40. The Hive (2)

Jane and Novum rode towards a break in the trees that they could see in the distance and they smelled it before they even got to it. It was a small field of flowers. "I wonder why the bees did not build their here. It had plenty of flowers. Would this place work if we set the boxes up here?"

"It is a little close that hive but I think it might be far enough that if we do it right they should be able to thrive here."

There was a voice from beside them. "The reason that they did not set up a hive here is that we would not allow those mutants in here."

Novum turned and looked at the speaker and he was sure that he should recognize the two foot tall creature beside him. "You look familiar. Do I know you?"

"Maybe not my name but you are right in recognizing me. You set me and my kin free."

"Oh that is right. I am glad to see that you made it out of the city okay. Is there anything that you need?"

"You are an interesting human, Novum. You set us free and you are still concerned for our safety. But right now there is nothing that we need directly. I do have a question though. What are you planning for the mutant bees?"

"My plan was to set up a hive box here in this flowered clearing and Jane here has experience with bees from before. She is going to try and find a regular queen in the hive with some normal workers and bring them over here to start a new hive. Then I will do what needs to be done to restore the balance to nature in the area."

"If you manage to get a regular queen here my kin will watch over it and make sure that the mutants do not appear again. We will also ensure that the flowers in the area are full of nectar and flourish so that the bees can thrive."

"That would be greatly appreciated. What do I owe you and your kin for this?"

"Nothing. This will be payment for the lives that you have saved. I only ask that no one but you two learn that we are here. As you saw our kind are sought after as treasure by some greedy humans."

"I will not say a word, Jane?"

"I will not even tell my daughter."

"Thank you both. When you smoke out the nest a few of my kin will be in the area to keep the mutant ones in check."

"Then we will go and get the boxes and set them up here. Thank you for your assistance in the matter. What may I call you?"

"To make it simple call me Rose." She gave him a nod of her head and then flew away so fast that he could barely see her go.

The duo headed back to the house and Novum magically stored the boxes so that they did not need to take the wagon with them. It would be long hard trip on the wagon. He also passed the word around to not worry about the smoke that it was not a fire. Once that was done the two of them headed back to the area and set up the three boxes. They left the top open so that it would be a quick transfer once they had them.

Once they were ready to go back Jane did not wait on the blanket. She just kept her back to him and changed. He saw this and his face turned red and while he enjoyed the view he quickly turned around before said something embarrassing.

Jane felt his eyes for a second and she did not try to cover up and extra. She then heard him turn around and she quickly put the suit on and got ready to ride over to the first hive. She was not sure what made her so bold with him but she just felt comfortable. Novum pulled her up behind him on Noctis and rode for the hive. He stopped a little closer this time than last time since they would be hauling bees back this time.

Novum snuck up to the same distance as always and then broke a few of the smoke sticks at one time and threw them right at the hive. The smoke quickly filled the entire area. They could hear the crazy buzzing from inside the smoke and then it quickly died out. A few of the bigger bees fell to the ground and they could hear them hit. As soon as the smoke started to clear the two of them headed towards the hive.

Jane pulled out a dagger and started cutting chunks off the hive in a very specific pattern and then she seemed to find what she was looking for. She took that chunk a short distance away and then came back and cut a few more things and made took them over with the first one. "This should be more than enough to start a hive. Now we need to find this queen and kill her and as many mutant ones as we can."

"You take that stuff and ride on Noctis to the boxes before they wake up and give us issues. I will get started here. Noctis let he ride you for a few." Jane heard Noctis neigh and thought he must have known what he was telling him to do. It was weird for her to see that level of communication with a horse. But she gathered up chunks of honey and headed for the horse who let her climb up. She nudged him and he headed back to the boxes. She was not really sure how he knew where to go.

Once she was gone Novum started attacking the hive with his sword. He needed to get deep enough that he could find the queen and kill her. Then he would worry about the rest of them. But he had to be fast as a few of the mutant bees were starting to wake up. Just before they could attack him small forms darted in from the side and they fell back to the ground in two pieces. With one more cut he opened up the center of the hive and the queen and a few mutants were not exposed to the smoke and ready for a fight.

Novum ignored the mutants and drive his sword through the head of the queen. She was the size of a large rabbit but she was also to heavy to fly. One of the mutant bees got to him and drove its stinger into a gap in his armor at the wrist on his shield hand. It hurt like crazy but it was not dangerous. Before the rest of them could get close the forms came back again and they were all dead. A male just a little bigger then Rose was floating in front of him. "That is the last of the mutant bees that my lady ordered me to dispatch. We will take our leave."

"Would you like to take some of this with you?"

"Thank you sir. My lady said that you were generous." A few of the forms flew down and grabbed one of the bigger chunks that he cut off and flew out of sight.

Novum picked up a few pieces and brushed the bees off and stuck them in his bag. He took almost all of the chunks of honey that he could find. He would fine a good way to bottle it up as soon as he was back to the house. This stuff would sell like gold right now if he was a greedy guy. Since Jane was not back with Noctis he started walking that way. He knew that she had more than enough time to get there so he gave a whistle and Noctis came running back to him.

Noctis only slowed down and Novum stepped up on him and turned him back to the new hive. As he got close he saw Jane standing outside of the area of the new boxes and she was changing out of the bee suit. He did not realize this until he was close enough to realize that he was staring at her bare breasts. He quickly pulled up no Noctis' reigns and had him facing the other way. "I am sorry Jane."

"It is okay Novum. I saw you coming and I didn't bother to turn around. Did you not like them?" He could her the self doubt in her voice.

"That is not it at all Jane. They looked just about perfect to me. Like if I had to pick breasts out for my perfect woman I do believe that yours would be the ones that I used."

"Then why did you turn away?"

'System has my body resisted anything without me being aware?'

'What are the effects of the influence?'

'Thank you system.' "Jane are you feeling okay? I turned away since we have only known each other for a day. This did not feel right to me. An while I do appreciate your beauty and would very much like to see it again in the future I would feel like I was taking advantage of the situation that I found you in." He looked again and she was still there with her breasts out but he could see that his words were having the desired effect.

"Novum I am so sorry. I do not know what I was thinking." She quickly covered herself and got dressed.

"It is not a big deal. How did things go here?"

"The hives are all set up. I will come back in a few days and check on things. Did you handle the nest?"

"Yeah the queen and the nest were taken care of. I did make sure to bring all the comb back so that we could get it squeezed out and bottled up."

"It will be wonderful to have honey again. Emily loves it. I am dressed now Novum."

He turned back and held out his hand and she took it and he lifted her up. He willed away his armor and she grabbed his close. He could tell that she was still under the influence of whatever was in the air to an extent. Once they were a good distance away from the clearing he whispered to her. "I think the reason that you were feeling a little bold was the fairy folk in the area. Sometimes they mess with humans by creating the mood. And to be honest they may have been offering you to me as a thank you."

"I mean would that be so bad."

"Jane if you wanted to offer yourself to me and it was not the day that we met and there was no outside influence I would enjoy it to no end. But given all of those things I would only feel guilt about the situation and if you and I do that I want you to be fully you to enjoy the event."

"It would be an event huh?"

"I would like to think so."

"I think you are right. As we get further away I feel clearer and clearer. And thank you for that. And while I am not against it, you are right that we do not know each other." She squeezed him a little harder. "Um, did you really mean that about my breasts?"

"Absolutely!"