Chrysalis

“Support might be weakening for the Labourer candidate after his new policy proposal landed flat yesterday. People weren’t happy with the idea of using the ants as farm animals. Unsurprising. This is interesting: apparently, there’s been a late surge by a new group,” Enid mused as she read over the pamphlet that had been delivered that morning.

“I cannot believe how quickly you got that organised,” Terrence muttered as he poured tea for the two of them. “Where did you even source the ink?”

“The Colony was able to facilitate a trade with one of the underground cities that they manage. The whole thing was above board.”

“And your enchanted printing press? I suppose you purchased that for the market price?”

Enid had the grace to look abashed.

“I have to admit, I didn’t expect something like that to appear. The ants were curious about the concept of mass printing, and I told them how I believed it was done. I could hardly expect they’d drop a completely finished press on the doorstep two days later.”

“You did have a rather amusing expression on your face, as I recall.”

“Oh hush and pass the tea. Thank you.”

“The real question is if they’ll be able to adapt the technology to mass print their scent writing. If so, then they’ll be able to produce books, libraries, and whole repositories of knowledge.”

“A golden age of ant information sharing?” Enid said. “Come to think of it, this could be the perfect time for them to take up such technology. They’re getting more and more spread out as they expand, pretty soon, a crafter on one side of the Colony will never meet one on the other. Being able to share information will be critical.”

“And you just happened to introduce them to the idea right when they might need it,” Terrence rolled his eyes.

“Not everything I do is part of some grand scheme,” the old woman huffed as she sipped from her fine cup. “Sometimes it's just an accident.”

“Fine.”

and the warm air that wafted in through the open window. It had been five days since Enid had first pitched the idea to young Matthew about putting out some writing about the election. It was important to educate

around town and the election. Likely, the pace would slow down

in retiring years. Oh well,

who is making a late surge

Rested Alliance,” Enid

can probably guess

to do

ever seen! Even the tavern closes early. What further policies can

former secretary over the

dangerous talk,” she warned him. “They’ll

Read me

to fall into their shadowy clutches. It wasn’t even what they did, that was downright helpful, it was their unnerving and uncanny ability

topic, “the Well Rested Alliance is not interested in forcing

raised his brows

“They aren’t?”

She sipped her tea. “They want to

“Path’s mercy,” he groaned.

Enid laughed.

the proper number of eight has been

“How dreadful.”