Veylin's message first startled the others, then drew a chorus of objections.
[My lord, what are you saying?] Barrett's voice rang out first, pleading. [Please reconsider. You are our lord. Why put yourself in danger?]
[Father.]
A cool female voice sounded in Veylin's mind.
[Why must you go down yourself? Sarah's offspring can serve as your eyes and limbs, uncovering everything unknown for you.]
That was the insect queen Sarah's response.
[I knew you would say that!] Ola's roar followed immediately.
He had seen Veylin risk his life before the Gray Swamp Crocodile Chief just to get close enough for a look, so his outburst stemmed more from helpless frustration.
[Go down there? To become its dessert?]
Veylin had expected their reactions.
Was it dangerous? Of course.
If he had a choice, he would rather not go down either, but only he could see all the information about this enormous beast.
What was more, he could not even explain the real reason behind this risky decision to the others.
He could only steel himself and keep talking.
[Risk and reward go hand in hand.]
[We know nothing about it. That is the greatest danger. No one understands the structure of living creatures better than I do. I need to get close, confirm its condition, and find a way to defeat it.]
[Defeat it?] Ola thought that was sheer madness. [My lord, one breath from it could turn us into jerky!]
[That is precisely why we need information.]
That single sentence left Barrett's next objection stuck in his throat.
The shared channel fell silent for a moment.
[I'll go with you.]
Another voice spoke up at just the right moment. It was Kale.
He had stayed out of the argument from the beginning. Now he emerged from the shadows, his gaze