***

There were rumors of scouts from the 43rd city, Nadiea-kande-Ji, contacting us, but nothing concrete. I had heard about it in passing while dazed from sleeping too long or maybe a period too short. This group was a build-up in that direction.

We made it to the surface just in time as they reached the entrance to the city. Soldiers had already gathered to receive them. A royal captain was in a conversation.

The embers from the 43rd had stubbier legs —they said it allowed them to float on water— and an overall larger abdomen than us. They had brought frog meat as a gift, which the soldiers happily received. The most surprising thing about them was their leader himself; he was not a royal male, but a common soldier, an old one with battle marks littering his entire bulky body. The most striking among them was the star-shaped burn mark at the middle of his forehead. It was offensively in your face.

Why was he leading in the place of a royal male? Seeing him one-sidedly arguing with the captain from our side was enough to show the reason.

Listen, lad. We have come from far away. And we are very anxious. We have to meet her highness, the queen, right now. As I would like make to the journey back before sundown. Listening? We don’t have the time for games. There are policies made for these kinds of things, right? He addressed the rest of his cast who nodded in response.

One of the more average soldiers, an adviser, recited the policy he was talking about from memory. During the 3rd generation war to expunge the remaining termites from our land, her highness Agnee promised our Mother Nadiea help to kill the frogs, especially after a sudden shower, in return for providing war resources.

They had come to receive help to hunt the frogs that had leaped out of the river and made base around their city after the rain. The sudden thunderclouds had not affected just us.

During peaceful times our soldiers would have voluntarily gathered, however, since we were at war with the termites, protocols needed to be followed so we wouldn’t end up sending away soldiers needed to protect our boundaries.

They asked to meet the commander since that’s what the rules suggested, but the commander was away, and even though the committee stood in his place, the supreme authority for such decision resided solely in the hands of the queen.

They were taken inside, but kept on the first floor and asked to wait. The leader of the delegation, whom I named star, for his graphical scar, scented strong dissatisfaction, but it led to nothing as the soldiers were also in the right.

Princess’s, however, had an idea.

That’s reckless. I told her and was proudly ignored.

She had asked the explorers for help and was denied. The queen had advised her against it since there were no troops to be sent so far.

Now she had decided to hatch a ride. She rushed to the troops from the 43rd. They were pretty depressed and tired, but their captain turned when he sensed a female scent. Obviously, he wasn’t expecting her out of the city, venturing near the surface.

I don’t know what he was expecting, but what princess asked him and his troops did send him into thinking.

Do you have any recent news from the 47th city? Anything you can share.

Wh-what? No, they haven’t contacted us since the fall and we have been too busy to contact them with the frogs and the rain, recently. Why do you ask? My presence and the scent I had only puzzled the delegation leader, Star. He looked at his troops for help. They were as overwhelmed as him. Our soldiers were equally at loss from the exchange that was taking place.

Do you by some coincidence know the way to the 47th city?

I-I might have been there one or two times before. He was slowly starting to realize where the conversation was heading.

Can you take me there? He looked like he had guessed right when she asked that.

He spoke confidently. He must have known the way or he wouldn’t have said so. Or he could have been faking it. Can I ask why?

I believe think there is something wrong with the city. I also believe the termites might be responsible.

Has there been any report of termite sighting lately?

No, Princess. There has been none. His advisers said after a discussion. However, he was looking lively again. He liked where the conversation as going. I didn’t.

That doesn’t matter. I ask you if you can take me there. She said and Star’s adviser poked him on the back. That was a signal. It was too obvious to ignore, but Princess also had a plan.

Only if you help us, Star proposed.

Do you want to meet Mother? Follow me. She said and started walking, not waiting to hear the response.

She was excited once again, desperate still, but also greedy.

The soldiers stared at me, questioning what had just happened.

She can meet the queen at any time. It’s her birthright. And she can take anyone with her. I was telling the soldiers and letting Star pick up the clue.

Of course, he said and we were rushing after the princess: The delegation leader, Star, and I. His soldiers were taken to one of the many waiting chambers on the first floor for rest and feeding. They wouldn’t have been allowed to meet the queen anyways.

Can she really help me meet the queen?

Of course, I said, doubtful over his question. Who doesn’t know that about a Princess's birthright?

I was told I might have to wait a few days before getting to meet her highness, Agnee. The advisers gave me frog meat to bribe the soldiers. He shook his head in disgust. If a soldier could be bribed with meat there wouldn’t be any cities standing. Why did they think soldiers ate the meat first? It was a ridiculous opinion.

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Ridiculous was his contempt for his own advisers and the openness about it. That was a punishable crime in Agnee-Rath-Ji, which he obviously didn’t know. And he wasn’t finished shaming his own ants yet, but I was also interested. He was from a whole different city, a city that allowed its soldiers to lead the charge!

He continued. They even advised me do to anything I could to get help, short of creating a commotion. Another experience less advice, but they can’t be blamed either. The frogs have really caused us a lot of distress this time. He slowed his pace, letting Princess take a small lead. He might have found himself in trouble over this if I wasn’t with him. He didn’t seem to realize.

You might not know this but our poison is very thin when compared to yours. It works when hunting small beings, but a frog is just too much for us. And this time a whole family of them came after the rain and took residence in the valley of bugs where we usually hunt for food. He kept going. If we don’t get help soon we might have to take some really drastic measures.

We found Princess stopped by the royal guard outside the queen’s chamber. She was arguing with the guard over her reason for demanding an audience with the queen and they were perplexed.

The royal guard was quick to ask me for an explanation. He was different from the workers and the soldiers. While they ridiculed me, he didn’t. I wondered if it was because I was also a royal guard, just like him.

I pointed an antenna at my companion. He nodded and called Star forward. They followed the procedure —checked his identity and asked his reason behind the visit— and tapped the coin door in a hurry. He even gave us a small salute before allowing us entry.

The queen, however, was really busy.

She looked unhealthy. Last time she had only laid five eggs in our presence. But now she was laying one every few seconds. A group of caretakers completed their shift at our entrance and another took their place, constantly massaging her abdomens and back without a break. The nurses were disinfecting both the eggs and her anus, which was starting to look inflamed. Her playthings had been removed, the chamber laid bare. But no matter the tiredness or the pressure, she looked determined.

That is until she was told of our presence. She hadn’t even noticed us! It was not a good indication.

Why have you come? She didn’t greet us, neither stopped laying eggs.

Princess bowed her antennae in respect and spoke for the three of us. We have a delegation from the 43rd city at our steps asking for help, mother.

Queen finally spared us a glance and called Star forward. Instead of opening a scented channel she directly went into internal connection with him. She looked devastated when their antennae separated, and released the scent of remorse, causing a short panic among her caretakers.

Why didn’t you come sooner if the situation was this bad? She asked the veteran soldier. You waited and this is the result. How many have you lost untill today?

The male shivered and the queen pounced. Regardless, we will help you. But we’ll take everything we catch.

We agree. The soldier solemnly responded.

Star waited to be released, but Queen Agnee had one more question for him. How is Nadiea? She asked.

Mother is… desperate.

Queen sent one of her advisers with the soldier to help him recruit for the mission. He waved me goodbye and thanked the princess before rushing out, the adviser tagging along. He really must have wanted to get back before sundown.

Princess stepped up to request permission to join the delegation, but the queen stopped her before she could take her second step.

I know what you want, daughter. She scented. I’m proud to have birthed you who dare put her life on the line for my colony. But I can’t accept your proposal. I can’t let you go.

NO! Princess bellowed out, but the queen continued despite her outbreak.

I would have been happy to agree, even help you in your mission if you had come to me with your knowledge before the wood eaters raided our home. But call it out of love or need, I can’t let you go now. You’ll have to stay.

You can’t stop me! Princess said in anger. Anyone can join a delegation for help. It takes volunteers and I’m volunteering.

No, you are not. Queen gave her final verdict and did something that none of us believed she would. She took away Princess's passport. Her heart fell. The action broke the hope Princess was holding onto.

You can’t do that! Princess proclaimed. It was no longer desperation that I felt from her, but pure remorse.

Hold her. Queen ordered her caretakers. I scared one off her, but the others took her to one of the side chambers. They glared at me when I tried to enter, but was allowed once the queen gave me permission.

The chamber wasn’t a prison, but an incubation pod that had piles upon piles of white eggs lined against the walls.

Princess was pacing around. For better or for worse she wasn’t breaking the eggs in anger. That would have been the highest crime possible, one punishable with death. She wasn’t alone, however. There was also a nurse beside her in the chamber, disinfecting the eggs and checking their temperature

I could feel her smoldering inside, but outside she appeared collected. I had thought a few things to calm her, but she was in no need of such assistance.

What took you so long? She scented and pushed through without waiting for my reply. I want you to find help. Get someone who understands our cause. Go to the fortieth floor. Master will know what to do. We need to cover all perspectives, someone to work on the clue that none else is working upon. I believe the termite raid was a distraction. And they are planning something very big this time. Someone has to go check out the 47th city. It has to be done. If nothing’s wrong then it’s all good, but if there is even a single chance of trouble, we need to figure it out before it’s too late.

I’ll go. I said out loud, surprising her as much as myself.

What? No! That’s not what I meant. She told me in panic. Not to even consider how you will get there? What will you even do when you are there? What can you do? Don’t be foolish.

She said and they weren’t just words. Her heart thumped the same way mine had the day I broke my mandible. Though desperate, she didn’t want me to put my life in danger. But her impatience only made my path clear to my eyes.

No. I told her. I’m going. I’m going to hitch a ride with the delegation to the 43rd city, and then I’ll find a way.

I was decided.

Someone had to do something. Better it be me, instead of someone else or worse, her