letting off the pressure, and Ben thinks we should keep advancing. I’m not going to sit back and hide behind the city walls. But maybe you should stay back and look after the patients you’ve got.”

Via frowned. “I’m not sure,” she said. “Most of the injuries from the battle are now healed.” It went unsaid that the injuries too severe to be healed by their magic usually meant a quick death for the fighter. An unfortunate reality of field medicine. “Maybe I should stay closer to you, I could do more to help at the actual front.”

“Well, I’m not going to decide for you. You would know best what makes the most sense,” Janis conceded.

“I’m going to be joining Janis, but Ben, or Mother, might send me to the northern front to try and stop the raids soon,” Dan put in.

Now his interest in and info on the raids made more sense. Via supposed he might be a good fit for the mission, although she still felt a bit worried about him. “Finally taking up a bit more responsibility instead of just bashing heads in?” she teased him to cover for it.

“Yes, I think this might be their way of trying to trick me into landing a leadership role,” Dan deadpanned. Although she could sense he wasn’t entirely kidding. “Or maybe certain other persons.”

He was looking at Janis, who lifted her hands. “I know nothing and have done nothing.”

“Weren’t you going to return to Cera?” Via asked, suddenly reminded of it.

Janis grimaced, and she could sense a bit of dismay and reluctance mingled with determination over the psychic link. Probably upset that she wouldn’t get to see her girlfriend, she guessed. “It looks like I may have to postpone that trip. They’ll manage without me.”

“At this rate, we’ll have to defeat the gnomes and secure the peace before you get to spend time getting physical with Kiara again,” Dan said with a mix of cheerfulness and false sympathy that somehow worked.

Janis glared at him and started to threaten something about reassigning him to oversee latrine construction, but Via was distracted from the conversation. Several of the other drones in the city were contacting her.

“Hey,” she interrupted the other two. “I’ll be heading into the city. It seems like a group of gnomish civilians have shown up asking for healing. More than before, they’ve attracted others. I should go and handle it myself.”

“If we can get them used to this and have more people rely on us for medical help, it will definitely help our efforts in the city,” Janis nodded. “Do you need an escort?”

The way she asked the question made it clear it wasn’t really a question and a denial wouldn’t be accepted. Via shrugged. “Sure, but I’d prefer if it wasn’t other drones this time.”

“I’ll get a few soldiers together,” Dan said, waving half over his shoulder as he turned away. They could’ve just assembled drones over the psychic link, but it obviously wasn’t that easy with human soldiers.

Janis smiled and exchanged a brief hug with Via, since they probably wouldn’t see each other before she left. “I won’t keep you, then.”

“Good luck. Be careful,” Via responded. They would talk over the psychic link, of course, but it couldn’t hurt to do this in person too.

Then she headed to the exit. It didn’t take long for Dan to send her a squad of soldiers. Via mounted one of the drones Evolved as Mounts and tried to make small talk with them as they headed into the city.

These men were all polite and respectful and clearly professional, even if they were a bit rough around the edges. They were Cernlian soldiers from Lyns’ old army, then Kiara’s army. Via knew most of them were probably farmers or laborers or at best hunters before the war - wars - but not anymore. They were all in the second Tier and had more martial-sounding Class names. She usually didn’t notice, but she rarely saw people in the first Tier, even though she knew it had been more common before the war and was probably still common in the interior of Cernlia and Nerlia. That was the consequence of war, she supposed. Via wondered what these men would do after the war against the gnomes was over. People like them would probably be the backbone of the new Imperial military. They didn’t seem like they’d wanted to go back to their civilian lives, so it would be professional soldiering for them.

One of them pushed at her shoulder, nudging her side, ripping her from a brief contemplation. He looked like he barely restrained himself from kicking the civilian gnome now edging to the side of the street. “Bastards should know better than to get too close,” he muttered under his breath. “Careful, Milady.”

“It’s fine, Matt,” she said firmly. “I’m certain I will not catch an infection.”

The rebuke in her tone seemed to get through, although she suspected maybe not the entire reason for it, and he ducked his head a bit.

It did prompt her to pay a little more attention to the people around her beside the Imperial soldiers. The city was obviously more subdued than it would normally be, but it was hardly deserted. Gnomes still walked down the streets or went into buildings. Many of them gazed curiously at her escort party.

It could be a lot worse, she supposed. At least the hostility was muted and it didn’t look like many gnomes were barricading themselves in their homes for fear of the cannibalistic invaders (or whatever word would be appropriate between races). Looking at them, Via once again noticed the gnomes really weren’t that different from the citizens she would see in the Empire. Arguably, most were better off. At least before the war and maybe even during. The construction tended to be better and she knew from experience that running water was more common.

Janis had joked that Mia might judge civilizations by their books but Tia would judge them by their plumbing. Via found herself sympathizing with Tia in this case, the quality of a city’s public infrastructure could tell you a lot. Plus, it helped with the smells.

She didn’t get much more time to think about it, however, as they reached their destination. Some of the others had set up a temporary hospital in a square on the eastern side of the city, further from her former location. She saw the minor crowd that had gathered there as they approached. The gnomes made way for her and her escorts, a bit wide-eyed. Some of them looked at her with a desperation in their eyes that told her all she needed to know about why they’d risked this for themselves or their family.

Via jumped down from her ride. “Alright, let’s get this organized,” she said briskly. “We’ve brought colored tags. Patients, please wait until one of our healers reaches you to make a quick assessment and either start fixing you or giving you a tag. Anyone else, who is not accompanying a minor or elderly patient or someone whose faculties are compromised, please step back and wait at the back of the square. Here, let’s say.” She lowered her voice and looked at her escorts. “Please help corral the civilians.”

Then she started walking through the patients and the other healers and reminded them of the tag system they’d developed, with different colors to indicate the severity or type of injury or illness.

There wouldn’t be any black tags today, anyone with that severe an injury who had not been treated yet wouldn’t still be here searching for treatment, but Via would take care of those with red or purple tags. Grave wounds or severe illnesses with acute danger. She wouldn’t be getting much time to teach the younger healers today, though maybe Via could squeeze a few rounds in after she’d healed the worst cases.

Suppressing a sigh, she watched the gnomes shuffle back or wait for the healers to stop by as ordered and then got to work.

Some of these should not be out of bed, Via noted. Maybe she should send her people around making house calls, or at least provide some support for whatever gnomish doctors were in the city. Paying them for taking care of everyone — from what she’d learned, medical expenses were usually covered by one’s faction or union but this didn’t quite cover every gnome — would probably help their reputation and the locals’ loyalty, as well.

Even as she was healing a rather severe case of pneumonia, Via found herself smiling. It was good to feel useful.