I peered at the trio as they trudged across my kingdom uninvited. Two individuals flanking the outside with oversized heads and glaives acted as protectors to the central figure, attired in the style of a vassal. Noteworthy were the masks that covered their features, particularly the vassal, as though that was enough to disguise and mislead.

I cackled loudly.

What's funny, my liege? Rott inquired nervously. He was less taken by the images before him. Those are not lost and frightened wanderers. Those are guards. They mean us harm.

"Someone get Nolwud," I ordered, stifling my laughter. "The Technologist needs to see this."

Nolwud arrived, wrench in hand and confusion evident. A worm held fast to the tunic, guiding the inventor to me with firm determination. "What's going on, my liege?"

"Take a look at this," I said, extending my hand and chortling.

Nolwud examined the projection. Unsure. "It's the masks? You think the masks are funny?"

"No," I pointed at the vassal. "Look here. At him."

"Oh!" At once, it was evident. "That's... unexpected."

"I'm going to say hello." I brushed the image away. "Personally."

I will keep an eye on things here, said Rott. I will leave them to you, my liege.

"I would like to come along," Nolwud said. "If that's permissible."

I was too amused to oppose it. "If you don't get in the way, I don't see why not."

The portal brought us to the opposite side of disrepaired cottages where the intruders mingled. I would have come by air but I did not want to carry Nolwud and the inventor would have made too much noise when reintroduced to gravity. Feelers out, I scouted ahead, hoping the Technologist had sense enough to keep quiet. The vassal hadn't noticed us when he bellowed to his companions, "No, no, this is all wrong!"

The two guards said nothing. They remained motionless beneath silver domes that encompassed the whole of their skulls.

The vassal was clothed in oversized garments. They were gaudy, bright, and intended to hide his features. His mask, silver like his guards, shielded his visage but stopped at the edge of the face. He was stocky and out of place in my kingdom. I gave Nolwud a knowing look and stepped forward.

"Hail, traveler," I called with a sugary disposition. "Have you lost your bearings?"

The vassal jumped with surprise, cowering behind his guards. They both readied their weapons. "Who goes there?"

"We mean you no harm," insisted Nolwud, coming around behind me.

"That's debatable," I corrected. "I mean you harm. You're trespassing in my kingdom."

"That's impossible," blubbered the vassal. "I know for a fact this is Nova."

Nolwud regarded me as I folded my hands behind my back. I said, "It hasn't been Nova in, oh, twenty-five years? Thereabouts?"

"Impossible," came the response again.

Diplomatically, the Technologist intervened. "My name is Nolwud, Royal Technologist of the Kingdom of Ever-Worms. This is Lordavis, Ruler of the Kingdom of Ever-Worms. It is as you heard. Nova is no more."

The vassal wouldn't be swayed. He queried, "What became of Revergnols?"

"Dead," I said before Nolwud could paint it any prettier. "Decapitated." I clacked my jaw twice for emphasis.

"Impossible!"

Nolwud bowed. "Whom do we have the pleasure of speaking with?"

The vassal pushed forward, squeezing past his guards. They lowered their glaives and stood at attention. "I am Painyll. I've come to seek the sanctuary owed to me."

I burst into laughter. Nolwud smiled awkwardly. "Ah," said the Technologist. "Is that so?"

Painyll reached beneath his garments and withdrew a small seal. I recognized it. His claim of sanctuary rang true. Unfortunately for him, I had no intention to fulfil it. "A relic of an earlier time. You ought to go to Fourmikari and show them. They might enjoy it."

"I'm not going to Fourmikari," stuttered Painyll. "Absolutely not. No. I came here for sanctuary. You are required to honor it!"

I held up a finger for each point. "Revergnols is dead and Nova is gone. By all means, tell me what remains to honor?"

"Sanctuary!" cried Painyll.

I summoned fire into my hands. "You'll be safe in the underworld. No one will search for you there, Dr-"

Nolwud put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me aside. "My liege, a word?" To Painyll, "Don't go anywhere. We'll be back."

Painyll crossed his arms and fretted. "See if you can't talk some sense into your 'ruler'."

"I'll show you sense," I said, turning back. Nolwud caught my arm.

"Over here, for a moment." Once around the corner of the cottage, Nolwud entreated, "Do you remember when I said you don't think logically in terms of what's necessary for establishing a fledgling kingdom?"

"You mentioned something in passing."

"This here. This is a golden opportunity."

I leaned back and peered at the vassal. Painyll paced anxiously, walking in looping circles around his guards. I made a face. "I'm not interested."

"Granting Painyll sanctuary will immediately raise our status," said Nolwud. "Having him nearby and among your ranks will elevate you above the majority of kingdoms in the vicinity."

"Oh, it's 'our' status now, is it?" I simmered. "I don't remember making you co-ruler."

"My liege, as a member of your royal council, my prestige and status are directly tied to the standing of the kingdom."

"That's your play? Use him to better your standing? You came here to find a patron. You are meant to be building me a plane shifter."

"Which I was, until you brought me in to look at your ring."

"This is my kingdom," I said. "Leave ruling to me."

"How many other kingdoms have--?" Nolwud peeked out. I followed suit. Painyll continued to pace. He clawed at the edges of his mask. We pulled back. "He's terrified."

"Excellent," I said gleefully.

"Terrified you'll turn him away."

"I'll do him one better," I beamed. The fire was back. Nolwud swatted the back of my hand and winced at the burn received.

"You don't need to kill everyone who comes into your kingdom, my liege."

The flames went out. "I haven't killed everyone. You're here."

"You tried to kill me."

I sighed. "Since you know everything, tell me what will happen once I achieve this 'great status'."

The Technologist pondered. "As long as he lives here, the Kingdom of Ever-Worm will be known. You might receive offers or trades in the hopes of wooing him away from you. Your name will spread further."

"Others will be drawn to my kingdom," I derided. "We'll be raided in the night. New subjects will attempt to move in. Oh, yes. It's everything I ever wanted."

"Fourmikari will lose their mind," said Nolwud. "Think about that for a min--"

I spun around the corner. "Welcome to the Kingdom of Ever-Worms, Vassal Painyll! Allow me to welcome you formally."

Painyll lifted his head. "You will provide sanctuary?"

"Of course," I sang.

"Oh, thank you. Thank you!" He grabbed my hands, pulling me close to nuzzle in an extremely overdone show of gratitude. "Finally, a safe and secure respite!"

"I have the perfect respite in mind," I said, withdrawing from the affection. "Very secure. Very cozy."

"Delightful."

"You can't throw him in the dungeon," said Nolwud, spoiling my fun.

"I'm this close to throwing you back in the dungeon," I said. "What's to be gained from putting these three anywhere else?" I examined the guards. "Awfully quiet, aren't they?"

"They're blind, mute, and deaf." Painyll huffed. The vassal removed the helmet from the nearest one, revealing a tapestry of horrendous mutilation. Nolwud gasped. With annoyance, Painyll returned the garment. "Well, I wasn't going to take any chances! It had to be done."

"I like him," I said to Nolwud, smirking deviously. Nolwud's hand went to forehead.

"That's good, my liege," the Technologist said dryly. "I could wish for nothing else."

Rott's reaction was to be expected when we returned. He took one look at Painyll and cried, My liege! What is this? Why didn't you murder them like the others?

"The Technologist talked me out of it."

"What was that?" Painyll peered my way. His head tipped downward. "Egad, what's that?"

"A worm." Rott slithered up until he rested on my shoulder. "You'll find my kingdom is full of them."

"Worms," gagged Painyll. "Are they kept to eat?"

"No, they are my subjects."

"What benefit do they provide Fourmikari?"

I kept my tone even. "You'll find that unlike Nova, the Kingdom of Ever-Worms doesn't exist for the benefit of Fourmikari."

Painyll gave me a strange look. The strange look. "I...see." Attempting to change the subject, he broached, "And where are the others?"

"In terms of citizens," Nolwud began judiciously.

"There are none," I said proudly.

Painyll looked between us. "This is Nova but there is no one here?"

"This is the Kingdom of Ever-Worms," I stated firmly. "It has everyone it needs, including four new additions that were not invited and are not necessary."

Painyll did a count, forgetting how many guards he'd brought. "There are three of us."

"Why don't I," said Nolwud with a sigh, "take you with me? I will fill you in on the finer details." Then, "Where do you want to put him, my liege?"

"The dungeon," I said.

"I need a serious answer, my liege."

I was aware. "That was a serious answer."

"There is a chamber with a large bed of carved wood," said Nolwud. "It is dusty and unused. It has two smaller antechambers which I'm sure could be refitted as a sitting room and servants quarters. Do you know which I mean?"

"Yes." It had been my predecessor's. I had long since raided it for anything of value. "The dungeon will do fine."

Nolwud disregarded me and led the entourage away. "Follow me. We'll see what I can fashion for your attendants."

Who is he? asked Rott when he had me to himself..

"Can't you tell from looking? He's a vassal. His name is Painyll." Then, "And as long as he's with us, I would like to make his life as uncomfortable as possible."

My liege?

I opened the door to the nearest corridor, calling to the servants crawling on the other side. "Go to Revergnols' chambers. Make yourself a nuisance. Behave as though it's your favorite spot to congregate."

Why does he have to stay here?

"Why does anyone stay here?" I responded. "I have use for him."

The next I saw of my unexpected guests, I was seated upon my throne, eating fruit and making sport of tossing rinds for my servants to catch. Nolwud led the trio, now unmasked. They passed through the doorway in conversation. "...can be found here most of the time. If I'm not in the workshop, I'm mostly like here as well."

"'Workshop'?" I scoffed. The Technologist could insist upon any name. It was, and always would be, the enchanting studio.

Painyll brightened in the presence of the overlook. "I often wondered what the view was like up here! Truly stupendous!"

I made a face. Rott took note. Something insipid, my liege?

"Very."

"Hm?" Painyll turned.

"Not to you," I said.

The look. "Ah, yes. Worms." His attention returned to the sights. "This is a very nice space. Open and full of breeze. Yes, I would like to do my work here from now on."

I tilted my head. "What was that?"

Nolwud's hands clapped together. "Let's run it by Lordavis first." Gesturing to Painyll, the inventor elaborated, "My liege, Painyll is trained in prose and poetry. He has a sizable collection of his bound verses."

"It is the only thing I travel with," Painyll declared.

"He was concerned that, with the way things have progressed, he wouldn't be able to find a muse."

"You're the one who came to me seeking sanctuary," I leaned forward, indignant.

Nolwud interceded. "I read a few of the poems he wrote. He's pretty good. Relatively." Mumbling softly, "I'm a scientist. I don't know what makes good writing."

"This is a beautiful vantage," said Painyll, ignorant or feigning it well.

I glared. "This is my throne room."

"You said you were concerned about being raided," Nolwud tried to argue weakly. "If he's nearby, it's unlikely they could take him from under your gaze."

"I would be content to have a stack of pillows right here." Painyll indicated the space before the west window. "From here, I could look out upon the kingdom and let the words flow."

"That's the view of Fourmikari." I said coolly. I was not pleased. "That would block my view of Fourmikari."

My liege, who is this? Why not slit his throat and be done?

"Why not indeed?" I mused, hand idly resting on my dagger hilt. Nolwud, keen to my actions, entreated again.

"It's not perfect, but in the long run, this will pay off. It's not always about taking the quick and easy route. Being pragmatic has advantages too."

Painyll had drawn forth a parchment and pen of black charcoal. He scribbled furiously. "Yes, this is it."

"You misunderstand my aim," I said succinctly. "I'm not trying to build a kingdom that thrives to compete with others. I will destroy the other kingdoms until the Kingdom of Ever-Worms is the only one that remains. I will crush anyone who stands in my way." I stood, descending steps and moved beside the Technologist. "You're concerned with bettering your lot in life. Find a patron for your 'magnificent discovery', secure a title--"

"Yes," Painyll called back as he wrote. "Technologist Nolwud mentioned something of that. As you're severely lacking council members, I myself would like to request a position. Something more colorful than 'Royal Scribe', although I will take what is offered."

"No."

"Hm," dismissed Painyll. He crossed out a word.

"It's not practical to aim for worldwide genocide," argued Nolwud.

"You mean it's not right." I would call it as I see it. "Good people don't set out to destroy others."

"That either," agreed Nolwud. "I speak from a logistics standpoint. You would have to cause a cataclysmic event to eradicate everyone. Unless you're holding back or those superstitious rumors are true, you don't have the means. It's not feasible."

"Ah, that's where you're helping me," I taunted knowingly.

Nolwud hadn't fully guessed his purpose. "What?"

A voice interjected, "I am done." Painyll left the window and joined us where we stood. He offered the parchment. "Consider this my application for your council, if you will, my liege."

I scanned the scrap.

The Kingdom of Ever-Worms flourishes in the gloom of Nova

Writhing with worms and the specters of days past

No longer subservient, enslaved to the caprices of Fourmikari

Liberty comes when the lickspittle are reduced to handfuls of ashes

blown in the breeze, forgotten, put from memory and scorched from speech

that once more these lands shall find serene isolation

I looked at Nolwuld. "He is good."

The technologist nodded. "Right? I told you."

Painyll thus became Royal Dramatist of the Kingdom of Ever-Worms.