My liege, beamed Rott, thoroughly entertained by the show before us, isn''t this marvellous?


    The greatest hassle of the evening''s activities had been, as always, surreptitiously entering Fourmikari. The guards knew me well. They were proficient enough to prevent any aerial maneuvers. Likewise, there were wards and deterrents in place to keep my charges from burrowing in. Truly ambitious, I might have considered scaling the walls but it would have been foolhardy. While I hadn''t bothered keeping up the adhesives of my own palace, Fourmikari tended to theirs daily.


    I took a calculated risk and opened a bridging portal into one of the less travelled corridors in a mercantile district. on the nothern edge of the enclosed city. Fourmikari had defenses against magic and beacons on par with my own. We did not tarry long at the entry point. The worm militia dispersed in one direction while Rott and I headed in another.


    My liege. The inventor will show, assured Rott with slight annoyance. If one seeks a patron, this is the perfect location. There are an exponentially large number of vassals in attendance.


    "I don''t understand why," I remarked.


    You''re not the slightest bit amazed?


    I gesticulated dismissively. "By what? I''m also capable of throwing things."


    It''s not ''throwing things'', my liege. It''s ''juggling''.


    "It''s a matter of semantics."


    Rott wriggled with disagreement. I think it''s impressive. There must be sixteen torches in motion right now.


    "With two auxiliary arms," I said.


    It doesn''t matter how many arms, huffed Rott. I haven''t any. I can''t do that.


    "Two or four," I quipped. "Throwing objects is not a form of art."


    We weren''t meant to see eye to eye. It was of no consequence. The juggler concluded, bowed before a roaring crowd, and sauntered away with props in hand. I couldn''t make heads or tails of the popularity. The murmur of voices increased into an audible din, an indication the show was over and polite whispers weren''t required any longer.


    A cry meant to overpower the conversation rang out. I snapped to attention. "Everyone! Please wait!"


    Is this the one, my liege?


    "Yes," I conferred with the worm. "That''s the one."


    That was as far as it went. A voice from the throngs jeered, "I didn''t come out tonight to be harassed by a huckster!" A wave of titters. I chuckled too.


    "I''m not a huckster!" Nolwud''s chest puffed out. "I''m a university educated scientist!"


    A different voice. "I thought you were an inventor." More laughter.


    "They aren''t mutually exclusive," came the argument. "I invent using the science I have learned. That is why I stand before you now."


    "I''m on the cusp of a magnificent discovery," I aped to Rott in quiet mockery.


    "I''m on the cusp of a magnificent discovery," Nolwud proudly proclaimed. "With the proper support, I''m certain I--"


    "How much money are you after, Scientist?" interrupted the initial heckler. "You think I got phids to spend on you?"


    "I''m not asking for a lot," Nolwud entreated. The murmurs had picked up. Around the edges, vassals broke off. The inventor was losing them. While it was enjoyable to watch the failure, I also desired an audience. I drew forth a portal as Nolwud sputtered, "Please hear me out! I''m not looking for money!"


    I appeared behind the inventor to a collective gasp. I hooked my forearm around the poor fool''s neck and held snug. Nolwud jumped with surprise and then didn''t know how to respond. I set my head upon a shoulder. "Good evening, Fourmikari."


    A shriek. "That''s Lordavis!"


    "You''re...!" Nolwud struggled in my grasp and set hands to pockets. I wouldn''t fall for the same trick twice.


    "You''ve come for a show tonight, haven''t you?" I sang, projecting so even those in the far rows could hear. "And what a show you will get!"


    With my free hand, I plunged my thereunto concealed dagger straight into the inventor''s back. It pieced through with a loud crack. I drove deep, my arm aglow with summoned energy for an extra burn. I meant to inflict as much pain as possible. The inventor cried out before going limp in a spray of fluid. I cackled maniacally. Rott, from his perch on the building, ordered, Now!


    "Hello again," I said congenially.


    Nolwud gargled. I titled my head.


    "Hm?" Acting as if I took stock of the surroundings, I mused aloud. "Looks like it''s just you and me now."


    "Bluuuurgh."


    I slipped the dagger into my belt and stood. I circled my fallen prey, hands behind my back, a bounce in each step. "What to do, what to do..."


    "What''s that?" I put a hand to my head and leaned in. "Speak up, Nolwud. I can''t hear you." I pressed my foot upon the abdomen, increasing pressure as I leaned further with feigned innocence. The inventor groaned. "Does it hurt? Is that what you''re trying to say?"


    "LORDAVIS!"


    "This is a surprise!" I purred. "I expected you were gallivanting off somewhere in search of wrongs to right!" I clapped my hands together. "I''m so happy to see you!"


    Gallivur pointed emphatically. "Your reign of terror ends here!"


    "I haven''t begun my reign," I corrected. "That comes once I''m done with Nolwud." I glanced downwards. There was more life in the stains on the stage than left in the figure at my feet. I lifted my gaze. "...I''m done Nolwud." With a flourish, I called forth lighting into my palms and lit up the law keepers with glee. Gallivur, spared the bolts, ran at me with closed fists.


    I took to the sky with laughter. "Come on, Galli. Did you think it would be that simple?"


    Gallivur responded with a propelled wagon wheel to my face.


    Attack!"


    Stolen novel; please report.


    My liege, Rott called anxiously, made uncomfortable by Gallivur''s unexpected arrival. You''ve gotten what you came for. We ought to leave while we can.


    "Oh, Rott," I chuckled. "I can always spare some time for Gallivur!"


    My liege.


    "Look," I motioned. "See how the Great Gallivur struggles against the worms!"


    My liege, I must insist.


    I was struck hard in the head and knocked aside. Gallivur, in my distraction, had opted to use the latest worm as a bola. It was almost as clever as it was painful. "Ow."


    My liege, said Rott. Now. We must go now.


    you along with--"


    My liege! exasperated Rott. While we have the distraction!


    "....I''m going to kill you," I mumbled, opening a portal to the impatient worm. "Remember that."


    "You''re insane," sighed Gallivur, crushing a pair of worms between flat palms. "And a coward."


    coward."


    My liege, you assassinated that inventor before a gathering of powerful nobles. You wrecked havoc in their safe haven. This will be remembered."


    "But Gallivur thinks I''m a coward," I whined. "I wanted to kill Gallivur too!"


    Then kill Gallivur! snapped Rott. If you think you can. Go back and use your knife. No one will see you coming. No one will stop you.


    Rott, for his companionship and wisdom, was still only a worm.


    "No," I said, thoroughly annoyed. "It''s too late now. The moment has passed." There was a finesse, a dance to it. I could easily snap Gallivur in half like a twig. There was more to it than that. Gallivur was worth more than a dagger.


    Gallivur finished off what was left of the militia. As the guards recovered from their shocks, the champion knelt beside Nolwud. Words drifted faintly through the deserted vicinity. "Lordavis is somewhere nearby. If we act fast, we might be able to catch the brigand."


    l groaned. "No, no, no. Everything was perfect and now it''s not. Everything''s ruined. I should have stayed there and finished off Gallivur. I shouldn''t have listened to you."


    My liege, are you going to be like this all night?


    "I should leave you here," I said glumly. "With Gallivur."


    Horrified, Rott cried, My liege! Then, You''ll find that by tomorrow morning, everyone will be talking about this. By ending on a statemate, you come out the victor. Gallivur, despite being present in Fourmikari, failed to protect an innocent life. You, my liege, were able to act without hindrance and left of your own volition.


    Rott had a way of putting a positive spin on the situation. I couldn''t contest it. I rather liked the sound of it. "I did, didn''t I?"


    Gallivur holds no power over you. Gallivur is the one who is weak. Don''t you see?


    is weak! Gallivur the Great Champion is nothing compared to the Greater Magus Lordavis!"


    "Up there!" came from below. "Lordavis is up there!"


    I frowned, tipping my head. The guards had gathered. "Shit."


    Well said, my liege.


    "I wonder what Nolwud''s final thoughts were as the candle burned out," I poised, turning horizontal in the gilded chair and draping my legs across the arm. "I wonder if there was a conscious thought. I know when Revergnols--" I hesitated. Rott looked on with a curious expression. "Ah, well, at any rate, that''s one more face we won''t see again!"


    Nolwud reappeared in the Kingdom of Ever-Worms one week later.


    "I almost did die. I''m grateful for the healers. You barely missed my organs. I would have come here sooner if not for my condition. "


    I folded my hands behind me. "I can help you with that."


    "You don''t want to kill me," Nolwud insisted, swallowing the last of the meal. "I have a proposition for you. I''m looking for a patron. I think that might be you."


    "Pass," I said without hesitation. "I''m going to stab you and be done with it."


    "You don''t understand." Nolwud hopped up, holding up hands in defense. "I''m on the cusp of a magnificent discovery."


    "I know," I derided. "You''ve said it."


    "You should have let me believe you were dead."


    "But I need you." The inventor gnawed on a knuckle, a nervous tick. "I''m confined by the laws of nature as I learned them. Yet magic-- and I don''t know why I didn''t think of this sooner-- operates outside those laws. Magic is not limited by arbitrary rules. Neither is science." Nolwud caught my eye. "You see what I''m saying?"


    "No." The interloper dropped to a knee, head bowed. I scowled. "What are you doing?"


    "No."


    A coin purse appeared. "I will pay you. I have two-hundred phids." Then, "Please become my patron."


    "You''re paying me to be a patron? That''s not how it works."


    "I won''t ask for much. Some magic and...you know, that you don''t kill me."


    Nolwud pulled out a handful of blue marbles. "I can make armaments for your kingdom. I can give you weapons to..." A struggle with morality? There was a hiccup in proclamations. "...I can construct a manner of conveniences unrelated to combat. Do you like sugar?"


    "What''s wrong?" I prodded. "You don''t want to make weapons for an evil ruler?"


    "Yes," I said. "I think you''re an idiot."


    "I will make you weapons," blurted the inventor quickly. "And whatever else you want. And pay you the two-hundred phids. And swear loyalty to you. And... and help you kill that champion."


    too far. I would deal with Gallivur on my own. I would deal with Fourmikari on my own. They were mine and mine alone. "I don''t need your help to kill Gallivur."


    "I have thought it over," I said succinctly. "I will decline your request. You are free to go."


    The inventor searched the area for hidden worms. When none appeared to menace, the request was reiterated. "Please, consider becoming my patron. This is a golden opportunity for you. If you would allow me a bit of your power, I could do amazing things. I promise you wouldn''t have any regrets."


    "If you''re that certain," I allowed. "Maybe I will."


    I threw Nolwud into the dungeon and summarily forgot about the proposal.