Guarding the Future

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

“Knights!” Cyrus called as he flew into the Bower, raining a trail of herbs. “Creepers and Flyers are attacking the Hive!”

The Knights sprang into action. Trevor ripped off his sling, and retrieved his weapons while Barry drew the sleeping infants from their carrier to lay them beside their mother.

Wide-eyed, Cyrus asked, “Twins? You had two?”

The Princess nodded. “A girl and a boy,” she said, love and hope shining through her exhaustion.

Surveying the chamber, Cyrus hovered over Arturo as he scummed a dusty pool of the beast’s blood from the floor.

“What happened here?” the young Guard inquired as the midwife left her plastering to retrieve the Assassin’s stinger from a high shelf and hand it to Barry. “What’s wrong with the Prince?”

“There’s no time,” Barry urged. The Knights leaped for the door. Cyrus flashed past them.

~~~

A living shield dozens of bees deep encased the Hive, parting to let Cyrus enter. He sped down empty passages to the colony’s heart, the only room to remain occupied during any battle to possess the Hive: the nursery.

Queen Lilian, surrounded by nursery attendants, moved from cell to cell, tending her brood, feeding and securing them against the coming attack.

Cyrus waited until she noticed him at the doorway. “Your Magnificence, the Knights are joining the defense, and the Princess and Prince now have their own Prince and Princess.”

The Queen blinked. She blinked again. “Twins?” Rising, she spread her arms as if to embrace the future. “Now there’s even more to live for.”

Cyrus bowed his head and added, “There wasn’t time to hear their story. I can report only that the babies, Princess Cassandra, the Ambassador, midwife, and her children seem well, but blood was spilled at the Bower and his Faithfulness lies unresponsive.”

Clasping her hands at her lips, Queen Lilian crossed the chamber to alight before the young Guard. “Thank you, Cyrus. Return to your post while it’s still possible. Keep them safe. May we all live to meet again in celebration.”

To be continued. . .

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