> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://honeyland-player-guides.gitbook.io/honeyland-player-guides-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://honeyland-player-guides.gitbook.io/honeyland-player-guides-docs/lore/the-shadow-hive/chapter-3.md).
# Chapter 3
The professor led Beelinda and Tarnathien away from the hidden entrance, which closed up behind them. As soon as the stone had settled into place, the hallway they were in lit up, and Beelinda could see that it extended away from them a good few hundred hexes, with doors dotted along the walls. But after only fifty or so, Hamber opened a door and led them into a spacious room that could only be described as a study, but that would have been an inadequate description.
The room was rectangular in shape, expansive, with floor to ceiling bookshelves on all four walls and a further 6 freestanding shelves jutting out from the longer sides of the room, each double sided. Tucked away in one of the nooks between the shelves was a cozy office space, with a good sized desk, a very comfortable looking chair, and two chairs for guests.
“Please, take a seat while I get some refreshments,” Hamber waved a hand towards the office area as he strode further into the room. Tarnathien smiled at Beelinda and went to sit down. She, however, couldn’t help browsing the shelves as she went past. Some of the titles were familiar to her, others she couldn’t even decipher. She was just about to pull one off the shelf, a heavy, hide-bound tome with intricate gold leaf patterned on the cover, when Hamber returned. “Ah, an interesting choice! That one was recovered from the throne room of an ancient Mudbee Hive, deep beneath the Goulash Mountains. So far, I’ve only managed to decipher enough to believe it may be just a recipe book, but of course, I think there’s more to it. You don’t make a recipe book look like that and then keep it in the throne room do you?” He grinned at her, and she couldn’t help smiling back.
“Please, come and join us,” he said, as he took his seat. Beelinda carefully slid the book back into place before taking a seat. Hamber poured some amber tea and settled himself in his chair, “Ahhhh, I love this part of the job. Tell me, Beelinda, other than what you’ve learned from Tarnathien, what do you know of the Wingbeats?”
Beelinda took a sip from her amber tea and collected her thoughts before replying, “Before today, I knew The Wingbeats as a fictional organization who worked under Queen Apisara’s authority. Your charge has been to support the Queen and do whatever she determines is best for Honeyland. As a covert, secretive agency, much of what you’ve achieved has been kept from the public. However, there are some missions that are known, and are told as stories to young beelings. When I was younger, I always wanted to hear about the Recovery of the Golden Pollen, Operation Sapphire Wing, and the deciphering of The Wax Cipher. That’s about it really.”
“Sapphire Wing! I was on that mission you know. It didn’t quite play out as the story goes, but it was an antennae-curler. It’s how I got this scar,” the professor pointed to a jagged white mark on his forearm. “It also made me miss several weeks of work at MU. I–”
“Sorry, Professor,” Beelinda interjected, “I have to ask, why are you teaching at MU if you hold such a senior position in the Wingbeats? Surely you have more important things to be doing?”
Hamber glanced at Tarnathien with a quirked antennae before turning to face Beelinda. “Tarnathien didn’t think to ask me that question until he’d already been with us for a month. In short, what could be more important than shaping young minds? Plus, it gives me the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on our best and brightest and decide if there are any potential recruits in my class. Much like Tarnathien, and now you.”
“Well, I think we should get to business. Beelinda,” the old Bee looked her in the eye and his voice took on a serious tone. “Do you want to join the Wingbeats?” He held up a hand to cut her off, “Before you answer, know this. The Wingbeats will become your family, you will have to commit to being available for the Queen to send you anywhere at any time. No one can know that you are a Wingbeat, except your fellow agents. With all that in mind, do you still want to become a Wingbeat?”
Barely had he finished speaking before she was giving her enthusiastic answer. “Oh absolutely Professor. Being a Wingbeat would be everything!”
“Excellent! I knew you were a good choice. Now, your first mission. It won’t require any skills that you don’t already have, and Tarnathien is capable of handling any complications, as unlikely as they are. You’ll also have another pair of agents shadowing you for safety, you are a rookie after all, but ideally you won’t even know they’re there.
“So, the mission. We’ve had reports of strange happenings in the area surrounding the Donut Cave. Locals have reported feeling ground tremors at night, and a few pets have gone missing. Normally, we’d send in the local Watch at this point to see what’s going on, but some of the reports have come from the Watch itself. So, we’re going in. Well, you two are anyway.
“For now, this is just a scouting mission. You’re to enter the Donut Cave, and see what you can find out. We don’t know what’s going on down there, so take no chances. If you see anything that causes you to have concern for your lives, get out immediately. You will not be the only team going in, so don’t try to be heroes, just find out what you can and get out. Got it?” The professor looked at them both sternly, his face heavy with seriousness. The two young Bees met his gaze and nodded solemnly. Hamber added, “I’ll expect you back in a week’s time to make your reports. Tarnathien, take Beelinda to the quartermaster’s and get yourselves kitted out. Good luck out there, and Zzub Zzub!”
Beelinda knew they were dismissed but couldn’t help asking one more question, “Professor? What are we worried we’ll find in the cave?”
The old Bee looked up from the papers he’d started sorting, “Honestly? I don’t know, but if there’s something secret going on, my experience tells me that it’s rarely good.”
---
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