Later that night, Tanya wandered the dark outskirts of the colony. The shadows of jagged walls stretched long under the pale moonlight, and the faint hum of distant patrols drifted through the air. Her footsteps crunched softly on the loose dirt, echoing unnaturally in the quiet.
"Why would Vladimir call me out here so late?" she murmured, voice trembling slightly. "Almost everyone's asleep… except for the patrols. Vladimir? Are you here?"
She paused, squinting into the darkness, her hand brushing against the rough surface of a wall. "It's so dark… I can barely see anything."
"Vladimir?" she called again, her voice quivering in the still night.
Looks like he's not out here after all, she whispered to herself, forcing a nervous laugh that caught in her throat.
As she turned to leave, a rough hand shot out from the shadows, clamping over her mouth. The sudden pressure stole her breath, and a sharp spike of panic shot through her chest.
She struggled violently, kicking and twisting, but a suffocating, acrid haze filled her nostrils.
No… is this… stink bug gas? Her lungs burned with each shallow breath, her vision swimming with spots of darkness. I… I can't… breathe…
A familiar voice brushed against her ear, cold and deliberate.
"I'm sorry, Princess Tanya," Vladimir whispered. His words pressed against her mind, sharp and unyielding. "But this is the only way the invasion will succeed… you understand, don't you?"
Her heart pounded once, then faltered. Her vision dimmed at the edges, colors bleeding into black. Her limbs grew heavy, her body sagging helplessly in his grip.
No way… Vladimir… how could you…
Darkness swallowed her whole.
Vladimir's voice lingered over her unconscious form, low and cruel.
"Time to spread the news that the princess has gone missing. And who better to blame than that prisoner?"
A thin, rasping laugh slipped from his throat, echoing into the night. The sound carried through the hollow silence of the colony, slithering across the empty streets as his plan twisted further into motion.
Seth stood before Queen Celeste, his antennae drooping slightly in concern. The chamber's cold stone walls seemed to amplify the tension in the air, the distant shuffle of guards echoing softly behind him.
"Your Majesty," he began, voice steady but tinged with worry, "the harvest for this winter season is progressing, but more slowly than expected. The food source is too far, and I fear our supplies won't last the entire season. If we send out five worker ants, at least one military ant must accompany them for protection. At that ratio, we could spare one hundred military ants."
He hesitated, glancing toward the throne. "Also, if I may remind you, Lieutenant Brooks is currently leading an expedition, so I am the one filing his report."
"Alright," Queen Celeste said, her gaze calm but sharp, "you may proceed."
"Right," Seth continued, his tone grim, antennae drooping further as he shifted his weight. "But with a group that large, we'd become a moving target for predators and rival colonies."
He rubbed the back of his neck briefly, eyes flicking toward the map etched into the chamber floor. "Even then, the workers would be exhausted before they could complete enough trips. The distance—two to three days from here—makes this plan unsustainable. And if we deploy so many of our forces, we risk leaving our defenses vulnerable."
He clenched a fist, jaw tight. "If it weren't for those damn greedy grasshop—"
"Your Majesty!" Vladimir's voice cracked as it echoed off the stone walls, uneven and strained. He staggered forward, his exoskeleton scratched and dented, one hand pressed against a deep gash along his thorax. Each breath came in ragged bursts, loud enough to make the chamber feel unnervingly still.
Queen Celeste's sharp gaze swept over him, narrowing as she took in the state of his body. "Vladimir? What happened to you?" Her voice was calm, but the edge in her tone cut through the tension. "You look… dreadful."
"I need to speak with you immediately, my Queen. This is urgent." Vladimir's voice was hoarse, each word ragged as he staggered closer, one antenna twitching nervously. His legs wobbled beneath him, and the scratches along his exoskeleton glinted in the chamber's dim light.
One of the ant servants leaned forward, whispering to a companion, eyes wide. "He looks like he just crawled out of a warzone… no ordinary soldier could inflict such wounds—not on the commander."
Queen Celeste's gaze sharpened, scanning his battered form. "What happened, Vladimir? Who could have inflicted such wounds on you?" Her tone was steady, but her antennae twitched slightly, betraying her unease.
Vladimir sank to his knees, chest heaving, his breath loud in the oppressive silence of the chamber. "The princess… she was taken last night."
The words hung in the air. A stunned silence swept through the hall, as if the very walls recoiled at the revelation. Guards froze mid-step; even the faint scuffle of distant patrols seemed to vanish.
"What did you just say?" Queen Celeste's voice trembled, a rare crack in her usual composure. Her antennae drooped slightly, and her jaw tightened as dread seeped into her posture.
Vladimir lowered his gaze, each word coming slowly, strained by exhaustion. "I was with her during her nightly stroll when we were ambushed. An ant warrior of terrifying skill overpowered me… and took Princess Tanya. I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. I have failed you."
The queen's face paled, her eyes widening as the weight of his confession sank in. "No… they took Tanya?" Her voice was tight, each word deliberate yet tinged with panic. "This is… most troubling."
Vladimir lowered his gaze, lips pressed tightly together, carefully masking the sinister grin threatening to break through his strained expression. His antennae twitched ever so slightly, betraying the calculation behind his calm facade.
Yes… that's it. She's taking the bait. Just a little more…
He lifted his head, eyes flicking around the chamber, studying the Queen's reaction. His voice was measured, slow, each word deliberate.
"I suspect the one responsible is that slave who appeared in the throne room yesterday."
He paused, letting the chamber absorb his words. The faint echo of distant footsteps seemed louder now, and a cold tension crept along the stone floor.
"Perhaps it's his colony's doing…" he continued, tilting his head slightly, "and he's… a mastermind plotting from the inside."
Another pause. He allowed a small, almost imperceptible smirk to curve his lips before quickly masking it.
"I mean…" His voice dropped, slower this time, weighty. "He was able to convince the princess to aid him in escaping his cell. Isn't that… concerning?"
"Bring the prisoner here at once," Queen Celeste commanded, her voice ringing through the chamber like steel. She leaned slightly forward, eyes narrowing as they swept over the court.
"Use any means necessary to make him talk," she continued, each word deliberate, heavy with authority.
"Torture him if you must." A faint clench of her jaw emphasized the gravity of her order.
"I want to know where he has taken the princess." Her gaze locked onto Vladimir for a fleeting second, then swept across the chamber.
"Right away, my Queen," a warden said, saluting crisply before hurrying toward the prison. The clatter of his footsteps echoed across the stone floor, fading into the chamber's tense silence.
"Don't bother," a firm voice called from the corner, cutting through the noise.
Queen Celeste turned sharply, eyes narrowing, antennae twitching slightly. "And why do you say that, Valeria?" Her tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of curiosity hidden beneath the edge.
"Because he's innocent," Valeria said firmly, stepping forward, eyes blazing. "I watched over him all night. He never left his cell. He couldn't have been involved."
Vladimir's eye twitched, a sharp flare of anger beneath his carefully controlled expression. Damn this wretched ant… always in my way…
The queen pressed a hand to her temple, exhaling through her mouth as if to steady her thoughts. "Then… we'll have to send search parties beyond the colony." Her gaze swept the room with measured authority. "Seth, dispatch ten squads of five immediately."
"Yes, my Queen," Seth replied crisply, as he moved to obey.
That's right… take the bait. It still works out in my favor…
"That won't be necessary," came a calm, even voice from across the hall.
All heads snapped toward the sound to see Ari stepping forward, posture straight, eyes sharp with determination.
"How did you get out of your cell?" one of the ant servants blurted, jaw tightening nervously.
"I released him," Valeria said coolly, stepping closer to Ari, antennae flicking slightly with defiance. "Got a problem with that?"
"Who granted you permission? You are but a lieutenant," the ant servant snapped, voice sharp, antennae quivering with indignation.
"Silence!" Queen Celeste's voice rang through the chamber like hammered steel, halting all movement. She leaned slightly forward, eyes flashing. "You will not speak out of turn in my presence."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty… it will not happen again," the servant stammered, lowering his gaze and flattening his antennae in submission.
Queen Celeste's attention shifted to Ari. "Proceed, young ant. Reveal what you have discovered."
Vladimir's voice rose in a sharp bark of protest, a tremor of panic beneath his composure. "You cannot trust him, he may be leading us into a trap."
"Enough, Vladimir." The queen's tone cut through the tension, calm yet unyielding. "I will hear him speak. Speak, ant."
Ari stepped forward, posture straight, antennae flicking lightly as he met the Queen's gaze. His expression remained unreadable, but beneath the calm, his heart thundered, each pulse sharp against his temples. I have to stay composed—my life, and the lives of the ants in this colony, depend on it.
"Princess Tanya… she could not have been taken far," he said, voice steady despite the turmoil beneath. He paused, letting the weight of his words settle in the chamber. "Sending search parties beyond the colony would be… a waste of time."
He took a measured breath. "Valeria and I spoke with the ants on patrol last night… just now. They confirmed they saw the princess roaming the colony grounds until late."
Queen Celeste's eyes narrowed, antennae twitching as her focus sharpened. "Go on," she commanded, voice clipped but expectant.
"If she vanished sometime between last night and this morning," Ari said, antennae flicking sharply, eyes locked on Vladimir, "it would be impossible for her captors to have taken her beyond the colony. She must still be here… within our walls."
He leaned forward slightly, voice steady but edged with authority. "Vladimir, you claim you were ambushed… should the patrols not have noticed? And why… why did you not signal for help?"
Vladimir staggered back a step, antennae twitching subtly as frustration flickered across his features. "My priority was to protect Tanya," he said evenly, voice tight but controlled. "There was no time… even if I had acted, their deaths would have been on my hands."
He lifted a hand to his chest, the exoskeleton along his thorax marred with bruises and scratches. "And… how can you accuse me? Look at my wounds."
Ari's gaze hardened, antennae bristling slightly as he stepped closer, eyes like sharpened shards. "Your wounds… they are self-inflicted." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "If they had been made by another insect, the angles would have been reversed. You wanted us to believe you struggled against an enemy… but you staged the entire thing. You… you kidnapped Princess Tanya."
Vladimir froze, one claw tapping nervously against the stone floor. His composure cracked; a shallow breath rattled through his thorax, his exoskeleton catching the dim light at odd angles.
He forced a laugh, low and strained. "Who… who would harm themselves like this?" His voice trembled slightly. "You sound… insane. And… why would I… kidnap the princess?"
"Two reasons," Ari said, stepping closer, eyes cold and unwavering, antennae bristling. "First, you were furious when the Queen ordered Valeria to double patrols, which disrupted your secret alliance with the neighboring colony planning to raid us. By kidnapping Tanya, you forced the Queen to send out search parties, thinning our defenses and easing their path for invasion."
Queen Celeste's face darkened, her jaw tightening, antennae flicking sharply as Ari pressed on.
"Second," he continued, voice lower, steady and precise, "you likely planned to ransom the princess for food and resources. You would not risk her life—you care for her. That's why you didn't take her far. You wanted her hidden, but unharmed."
Vladimir's claws trembled, exoskeleton creaking faintly with tension. I should have killed him when I had the chance… he thought, jaw tight, eyes darting.
Queen Celeste rose slowly from her throne, the chamber falling silent under her presence. Her voice cut through the room like ice. "It all fits—the strange occurrences, your suspicious wounds, the timing of your claims. Vladimir… answer me truthfully: did you take her?"
"No, Your Majesty, I would never betray you! I—"
"Seize him."
The guards moved swiftly, surrounding Vladimir. He stood still, antennae flicking nervously, hands tight at his sides, allowing them to guide him without resistance. Queen Celeste's voice rang over the chamber. "You are stronger than these guards, Vladimir. Yet, in honor of the loyalty you have shown me through the years, I expect you will not resist."
"I will personally escort him to the lower prison cells," Seth said, stance firm, antennae alert. "Just in case he tries anything."
"Do so," the queen replied, her gaze unwavering.
Vladimir's voice cracked as he stared at the Queen. "Why do you not believe me, my Queen? Can't you see? He's manipulating you! He'll destroy us all! You're making a mistake! I only ever wanted to protect Tanya! Please—listen to me!"
The queen remained silent, expression unreadable, her posture regal. His protests echoed down the stone halls, reverberating like distant thunder.
When the chamber finally settled, she spoke, her voice low but steady. "Thank you… you may have saved us all. But do not think I have forgotten your past. If there is truly an invasion, it will prove whether you are a spy or not."
"Understood, Your Majesty," Ari replied, antennae lowered slightly, tension easing from his shoulders.
Her eyes flicked to Valeria. "And you… we will discuss your insubordination later."
Valeria smirked, jaw tilting with quiet defiance. "If it means saving the colony, then I look forward to it."
The queen watched her for a long moment, then turned away, mind already racing with new strategies. The fragile threads holding the colony together had not snapped—not yet. But war was coming, and this… was only the beginning.