The next morning, First of the Fifth’s Fourth Daughter’s wings and antennae drooped. When the scouts reported it, she hadn’t believed it. It had to have been a mistake. When news came in over the Orchard’s communer network, she hadn’t listened. But then came the King’s council, when all the queens had the honor of gathering in his presence. There, with her own eyes, she confirmed the truth.
The Seventh Daughter had finished a mobile hive and now used it to travel about, while she had barely begun work on her own. Her queen mother had assigned her a task, and then another daughter had gone and proven that she was far better at it. That meant the Fourth Daughter was now engaging in that which her queen mother hated most.
The Fourth Daughter had no idea what she should do about it. Should she persist in spending hours and days of her hives’ labor on a task that the Seventh Daughter could complete in an instant? Or should she abandon a task assigned to her by her mother, wasting her childrens’ efforts on a project that would be left unfinished? No matter what she did, she would be wasting efforts that could have been spent elsewhere, failing every lesson her queen mother ever taught her.
The First of the Fifth awoke and began her day. First, she checked on the tray of honey they would offer to the King today, ensuring that it remained of the finest quality they had available in the hive. After that, she arranged an offering of equal quality to be delivered to the Queen of All Bees, having learned that she desired such things from watching the King, the karnuq, and Frelis. Third, she checked on each of her children, ensuring she remained fully aware of their current state. One daughter neglected had already been too many.
So, today, she paused, and then immediately flew over to her Fourth Daughter’s part of the Bee Apartment. Her Fourth Daughter buzzed her wings and stumbled over her greeting dance.
“Keep working. Didn’t fail.”
“Fourth of the Seventh happy to help. Saved First Daughter without asking. Can also ask First Daughter to help ask Fourth of the Seventh.”
Her Fourth and Seventh Daughter watched the King and the Fourth of the Seventh for a moment more before dancing their salutes.
“Will do! Queen mother is best queen mother!”
Well, the First of the Fifth didn’t know if she agreed with that. She didn’t know exactly how the other queens handled their daughters, but she certainly knew none of them had driven their daughters to hive collapse with impossible commands and neglect. But she did know that she would never leave her daughters in despair ever again.
She was just about to return to work with her daughters when a shadow passed overhead.
The First of the Fifth’s Fourth Daughter crawled a few steps back while her Seventh Daughter retreated halfway back into her mobile hive. The Fourth of the Seventh had apparently noticed them and flew over to greet them.
“Hi, Fourth of the Seventh. Was talking to daughters about mobile hives. Just finished, about to go home.”
The Fourth of the Seventh began zipping about in the air, now sending gusts of wind swirling about with her massive, Air mana coated wings. She did not seem to notice the First of the Fifth or her Fourth Daughter struggling not to be blown away.
“Really?! King is building one too for me! Am helping!”
The First of the Fifth had to remind herself of the King’s love for all bees once more before she could dance cordially.
“Yes, Fourth of the Seventh. Am aware.”
But not even the First of the Fifth could possibly have anticipated what would occur next.
“First of the Fifth’s daughters already built, though! Amazing, incredible! Can help?”
The First of the Fifth froze, barely managing to tap out a slow dance.
“Fourth of the Seventh…wants us…to help build Fourth of the Seventh’s mobile hive? With King?”
The Fourth of the Seventh zipped about.
“Would really help! Can give honey…”
The Fourth of the Seventh paused for a moment, her fluffy antennae glowing lightly.
“Oh, first communer and First Daughter say First of the Fifth has lots of honey. Want woven stems then? Made new pollen baskets, like karnuq’s! Good for gathering pollen, helps make more wax!”
The First of the Fifth tripped on her response.
“Fourth of the Seventh…will pay us to work with King?! King will let us work with?!”
Before the First of the Fifth could dance anything, the Fourth of the Seventh zipped back over to the King. The King glanced over at them, smiled, and nodded. The Fourth of the Seventh zipped back.
“King says would love help!”
The First of the Fifth’s mind went blank until the Fourth of the Seventh started poking her with her giant antennae. The First of the Fifth immediately turned to her two daughters.
“Change of plan. Help King build Fourth of the Seventh’s mobile hive. Listen to King and Fourth of the Seventh.”