Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson

shape here . . . and here. Just like Sam’s ears. And . . . up here, there should be a tower . . . or a platform or something.”
    Grimwarden was stunned. “That’s right! That would be the Black Balcony near the pinnacle of the mountain. You could only know that if it was on your map. You . . . you found this in your . . . what did you call it? Back card?”
    â€œOur backyard,” corrected Autumn.
    â€œLet me be sure I have understood you,” Alwynn said, seemingly fighting back a grin. “You have the rest of this map secured back in your home on Earth?”
    â€œYeah,” said Johnny.
    â€œYou’re certain?”
    â€œAbsolutely!” replied Autumn. “I hid it myself. No one would ever find it.”
    Tommy raised his hand. “Excuse me. But why all the fuss about this map? I mean, I think I have a better idea here, one we’re not thinking of.”
    â€œGo on, Lord Felheart,” motioned Grimwarden to Tommy.
    â€œIf we’re going to talk about bringing things back from Earth, we have weapons the Spider King could never dream of! Rifles, pistols! I’m sure some of the Dreadnaughts could help me find some machine guns on the black market.”
    â€œBlack market, Tommy?” asked Kat doubtfully.
    â€œOkay. Maybe online. You know, eBay. We could totally blast—”
    â€œLord Felheart,” Grimwarden cut him off. “These weapons you speak of . . . are they made of metal?”
    â€œYeah, of course.”
    He smiled. “While they might be worthy additions to our arsenal, we could never bring them back.”
    â€œSome sort of time-space continuum issue?” proposed Tommy.
    â€œUh-no, Lord Felheart. Nothing inorganic, especially metals, can come through the portals. Conducting electrical currents in the gateways is not a good idea.”
    â€œOh.” Tommy’s eyes lit up. “Kind of like putting a fork in the microwave. I did that once.” The Elves didn’t understand. In the awkward silence, Tommy leaned over to Kat and whispered, “I’d hate to be the Elf who first discovered that scientific fact. Zzzap! ” Kat dipped her head and giggled.
    Alwynn looked to Johnny and Autumn. “If this map is as you say, Lord Albriand, Lord Miarra, then we have no choice but to at least attempt a retrieval.”
    Everyone grew very quiet, looking one to another. Finally Johnny spoke up. “I’ll go.”
    â€œWhoa!” Tommy exclaimed. “Johnny, there are soldiers there. You heard Flet Marshall Brynn. Lots of soldiers.”
    â€œTommy’s right,” said Nelly. “But not just because of the soldiers. You, my young lord, need to train. I know the way to your home. I will go.”
    â€œWith your leave,” said Regis to Grimwarden, “I will go, too.”
    â€œWhat about the enemy?” asked Jimmy. “Yu could be takin’ a great risk.”
    â€œAn entire war host is a great risk,” Regis admitted. “But, Jimmy, that map isn’t just a general diagram like a street map of Glasgow. A map of Vesper Crag will show us the weak points in the Spider King’s walls, the locations of his defensive war machines, armories, spider nurseries, and”—she paused, collecting her thoughts—“the slave camps.”
    â€œSlave camps?” asked Kiri Lee.
    â€œWhere he takes the people he’s abducted from Earth to work, building his war machine. Some are taken as kids, so they are able to learn the trades of war and become more efficient when they grow up.”
    Tommy finally broke the silence. “We have to save them.”
    â€œAgreed,” said Grimwarden.
    â€œWithout the map—,” Manaelkin began.
    â€œIt would be impossible,” finished Grimwarden.
    â€œStill,” said Goldarrow. “There’s no guarantee Nelly and Regis will get through. Should we not send a battalion of flet soldiers and a rank of