I tipped my head and grinned broadly. Gallivur's eyes slowly raised as the champion glared up from the dirt. Striding with a skip in my step, I declared, "Why, Gallivur! What an unexpected surprise!"

"What is the meaning of this, Lordavis?" A spasm, uncontrolled. "Since when do you have electric trees?"

"You like them?" I preened. I spun on one foot in a playful circle. "They're new. "

Gallivur shed some of the shock. The champion crawled up slowly, placing a hand on a knee for extra support. "The work of your Royal Technologist, no doubt."

I frowned. "On my command. They were installed on my command."

"I will have to deal with the Technologist as well," remarked the champion with grim determination.

Gallivur had arrived mid-afternoon several days after Nolwud's missive was sent to Fourmikari. I was disappointed by the delay. By my reckoning, Gallivur should have come earlier, incised and looking for trouble. I was relieved when my ring flashed and the champion appeared in projection. Gallivur learned what it meant to wander carelessly through the Kingdom of Ever-Worms. It wasn't the same simple stroll that had come to be expected. Unfortunately, on account of the change, Nolwud was proving more popular than I was. I couldn't have that.

"Why bother?" I sneered. "The Technologist isn't a threat." I folded my hands behind my back. "I'm sure you must be horrified."

Gallivur gave me a look. "About what, exactly? That you have a Technologist? I'm baffled, not horrified. You killed your subjects. Since when do you seek the company of others?"

"No, not about that," I snapped. "I'm not talking about Nolwud!"

Gallivur continued to fixate. "I'm not familiar with the name 'Nolwud'? Does your Technologist come from a different lineage?"

"It's the inventor," I said. "The one I stabbed."

"Oh." There was recognition. "The one from across the sea. I understand." With a moment's reflection, "Wait, that one? But you stabbed--"

"I know," I said.

"...with you? In your court?" "You've come for me today," I decreed, pushing on. I would no longer address anything concerning the Technologist. "You've certainly taken your time. I thought I would turn to dust waiting."

"We had to discuss the contents of your missive," said Gallivur. "I'm not talking about the missive," I fumed. Folding my arms, I sulked, "You're doing it on purpose. You know exactly what I mean."

Gallivur's head shook. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."

"I murdered your prisoner. Last week," I declared. Gallivur did not react. "I used a laser scepter to..." A blank stare. "I left my name. I cut it into the wall."

"That was your name?" Gallivur dismissed. "That wasn't even a word. We assumed it was, you know. Related to other things."

My mood dropped. "I did that. Me."

"This missive you sent Fourmikari," Gallivur produced Nolwud's marble. It took several flicks before the floating message appeared. "Is it right?" "We're not done," I said. "We're still talking about your prisoner."

"Right. Who's dead and no longer of any use to the Delvers. Anyhow, the missive?"

I seethed.

"Is it right?"

I forced my sourness away. I adopted an amicable mien."Oh, yes. I have him in my clutches." "Show me," said the champion.

I laughed maniacally. "Show you? But Gallivur, why would I show you? This is the perfect chance to kill you."

"You won't," said Gallivur dryly, "because then I won't tell anyone you're responsible for the murder at the Delvers' nest." A statement of fact. A given. I hated it.

I stomped my foot. "I can kill you whenever I want!"

Gallivur smirked. "Without an audience?"

I seethed anew.

"Show me this prisoner," coaxed Gallivur. "Do you have him at the palace?"

I would use what power I had left over the situation. "At the palace? Who's to say? I don't remember agreeing to tell you anything."

"Lordavis, I was sent today to confirm the contents of your missive. I can just as easily return to Fourmikari, brand you a lying braggart, and disregard your confession. Do you want that?" To drive the point further, "I thought my nemesis was worthy of my time. Maybe I should go after someone else."

"Then go after them," I jeered.

"You think I won't?" Gallivur countered. A twig snapped. We turned to look as a familiar figure emerged from the surrounding foliage. "Hello, Gallivur," Nolwud said with a wave. "I had a hunch it might be you."

"What are you doing here?" Nolwud joined me at my side. I hadn't seen the inventor all morning. Allegedly, the Technologist was out installing more shock devices. "Go away." Nolwud sent a hand to chest. "My liege, Gallivur has come, no doubt, in response to the contents of our missive."

"'My liege'?" echoed Gallivur with a gag.

"Champion Gallivur," said Nolwud as if granted authority. "The terms were clear. If you would like an audience with the Royal Dramatist, it will cost you five-thousand phids."

I did a double take. "What?" "I don't want an audience," argued Gallivur. "I only want to confirm."

"Five-thousand phids?" I reiterated.

Nolwud waggled a hand and pulled a face. "Ooo. Well, I consider any interaction close enough to confirm Painyll's identity an audience. Don't you, my liege?" I stared. Then, regaining composure, asserted confidently, "That's right. If you want to waste our time with trivial matters, you will pay dearly."

"Fourmikari isn't going to pay you a single phid, Lordavis," said Gallivur.

"Then I guess you're going to have to fight me." I grinned, summoning black miasmas of energy that traveled up my arms. "Because I'm not going to let you take another step into my kingdom. I will strike you down where you stand, Champion!" "Or," interrupted Nolwud. "If I may, my liege, Champion Gallivur can go back to Fourmikari and return with ten-thousand phids."

"Ten-thousand?" cried Gallivur. "It was five. You said five."

"If you read the missive, it states that an audience with Painyll starts at five-thousand but will double with each subsequent request. The next time you come back for the Royal Dramatist, it will be ten-thousand phids. The time after that, twenty-thousand phids. The time after that, forty-thousand phids, and so on. Basic math, Champion. Do you need a refresher?"

"That's a lot of money," I suggested, stepping around Nolwud. "We could fight instead." I threw an energy blast in hopes of goading the champion. Gallivur shimmied aside as a hole was burnt where once had been feet. "What will it be, Galli? Call this a fruitless trip and scurry back home for the money or fight me here for a chance to see the Dramatist?"

"Ten-thousand phids," repeated Gallivur, ignoring me. "You give your word I'll be granted an audience?"

"Certainly," said Nolwud.

"I'll be back." Gallivur turned away, moving in the direction of Fourmikari without another thought.

I called after the retreating champion. "Where are you going? FIGHT ME!" I made to pursue and found Nolwud had taken hold of my cape. I yanked the cloth free.

"Let Gallivur go. This is for the best."

"Don't you tell me what's best," I snapped.

Nolwud was smug. "I bet you're wondering how I found you."

I wasn't going to praise the inventor or the interference. "Obviously your new system has beacons of its own."

"Ah." Nolwud frowned. "Yes, well, exactly. I was right over the hill, and you were nearby, and I thought I'd come and help with the situation." The inventor gestured. "Since you're out here already, you can see all the progress I've made. I've got most of High Hill rigged. Tomorrow, I'm thinking of finishing up the Marketplace. I'm happy they're working as they're supposed to. I bet Gallivur was surprised! What do you think, my liege? Are you content, having seen the new system in action?"

"I don't care," I said bitterly, dropping to the dirt in a cross-legged pout. "You ruined everything."

Nolwud glanced around, trying to discern what had been missed. My unhappiness seemed uncalled for. "I did? How?"

"I was dealing with Gallivur!"

A long sigh. "You are obsessed with Gallivur."

"I had it under control!"

"You were bickering," said Nolwud. "It wasn't productive."

"I'll decide what's productive," I said. "It's my kingdom!"

Nolwud's hands clapped together. "In the interests of forgoing another circular argument, why don't I offer my sincere apologies and we move on?"

When I felt a sufficient amount of groveling had been achieved, the Technologist led me through the vicinity. Nolwud indicated the various locations wired with electricity and shared thoughts on other improvements. There was a real fervor for pit traps, the point of which I didn't immediately comprehend. A pit trap was useless, an inconvenience at most. No one stayed in a pit trap.

"My liege," said Nolwud, "we would line the walls in sap. You've got a forest of evergreen and a thick layer should be enough to hold most in place until you could get to them. It wouldn't deter them forever, though it would send a message." When I was not entirely sold, the inventor added, "And we can put electrical shocks at the bottom and see that they're subjected to a continuous bolt as long as they are in the pit."

"Yes," I said. "I want that." With a knowing nod, Nolwud said, "I thought you might."

We had completed our trek through the immediate area and were on the path back to the palace when a small voice chirped, Shall I tell you a secret? Would you like to hear a secret? I lifted my gaze. Two dragonflies huddled close on a branch three meters from the ground.

I would like to hear a secret, said the second dragonfly. Tell me a secret?

There is a pile of dead worms to the east, said the first dragonfly. You will have to fly far, so very far, but they say there are many flies and beetles to eat. I heard about it. Don't tell anyone.

Why aren't you there? wondered the second. Why don't you fly very far?

Worms come to eat us. They kill the worms. There weren't enough dead worms between the live worms. By now, they say the walls of the dead outmatch the threat of the living. It will be safe for us.

"Where are these dead worms?" I interjected, cutting into the conversation.. The dragonflies shrieked in surprise and flew upwards.

"My liege?" Nolwud turned to me with slight confusion. No matter.

"Where are the dead worms?" inquired again with more force.

One dragonfly came lower. To the east. Where the trees met the water."

I called forth a portal. Nolwud ran to me as I began to step through. "Where are you going?"

"To look into a matter."

"Dead worms," said the Technologist, gleaning from eavesdropping. "I'll go with you. Where are they?"

"See if you can find your way," I jeered and closed the portal behind me. The body of water in question was a large stagnant lake that served as the edge of the eastern border. It had once been clear and crisp. Within the presence of the worms, it had dulled significantly with runoff. Located several hundred kilometers from our previous location, it was unlikely Nolwud would be along soon. I preferred it that way. Upon my arrival, I did notice a distinct lack of worm activity though not a complete absence. Were I not as savvy to the usual blanket of annelids, I might have considered the land unchanged. I crouched, grabbing the nearest worm around her toso and lifted her up. "What's happening here?" My liege, said the worm. Stay away from the water. "Is there something in the water?" I mused aloud. "A monster?" Sometimes larger, stupider beings wandered into the lake and fed upon the worms when they came to drink. Worms were not adept swimmers. I had removed several such predators in the past. This was not the case. No, my liege. They come in swarms. They have sharp swords.

I frowned. "From where? How many?" The water. There are many. I can't tell you a number. A small militia. I let the worm go and moved to the lake. I hopped down the banks, finding several tracks and a multitude of corpses. As the dragonflies claimed, there were rows in different levels of decomposition and abundant insect activity. A few bolder worms moved about the dead, picking treats off of the rotting bodies. I examined the scene and focused my attention on the most prominent collection of footprints. It followed the waterline and led deeper into the woods. After tracing this path for several minutes, I came to a curious sight.

A large mound of dirt had been pushed aside. Beneath it, a burrowed opening six meters wide. It sloped gradually as it dropped beneath the earth. It was not quite two meters high, though I was able to walk upright and keep from dragging along the ceiling for most of the trek. After an initial drop, it leveled out and the passage increased in size.

It did not take long to arrive at the center of the burrow. A smaller tunnel jutted off from the side. Watching from the walls, a multitude of naked bandits observed silently as I entered the chamber. They held their weapons in their hands but made no move against me. Sitting toward the back on the same settle as always, Queen Chidsey raised a glass and welcomed, "Lordavis! How nice of you to personally greet us!" I clacked my jaw.

"We're under construction," she elaborated, referencing the rough tunnels. "Don't mind the appearance." Then, "Of course, most of this was to keep from your notice. Since you're aware, we can probably go back to the surface. It's musty down here and I miss the sun. Oh, but the nostalgia!" "Get out," I said coolly.

"I told you this was happening," said Chidsey with a laugh. "I said I was going to make use of the land you squander and there was nothing you could do about it." I called forth a fistful of fire and took out a band of fighters from the wall. They screamed and fell to the ground, the abandoned space filled by waiting kin. Chidsey clucked. "Have a seat, Lordavis. You're outnumbered and usurped. How does that feel?"

"I am going to fill this whole network with a sea of flames," I decreed.

"You don't want to do that," said Chidsey. "You might kill me."

"Then I will call in the worms." There were alternatives. This was my homeland and I had the advantage. The worms were excellent burrowers.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, magus," chortled Chidsey. "You're here because I killed your worms. Your psychic connection or whatever told you something was amiss and you came to investigate." She folded her hands daintily across her lap. "I know. That was the idea." She emphasized, "I wanted to talk to you."

"I have more worms at my disposal than you have bodies," I said. "If it's to be a war of attrition, I will win."

"Listen to you, talking like that." Chidsey took a last sip of her drink and set the glass aside. "It doesn't have to be this way. We can reach a compromise."

"I'm not interested," I answered. "You can't kill me, I can't kill you," remarked the queen. "That's a start."

I turned away once more to disintegrate several underlings. They were swiftly replaced.

"You have your palace," said Chidsey. "I envy you. You've got the better half of the bargain. We're out here weathering the elements, contending with nasty worms. Do you think you could move your worms? Maybe about fifty kilometers back your way?" She tapped her jaw. "They're putting a real crimp in our efforts here."

I redoubled my efforts. I dragged a line of lightning through the throngs, dispatching a decent quantity. They were replaced but not as swiftly. Progress. "We won't get in the way of whatever you've got going with Fourmikari," Chidsey blathered on. "Naturally, we're not going to let you sell us out, but something tells me you'd rather deal with us yourself than bow to Fourmikari." "Are you still talking?" I spat. I wasn't going to be swayed no matter words came out of her mouth. She and her brood were leaving.

"Lordavis, Lordavis, what will I do with you?"

"I might not be able to kill you," I said, lowering my arms. "I can make you wish I had."

Chidsey cooed. "Taking a page from Revergnols?"

I folded my arms behind me and approached the settle with aped gaiety. "Revergnols will seem kind and forgiving compared to what I have in mind."

The queen glanced from left to right to left again. She stroked her jaw. With her two fingers, she gestured for me to come close. "I have a piece of advice for you, Magus Lordavis of Nova."

"What is that?" I sauntered towards her. I would take my time. She could wait until I was ready.

"I will tell you something that none of the others here will ever know. A secret between you and me." She leaned close and I leaned in. "The truth of the matter, Lordavis, is that you never stood a chance." "A chance at what?" I dismissed. "Ruling? I've done a better job thaGEH!" A sharp sting pierced my abdomen. I was overcome with a searing pain that spread throughout before I could comprehend what happened. I toppled forward where I was caught in Chidsey's waiting arms. "This is how you do it," she called loudly to everyone in the chamber. "Nova is ours."

A collective cheer echoed. I had many things I wanted to say, none of them nice. I couldn't move, much less unclench my jaw. I made my anger known through weak twitching and short sounds. Everything hurt.

"Mm," I said in lieu of "Ow." "Make sure you do whatever it takes to keep Lordavis immobile but alive." Chidsey remarked as she hoisted me to a waiting accomplice. My mind clouded over with the burn. The last I heard before the throbbing darkness swallowed was, "We just got ourselves a kingdom. We don't need an apocalypse."