Chrysalis

When the noise finally died down, Isaac pulled his hands from over his ears and slowly, very slowly, opened his eyes.

The first thing he felt… was relief that the roof hadn’t collapsed on top of him. A good start. Next came the relief that his legs hadn’t fallen off or been crushed, they were simply numb from the incessant shaking of the floor.

Wins all around. Isaac was beginning to hold out hope that his moustache hadn’t fallen straight off his face from the stress, but he deliberately didn’t reach up to check. He wasn’t ready to find out his suspicions were correct after all.

Soundly convinced that he was (sans moustache) in one, sound piece, he began to turn his attention to everyone else.

“Hello! Ant cavalry, sound off!”

He got a few muffled calls, some groans and a few swear words for his efforts. The air was thick with dust and he could barely see ten metres in front of himself.

There must have been a collapse somewhere in the chamber to kick up all this mess; he could only hope nobody not covered in a second skin of minerals had been caught underneath. Confident he wouldn’t get much more out of his human squad mates, he turned to pheromones and called out again.

“Ant cavalry? Who can smell this?”

“How are you, Captain Isaac?”

“Doing well over here!”

“That was something interesting, wasn’t it?”

“Finished napping, then? Ready to get to work?”

“Anyone else want some biscuits and tea when we get back to the ship?”

“Stop slacking, Captain!”

were they on about? He made his way toward them and found the ants had already collected their less active riders and deposited them in a line of sorry-looking sods. Covered in dust and clearly shaken, they shivered, moaned and stared blankly straight ahead, ignoring everything happening

Shock. They were rattled by what had just happened. And why

the line, calling names softly, placing a hand on their faces, shaking hands. Most were able to acknowledge him, some were able to get up and assist with a little

mage to clear this dust?” he asked one of the ants. “It’s as thick as me mam’s porridge,

been purloined without the

think so. Most of them are clearing out the rock,

off while Isaac wondered just what she’d meant when she said they were ‘clearing out the

mission was undamaged. The brathian merchants were there, along with Eran and her family. The ants were also safe, though most of them had relocated to where the

collapsed, on the side of the room which led to the exit. Ants were crawling all over the rubble now, doing their best to clear a pathway. Isaac saw immediately what the problem was. With so few ants allowed inside, most of those who had entered were carvers who specialised in making things, and the soldiers

a sigh, Isaac headed over to see what he could

met his

your… hands… to shift some rock… I suppose?” one

with those? They aren’t

can move rock,” he snapped, reaching down to

a bit larger than he probably should have, and instantly regretted it. However, he couldn’t put it down now, so he grit his teeth and

“Don’t underestimate the

said smugly, holding up one of her front legs and snipping her

wasn’t really something he kept in the forefront of his mind. The

know what happened?”

chorus of

had been around Anthony long enough to know that, but

Eldest did?” he pressed. “I’d love to have a little more knowledge about why this mountain