The Intercontinental Artist

The Hive Kingdom

Okay, first thing’s first, what do I make my first tapestry of? Aglais thought as she landed at the web connection point of Cricket Hive. There's so many options! I don't quite have the time to weave a tapestry of all of them though. I'd better just choose one per kingdom. Maybe two, but I think if I made too many, mom and dad would freak out because of how long it would take. I'm already pushing my luck by assuming this trip will only take a year.

Aglais walked up to one of the guards that stood at the hive’s entrance.

“Hello! I'm Aglais of the Silkwings, and I’ll be visiting the hive for the next few weeks,” she said, setting down her case and unclamping the metal latches that kept it secure. She then reached into the smaller compartment and pulled out a small identification booklet. She handed the booklet to the guard, who proceeded to open it and check all of the little intricacies it contained.

“A few weeks?” the guard interrogated, “says here you’re only 15. You’re really goin’ out on your own?”

“Yep!” Aglais responded, nodding excitedly. “Are there any problems, ma'am?”

“Well, personally, I'd say you’re too young to be on your own, but besides that, nope,” the guard admitted, “everything else seems to be in order. You’re free to enter.”

“Wonderful! Thank you!” Aglais commented, taking back her booklet from the guard.

She placed her booklet back into the case, resealed it, and took it in her talon. She made her way past the guard with a subtle wave good-bye.

Okay, so now where to begin? I could weave a tapestry of the Palace, but that seems a bit unoriginal… a good choice if there aren't any other options, but I'd rather pick something else. Maybe there’s a garden or something on the top of the hive that could make for a good tapestry; that also seems a bit cliche though. Perhaps the market could be an interesting subject. I’ll go there first, just after I visit the Inn. I suppose if there isn't anything here, I could go to Scorpion City or Dragonfly Bay too.

I'll just decide on wherever Clearsight guides me.

…

Aglais trotted joyfully through the isles of the Cricket Hive market. She had left her loom case in her cell at the inn she was staying at, and now had a small gold silk pouch wrapped around her forearm that held the scales she had brought along with her on her trip. From a thin string of gold silk around her neck, she hung a small box that contained four honey drops she had purchased at one of the famous Hivewing sweets shops. Silkwings made honey drops too, but Hivewings somehow always seemed to do it better. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they look like bees?

Well, it sure is interesting up here, but it really isn’t anything that I haven’t seen before in Luna Hive. The market looks just about the same as the one back home, probably even a bit smaller. The main difference is that the vendors are mostly Hivewings instead of Silkwings.

Having seen enough of the market, Algais makes her way over to the stairway at the heart of the marketplace and begins walking down the stairwell. Just a few floors down would be the Cricket Hive library, which the kingdom was famous for. Aglais had visited the Freedom Hive library before, and that place was massive and utterly fascinating. According to the stories she had heard though, Cricket Hive’s library dwarfed even that. She could only imagine how visually impressive it must be. Perhaps giving it a visit could provide a boost of inspiration?

After a short descent through a residential area, she reached the landing of the staircase, which consisted of a small open area with just enough space for five dragons to stand comfortably side by side. On the other side, across from the end of the staircase, laid a magnificent door crafted out of polished wood. Walking closer, Aglais noticed that the door had intricate carvings of various little patterns; spirals that looked like vines, rolled-up scrolls, open books, and various other little designs decorated the entrance. Even the door handle was carved to an elaborate spiral.