Nolwud set the three glass jars before me as I did my best to feign indifference. It wasn't the pained cries that bothered me. It was the intensity, particularly that of the caterpillar, that made me wish I hadn't revealed the extent of my ability to communicate.

"My liege," said Nolwud. "While out installing your defenses today, I collected several specimens. I'm curious to see who you can understand and what they're able to tell you."

My eyes drifted over the containers.

Hello! said the dragonfly on the end. His wings shimmered and fluttered.

Where am I? asked the ant in the middle. She touched frantically around with her antennae. Where is the colony?

PLEASE LET ME OUT!!! shrieked the caterpillar. PLEASE!!! I'M SO FRIGHTENED!!! LET ME OUT, LET ME OUT, LET ME OUT!!!

"What is this meant to accomplish?" I mused, struggling to appear bored.

"I'm fascinated," said the Technologist. "Fascinated by you. I've never heard of someone who can communicate cross-species."

I SHALL NEVER BECOME A BUTTERFLY!!! weeped the caterpillar. "Back home," Nolwud continued, "You would have been considered the ultimate diplomat."

"How so?" I knew the answer. Unlike the Nolwud, I didn't consider my comprehension a gift. It had its perks, certainly, but sometimes, such as that very moment, it vexed me.

"You're capable of understanding and being understood by every being possessing conscious thought. That's a great benefit. Some spend their whole lives devoted to the study of language. Somehow, your knowledge is innate. It's astounding!"

I WANT TO SEE THE SUN, the caterpillar declared. I'd had enough.

"Rott." I pushed the caterpillar's jar aside. Nolwud, unable to react in time, could only watch helplessly as it fell from the throne platform and smashed to pieces on the floor below.

I'M FREEEEEEEE!!! exclaimed the caterpillar moments before my trusted worm swallowed him down.

So juicy and fat, said Rott. Delicious!

The Technologist gave me a look and gripped the remaining jars firmly. "This is a serious experiment! Let me finish." "That bug," I said, " was trying my patience." "Here," Nolwud held out the two other insects. "I want you to ask where I found them."

"Why? What's the point?"

Nolwud urged, "To confirm that you're actually communicating. To confirm that you're not misinterpreting signals."

"Which is another way of saying I'm insane?" I sneered. "You're going to join the bandwagon?"

Nolwud didn't respond.

"Where did the Technologist find you?" I put forth, annoyed and disconnected.

I was flying in the field of yellow, said the dragonfly. There's yellow and the yellow brings flies. I like to eat flies.

I was looking for food, said the ant. The larvae must eat.

"The dragonfly was in a yellow field," I remarked.

"Yes, with dandelions," acknowledged Nolwud proudly. The inventor waited and eventually prodded, "And the ant?"

"I'm able to speak to rational thinkers," I replied. "I don't hear anything."

I hated ants in any shape or form.

"You can't understand the ant?" Nolwud was incredulous. "But you ought to be able--"

"I can't understand the ant," I said firmly. Succinctly. End of discussion.

I understand you, said the ant. I understand you well. You are the first creature I've ever understood that wasn't one of my sisters. I'm very pleased to meet you.

"Ants are intelligent," Nolwud argued.

"No," I said. "Ants are stupid."

Oh. The ant lowered her head.

I like to eat ants, said the dragonfly. But don't worry, I wouldn't eat you.

"You couldn't eat me," I derided, slapping the side of the jar. Nolwud withdrew before we repeated the caterpillar mishap. "I would snap you like a twig."

I don't want to eat you, said the ant glumly. I want to find food for the larvae. "You honestly can't understand the ant?" Nolwud needled.

"No," I said. "I honestly can't."

"Hm." The Technologist pondered, a great new theory formulating. "There must be a reason for that, an unanticipated outlier or cause. It goes against logic. You should be most capable of communicating with the ant." I wasn't particularly interested. "I prefer worms." Me too, said the dragonfly. "You've killed the worm," said the Technologist.

"A caterpillar is not a worm," I responded.

"Is it possible that the more advanced or similar the species," posed Nolwud, "the harder the communication? Does that make sense?"

I shook my head. "I communicate and understand across all beings equally."

"Really?" Nolwud gnawed at the knuckle. "Has it always been that way? What do you hear when you speak to Rott? Full sentences or impulses?"

I preened. "Rott is a very verbose worm."

Thank you, my liege, Rott meekly squeaked. "By my understanding," said Nolwud. "Worms do not possess the capabilities to think beyond wants and needs. There is no deeper communication to be had. It should be impossible."

"Is that what your 'university education' taught you?" Nolwud frowned. "Perhaps your worms have more advanced brains. I haven't tried to dissect them. If that's the case, perhaps there is higher functioning."

"Take your pick," I offered. "Except for Rott. Leave Rott."

What about me, my liege?

"The Technologist is going to rip someone open and poke about their brain."

The gathered servants stopped abruptly and looked our way. Nolwud recognized their perception and hands flailed comically. The insects inside the jars cried out with surprise as they were jostled.

"I didn't say that!"

I smirked. "Such a sadist, the Technologist. I never know quite where to put Nolwud on a morality scale. It's ever changing."

The inventor tried to insist otherwise. Turning to the nearest worm, Nolwud proclaimed, "I'm not going to hurt any of you!"

"It makes sense, you know?" I leaned forward. "You're nice to them, offering scraps, petting them, thanking them. It was a ploy to gain their trust. Very clever, Technologist. Very clever indeed."

The inventor thanks us? Rott asked. This was the first he'd heard. He sounded touched.

"Shut up," I said. "Not important."

"Great," muttered Nolwud. "The worms hate me."

"Yes," I beamed. If I said anything further, I'd reveal my deception. We both knew it. Nolwud glared.

"They'll come around," said Nolwud firmly. "They know your nature. They'll figure this out."

"In the meanwhile," I said, "You could focus your time on building the various devices I've tasked you with and stop wasting it on science experiments." "My liege, I am a scientist first and foremost."

"I thought you were managing the treasury, and the army, and surveying the lands, and running my kingdom, and everything except practicing science."

"Your kingdom is in such rough shape," the Technologist began. "Someone has to take action. It's obviously not going to be you."

"Again with the same argument!" We both turned towards the pile of cushions. Painyll twirled his wrist above his head. "Oh, you can't run your kingdom! Oh, you overstep your authority! It's done. It's over. I need new material or I think my inspiration will dry up!" "I'm not responsible for your inspiration," I barked. Painyll was not a part of the conversation and I did not welcome his self inclusion.

"You enjoy my creations, my liege," countered Painyll. "You wouldn't have made me your Royal Dramatist if you did not." For my hatred and dislike of the poet, I could not fault his skill. It wasn't enough to save him from the brunt my ire. "I am unable to answer to my calling when around me there is an uninspired routine and repetition." "Would you like to watch the dragonfly or ant?" Nolwud offered politely, stepping down to join the reclining male. "I have read that some are inspired by scenes of nature. They're both fascinating in their own ways." "Keep those filthy pests away from me," said Painyll cooly. The look on Nolwud's face! I howled with laughter. "F-filthy pests?" Nolwud stammered. "These are our forebears! If not for the resilience and adaptations of the simpler creatures, life as we know it might never have come to be!" Painyll flopped dramatically. "It's clear I am alone with my disposition! You have your jars of plenty and my liege Lordavis has the worms. What is there left for poor, lonesome Painyll whose soul is tortured for eternity?" "I just got these jars," stated Nolwud, largely ignored. "Alone?" I gestured to the guards standing motionless by the doors. "You have them. They take up space and eat my food. You're not alone." "They can hardly be counted as company," groussed Painyll in reference to their disfigurement. "I can't be expected to carry on with them as I might another." "You did that," Nolwud said before I had the chance. The inventor glanced over in inspection. "It might be possible to construct something to mitigate some of the damage." "No," I interjected. "Your services are engaged until you've completed what you owe me." "What am I to do until then?" Painyll thrashed about in tantrum. He stopped abruptly, staring up at the ceiling. An epiphany had dawned. "A successor, my liege. I would like a successor." The notion was absurd. I chortled, "What?" "I've been most content with your denial of societal expectations and norms, my liege. It is perhaps what I've enjoyed the most about your glorious reign in my time back in Nova." "Flattery will get you nowhere," I said. I stroked my jaw. "But continue." "Why not further turn the old ways on their head? A successor for the likes of Painyll, a victim of his lot in life, a sad clown who once shone bright as the stars above, and who pines to bask the lyrics of his muse, if only given proper means?" "Go copulate with an extremely fertile female," I said frankly. Beneath the flowery speech, that was Painyll's impulse. "Make your own successors." "I don't want offspring!" exclaimed the Dramatist. "I have no inclination to sire anything!" He pulled a face and placed a hand over his eyes, shielding them from our gazes. "My opinion of the female sex is abyssmal! I completely loathe them." "You want a successor," I said, cackling. "You're full of them." "My liege." The inventor's hand went to face as well, albeit for a different reason. "Don't be crass." "I considered us like minds," said Painyll. "Kindred spirits. Two peas in a pod. Your actions thus far would indicate as much."

"I hate everyone equally," I asserted. "A successor." Painyll rolled onto his stomach and rested his head upon his arms. "Imagine it, my liege. What do you think they would say? Have you heard of such a thing before? The rage! Oh, how unbridled the rage!"

"No," I said. "The notion of you having a successor is a joke."

"Would your successor be the same as you?" asked Nolwud.

Painyll fancied the idea. His features lit up. "I hadn't dreamed of such a thing. Perhaps. How strange and foreign that would be. I haven't known anyone else like me. "

"There's a good reason for that," I remarked.

"I don't think we're going to find another like him," said Nolwud to me, half under breath.

I gave the Technologist an incredulous look. Was the inventor going along with this? "Painyll isn't getting a successor."

Nolwud shrugged. "Why not?"

"Why not?" I sputtered. "Do you think I want more mouths running about my palace?" I reiterated, "If he wants a successor, he's capable of breeding!" Painyll clamped his hands to his head. "Never! I will never do such a thing! I swore it long ago! I enjoy my life! I will not do it!"

"If you want to piss off Fourmikari," Nolwud insisted. "Give Painyll a successor. Like he says, it isn't done. It's an affront to everything and they won't know how to respond."

"Do you want to start walking around naked too?" I mocked. I gestured facetiously. "Do you want to start unpinching? Perhaps we should forgo the security systems and invite Chidsey in if we're disregarding common practices all together." I slipped from my throne, dropping horizontal on the platform floor for emphasis. "Crawl around like the ant in your jar. Is that what you want, Nolwud? Is that what science wants?" "If anything," huffed Nolwud, "granting Painyll a successor would be a step forward, not back. It would show that you're not bound by tradition." The Technologist pointed westward. "By now, they've received our missive. If Painyll has a successor here, in your court, we can use that to delay further. It's ideal for our purposes and your misplaced sense of outrage is going to cost you."

"I don't want to go to Fourmikari," said Painyll forlornly. "I came here for sanctuary." To me, he beseeched, "You said you would destroy them. Why haven't you?" I looked at Nolwud. "Because I don't have my plane shifter."

Nolwud said nothing. The inventor cradled the jars, massaging away an oncoming migraine.

My liege, said Rott timidly, uncertain if it was proper to join the discussion. What about a worm raised as a successor?

"Yes," I derided. "That's what Painyll wants." To the poet, I called, "Rott has offered you a worm companion. Isn't that nice?"

Painyll was not interested. "Revolting! There are too many worms as it is!"

"Your offer was declined," I said. Then, "I don't see why we're worried about getting Painyll anything. He ought to be grateful to stay here." I smiled sweetly and directed it to the sack of fluid. "Don't I keep you safe, Dramatist?"

"Well--"

"Don't I drive off the ones tracking you across the land?" Painyll rolled away. He was aware of the magus that had come for him and knew better than to disregard my efforts. "I am grateful for your protection, my liege."

"A successor," I scoffed anew. "To be trained as a fledgling poet, I suppose?"

"It is my specialty," said Painyll with pride.

"Where would this successor come from?" I mocked. "Even if I were to take part in your farce, you imagine I can send Nolwud into Fourmikari and procure one for a hundred phids?"

"Certainly. That's--" Painyll realized the ridiculousness of the request as he spoke. He frowned. "No, I don't suppose that would work."

"Fourmikari is fresh out of purchasable offspring," I lamented sarcastically. "Lucky for you, Nolwud is from far away and can procure one from the vassals there." I shot Nolwud a glance. "Can't you? I'll throw in another hundred phids to ensure that our dear Painyll isn't suffering in his solitude." I added a barbed, "No loathsome females, please."

The inventor took me at my word. "I could send some letters and see what I can find."

"Absolutely not," I quipped. "You're building me electric traps and then you're building a plane shifter. You'll go to your kingdom when I say you go to your kingdom!" Nolwud replied, "This is my kingdom."

"A sad, empty, lonely kingdom," bleated Painyll dolefully. "If only I had someone to talk to!"

"Come, Rott," I collected the annelid. "I'm done with this." Scooping up my constant companion, I opened a portal and stepped away. I was taken aback to hear the Technologist ask the Dramatist, "What was Nova like?" when we returned from a brief walk. There were no dragonfly harbingers and the sun had been too bright. I had hoped to find one, if not both, cleared from the throne room when I poked my head in. I skulked outside the doors instead. From Nolwud's perspective, I could understand the curiosity. I had considered the matter over, acknowledged, and resolved. Yes, I had advised Nolwud to familiarize with the local ways, but hadn't the inventor gotten more than enough on Nova from Gallivur? Sensing my thoughts without sensing my proximity, Nolwud amended, "I've already heard some from Fourmikari."

"Fourmikari!" blustered Painyll, bristling with indignation. "You cannot trust everything you hear in Fourmikari."

"I can imagine."

"But," said Painyll, "in answer to your inquiry, Nova was lovely. I enjoyed Nova immensely."

"What did you like best about it?"

Painyll mused. "Why, the food, of course! To keep the productivity going as long as possible, they produced a variety of syrups to distribute amongst the farm houses. For someone like me who was not involved in that process, it was a tremendous luxury to have such variety at my disposal. Revergnols would bring me my fill at night." He elaborated, "I was kept and housed in an unused cottage that no longer stands. Anything I desired was procured for me and I was escorted when I deigned to observe the ongoing work."

Nolwud's head tilted. "You took an interest in the work? You weren't concerned?"

"About what?" chuckled the Dramatist. "There was nothing they could have done to me. They were at the end of their lives. Most of them couldn't even feed without assistance. Revergnols was very thorough. Everyone was kept on a tight schedule. Many couldn't keep up and they were replaced." A wistful sigh. "Nova was Fourmikari's solution to an epidemic that might have ravaged another society."

"Yes," said the inventor with hesitation. "We've never considered it in my former land." The inventor gnawed. "Homogeneity isn't important." "Fourmikari is perfect, Technologist Nolwud," tittered Painyll. "As an outsider, you're lucky you pose no threat."

"And if I did?"

Painyll tittered on. "Why, you'd be no better than that worm food from yesterday." He rolled onto his back. "My liege Lordavis is best suited to carry on Revergnol's efforts. I am wholly convinced." He clarified, "Looking after me, of course. That's all I mean."

I was not my predessor's replacement. I folded my arms and listened further.

"Revergnols protected you?" Nolwud prodded. "Then why did you leave?"

"Nova wasn't enough," Painyll said. "Oh, it was one thing to keep me here. It was another to deny Fourmikari access. By rights, Nova swore fealty to Fourmikari. It was the reason Revergnols was granted the land and made ruler of the expanse."

"Were you and Revergnols close?"

"I was exempt from the expectations of those who lived and worked in Nova, if that's what you mean." Painyll clacked his jaw. "You're not capable of understanding love to the extent that I do, Technologist Nolwud. It's not your fault. Revergnols was the same way. But, in as much as those lacking the capacity to do so can, Revergnols loved me and cherished me." After a moment's thought, he amended, "Well, Revergnols liked my poetry and that was good enough."

Nolwud ruminated. "I was told Revergnols and Lordavis aren't that different in personality."

"I disagree immensely," said Painyll. "Revergnols was a calculating ruler and an efficient tyrant capable of extraordinary yields. My liege Lordavis is... well, you know as well as I." Painyll sighed. "Really, the greatest flaw Revergnols possessed was loyalty to Fourmikari. Without that, a ruler without peer."

Nolwud was blunt. "I was told Revergnols worked the subjects of Nova to death."

"You say one thing, I say another," lilted Painyll. "Or rather, the people of Fourmikari say one thing. Did any of them complain when Nova was providing?" A scoff. "It's the bitterness of going without. It was a minor inconvenience at the time. It's easier to villainize the dead."

My liege? whispered Rott. There wasn't a need. His voice went unheard despite its volume. Aren't we going to go back in?

"No," I replied. "I think we'll take another walk."