I was greeted by a round of applause when I hobbled into the throne room. The poet and his guards showered me with rousing cheers. Mostly the poet. Only the poet. The guards clapped though they did not seem to understand why. I stared, unamused.

"My liege, you are healed!" declared Painyll.

"Hardly." I climbed up and settled into my seat. Painyll watched with curiosity.

"Your healers aren't terrifically skilled, my liege. A stabbing, properly treated with magic, usually resolves in--"

"I wasn't stabbed," I clarified, "and I don't keep healers."

"An oversight," lectured Painyll. I expected it from Nolwud, not him.

"You're right. Perhaps I will seek out a royal healer. A young female with a penchant for poetry, seeking strong artistic genes for her offspring."

"You'll never find one," quivered the Dramatist. "And even if you did, you wouldn't dare!"

"Or maybe I would," I said. "Maybe I'd observe your copulation for sport."

Who is copulating, my liege? Rott asked from beside the throne, crawling up my legs to take up position in my lap.

"No one at present. There will be no copulation in my kingdom."

I would like to watch, said the worm. I have never seen how you breed, my liege. I understand it involves organs we don't have. Will you let me know if it happens?

I made a face. "It was a threat. No one wants to see Painyll breed with anything."

I do, replied Rott as the poet exhaled a relieved, "Just a threat? I am thankful for that!"

"Both of you, shut up," I grumbled.

After a time, Nolwud came by aflutter and insisted I participate in an asinine experiment. No 'hello, my liege'. I was tasked with the latest distraction from duties. I stared at the Technologist and frowned. "What is this exercise meant to accomplish?"

"I'm testing the limits of communication, my liege," said Nolwud. "I have several theories I'd like to study further."

"Is that right?" I didn't approve of the idea. I had made my opinions on how the inventor's time was to be spent abundantly clear. If communication was the focus, I had communicated my thoughts ad nauseum. Nolwud produced a series of drawings. The parchment looked rather like the parchment Painyll kept. I wondered if he was aware that the inventor had taken from his belongings. I glanced towards the poet and, finding him sleeping carefree on his cushions, ordered, "I think the Dramatist is cold. Why don't we warm him up?"

Dutifully, several servants slithered over to cover Painyll. I cackled with glee.

My liege, Rott started.

"No, Rott," I said. I returned to Nolwud. "What is it you want to test?"

A drawing was lifted. It was a black circle that spanned the expanse of the page. In the center, in small, neat handwriting, the word help stood alone. "What do you see?"

I told it as it was.

Nolwud nodded. "Big circle, help."

"Yes."

"Can you say it again, my liege?"

I cocked my head. "Why?"

"It's part of the test," insisted the inventor. "Please say it again."

I gestured to the parchment. "It is a big circle. It says 'help'."

"Thank you." The drawing was set aside. A new drawing, this time a triangle with the word hungry inside. "And this one?"

"How is this in any way, shape, or form productive?"

Nolwud was not deterred. "What do you see, my liege?"

"A triangle," I said. "A triangle that says 'hungry'."

"Triangle, hungry. Circle, help," said Nolwud. "Repeat after me."

I stared.

"Triangle, hungry," suggested the inventor. A nod. Then another.

"Triangle, hungry," I sneered. "Circle, help."

"Very good, very good." The second was set next to the first. The third, a square with yes, appeared. "What do you see?"

"How is this communication?" I demanded. "This is the sort of thing done for the illiterate. Are all your pages like this?"

Sheepishly, Nolwud displayed the whole collection. "Perhaps."

I clacked my jaw. "Oh, I see. We move on from 'square, yes' to 'crossed lines, no'. What a leap." I indicated another drawing further on. "Ah, and the classic 'squiggle, Lordavis'." I lifted the sketch and showed it to my annelid companion. "Have you ever seen anything like this, Rott?"

Is that how you write your name, my liege?

"No," I said. "I mean, yes, that is." I indicated the word in the center. "But the squiggle? That's not--" I looked back to find the Technologist smirking. Satisfied. Accomplished. At once, I realized the deception. "You cocky, conniving--"

"My liege," Nolwud entreated as I set fire to the parchments. I was out of my seat and at the inventor's throat in an instant. "My liege," entreated Nolwud again, this time with concern for wellbeing. "I thought it might be helpful in preventing future incidents."

"I forbade you from communicating with the worms," I growled, Removing my dagger from my belt and pressing it against the Technologist's abdomen. Nolwud could have matching scars on both sides, provided this stabbing was likewise survived.

I had been direct. Nolwud was not to talk to the worms.

Oh! chirped Rott, unaware that he further dug his friend's grave. If we are in need of future help, we can form circles? He repeated as I had. Circle, help. Triangle, hungry. Square, yes...

"I rescued you," reminded Nolwud, gingerly trying to guide the blade point to the side. "I put my life at risk." Then, "I'm doing this for your sake." "I'm going to stab you for my sake," I replied. "Funny how thatAGHHH." One of the inventor's electric marbles detonated. The hand not actively moving the knife had moved to pocket. We were both caught in the bubble, although Nolwud was better prepared to shake off the jolts.

A number of worms, Rott among them, hurried to me as Nolwud pried the blade from between my fingers and cast it aside. My liege!

"Look," huffed the Technologist. "I don't think it's right I should be punished for helping you."

"Kill the inventor," I said coolly.

Nolwud's eyes went wide. The worms turned from me and faced the malcontent. One sprang forward.

Wait! Rott cried. He situated himself between Nolwud and the others. Don't harm the inventor! The servants exchanged glances and made no further move.

"Rott," I seethed. The Technologist had found footing and put distance between us. I struggled yet. "You're going to answer for this"

My liege, please consider your actions! You don't want to kill the inventor. The inventor is your friend!

"No," I said.

The inventor is a good person, said Rott. The inventor cares about the worms as much as you do. He turned towards Painyll, slumbering despite the brawl. If you want to kill anyone, kill him.

"I'll kill who I want!" I said, finally shedding my paralysis and summoning fire into my palms.

"Oh, grow up," spat Nolwud, bereft of humor. "I don't care what your rationale is for acting like a murderous nitwit. I'm doing my best to save your kingdom from ruin. I've been patient, I've been accommodating, but I'm not going to let you hurt me for trying to help."

"You won't have to worry about that," I said. "You're going to burn."

"Then what?" countered Nolwud. "Your kingdom won't be any better for it. You'll have a half finished security system, an unfinished plane shifter--"

"I'll make do." I had before.

"Take ten minutes," said Nolwud. "Consider the ramifications of killing me off. If you think about it rationally, you won't do it. You'll see there's no reason for this outburst. You don't have to kill over minor inconveniences. It's counterproductive and irrational." "Done," I replied. "One less pointless bag of liquid taking up space in my palace. Sounds good to me."

"I suppose you liked letting Queen Chidsey overrun your lands?" Nolwud's arms folded. "Not that you ever would have had any idea. You would have spent the rest of your existence in an ignorant coma." "'I suppose you liked letting Queen Chidsey overrun your lands'," I mocked in the inventor's voice. "You are tremendously immature."

"And you're dead." The fire in my hands flared. Nolwud's courage failed and the inventor's expression fell. Arms rose to shield the incoming inferno.

My liege! Rott wrapped around my neck. He held tight. Please don't hurt the inventor! "Rott, get off me right now unless you want to go the way of Nolwud the-soon-to-be-immolated." "I'd rather you didn't," said Nolwud quietly.

My liege. Rott spoke succinctly. If you harm the inventor, you will lose the respect of the worms. He lowered his head. We will continue to follow you, my liege, but we will not look upon you with the same reverence.

"I don't want your reverence," I said. "As long as you do as I tell you, I don't care what you think of me." I barked a laugh. "The reverence of a worm? What good is that?"

Then kill the inventor, said Rott.

Do it, chanted the other worms. They stared at me. Even the worms blanketing Painyll lifted their heads to look my way. Do it, my liege.

I clenched my fists and lowered the flames. I was indescribably frustrated yet couldn't follow through. There was something about the worms and their eyes. They weighed heavily upon me. I couldn't stand it. I didn't know why.

Nolwud let out a sigh. Stammering, "T-thank you, my liege. See, I told you, if you think about it--"

"You turned them against me," I said, a chill in my voice. I said no more. I summoned a portal and stepped through, tearing Rott from my shoulders and casting him to the floor. Nolwud began to speak. I shut the portal behind me. That was that. I didn't have anywhere else to go. After a long journey, I landed at the doctor's home. There was another appointment when I arrived. I waited outside on the step, drawing in the dirt with a finger. A collection of worms bowed before a crowned figure (I had a crown but rarely wore it; I kept it beneath the bed in my chambers). The figure held the head of another in triumph. I added radiance marks to emphasize the elation felt by those in attendance. I erased the sketch with my foot and stood to peek in.

"Lordavis," remarked the doctor, noticing my presence for the first time. The other patient, in the process of departure, did a double take and hastened their step. "I didn't expect you again so soon. Did something happen?"

I wasn't going to admit I was without direction and feeling low. Instead, I indicated my wound from Chidsey. "I want you to look at this." I opened my clothes and peeled off the bandages.

The doctor made a face. "It must have been painful." Close scrutiny. "You already got some treatment."

I wouldn't credit the Technologist. "Yes."

I was instructed to lay down as the doctor examined carefully. "It's healing well. Do you feel any lingering effects?"

"No."

"Who treated you?" inquired the physician casually. I took offense.

"What does it matter? It's no concern of yours."

"I didn't mean anything by it," said the doctor. "Someone looked after you. I highly doubt you got a worm to do this for you."

I didn't answer.

"It's a sore subject. I apologize." The listening instrument was brought out, a staple of every visit. Wrapping one end around the appropriate limbs, the doctor ran the other across my body. "The good news is that I'm not noticing much of a difference from last visit. Your wretched stowaway hasn't manducated any closer to breaking out."

"That's good," I said dryly. "I guess." "You should find joy where you can. It'll be an awful life if you spend it miserable."

"I was happy," I said.

"When?"

"Before," I replied. Before the Technologist commandeered my subjects.

The doctor laughed in the way the aged laugh when they are amused by youth. "Before what? You weren't happy when Revergnols was pushing you around." The elder knocked upon my chest. "Isn't that how the rumors go? That's why it came into you?"

"I don't remember." The other prevalent rumor was that I had been born with the entity inside me. I was born with a parasite in my heart. Whether or not that original parasite was the same one that most believed threatened their existence, I couldn't say. I was too young. I remembered bits and pieces. The attempted exposure, Revergnols' return and, suitably impressed that I had not perished with the others, the offer to reward my tenacity by making me successor. As for whether or not that was the moment I was entered by a dark force, I would never know. Confirmation came after my final breath. "Well, I wouldn't call it a clean bill of health," said the doctor. "But you're not on death's doorstep."

I didn't immediately rise. I remained immobile upon the exam table, reflecting over the past. The doctor brewed a pot of tea and I was offered a cup. "Hopefully this will give you what you need to make it home."

"I'm not going home," I said at last.

"Aren't you usually in a rush to get back?" The doctor tutted, sipping the warm beverage. "Your worms worry." "They aren't worrying," I sulked. "They have someone else."

The doctor adopted a curious and confused expression. "The worms do?"

"Yes. Someone they see as a good person. Someone they think cares about them."

"You care about them!" laughed the doctor. "In a warped and twisted way, perhaps. That's to be expected."

"It's no good," I replied.

"Did they..." The doctor didn't know how to phrase it. I received the look. It was another situation of doubt. No one truly believed I spoke with the worms except the Technologist. The accursed Technologist. It was a wonder the teacup didn't shatter in my grasp. "...Did they say that?"

"It's a given," I explained. "Once the worms take a shine to someone, their devotion is whole-hearted. They're not going to settle for anyone else."

"You're worried about losing their affections," suggested the doctor.

"I'm worried about losing their allegiance," I clarified. "I have given them everything. The Kingdom of Ever-Worms is for them. If they don't serve me, what's the point?" I kicked at the doctor's empty stool. It fell over with a loud clatter.

"Don't fret. I'm sure it's not like that." The other didn't sound convinced. I imagined the disagreement with the worms. Worms didn't express anything, least of all a preference for another. Silly Lordavis. "You imagine running away is going to fix everything?"

"I don't care," I said. "If they want to follow some idiot they can't even understand, it doesn't bother me. Maybe they'll get frustrated and devour everyone. Maybe they'll see it's meaningless if they can't communicate."

"You're going to abandon your kingdom?"

"I don't care about my kingdom." The doctor had righted the stool. I kicked it again. It skidded across the room before flipping. "It was a stupid kingdom. I wasn't doing anything with most of it. People kept invading. They can have it. The worms aren't going to stop them. They can't do anything without me." Patiently, "You murdered Revergnols for that kingdom."

"I was going to murder Revergnols anyway."

The doctor ruminated. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"There's nothing you can say," I said. "You can't make the worms loyal to me again."

"Are you positive they've abandoned you?" Silly Lordavis. Silly, silly Lordavis.

"Yes," I asserted. "I am."

"You don't think you're misinterpreting the situation?" The doctor mulled. Naturally, I was the one in the wrong. I misinterpreted the situation. "You can be very fond of someone and still have fondness for someone else."

"No, you can't." Emphatic.

"Well," said the doctor, playing sage, "Perhaps when you return home, you will find their affections-- that is to say, their allegiance still lies with you." "Or," I suggested. "I could go into Fourmikari and rip open my heart." Maybe I would linger long enough to see the city crumble. There was a potential silver lining. I felt my belt for my dagger and recalled Nolwud had disarmed me.

I hated Nolwud.

"Lordavis," said the doctor. "I've tended to you in the many years since you Revergnols took you in. I know you well."

"I wouldn't say that," I countered.

"Your unique perspective of reality doesn't align with the perspective of others."

"You might as well say I'm antisocial and amoral." It wasn't anything I hadn't heard already. "I'm insane and I'm cruel. Have I missed anything?"

"I know how deeply you love your worms," the doctor continued.

"I don't love them," I said. "I kill the odd one here and there. It means nothing. If you love something, you don't do that." I knew how love worked. I had read enough literature. "Rather than taking their fondness for another as a slight against you, have you considered taking it as a sign?"

"A sign of what?"

The doctor was misled. "If your worms trust another, shouldn't you trust them?" "No." That was easy. The worms made terrible decisions.

"Did the worms trust Revergnols?"

"Nobody trusted Revergnols," I said.

The doctor took the teacup from my hands with a knowing smile. "Go home, Ruler. Don't renounce your kingdom over a snit."

I arrived at the palace after nightfall. I didn't want to return but I couldn't think of an alternate path. I came in through the library window, barring the door to keep out the servants that might have noticed my return. I barred the windows too, preventing anyone else from sneaking in. The room was plunged in darkness. I lit a single flame on my finger and watched it flicker. I could set fire to the books, start a grand blaze. It wouldn't have traveled far. The structure was stone and the stone didn't burn. I didn't want to burn the books either.

I sat in the darkness as the flame danced. I don't know when he got in. Rott was a clever worm. He had holes hidden throughout the palace. When I thought I had determined the entirety of their network, I would learn of a new one. The annelid didn't say anything. He crawled into my lap and curled into a ball as I continued with the fire on my fingertips. We remained that way for a great while.