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 . . .