Keeper of the Lost Cities: Elysian

Chapter 17

"What's that?" Maruca asked in alarm.

A second scream sliced through the air. And in the distance, there was a lot of shouting.

"I sense a new consciousness here," Elysian whispered. "It's not an elf. Who is it?" 

"Only one way to find out," Sophie whispered. She drew Hope from her holster, raced down the hall, and charged outside.

Except... the commotion wasn't like she expected.

Keefe was upside down and struggling to break free from the person who was holding him by the ankle, who was... 

"Ro!" Sophie shouted, recognizing the ogre princess. 

Ro turned, and Keefe's eyes met Sophie's for a moment. 

When she Ro Sophie, her eyes lit up and she dropped Keefe onto the floor. His head hit the ground. 

"Oww," said Keefe.

"Blondie!" Ro exclaimed, ignoring him. "It feels good to be back!" 

Her eyes flickered to Hope, and she nodded in approval. "I see you've been bonding well." 

"What were you doing to Keefe?" Sophie asked as she placed Hope back in her holster.

"Oh, just giving the treatment he deserves," Ro cackled. "Save your worry, Blondie."

"That's what you get for running away!" she barked at him. "Be glad I only kicked you once- and I could have kicked you way harder. And in a way more uncomfortable place."

"Yeah, yeah," Keefe grumbled, climbing to his feet. 

"Ro?" Fitz asked. Everyone had come outside to see what was the matter. 

"Ah, Captain Perfectpants is here too!" Ro announced. "Oh, and Gigantor, too!" 

"We're calling him Smoochypants now," Flori replied with a cheeky grin. 

Sandor blushed and growled. "If I hear that ever again-" 

"Understood, Smoochypants," Ro shot back. 

Flori smothered a giggle.

"By the way, how's your relationship with Blondie?" Ro asked loudly. "Did I miss any action? Did you two-"

"That's enough," Sophie interrupted before Ro could finish that sentence. "A lot has happened in the last few days that you should be aware of."

"Ooh, the Serious Sophie is here," Ro said. "I'm all ears." 

It took about ten minutes to fill Ro in on Sophie's two near-death experiences in the last three days, and all of the knowledge they had acquired during their stay with Elysian.

"We have to stop Lady Creeptastic from getting her hands on your elf-y crystal," Ro announced. "How long do we have to stay here and guard the island, Blondie?"

"Tonight and tomorrow are the final two days of Nightfall," Sophie said. 

She looked up and saw the six unmapped stars. The green glow of Equilibrial suddenly became eerie.

"Did you take care of Cadfael?" Linh asked. 

"Oh, you bet," Ro said, cracking her knuckles. "The plan took a little longer than I thought. Sorry about that, Blondie. But I got them all and dragged them back to Ravagog. My father will deal with them." 

Nobody wanted to ask how King Dimitar was planning to deal with them. 

"Can I get rid of the Linquillosa then?" Sophie asked, pointing to the underside of her left wrist.