"He's been a great king," Mr. Willimaker said.
"The best," Fudd agreed.
Cami leaned over to get closer to Patches. "How old are you, little girl?"
Patches made a face. "Little? Are you saying I'm short?"
"Oh! Um, no! I'm sure you'll grow up to be a very big girl one day. Well...as big as Brownies ever get, which I guess is still little."
Elliot tried hard not to laugh. Cami probably didn't realize that Brownies live a lot longer than humans. Maybe Patches was the smallest in the room, but she wasn't the youngest--at least not in human years.
"So why are you here?" Elliot asked Cami.
"Well, you left the woods so fast that I was worried about you. And then my mom called, and she can't get home from work because of all the sinkholes." She shrugged. "I guess I was scared being there alone."
"Okay, but why would you come here?" Elliot repeated.
"Because we're friends. And friends help each other."
Oh, that. "My parents can't get home either, but I guess you can stay with us until your mom gets back," Elliot said. "In exchange, I need your help too."
"Sure."
He took a deep breath. "I'm going to the Underworld, at least to make sure the Brownies are okay, and then I'll decide what to do about Kovol."
"Thank you, King Elliot," Mr. Willimaker said softly.
Elliot continued, "I'm not sure how long I'll be gone, but until I get back you've got to cover for me with my family."
Cami clapped her hands together. "Oh, the Underworld? Fun! Can I come?"
And this was why Elliot didn't trust having girls for friends. First he had let her stay over because she was scared. Now she wanted to visit the Underworld with him. Next she'd decide they were best friends or something even worse. He wasn't falling into that trap! No way. He knew her tricks.
And besides, even if he wanted to bring her to the Underworld (which he definitely didn't), he needed her help up here.
"Who'll cover for me if you come with us?" he asked. "If my sister or brothers wonder where I am, I need you here to make an excuse for me so that they won't worry."
"Oh. Okay."
Cami looked so disappointed that he finally added, "You wouldn't want to come anyway. I might end up having to battle this evil Demon who wants to destroy Earth."
"Yeah, that old excuse," she said, waving her hand. "Fine, go battle your evil Demon. I'll just stay here and be bored."
"That's really why I'm going there," Elliot protested.
"Whatever. You didn't have time to make paper-mache animals, but you do have time to save the world."
Patches folded her arms and said, "He always has time for us."
Elliot looked at Mr. Willimaker as if to ask him why Patches was acting jealous. But Mr. Willimaker only shrugged and suggested they should leave. Quickly.
Looking at Elliot's bedpost again, Fudd said, "Your Highness, are you really coming to the Underworld with us?"
"It'll be dangerous," Mr. Willimaker warned.
"I know," Elliot said. "But I'm the one who woke Kovol up. If I can help anyone stop him, I will."
"Hold my hand," Fudd said to the bedpost. "That will be the safest way to poof."