Taking the Meeting

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

In a foreign Kingdom, news travels faster than bees. Clifton intercepted Andre and his pals before they reached the camp.

“Welcome, Andre! We’re glad you’re here,” Clifton called. “Is it true you’re signing up to serve?”

“Well, if it isn’t Sa-man-tha’s little shadow.” Lee tapped Andre on the back. Andre ignored him. “So what’s your job —” he asked Clifton, “camp clown?” Lee tapped him again. Harder. “What? Can’t you see I’m talkin’ to–” He followed his pal’s point.

Captain Sam’s entire squadron of Stinging Flyers had gathered behind them.

“Look,” Andre reasoned, “we don’t have anything against any of you guys. We’re just here to talk to Samantha.”

“Does he mean the Captain?” someone asked.

“Yeah, I think he does!” answered a voice from the back.

“Show some respect!” another voice yelled.

Clenching his teeth, Sam’s half-brother said, “Sorry. Captain Sam. Where is she?”

“Here,” Sam said, swooping from high overhead to within a breath of Andre’s face. “What do you want?”

“Send your guys away.” A low hum rose from the squadron.

“No.”

“We need to talk to you,” Andre insisted. “Alone.”

“Talk to me here, or leave.”

The hum increasing behind him, he glanced over his shoulder before leaning closer to Sam to mutter, “Mother sent me to bring you home.” 

“What?” Sam asked. “I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”

Glaring at her, Andre announced, “The Queen orders you to come home.”

The hum grew an angry edge, but one look from the Captain shut it off completely.

Sam’s face relaxed with a sigh of pity. “I’m sorry, Andy. I really am, but I’m not going home till this is over, and Mother knows that.”

Squaring his shoulders, he lifted his chin. “She said, ‘No matter what it takes’, Sam. We’ll tie you up and drag you back if we have to.”

Clifton took his place beside her. The buzz behind the gang from the Freelands swelled as it closed in. The Captain held up a hand. Everyone stopped.

“Come with us,” she said. “There’s something you have to see before you leave.”

To be continued. . .

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