Frozen Summer

Chapter 20

Selena explained to Richard how the next few days will go down. To assure their chances of victory, not only did they need to kill the queen but also massacre the brood at the same time because there was a slim chance that in this situation of crisis, the news of the death of the current queen will push one of the broods to become the new queen. This was the main reason this species was so resilient. Richard had to sneak inside the nest, found the brood and put fire to the different alcoves of the nest, the panic will bring most of the soldiers and workers to try and move the brood out of the nest. So far Sepu found three entrances to the nest, Selena will use her magic to seal shut two of them, and will ambush and kill the remaining Senkabs trying to flee the burning nest, while this will be on going the queen will probably be on her way to the exit escorted by her royal guards. This whole operation relied on the confusion of the Zenkabs and the abilities of Richard to sneak in and take down the queen as fast as he could. The longer she was alive, the least chances of survival Sepu and Selena had outside. Apparently Zenkabs had two weak points in their exoskeleton, the abdomen near their sting and a precise point in their throat. Their heads were as hard as a rock and they had fangs as long as daggers. Selena warned him that the elite soldiers and royal guards were faster and smarter than the rest and that they had humanoïd features, they were said to be able to move on two feet and their fangs were not their main weapons. Sadly, details on them are missing as it is said that if you encounter them you are as good as dead.

After a few days of preparations, the day of the assault was upon them. Richard, Sepu, Selena and a few of the olders teens came to the entrance of the nest. The best moment to attack was when the first lights were creeping out on the entrance. The preparations also accounted for clearing any trees around the entrance, the Zenkabs spent their time underground and used hosts because they were photosensitive, so the morning lights will render them less dangerous to fight against. Everyone was putting traps around the entrance while Richard was sitting on a rock checking his equipment. He was silently watching everyone getting ready, " Once I'm inside I will have to hurry or all those children will die, none of them is ready to fight" . Selena was reciting a chant and once she was done, 3 small stone golems raised from the ground, they were the same size as Richard. " I wish i could learn this ". Selena walked towards him.

" Everything is ready, we are just waiting for your signal now."

" I'm ready." He took a deep breath and stood up. He was worried and looked at Selena " I hope you are aware that we probably are gonna have some casualties ? They are sons and daughters of farmers. "

" They are aware of the risks, they fight to save their village and family, none of them is gonna back out now. "

Richard looked at the young group, they were all tensed, they knew that by the end of the day they might not be there anymore, yet they were here, standing to fight.

" One last question before I go, you told me they had a keen sense of smell right ? "

" Yes they do, why ? "

" I might have an idea, I'm going in. "

He flipped his hood on and entered the Zenkabs nest. Luckily enough he had great vision, he was slowly making his way through the tunnels. He came to a croner and while peeking he noticed a Zenkab worker slowly advancing in his direction, he pulled out his curved dagger, ready to attack. When the Zenkab passed him, he jumped on its back and slit its throat in a quick motion. The Zenkab fell heavily to the ground, Richard turned it on it's back and opened his abdomen open from the second weak point. " it's truly disgusting but that's the only way I will go far in this nest eww". He started covering himself in the guts of the Zenkab, if these creatures worked like most insects, they will not rely on their eyes but their other senses so this tactic will normally help sneak in. He made his way through the tunnels and finally spotted a worker transporting a newborn larvae. He started following them and discovered the brood room, many workers were there placing the larvaes in order and cleaning them.