Summary

In Chapter 42, Flora rushes back to her daughter’s crib and finds her gone, but there is no sign of violence. However, there is a massive amount of activity in the hive. She happens upon the source of the strife — a battle between two Princesses, Sage vs. Teasel. The hive is divided in support of one or the other. It is a short battle, and the Sage Princess wins. She is terrifying, commanding worship and support, when another Princess appears — Flora’s daughter. Flora proclaims that she has been fed Flow, just as the Sage, so they are equal; she further proclaims that no Princess is a Queen until she is mated, so the battle begins. The fertility police clearly support the Sage candidate, for they torture the other bees and demand the Flora Princess surrender. At the height of the battle...