Chapter Text
Prologue
"Ugh!" Mitchell stomped into the treehouse, throwing his book down and plunging into one of the armchairs.
"What's up with you?" Bobby asked him, midway through making her third emergency sandwich of the week. Mitchell tore off his glasses and threw them onto his bed, rubbing his eyes. "Reds gone lame, Jamie isn't answering my letters and my foot is so BLOODY SORE!!" He gestured drastically at his left foot he had stuck half in the air.
"Ok first things first," Flo said calmly, as she usually did. "Reds lame. How?"
"I don't know. I walked into her stall and tried to pick out her feet, but she kicked me and then limped to the side. Hence my sore foot." He indicated to his foot again.
"Right..." Flo answered, taking in the information. "And Jamie, he isn't answering your letters?" Mitchell nodded, looking far off.
Bobby butted in; "I'm sure he's just got caught up in something, he'll-"
As if Flo had suddenly read Mitchell's mind, she interrupted; "If you think for one second that Jamie is cheating on you, Mitchell Henderson, he is NOT. He loves you far too much to betray you like that." She added sternly, clearly not wanting her friend to worry.
"Ok, ok. Even if he hasn't cheated on me-"
"He hasn't cheated on you, Mitchell." Bobby interrupted through a mouthful of emergency sandwich.
"Ok, fine! If he hasn't cheated on me, then what's the hold up? Before he usually always replied to my letters within a day or two."
"Maybe the postal system is having a hold up?" Flo suggested.
"No, I've been getting letters to and from my dad all week just fine." Skandar spoke up for the first time since Mitchell had entered the treehouse.
Skandar suddenly looked very stern. "Guys.."
Everyone looked up, including Bobby with her mouth still full of emergency sandwich.
"You don't think Jamie's gone and gotten himself into some kind of trouble... d'think?"
"What, let me guess, with your sister?" Flo rolled her eyes.
"I mean who else?! Who else is cunning enough to know how to kidnap one of the most intelligent blacksmiths alive?!"
"I don't know.." Mitchel added quietly.
"Hey, it'll be ok!" Flo came down to sit next to him, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah, don't worry Mitch, we'll find blacksmith-bard." Bobby crowed with enthusiasm and sarcasm combined. Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the nickname Bobby still called Jamie even after their 'truce'.
"No but like seriously guys, do we think Jamie is in trouble?" Flo protested seriously.
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Skandar confirmed, getting up from his beanbag and making his way towards the door.
"Who's coming with me?"