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.”

in companionable silence for a time, enjoying their drinks 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 the people on what was happening, and he’d been just the person to get the

runs of short pamphlets detailing the goings on around town and the election. Likely, the

to be a printing mogul in retiring years. Oh well, something to

who is making a late

Rested Alliance,” Enid

probably guess

may have something to do with

to miss out on sleep! Renewal is already the most rested place I’ve ever seen! Even the tavern closes early.

secretary over the edge

“They’ll come for you

do what? Read me

only way to experience the true terror of the sleep police was to fall into their shadowy clutches. It wasn’t even what they did, that

Well Rested Alliance is not interested in forcing people to

raised his brows in

“They aren’t?”

“They want to make it

“Path’s mercy,” he groaned.

Enid laughed.

way, they can be even more certain that the proper number of eight has been

“How dreadful.”