Keeping the Peace

Glad you could join us for the next blacklit episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

The further the travelers trekked on, the closer the night and the silence drew in around them. Their near-tragic meeting with Lady Lucy had heightened Elliot’s sense of responsibility for their safety. Playing the scene over and over in his mind, he looked for a lesson he could take from it to help them stay alive.

We each have our strengths, he thought, and we need to honor them in each other. We can’t let our egos and disdain for someone else’s weakness cause dissension. If it hadn’t been for Clifton, Barry would be dead. Yet there’s something between them that doesn’t seem to be gratitude.

He resolved to speak with each of them privately as soon as the sun came up and conversation would be less dangerous.

Maybe my greatest contribution here is to keep the peace—

The peace shattered as Clifton buzzed up to Elliot’s ear. “Prince Elliot, we have to stop. Something is glowing up ahead.”

Craning his neck and stretching his eyestalks, Elliot saw nothing, but then, Clifton was a bee; everyone knew they could see some mysterious light no one else could see. He gave the order. “Stop. Do you know what it is, Clif?”

“Not yet. Do you want me to check it out?” At Elliot’s nod, he took off.

Barry bounced up. “I’ll go wit’ ’im. He might need help.”

“Not this time, Knight,” the Prince said. “If there’s any danger, Clifton can simply fly back. We won’t fight until we must.”

Chagrined, but obedient, Barry scanned his companions. “Hey, where’d dat half-deaf ol’ bat go?”

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story... View all posts by Sue Ranscht