Anthology 8: Sovereign Sand

By James Malcolm

This is the last publication in The Anthology series and the authors eleventh release. For more information, visit Bing, James Malcolm Book Collection. Life is an adventure. Enjoy the ride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543429084

James Malcolm

James lives with his wife Shellie on Harstine Island in Washington State. He is an avid fantasy fiction and lyrical poetry author working on his twenty fifth book.

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Copyright © 2017 by James Malcolm.

Illustrations by Ann Mecham

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/12/2017

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Contents

1. Shadow Dance

2. On A Roll

3. T.V. Guide

4. Retribution

5. March Madness

6. Log Jam

7. Bridge to Nowhere

8. The Parade

9. The Clash

10. Queen of Sand

11. Home Sweet Home

12. Pest Control

13. The Evacuation

14. Closure

15. Character Map

16. Songs

And

ANTroducing

Marty and Clod

MARTY%20AND%20CLOD.jpg

Shadow Dance

The planned strategy of the allied freedom fighters to block Queen Esmeralda’s army from traversing the creek’s branch bridge was foiled for the time being. Either the queen opted not to cross at that specific spot and time, or she intended on another location all along. The allies had been unexpectedly outsmarted and the avoided conflict left their ranks in a state of confusion. They were relegated to follow the fleeing queen without knowing what was she up to?

It was imperative that the sister queen’s two armies remain separated, but once Esmeralda’s soldiers started marching upstream, the uncertainty of the blocking scheme came into question. The faster her army traveled the closer they’d come to Cassandra’s encampment and sooner rather than later, the two sisters would eventually see each other on opposite sides of the creek along the mushroom forest.

Of course that bleak scenario depended on whether or not the Black Queen was stationary or also on the move. Her potential mobility created a new problem for the allies. How could they possibly stop Esmeralda from crossing the creek if they encountered Cassandra first, or was that part of their sinister plan all along? They needed help from the birds or the rabbits to know for sure what dangers they faced, but due to the hawk causing havoc above the field, neither would make contact for quite some time.

This black mass of ants marched slowly west, purposefully avoiding the course of the creek, as the five disappointed monarch’s watched them slipping away. Before long, the only trace they left behind was the flattened grass along the shore. The allied armies held their position waiting for some kind of direction from the generals, who were waiting on the queens, unsure whether or not they should pursue the escaping ants.

So, now what do we do ladies? Has anyone got another plan of action since this one has just fallen apart? Ebony inquired.

Well, obviously, we can’t make them crossover until they want to, Amy replied.

We’ve got five armies just standing around, waiting for us to make an intelligent decision, Do we follow Esmeralda or not? Ivy questioned.

Staying here doesn’t serve any purpose and shadowing their movements will eventually leave us sandwiched between my mother and aunt’s armies. Flaxen, might you have any brilliant suggestions? Amy asked.

If we don’t follow them the morale of our troops will suffer from our indecision. Your aunt will think she has intimidated us and her soldiers will think we are cowards. I don’t believe we have any other choice, right now. Besides, our goal was to keep them on opposite sides of the creek. We can still do that, but if we don’t shadow them, they can cross anytime they feel like it. Ultimately they could easily unite because we allowed them to control the situation, while we failed to react.

Do we have the capability of fighting two fronts at the same time, because eventually, that’s what this whole mess might come down to, Ferny inquired.

Since the White Queen was the true veteran of the group, everyone’s attention shifted back to her for an answer to the question of such strategic magnitude. Flaxen felt the weight of her opinion couldn’t be more important at such a critical time. The unity of the colonies had to be a priority and any lack of agreement could tear them apart. She thought very carefully before sharing her advice.

Yes we can, if we believe in ourselves and trust in our friends. Esmeralda has to camp somewhere along the creek, so we still have time to develop a new strategy along the way. Everything we presume is merely a guess at this point and good fortune could just as easily change in our favor again. We can’t appear unconfident and indecisive or we’ve already lost.

Where do you draw your confidence from, Flaxen? Ebony asked.

I’ve been to war and my army is comprised of seasoned veterans. We’re playing a game of physiological warfare right now. Esmeralda may have outsmarted us this time, but the next move is ours. We need to find a way to turn the tide in our favor again. We’re smarter than she is and we have more to fight for. Nothing is lost at this juncture, so don’t forget why we’re here and let’s not act like she’s beaten us.

I agree with everything Flaxen just said. Let’s not waste more time idly standing here while Esmeralda creates greater separation between us. We need to march our soldiers and catch up with her fleeing army. Since they know we’re behind them, be loud and disturbingly confident. I want her soldiers to hear us coming. We’ll shake their confidence and morale. We can think on our feet and develop any new strategy along the way, Amy suggested.

If there was anybody that could sell an idea and motivate the masses, it was Flaxen and Amy. Their speeches triggered a unanimous decision of obnoxiously aggressive behavior. Amy asked Splash and Bull to have the amphibians follow close behind the enemy troops and keep them pinned against the creek. They were encouraged to help themselves to any stragglers or soldiers who persisted on trying to drive inland. They liked the idea and the challenge was more like a game to them.

The freedom fighters were moved up to the front and they began marching upstream, followed closely by the termites, Forest Green, Cedar Mound and Rock Island bringing up the rear. The monarchs stayed together at the front, leading the lengthy columns of allied armies forward. Once the march was started it took quite some time before the Rock Island soldiers could begin moving forward.

I smell Whiff. He’s at it again, Ivy shared.

He can’t help it when he gets excited, Amy replied.

Maybe we should move him farther back in the column? Ferny suggested.

No. I refuse to isolate him from the group. It just wouldn’t be the right thing to do.

Several minutes later the freedom fighters caught up with a few trailing soldiers being chased by Newt the lizard, as the allied pace slowly gained on Esmeralda’s army. It became apparent the amphibians were doing their job and forcing the black army toward the creek, since more and more enemy soldiers came into view. Once they couldn’t hide in the tall grass anymore the army was easier to track. After marching hard for nearly an hour the front of Esmeralda’s army was finally reached, with the queen leading their way.

Now both armies could plainly see the other maintaining a parallel course. General Standish asked his freedom fighters to shadow Esmeralda every pace, which appeared to upset the queen after several failed attempts to shake the rebels. She brought her army to a sudden halt, angrily shaking her staff in a threatening stance and glared across the creek at the smiling defiant queens.

I’d love to know what your aunt is thinking right now, the White Queen surmised.

I’m sure she never expected to see us so soon. In fact, running straight into us when she popped out of the grass was probably shocking, Amy was quick to answer.

Yes. I’d think she’d be taking our encounter very seriously about now.

Esmeralda thought her strategy would easily intimidate and confuse us. I’d say the queen is the one feeling a harassed about now. She’s not accustomed to being shadowed by what she would consider a lesser foe. I think we’ve made it clear we’re not afraid of her threatening posture and we won’t back down from a good fight, Ebony added.

The two armies continued moving up the creek, side by side, both keeping their eyes focused on the others behavior. Soon, a small number of amphibians along the banks of the creek came into view and Esmeralda guided her army a safe distance away from shore. She noticed the allies maintained their forward pace, unfazed by the lurking danger and the queen halted her march once more, hoping to watch a little deserving bloodshed take place.

Watch this, Amy said to the monarchs.

What are you going to do? Flaxen asked, sounding very concerned, hoping she wasn’t about to do anything irrational.

Esmeralda doesn’t realize we have amphibians as allies. I thought I’d give her a show, she replied, before wading out a short distance from the shore.

Noticing their friends ahead, Splash and Bull leaped down the middle of the creek, creating some awesome splashes and sending large waves crashing the beach. Both made sure they got close to the far shore, getting some enemy soldiers wet and snatching two straggling gawkers off the bank in the process. Their aggressive actions created an instantaneous round of cheers from the friendlies, which further enraged the black army onlookers.

Esmeralda was furious and couldn’t believe what she was witnessing next, as frogs, toads and lizards gathered around her defiant renegade queen. She expected her foolish niece would be eaten alive, but instead, Amy had a conversation with the dangerous beasts.

Do you want us to start filling our stomachs now? Splash inquired, feeling like she might enjoy watching them satisfy their hunger.

No, Splash. It might be better if you could wait until we’re a little farther upstream, if you wouldn’t mind.

I suppose we’re not in any big hurry. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of little morsels running around later. Anyway, they’re a lot more fun to catch when they’re not just standing around.

Right now my sole reason for this visit has more to do with letting my aunt see, with her own eyes, that you and I are good friends.

Ah, that might shake her high and mighty confidence a bit.

I’m counting on it.

We’d be happy to accompany Your Highness as you move upstream. We could stay between the two armies and harass them from time to time, Bull offered.

I’d like that, especially if you stay where my aunt can see you at all times.

The queen will never leave our sight, Splash assured.

Is Esmeralda still looking this way?

"She was, but now she’s got