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."


    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?"


    "We had to discuss the contents of your missive," said Gallivur.


    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?"


    "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."


    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 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.


    "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."


    "''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?"


    "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?"


    "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!"


    "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?"


    "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.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "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."


    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.


    My liege, said the worm. Stay away from the water.


    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.


    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.


    "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 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."


    "I''m not interested," I answered.


    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.


    sell us out, but something tells me you''d rather deal with us yourself than bow to Fourmikari."


    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."


    GEH!"


    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."