The Fellowship of the Band Nerds

Chapter Six

"All right," Jason said. "You have to put down the first three fingers on your left hand."

"What note would that be on flute?" Melissa asked, pressing down the saxophone keys.

"Err..."

"Tuning B-flat," Dennis spoke up. "It's a G on sax, though."

Megan raised an eyebrow. "I thought y'all tuned to F."

"Well, you're wrong."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Fine, be like that."

"Okay, I will."

"Um, guys?" Eric said tentatively. "I hate to interrupt, but there's a bunch of people in black down there."

"Reedwraiths!" Sami gasped.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, drummers, but they're all servants of Mullins."

"Hide!" Dennis exclaimed.

They hid behind the pile of shoes, books, and other various items of the Lost and Found.

"Spies...from Stephanie," Elizabeth said.

"Gasp!" gasped Minh-Bao and Melissa.

"We must take a different route," Elizabeth decided. "What say you, Dennis?"

He thought for a moment. "We should take the pass of Cadenza!"

"Cadenza?" Eric spoke up.

"This way." Elizabeth walked out of the Lost and Found and down the hall, the Company following.

"Which way?" Melissa asked.

"There!" Megan pointed to the sign reading "up" hanging near the stairwell.

The Fellowship dashed up the steps and reached the first landing.

Suddenly, a shower of reeds and papers came down upon them.

"AAAAAAHHH!" Eric screamed.

Everyone raced up the second flight of stairs.

"It's Stephanie!" Elizabeth yelled above the clamor.

"She's trying to bring down the staircase!" Dennis cried. "We must turn back!"

"We must get off the stairs!" Jason told them. "Make for the Gap of Ritardando!"

"The Gap of Ritardando takes us too close to Teniralc!" Dennis shouted.

"And there's no Gap in Ritardando," Megan interjected. "Not even a Banana Republic. That's what I call false advertising."

Everybody ignored Megan. "Then let's go through the Mines of Morendo," Kristen suggested. "My cousin Kristy would give us a royal welcome."

"We can't go through the Mines of Morendo!" Jason argued. The rest of the Fellowship joined in, till they were practically yelling at each other.

"ENOUGH!" Elizabeth shouted over the clamor. "Let the Oboebearer decide!"

Sami thought for a minute, aware that every eye was upon her. "We shall go through Morendo," she decided finally.

Elizabeth sighed. Though she was displeased with Sami's decision, she thought it best not to say anything. Instead, she turned her back on the Fellowship and began leading the way again.