Anthology 7: Queens of Chaos

By James Malcolm

After several days of desperate searching by the birds, rabbits, and termites, Queen Amy and her lost comrades had finally been found, but there was no time to waste celebrating their recovery. The black queen had set an ambush along the fence line, and there were fears that Austin, Queen Ivy, and the freedom fighters might have traveled toward the field on their way back to Isoptera in an attempt to get Forest Greens army back under the control of their queen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524529741

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.

Book preview

Copyright © 2016 by James Malcolm.

Illustrations by Ann Mecham

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016912511

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-5245-2976-5

               Softcover        978-1-5245-2975-8

               eBook             978-1-5245-2974-1

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: 08/02/2016

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Contents

1.   Close Call

2.   Fall from Grace

3.   Slip Sliding Away

4.   Stalemate

5.   Zero to Hero

6.   Indecisive Monarch

7.   Cedar Mound

8.   Assembly of Queens

9.   Esmeralda’s Reply

10.   The Seven Marches

11.   Destiny’s Shore

12.   Culvert Operation

13.   Water Slide

14.   Character Map

And

ANTroducing

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Close Call

After several days of desperate searching by the birds, rabbits and termites, Queen Amy and her lost comrades had finally been found, but there was no time to waste celebrating their recovery. The Black Queen had set an ambush along the fence line and there were fears that Austin, Queen Ivy and the freedom fighters may have traveled toward the field on their way back to Isoptera in an attempt to get Forest Green’s army back under the control of their queen.

Amy knew all would be lost if she and the chancellor couldn’t find her army, and soon, before they walked into a devastating trap. The search patrol, with Dusty and Addy, were moving ever closer to the Black Queen’s encampment, hoping to discover more about what she was up to and if they could disrupt her scheme by finding any flaws in her plan.

Zero, Melancholy’s chancellor, had flown by crow to deliver a grave summons by Queen Cassandra to her wicked sister Esmeralda. He was nearing her colony and the evil monarch would surely be on the move to aid the Black Queen, as soon as he delivered her message and she could muster her army together. Despite the importance of his mission, Zero wasn’t looking forward to seeing her.

The goal of uniting the colonies to support Silver City’s cause, wasn’t working out quite the way Amy had hoped. Forest Green had lost control of its army to her mother and Rock Island was only willing to commit an observer to the crisis. There was still one colony left to visit, but that would have to be put on hold, for now, with all other pressing matters that needed to be resolved.

Amy and the chancellor bid farewell to the awestruck ants of Forest Green and took to the air once again, this time flying out to the field. The pressing urgency to find Queen Ivy’s army, as well as her own, was weighing heavy on her mind. She was sure the freedom fighters wouldn’t be hard to spot, considering the size of some of their allies, but the closer she got to the ambush site, the more concerned she became.

It was true the freedom fighters were a battle tested force, but taking mother’s trap into account and the sheer numbers in her favor surpassing six to one, any contact with the black army would surely deliver the allies a devastating blow. Suffering a loss now, meant no possibility of recovery from such a defeat and Silver City would fall. The many hopes and dreams of a colony would be lost forever and the Black Queen would personally see to that.

Suddenly her mother’s encampment passed beneath them, with no freedom fighters in sight. If they’d marched to the field, where were they and what path did they take to get there? The swallow made another pass, lower to the ground this time and closer to the edge of the tree line. The black army noticed the low flying bird and found it most unusual, but they had no idea Ruffles carried the very queen they were trying so desperately to destroy.

It wasn’t until the third pass that Amy finally spotted her soldiers approaching a decaying log along the fence line. Unfortunately, their position was nearly close enough for the two armies to engage each other and Austin had them marching at a very brisk pace. In order to avoid an early conflict Amy told Ruffle’s to land between the opposing forces and that patch of ground was shrinking quickly.

When the swallow touched down, he was so close to the black army’s flank that a few ants scattered out of fear of being eaten. Austin was startled by Ruffles arrival, unaware the black army was a mere mound of bushes away. Noticing two passengers dismount the bird, he never expected to see one of them would be Amy and she was accompanied by a stranger. Austin was relieved beyond words and overtaken by emotion as she walked a short distance to meet him.

The long overdue reunion was emotionally uplifting and their immediate hug depicted just how serious each of them felt about the other. It was the first time either one had shown such emotion in front of others and the army patiently stood by in silent approval until both ants realized they’d unwittingly made an untimely spectacle of themselves. The two ants were instantly embarrassed after exhibiting those feelings openly, but the awkward sentiments were short lived with the pressing danger.

It’s so good to see you’re alright, Austin admitted.

You too and more than you know. My mother’s army is just on the other side of those bushes waiting to ambush you.

I’d say that devious witch is afraid to meet us out in the open after suffering her last defeat.

I’m just glad I got here before she sprung her trap. The outcome would have been horribly one sided.

So what do you want to do now?

I’ve already sent Dusty and Addy out on a scouting patrol. I’m hopeful they gather some useful information that might help us gain an advantage. If we’re cleaver, maybe we can use their report to outthink my mother and foil her plans.

That’s a great move. Oh Amy, this is Queen Ivy of Forest Green. She’s here to reclaim her army that your infamous mother stole under false pretenses. If she can regain control of her army, it might be enough to shift the balance of power in our favor.

It’s certainly my pleasure to make your acquaintance. This is Chancellor Simi of Rock Island. He’s here representing his colony as an observer. I only wish we all could’ve met sooner and avoided this precariously awkward situation. It’s never easy dealing with mother.

You can say that again. She’s something else and I hate to admit I succumbed to her manipulating lies.

That’s my mother. Now, the question is, how do you get your army back? Have you given much thought how best we do that?

Well, I could stand on the barbed wire and shout out a plea for their return, but I’d likely be making a target out of myself.

You don’t want to provide her army a target. I couldn’t say how my mother would react. She might take your life rather than give up her control of your army.

Then I have no other choice. I’ll simply infiltrate her ranks until I can locate my generals. Then, they can organize a withdrawal and we will all walk out together.

I’m not sure I like that idea very much either. It sounds pretty dangerous to me.

This won’t be easy, no matter what I do, but nothing will change if I don’t do something.

I understand, but there must be a safer way to resolve this dilemma.

If my mother were still alive, she wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. I’m going in whether you like it or not, before anything happens that I might later regret.

I respect your decision, but let’s wait until we’ve heard from the search patrol before you act.

Okay, I will, as long as they show up soon. I’m not what you’d call a very patient waiter.

‘I think the best action we can take right now is to move our army farther back toward the forest while we wait, Austin suggested.

That’s a good idea, but what is that awful smell? Amy asked, with a peculiar look on her face.

Oh that, it’s Whiff the stink bug and he lets off a bomb every time he feels a little threatened.

Does that happen often?

Just a few times, but we’re getting used to it by now. We’ve learned to give him his space.

The freedom fighters pulled back to a secure location near the deadfall and waited for news from their recon patrol. Another half dozen scouts were sent out to see if they could find out where they were, since neither Dusty or Addy had any idea Amy’s army were positioned so close to the enemy encampment. The longer they had to wait the more impatient Queen Ivy became. Then, finally, after what seemed like an eternity to the young queen, scouts popped out through the bushes, with Dusty leading both patrols, including the two grasshoppers.

Were you able to find and explore the enemy lines? Austin asked Dusty.

We did, but not until after watching the grasshoppers continually tormented the black army positions, leaving them in disarray. Their timely distraction made it easier for us to infiltrate the encampment and have a closer look around.

I hope you brought us some good news?

Some good, some bad, it depends on what you want to do with it?

Give us the bad news first, Amy directed.

Cassandra’s numbers are larger than I’ve ever seen before and the army is entrenched in thousands of holes they’ve dug in the field. They won’t be easy to displace, armed with rocks and sticks. Obviously their ready for a fight and learned a thing or two since our last encounter.

Hum, that’s about what I expected to hear, so tell me something to make me feel better.

"The army is positioned out in the sun and the waiting has made many of them drowsy. I’d say nearly a quarter of the troops are asleep at one time