Young Writers Society

Ackerley gestured to four elegantly carved wooden chairs. He was dressed in an outfit that was very similar to the one that he wore when he first met the children, except the colors were an awful tangerine color, with electric blue accents. He was continuously adjusting the golden crown on his head as if he wasn’t used to wearing it.

Julia stiffly stepped forward and sat. In the middle of the table were grapes, pears, mead, and bottles of wine.

“I suppose you’re all wondering why I have called upon you to gather with us.”

No one answered.

“I think you have frightened them, Ackerley.” A woman on the end of the table said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, children, Ackerley really couldn’t hurt a fly.” She was a kind looking woman, with a curled black bob and doe eyes with light makeup, except for her bright red lipstick. She was wearing a silver headband around her head, with a fluffy feather in it. She wore a light grey flapper dress. Next to her feet was a bag with a slender cigarette holder peeking out.

“Did I?” Ackerley asked. “What have I done to inspire fear?”

“Perhaps the fact that you threatened their family.” Ackerley’s wife suggested. She was dressed in an outfit that was nearly the same, except instead of a feathery hat, she wore a silver tiara.

“Ah. I can understand then.”

“What happened, Ackerley?” A rough man asked. He was covered in motor oil, as if he had a wrestling match with a leaky motor. He was wearing a mechanic’s jumpsuit which was equally grimy. He had a yellow – tinged grey beard, and a wrinkled face the color of leather. He was casually hunched over. “I have something really interesting I’m working on.”

“Perhaps it can wait, Phil.” A woman next to him said. She had a thick braid of silver hanging down to the middle of her waist. She was dressed in an ocean blue, simple dress. Her silver eyes had a sort of calculating look. As if she could read you inside and out with only a simple glance. She observed the room coldly. She had a modest silver crown perched on her head. “Ackerley would not call us unless it was important.”

Ackerley nodded. “Right you are, Metis. I am here because I do believe that I had found children from Up-Above!”

The flapper woman glanced in the four’s direction. “Yes, I can see what you mean, but first let us introduce ourselves to the children.”

“Ah, of course.” Ackerley said. “As you may well know, I am Ackerley. This is my wife, the queen, Matilde.”

Matilde nodded toward the four with a smile.

“The woman on your far right is Metis. Queen of the kingdom of Eolas.” Metis observed them through her steely eye.

“The spry young woman on the end is Constance Amanda Reyes. The queen of Ganado.”

Constance let out a soft chuckle. “Ackerley, you flatter me. It is lovely to meet you, children.” She reached out her hand and shook each of their hands in turn.

“The chap next to Metis is Phil Ed Reyes. King of Eau.”

Phil lazily lifted a hand in greeting, sipping on a small cup of something dark and steaming. Julia readily assumed that it was coffee, though she thought it was a little advanced for the place going by the technology she had observed so far.

“Please, feel free to introduce yourselves, children.” Ackerley encouraged. All gazes landed on Julia, as she was sitting closest to Ackerley.

“Julia Vadik.”

“Middle name?” Ackerley requested.

“Huh?” Julia asked.

Ackerley smiled. “Here in the four kingdoms, we introduce ourselves with our full names.”

“Well then, Julia Opal Vadik.”

“Oliver Richard Roberts.” Oliver stated.

“Hi, I’m Luke Zachary Eberhard.”

Everyone stared at Lee, who took a deep breath with a look of total disdain. “Leanne Helen Brittany Gillian.” She sighed. “The second.”

Julia frowned. Whenever Lee introduced herself, she just said that she was Lee Gillian. She never took a second to think about the fact that Lee could be short for something, much less something that sounded so… feminine. Lee looked sort of disgusted with her own name.

Luke blinked. “Rolls off the tongue.”

Lee shot him a withering look.

“Not to be rude,” Phil began.

“Yes, because I know that you absolutely hate that,” Celeste smirked.

Phil took another sip of his small drink. “Quit being such a dumb Dora.”

“I’m not a dumb Dora!” Celeste protested with a grin.

“You are,” Phil argued.

“Would you quit your bickering?” Metis snapped. “You are both sounding like newborn infants.”

“Not to be rude,” Phil repeated. “But didn’t you call us for some business, Ackerley?”

“Ah, yes.” Ackerley said distractedly. “I do believe that I have found us some new mappers.”

“That explains the children being here.” Celeste realized.

Ackerley nodded. “Exactly.”

“Sorry for the interruption,” Lee said, not looking the least bit sorry. “But what are mappers?”

“They map the land of Up-Above in our places.” Metis explained.

Oliver leaned forward. “Why do you need us, your highnesses?”

“Because our world has changed quite a lot since we were there last.” Phil explained.

“How long have you been here exactly?” Luke asked.

“Taking into account the year it is,” Ackerley began. “I have been here for… Matilde, what year did we come here again?”

Matilde paused to think on it. “About 1853.”

“So… one hundred and sixty three years.” Ackerley beamed. “Seems like we found this place only yesterday.”

“One hundred and sixty three years?!” Julia repeated.

“Yes, I just said that, didn’t I?”

Oliver faced Metis. “How long have you been here, your highness?”

“I have been ruling since the noble year of five hundred and twenty six.” Metis replied.

“How long ago was that?” Lee asked.

“Use your head.” Metis said bluntly.

“You’ve been here for one thousand four hundred and ninety years.” Oliver realized. “Give or take.” Metis regarded him with a nod.

“I’ve been here since the noble year of nineteen twenty six.” Phil added. “Me and Celeste both.”

“So basically, you’ve all been here since dinosaurs walked the earth.” Luke stated.

“Well, exaggerated perhaps, but that is the general idea.” Ackerley chuckled.

“Why do you need mappers?” Lee asked.

Matilde pursed her lips. “We have unfortunately not been above ground in decades. We have no clue how the world has changed, or how to adapt to it.”

Julia frowned. “Well if you haven’t been above ground in decades, why do you need to adapt now?”

Matilde traded a concerned look with Ackerley, who nodded. “We are about to go into war.” Matilde finally answered.

***

Lame title, I know. Hope you enjoyed! Review, like it, share it! Thanks for reading!