Prologue: Rua
Rua healed much faster than she thought she would. But then, perhaps that was usual for her anyway. Many of the physical punishments given to her didn’t take for long, even if they looked to turn serious, or even infect.
It was also because she had healed so quickly, her master decided to set her to work with the beehives.
“The bee is the wisest of all creatures,” he said, though it was muffled through his woven mask, tucked securely into his hood, “Its work is truly divine and of the greatest use to us. Every part of their labor is useful with no room for waste. They follow their leaders with obedience and are extremely clean. They want nothing of the impure.” He bent low and waved his hand at the small flame. The smoke was thick and sickly smelling.
“Hence their distaste for the dung fire,” Rua piped in, smearing a mixture of ash and more dung on the side of the hive. The hives were made from beechwood boards, and only required maintenance every now and then. The colder months were soon upon them, so it was high time for last minute checks and harvest. This particular hive needed new paste, and it had to dry quickly before the bees returned.
“Exactly, dear one,” her master stood and resumed his preaching, “Bees are not greedy, and do not spoil the work of others, but it will defend its own to the death. It is also the only animal that looks to a leader to care for the community. Always honoring them, following them, and protecting them.” He lifted the top of the hive and gently placed it on the ground. He hummed as he inspected the inside, “One third for us, and two thirds for them,” he mumbled.
He pulled out a piece of comb that was overcrowding a larger piece, and then another.
“It particularly hates laziness; bees unite to kill ones who do no work and use up others’ production. Its mechanical skill and near-logical understanding is shown by the fact that it makes hexagonal cells to store the honey.” To make his point, he lifted one comb and pointed at the capped honey. Rua was more interested in the way the sun shone through the honey, and just how beautiful it was. It varied in color, but not by much. Most of it was a light golden color from the flowers most near the hive. Rua’s master replaced the top, and moved onto the next hive, leaving Rua with her work and her thoughts.