Chrysalis

When the word comes down that we are planning to ship out, the Colony doesn’t muck around. In short order, all ten thousand ants evacuate the nest and the carvers tear it down, flattening out the soil and leaving everything just as we found it. Someone tried to leave a statue standing in the site of the former nest, but I obliterated it the moment I saw it.

I swear…

Naturally, the Folk insist on close inspections. We get counted to make sure we aren’t leaving anyone behind. Then they carefully check to make sure we didn’t tunnel into the ground and leave behind anything suspicious. I’m guessing this is mostly for show. I’d be shocked if they hadn’t been keeping an eye on the ground below us the entire time.

With all that done, we are fine to move out and get back on the ships. I am not looking forward to that, but there isn’t much choice in the matter. In an organised group, we start to make our way to the docks in an orderly fashion. Of course, it’s a little hard not to notice that we aren’t the only ones marching through Freehill towards the dock. Less than a kilometre to our right, the Legion are similarly marching. I suppose they plan to follow us around after all.

Sigh.

Nobody is happy about this development. Well, nobody except Isaac. The man can’t stop smiling to himself and knuckling his moustache.

[What is with you?] I ask him, exasperated.

The ant cavalryman just smirks up at me and waggles his eyebrows.

[You’ll understand when you’re older, Anthony.]

[I sincerely hope not.]

Whatever has got him acting this way, he probably needs medicine to get it fixed because this man is clearly ill.

[They’re here to kill me. You remember that, right?]

He just scoffs.

[Good luck to them.]

[Hey! Oh. You mean they need good luck.]

tin cans to take you down.

compliment… I

eager to get away and march alongside the ant column, trying to make sure nothing goes wrong. There’s plenty of trades to make and business to conduct still here in the fourth, and they are

the Folk. A lot

the looks of things. There’s a stage, and gathered dignitaries. All looking very proper and

nice of them! We haven’t been here that long, but clearly they appreciated us enough to give us a proper sendoff. I have to say, the Folk have been a very taciturn people for the

report any instances of

you know anything about this?” Sloan

pretty quietly. Look,

a lot of conversation and uncertain looks amongst the Colony’s business partners. Whatever is going on here, they weren’t advised about it either. This is confirmed

Which I don’t.

the wolf-Folk, who appears next to me as if he

do that,

teeth in an

arranged a short ceremony. Which is the only sort of ceremony we can really tolerate.

[Of course.]

to do much, just gather in the right spot, close to the stage, but off to the left a bit. To our right, clearly not welcome to the ceremony, are the Legion, who stand in ordered ranks, radiating

cares? You

large gathering of Folk clearly do. There’s a lot of serious faces out there. For my part, along with my siblings, we just stand around, trying not to be bored. Well… I stand around trying not to be bored while

Grey interprets for me, and he expects me to communicate what is being said

whose name is super long. Feather something. And he’s… oh lord… he’s reading some historical treatise or something? Have

you passing all of

[Of course!]

something about the

next lady is saying something about… us! It’s about us!

lot

you’re imagining