Chapter Text
Of all the unlikely places in Pharloom it was at a bench in the Putrified Ducts where Lace was the happiest that she had ever been. She danced and twirled and pirouetted around Hornet, as if the red cloaked bug sitting on the bench was an active partner in her improvised ballet.
Hornet watched her, upright and alert despite her weariness, clearly enjoying Lace's energy and admiring her forms.
"I feel incredible!" Lace laughed, She hugged her chest, whirling and spinning with swift steps, feeling the warm strength of two silk hearts blazing fiercely through her body.
She was not free from her dependency on Hornet's supply of silk, but what silk Lace did have was now being maintained at high quality, tight and soft and sturdy, able to quickly repair and recover and perhaps even regenerate just a little bit.
She had never felt so alive, she had never dreamed of how good two silk hearts would feel.
Even through Hornet's mask Lace could see the contentment in the red cloaked bug. There was a tiny twitch in Hornet's claw and Lace knew Hornet well enough to know just what it meant.
She seized Hornet's claw and pulled her to her feet, holding her by the hips and lifting her as she spun around, bringing her through several dance steps that Hornet adapted to with eagerness and impressive swiftness.
Lace twirled Hornet so that her cloak spun and fluttered, then dipped her down low in her favourite romantic dance step and brushed a claw down her white horned mask. Hornet allowed the motion, trusting Lace's support of her.
"Thank you, my beautiful spider. For everything." Lace whispered. She leaned in and touched her face to Hornet's own, as much of a kiss as could be given between one with a mask and one with no mouth.
She skillfully lifted Hornet back to her feet and offered her shoulder for support, which Hornet rather coyly accepted while brushing down her red cloak like she always did when she was flustered and happy.
"Let's get you someplace almost as lovely as you are, so you can rest properly." Lace said with playful warmth.
"That was fun, I should like you to teach me more."
"Clear your schedule Hornet, I have centuries of dancing to teach you!"
"Together we are clearing it as fast as possible."
They walked the few steps to the bell beasts, Eyra rumbling softly in greeting at their return.
Hornet suddenly tensed, gripping her needle as she became aware of an approaching creature. She stepped clear from Lace, leaping lightly over the bell beasts to take a defensive stance before the station door.
There was a hiss, as if from something large. Lace immediately darted to Hornet's side, her pin raised, waiting to see what their presence here had drawn.
"Sssppiidderrr... your ssscent returnsss. I ssssseeeeekkk the ssssmall round beastkindsss for a meal. Yet you protect them?"
A huge and elegant bug stepped in, bending low through the doorway. Their grandeur was markedly at odds with the drab and polluted surroundings.
Her long wings fell about herself like a grand cloak, and she had an imperious mask topped with two long curved horns resembling the antenna of a moth.
Despite the creatures noble appearance she moved in a shifty way, the stance and steps of a stalking predator.
"Well met, Huntress. You look healthy, and stronger than last we met. I would extend to you my gladness that your gambit spared you from the ravenous frenzy of your recent brood and wish you well in seeing them again as they grow... provided that your presence here is not a sign that you intend to cross me?"
Hornet's greeting was warm, but she did not lower her guard.
Lace watched patiently, her own pin remaining just as steady as Hornet's did.
"Ssssppiiidderr... the round onessss are not your children. But if you protect them I sssshall not ssssteal a tasssste. You ssseeem caught in a moment of weaknesssss, like prey yoursssself. But I ssspare you in resssspect."
"I have adequate strength, you would regret mistaking me for prey even now."
Hornet said, slight annoyance in her tone.
"But I expect if you dared try your luck then you would find the bell beastlings mother far more trouble than you bargained for. Your hunting style is no match for her shell and fury, and she would make short work of you."
"Ssssskkk... You ssssspeak sharply ssssppiidderrrr... I sssshall take my leave to feed elssssewhere..."
"Before you go, Huntress, I would be remiss if I did not teach you a small lesson. You have failed to identify whom is the greatest threat in this room you enter. It would be a pity if you never saw your children again after making an error like that in the presence of those who truly wish you ill."
The Huntress hissed questioningly, not understanding the comment.
"She means me. Hi. My name is Lace, and you, sibilant and suspicious skulk of a bug are lucky to be alive after you insulted our bell babies."
The Huntress flinched like a startled animal as the silk thing spoke. No pulse, no breath, no scent, no body warmth. She had not even realised it was alive. If it even was. "Sssskkk! It ssssspeakssss?"
"She speaks. She strikes. She also sticks you full of pinholes when you don't spot her silky strings sneaking and snaring." Lace laughed.
She raised her empty claw, revealing a pair of threads dangling from it, threads which had slithered out and coiled around the Huntresses legs. She yanked them tight, sending the regal bug crashing to the ground.
The Huntress was swift, her wings flashed open and beat down hard, a single stroke should have seen her free of the door with ease.
Lace turned, a third thread whipping out and wrapping around Eyra the bell beast, using the huge creature to anchor herself. Those threads were like steel, they arrested the Huntresses flight and began to drag her back into the room kicking and screeching while Eyra rumbled softly at the feeling of being tugged on and began to approach the downed and flailing predator herself.
"Easy girl." Lace said soothingly, reaching out to touch Eyra and hold her back. The bell beast responded to her touch with a gentle rumble and followed her lead. "Just a little warning. Even this one is under Hornet's protection. And thankyou for letting me borrow your body weight."
She released her ties on the Huntress, and in a flash she had interposed herself between the tall bug and the door, pin held in a relaxed stance now.
The Huntress hissed warily, eyes darting between Lace, Hornet and the mother Bell Beast. She recognised now that there was no way out of here alive, save by Hornet's goodwill.
"The point is made." Hornet said. "A lesson not soon to be forgotten. Go now with our well wishes, Huntress. May your life be good and your killings swift. If you seek a meal there is a sorely weakened Ductsucker just down the way which Lace and I attacked earlier, it would provide fine nourishment."
Lace stepped aside with a musical laugh and gestured to the door. "It was lovely to meet you, dear Huntress! I have developed a habit of fighting all of Hornet's friends, so don't take it personally okay? Your performance was... well... a bit tepid. Oh but don't be glum! I think you'll really shine in a rematch, if there ever is one."
With a hiss that was equal parts hostility and gratitude the large predatory bug scuttled out of the bellway and back into the murky gloom.
"Kill some muckmaggots while you're here!" Lace called after her. "They're more your speed! And the less of them the better!"
Lace turned to laugh, darting back to Hornet and once again offering her shoulder for support. Hornet's adrenaline was raised and she did not need the aid, but she accepted it nonetheless as her body gradually calmed and tiredness again began to claim her. She laid her head gratefully on Lace's soft shoulder.
"Well I actually like her! What did you think, Hornet?"
"I think I shall have to watch the floor very closely when we spar from now on to not fall for those sneaking and snaring strings of yours. You handled yourself beautifully, Lace." Hornet said approvingly.
Lace laughed and curtsied. "I should hope you do! But are you certain you're alright without that silk heart? Loathe though I would be to give it up if you truly need it I will return it."
"I am certain. My natural ability to regenerate silk has been stirred by their presence in my shell, I should be just fine. I am simply weary right now."
"Well if it's any consolation I cannot emphasise enough how fantastic I feel right now. I had no idea that simply existing could feel so comfortable! Your sacrifice has not been in vain, you poor weak little morsel of a spider."
"You want to spar with me right now?" Hornet gave a gentle growl. "I may have praised you to the Huntress, and I stand by my appraisal. But if you ego could use some cutting down to size then do not doubt that I can provide it."
Lace paused thoughtfully.
Hornet was about as weak as Lace had ever seen her, while Lace was stronger than she had ever been. But Hornet was still a goddess.
She hummed and shook her head. "You're right. I'm sure you could give me a very embarrassing thrashing even right now if you were truly inclined. That won't stop me from treating you like a precious little hatchling who needs a nice cosy nap though!"
"You make being coddled feel oddly tolerable. Let's be away so I might have that nap we both desire for me to have."
Even while weary Hornet held Lace tightly on Eyra's back, keeping her snugly secure as they rumbled through the bellways.
It was so unnecessary, but it was so sweet.
It was not long before they burst up into the Bellhart station, Lace and Hornet both dismounting with synchronised leaps.
"Goodbye babies! Until next time!" Lace bowed courteously to the bell beasts as they departed.
Up into Bellhart they wove. Hornet considered for a moment if she wished to continue accepting Lace's support or if she would prefer to project strength, but she quickly decided that she would much rather lean on Lace than deal with the scaffolding leading up to her bellhome unaided.
It was the beginning of the cycle, Pharloom's equivalent of morning while underground. Most bugs seemed to be waking from rest, Hornet was slightly irritated to realise she was going to sleep through the waking bell hours. She slept scarcely more than once a month and she had still somehow managed to fumble into things such that she was sleeping at the most inconvenient of times.
Lace heard the disappointed sigh, but did not know what it indicated.
"Is something the matter, dear spider?"
Hornet thought Lace might trust her enough by now that she could simply not answer and it would be fine, but she decided it was best to answer regardless just to quell any doubts. "Merely displeased that I shall be asleep while the town is at its busiest. I will miss seeing wishes and messages coming in as they happen."
"I suppose I could keep you updated if anything of note happens."
"You had better not wake me with a prank."
"I would never! Your beauty sleep is far too important for any but the most respectful of wakenings!"
"I'm glad to hear it."
"But hypothetically what if it were a really funny one?"
Hornet sighed again. "I won't ask you to promise anything, but if you get up to mischief while I sleep then it had better be funny to me as well or you shall pay dearly."
"Duly noted." Lace snickered softly. "Lets get you to bed."
Through Bellhart proper Lace guided them, the shopkeeper was opening her shop, Pavo with his silly bell helmet was beginning to sing and prance around the square to greet the day. A few other bugs were also present, emerging from their homes to do whatever it was that other bugs did.
Hornet, ever perfect even while near to collapsing from weariness, fished in her pouch for a little notebook and gave it a rapid glance, then she began to greet bug after bug by name, exchanging pleasantries, reassuring them she was well, wishing them good luck on their daily tasks.
"Greetings Pavo, fret not I am simply tired and looking forwards to rest. Good morning Forbel, take care if you do decide to journey to the Halfway Home and post a wish if anything goes awry, give Creige my best. Greetings Reed, hunt well today. Greetings Frenna, I hope you can get your knocked over bellhome back upright soon."
And she turned around and continued, while Lace was looking at her with increasing disbelief and brushing away a few polite greetings directed at herself with waves and vague nods. Her spider was completely deranged.
"Thankyou, Tibbsa for your concern, if you wish to pray for my health then you may do so. Hello Tipp, I am anticipating taking a delivery to the flea encampment soon. Good morning Latch, and Bemball. Greetings Frey, I shall peruse your stock of new furnishings when time and money permi-"
"Okay that's enough now!" Lace interrupted. "Hornet needs rest, not to be hassled! You're all just lovely but there can be too much of a good thing. We won't be far away, but we're going now!"
She gently yanked Hornet away from the group and propelled her up the scaffolding towards the bellhome.
"That was an absolute farce, Hornet. I truly cannot decide if I should consider it adorable or mortifying. When did you even write down all those names? Why did you even bother?"
"I know you have a distaste for platitudes, but they are our neighbours and I sincerely want to get to know them for as long as I remain in this land. It is a wearisome task which I would as soon excuse myself from, but over time it shall be worth it to forge closer bonds here."
"You're quite mad. And I thought I was the insane one." Lace laughed softly. "What sort of return could possibly be worth degrading yourself to try and memorise the names, lives and woes of peasants? Do you need bell beast stables mucked out? A pile of junk moved? Are you assembling a barbershop quartet to compete in the world's most out of tune singing contest?"
"Perhaps eventually you will also see the value in it." Hornet said in response, not rising to Lace's words despite their callous content. The last suggestion made her laugh ever so slightly, Lace was really rather funny when she wanted to be.
Lace glanced away awkwardly. She did not feel talked down to by Hornet, but she did feel ever so slightly chastened. And perhaps just a tiny bit jealous.
It no longer got under her silken skin to hear Hornet's name being incessantly praised, or Hornet's visual description being praised as in the many cases where the taciturn red cloaked spider had failed to even name herself before doing her good deeds.
Hornet truly did deserve the praise, not for her natural talents or the minor fact of her being a goddess, but for the way she resolutely and continuously did things on behalf of others even when she was clearly tired and would have preferred to brush past them all without a word.
They arrived at Hornet's blue bellhome, and Hornet detached herself from Lace's shoulder to stick her face in the crawbell by the door.
Lace heard the displeased squawk of a craw from inside, and the 'thunk thunk thunk' of poor Hornet's mask being pecked several times as she tiredly scrabbled for rosaries and shell shards, pulling out a few small clawfuls and tucking them away.
Lace simply shook her head in bewilderment at her dear spider's antics. She went to push the door open, but she hesitated. She was detecting something.
A single strand of her thread pressed flat against the surface, some instinct driving her to listen, and she heard from within a sonorous female voice humming softly.
"Someone is home." Lace said, idly putting her claw on her pin.
"Then just knock." Hornet said patiently.
Lace raised her claw, looking between it, Hornet, and the door several times.
She thumped firmly on the door. Her silken limb barely made a sound.
"Great idea spider."
Hornet laughed faintly and knocked for herself, a pleasing rap, not too loud but not too shy either.
The humming stopped instantly.
"You could have used your pin to knock, don't play dumb." Hornet muttered to Lace.
"Well I got a laugh, didn't I?"
"Yakkanesh! Whomever is without I shall not forbid your entry, but if you are uninvited by the owner of this home then beware!"
"It is us, Shakra." Hornet said. "May we enter?"
"Hornet wielding needle! You may enter at once! Is Lace bearing pain with you? Is she well?"
The door opened and the tall graceful form of Shakra looked out at them, although she was soaking wet and hastily reapplying bandages to her midsection which did undercut her elegance ever so slightly, yet also only made her look prettier.
"Poshanka." She bowed respectfully to them both.
"How sweet, you're the first one in all of Bellhart to ask for my welfare before Hornet's." Lace said brightly as she guided the aforementioned spider into the room. "And before you worry she is simply tired."
"Indeed I am. Suit yourselves how you like. Bathe, stay here if you please, create whatever chaos you wish within reason. Just do not disturb me overmuch." Hornet said, flopping down into the bed with a heavy sigh of relief.
"Rest well. I shall take my leave." Shakra said courteously.
"May I peek at your journal?" Lace asked, seizing the opportunity in hopes of a quick and ill considered answer.
Hornet hummed drowsily in approval.
"Brilliant!" Lace immediately flipped up Hornet's cloak and snagged the journal from underneath, placing it on the desk for later. Before Hornet could register her displeasure Lace gently patted her cloak back down and tossed the sheets over her.
She had no idea how to tuck a sheet, so she just kind of poked them in until they were approximately under the bed, leaving Hornet in crinkled covers, but fortunately the spider did not seem to mind.
Shakra seemed quite intrigued by the journal as well, but she finished brushing herself clean of water droplets and quietly moved for the door.
Lace paused, indecisive. She did not want to leave Hornet, but she did not want to disturb her either.
The door closed behind Shakra with a soft click.
"Hornet?" Lace asked shyly, uncertainly.
"Yes, Lace?" Came the soft reassuring voice. Lace loved how Hornet said those two words so consistently, always giving each of them a beat, it sounded like the start of a song.
"What should I do?"
Hornet stirred for a moment, clearly thinking the matter over seriously.
"Nevermind, I'll just figure something out." Lace mumbled, turning to go.
"Lace?" Now it was Hornet's turn to ask something with uncertainty.
"Yes?"
"Could you try accepting a wish from the wishboard? Just a small quick one, something that won't bore you?"
"I can try." Lace said doubtfully. Then she steeled herself. "I will try. Goodnight my dear spider, rest well."
And she left Hornet to sleep.
Shakra stood outside when Lace emerged, inclining her head in greeting. For a moment she was about to crouch to speak, but she remembered Lace had chided her for that. Shakra was not quite certain how seriously to take Lace's statements, but she deemed it best to stand tall for now and see how the silken warrior reacted.
"Poshanka, Lace bearing pain. I did not want to impose, if you wished to join her in bed or read at her desk." Shakra said. "Since you are here I would be willing to engage you in a sparring match if that is your desire."
"Tch, there's no point joining her in bed right now. She's too tired for anything interesting to happen. I'd like my first time to be something a bit more specia-whyyyyy am I telling you this!?" Lace laughed, looking up at Shakra as if expecting an answer.
"What you feel, you feel most fiercely. It is a warm sight to see."
"Well if you breathe a word of this to anyone I shall have to kill you and everyone you've ever known. It would be really stupid, I have better things to do with my time, but I would do it."
"I shall not speak of it."
Lace idly scratched the floor with her pin. "I have not really talked to anyone but Hornet and- well- just Hornet really, in anything save taunts, smiling masks and baited traps. How do you come to presume that I feel emotions the way you describe?"
Shakra was taken aback, unsure how to answer politely. She had watched this strange wonderful creature bite with furious words when insult was given, duel with fair warning and vicious courage for the sake of her pride, and then had watched her quite literally and agonisingly tear herself apart in determination to prove her worth to Hornet. How could it not be obvious the depths to which Lace felt her emotions?
"A stupid question." Lace said eventually. "The pin still wedged in stone outside the town bears testament to the intensity of my anger."
"It bears testament to something. I have judged you wrongly before, but if you would permit me to risk a second gamble with past failure as my teacher... Okklu-din... it was not anger you felt that day."
Lace faltered. Shakra was starting to unpick her, and Lace didn't think she was ready for that.
Emotions welled up inside her from their fight, memories of being so scared. Of begging Hornet to see her. Of begging Shakra to die. Of hating herself for what she had been doing.
"May we speak of something else? Please?" She choked the words out with sudden difficulty around silken knots in her throat.
She was not ready for that. She was not ready for this. It was going to rip her heart out if they continued down this path, and she had only just come to know the warm feeling in her chest. Let those stitches stay, keeping her insides where they were supposed to be.
Her pale silk shoulders trembled as she began to laugh faintly.
Shakra realised that Lace was close to an overpowering outpouring of emotion. Hornet had asked her to perform this duty, and at the time Shakra had not seen how it would be possible for her to do so. She had not been able to picture that the fierce could-be mate of Hornet would, someday after a duel and a few brief exchanges of respect, simply walk up to her and unwittingly drop her guard absolutely.
A part of Shakra did want to press further, both for Hornet's sake, and for her own deep personal interest in Lace bearing pain as well. But she had been asked now by Lace, in trust and confidence, for them to talk about something else.
She would not break that trust.
She cast about quickly for another topic, before settling on the obvious one.
"Does your courtship of Hornet wielding needle proceed in a way you are satisfied with?" Shakra asked, mentally kicking herself for the sheer clumsiness of the pivot.
"Wow, way to change the subject, Shakra wielding bluntness!" Lace laughed, her control returning in moments. "I should be careful what I wish for around you."
Lace sat down on the edge of the bellhome platform, legs idly kicking in the air.
"It is slow. She kissed me once. I kissed her once. We have held claws. She keeps her displays of affection pent up for a long time, then occasionally envelops me in a spontaneous and tight hug. It's wonderful I must say."
Lace patted the platform beside herself.
"Sit! Sit! Gossip is meant to be shared in proximity. It's hard when you're looming over me like that."
Shakra sat next to Lace at a respectful distance, only for the silken girl to scooch herself over until they were so close that they almost touched.
It felt concerningly nice to be close to Lace, intimidating but calming at the same time, it sharpened Shakra's focus and kept her keenly attuned to the world.
"I am pleased to hear it goes well. You might think it slow, but it has been only days has it not? Proceed at the pace which is comfortable to you and know that in my experience it is neither slow nor fast, and should not be timed by any measure but your own. Would you tell me more?"
"I suppose I might as well now. I guess we're doing this. She laughs at some of my jokes, and she calls my name with such a tone when I prank her. Oh I can't even describe it, it's angry and warm and entertained and proud all at once. She touched my head a few times. She sometimes just looks at me, which sounds like nothing, but it's just a look and it makes me feel-"
Lace had a sudden memory of how Hornet had stared at her while drinking the flea brew which Lace had tried and failed to drink before squeezing from herself back into the cup it had come from. The memory alone made her practically vibrate.
"Just! Things! I don't know!"
Shakra nodded, taking in these painted images of completely smitten love with the same focused consideration that she would give a new combat strategy or a description of a grand battle.
"And the best part of all is that when I read her mind last time I saw she missed me! I was gone for a few hours and she missed me!" Lace exclaimed, her voice rising in excitement. "I was missed! Someone actually missed me! And that someone was Hornet!"
"That is grand news indeed." Shakra agreed, although she was partly distracted as she hurriedly tried to sweep her own thoughts clean upon hearing this new information. Lace bearing pain could read minds?
"You have no idea how jealous I was when she spoke of all these bugs we might meet. Of you especially, she speaks of your presence with such anticipation when you are not there! Oh how badly she wants to be nearby to you!"
Lace continued, near rambling.
"And now I know she feels that about me too! Do you see how great this is!?"
"Bakkana!" Shakra agreed with a word of victory, Lace deserved nothing less. "There is no feeling more reassuring than knowing our presence is wanted for it's own sake."
Shakra began undoing and retying her bandages to try to occupy her mind with a task to prevent her thoughts racing too far. Lace was revealing far more than she likely intended, both about Hornet's feelings and about her own passions.
"She also called me her princess and I loved it. It's true though! I am the princess of Pharloom, so it fits. Although with the death of my mother, may she rest in-"
Lace faltered again, unsure if she wanted to say 'rest in peace' or 'rest in pieces'. The worst part was that both of them were probably true, and if she thought about that for too long then she might start laughing, screaming, crying or all three.
"-Anyway with recent events technically I am the queen of Pharloom. I'm thinking I might like to try my claw at rulership myself, but Hornet seems very hostile to the concept of monarchy and I don't want to let her down either. Aaaaand I'm telling you too much again. You had better not share this with Hornet."
"Your mind races in the strangest of ways." Shakra murmured. "Your words are safe with me."
"I should hope so. How is your wound?"
And Lace was leaning in, straight into Shakra's personal space, examining the three cuts she herself had inflicted on Shakra mere days ago.
"I have no idea what I'm doing." Lace mentioned casually, but her silky claws were gentle as she lifted the bandages ever so briefly to glance below before holding them to allow Shakra to more easily finish redressing the injury.
"Thankyou for your concern, Lace bearing pain. It shall heal soon enough. I had hoped it might heal before your return."
"How nice, you took my little warning to heart!" Lace sat back down.
"Perhaps a warning, or perhaps a promise. I have recovered as swiftly as I can, that we might duel again now if you wish."
Lace gave Shakra a glance, bright with discerning judgement. It was quietly thrilling for the tall gold shelled warrior to be evaluated in such a way by a worthy opponent. "I have increased in strength dramatically since our last encounter, I would be grateful to fight you at your sharpest edge and keenest sense, if you are willing to wait."
Shakra was struck by Lace's words, she had recalled and adapted the traditional greeting between warriors amongst Shakra's tribe into a well mannered declining of Shakra's offer which nonetheless honoured them both. Just how clever was she?
"I also notice you are not wearing the ankle blades Hornet gave you. Not very comfortable in the bath?"
"Indeed, they can be inconvenient to wear when not in battle. I would equip them to battle you, if you permit their use."
"Permission granted! You shall certainly need them." Lace laughed softly.
Lace withdrew the heavy golden ring she had carried at her waist beside her pin and pouch Hornet had given her.
"In the meantime perhaps you might teach me how to properly throw this? The urge to defeat my spider in combat burns inside my every strand of silk, and I think a thrown ring may be part of the puzzle."
"By these rings is my master remembered. I would be pleased to teach you, Lace bearing pain."
"I am sorry I disrespected them and your master before. I shall try to think of them as not just another tool, but it may be difficult. In the moments when I stop moving and rest quietly I think of myself as just another tool sometimes, so any insult I give to the rings is not from a place of ill intent towards them in particular."
"Yokkala, you have worn it with dignity and you ask now how to use it at full potential so it might aid you in the battle that occupies your heart more than any other. A tool can receive no higher honour. Come, I will hear no more of this imagined unworthiness. Meet me in Shellwood!"
And Shakra left in a flash of glittering gold before Lace could reply or even attempt to deny the observation.
Lace landed lightly in the centre of town, her weight ordinary for a bug of her size, but her pure silk frame let her touch down without a sound. Bugs walking right past her flinched and jumped slightly in surprise, to them it seemed she had appeared from nowhere.
There were a few murmurs of 'white guardian' and 'Lace, companion of Hornet' as bugs were unsure how to greet her. Lace brushed them off, beginning to take the shellwood path.
It took her right past the wishwall and the shop. Lace paused to examine the former.
It was full of boring rubbish. Eight hundred rosaries for 'Second Restoration of Bellhart' with some nonsense scribbled by Pavo. How absurd, did anyone but the spider actually pay for these?
One did catch her interest, something she vaguely remembered mention of earlier this day.
Repair: Broken Bellhome posted by Frenna
Kind residents, my bellhome remains dreadfully knocked over and I lack the tools and talents to right it. I post this wish in hopes that kind bugs might aid me as a matter of haste, but I understand if I cannot pay enough for your time. I hope to increase the reward to hire a team of bugs and builders as soon as possible.
Reward: Frayed Rosary String
Lace glanced over, seeing the bellhome laying on its side at the other end of town. Interesting, a very optimistic wish this one. Almost a waste of space on the board.
A different wish also stood out to her as worth noting.
Hunt: Wood Wasps posted by Pinmaster Plinney
Foul wasps are one again nesting in the longpin storage above the shellwood entrance to town, please see them slain!
Reward: Heavy Rosary Necklace
Well that seemed as if it would be quick.
Hunt: Pond Skippers posted by Pondcatcher Reed
With so many new faces in town one pondcatcher is not enough to keep up! Any resident looking to lend a claw and learn the arts please slay five pond skippers and return with their bodies as intact as possible! Instruction and spare longpin available upon request.
Reward: Mask Shard
Oh now that was interesting too, a mask shard? Hornet had seemed very enthusiastic about those during her journeys through Pharloom. Lace would certainly love to be able to give her one.
She snagged the two hunting missions, collecting the shell surface of the wish from off the board, leaving behind the lockbox containing its reward. She tucked them away in her dead bugs purse, then after a moment's consideration she picked up the bellhome repair wish as well.
Hopefully Shakra would not mind being kept waiting just for a little bit.
Lace walked over to the knocked down bellhome and stared at it, claws on her hips thoughtfully. The thing must weigh several tons.
"Greetings Miss Lace, friend of Miss Hornet." A shy voice mumbled.
Lace beheld a small many limbed bug with a distinctive carapace of non-sharpened thorns, flat plates and faux wood texture.
A Splinterbark female, looking up at her with large, pale, round and hopeful eyes. Presumably this was Frenna.
"Greetings, bug who fails to give their name." Lace responded, although she kept her voice light. She was just trying to give a slight taunt, not send the little one cowering in fear.
"Ah! I'm s-sorry! I am Frenna. I d-don't suppose you or kind Hornet have some way to help me with my wish?" She looked mournfully at her disrupted home.
"Fret not, you are in good company among bugs who fail to give their name."
Lace said, relishing in the pitiful little whine of apology she received in response. She had accurately judged the weakness of this bug and taunted at the perfect intensity to torment the little one without completely traumatising her. This was much more fun than stabbing them.
"Where does the bell belong, little one?"
"Just here." Frenna pointed to the slot immediately next to where the bellhome lay. "It did not fall far, but all my pots are ruined."
"Your pots?"
"Plant pots. I didn't mention it in the wish but... Well..." She fluttered up to the door and opened it, revealing a mess of dirt, broken pots, muddy water and gradually wilting plants. Of course a bug born to camouflage among plants would prefer a house full of them. "They're in trouble."
"I've decided I will help you." Lace said. "I won't let your plants die."
"You will!?" Frenna gasped.
"Hush. Don't annoy me. But yes, I will. When your home is repaired you should grow some roses."
Frenna promptly nodded and went silent, although the question in her eyes was obvious. How did Lace intend to help?
"Let's see how strong I really am." Lace muttered. It would be very awkward if she couldn't do this now that she had committed to it. She would have to go begging to Hornet for help, which of course Hornet inevitably would provide.
She threw several strands of silk up into the nook where the bellhome belonged, winding them tight around a metal support beam, then she wrapped both arms firmly around the huge bell itself.
She didn't need the spider's help, not for this.
With a growl of effort Lace pulled to tension every thread she had in her body, the huge metal structure groaned and creaked as it rolled slightly on its side.
Lace stepped carefully, her feet seeking for purchase on the stony ground. The weight of this thing and the sheer mass of it was immense, even if she could shift it she had to be careful, she didn't have the leverage at the moment to control it. If she made a mistake it would roll, it could crush her and that would be downright humiliating.
She threw more and more threads, latching them onto the floor, the nearby bellhomes, the roof, the walls, the fountain, each one straining with effort as inch by inch she levered the bellhome back upright.
Once she had it lined up Lace crouched low and put her shoulder to the bottom of the bellhome, lifting with her legs as she pushed the tons of metal up off the ground.
With a determined sound that was half snarl and half giggle Lace stepped forwards with the entire weight of the bellhome in her arms and slotted it back where it belonged with a heavy clang.
Lace stood up and stretched, arching her back with a satisfied sigh, hundreds of silken threads withdrawing back into her body. She dusted off her claws casually, then turned to see a truly frightening number of bugs all staring at her.
The physical feat was awe inspiring, something that should have required dozens of bugs with levers and pulleys; and this silken slip of a girl had done it on her own with relative ease. The echo of the bellhome being dropped back in place still hummed in the air.
"Well what are you looking at!?"
There were fearful yelps and everyone hurried to find something to do, the sight of them all scampering away like a disturbed anthive had Lace leaning against the side of the bellhome cackling with laughter. Frenna remained, staring between Lace and her bellhome, tearful with gratitude. "Th-thank you so much!"
Lace didn't seem to be listening, too busy with her fit of amusement.
Frenna stood beside her awkwardly and repeated her thanks a few more times with increasing nervousness before Lace finally collected herself enough to respond.
"Honestly, you'd think they'd never seen a bellhome lifted before." Lace snickered. She gestured to the door. "You'd better clean up and save your little plants. Good luck in there, and think about growing some roses will you?"
Lace walked away, before the stunned bug could say anything more. Lace returned to the wishwall and pressed on the reward shell for the wish. It clicked open and a frayed rosary string fell into Lace claws.
"That was more tolerable than I expected." Lace mused.
She clicked the rosary string a few times between her claws, then dropped it on the ground. She didn't especially care about the rewards. Time to go see Shakra, and if she was feeling especially generous maybe grant those other two wishes as well.
There was a certain appeal to being a granter of wishes, actually.