Minions, Mushrooms and Meetings...

Everyone in the Realms know that the Mushroom Line is the fastest way news travels.  As quick as a wink, if one mushroom hears something, it speeds through the line clear to the Telegraph Master, Parsley.  Though it is a guarded secret (as not everyone is suppose to know), that there is another communication line that runs even faster than the Mushrooms.  It is the Minion Chain!

The only problem with the Minion Chain is that each link is only as good as each Minion who carried the message.  That, and how good the next in line is at figuring out the message's meaning before repeating it.  There was once a message that started out on the Minion Chain as a simple request for a cup of sugar and ended up becoming a life or death plea for a chocolate cake (apparently one of the Minions was hungry when it spread the message).  This issue has been researched by the wisest in the realms and it was finally determined that the clearest messages were in the shortest chains.  Which is another reason that Meen's reports to the Shadows' King was so accurate - she was the only one in the chain.  Nothing like keeping a message short and sweet. 

The emergency meeting of C.O.G. (Cooperation of Organized Grunts) had just ended and Meen, being a member outstanding (that is she was standing out by the food tables trying to put some into her pockets for later), had heard about the Borrowers and the tablet they had found.  The excitement of a Dragon tablet had her hopping faster than she had ever hopped before.  Leaping over mushrooms and logs, just barely missing falling into a pool of water on the other side, she hurried to get back to the Shadows' King's castle to tell him the news!   

Upon entering the castle, she went straight to the King's Audience Chamber, hoping to find him there so she would not have to search for him out in the forest.  It was his daily habit to be available in the chamber for anyone to present themselves about this time. But in her hurry to go the emergency C.O.G. meeting  she had left her timepiece behind when she was called to it.  "Hopefully​ he has not finished yet", gasped Meen as she was still trying to catch her breath.  Her luck was still with her as she saw that the King was there.  The last of his subjects had just left and he was reading a letter that had just been delivered. 

Quickly she kneeled at the base of his throne and awaited his notice.  "What is it you are wanting to see me about," he asked Meen without looking up from the letter he was still reading.  She did not immediately respond as she was still trying to catch  her breath ("One too many sweets at the meeting," thought Meen).  This pause caused the King to look over the letter and at her, wondering about the delay.  

"Your majesty, I have important news that I just heard that you should know about," Meen finally was able to tell Hunter.  "Hopefully it is better than the chocolate cake incident," was the King's reply.

Blushing slightly, the little Pyksee continued, "Sire, I have just returned from a meeting of my fellow Minions and it has been reported that a tablet has been found."  As the King looked at her, trying to understand the importance of what she was saying, it finally struck Meen that she had forgotten to tell him the most important part.  "It is a Dragon tablet from before they left the Realms," she said.

Now that was interesting thought the King.  It also further explained the letter he was reading from the Dowager Griselda and her desire to have tea with him and wouldn't it be nice if he invited Hungry, the Wish Dragon, to be there too.

"Very good Meen.  Well done!  Now it appears we must prepare for a little party.  Gather the staff and we will start the planning.  I think it is past the time to find out who are all of the players of this drama," as he reread the Dowager's letter.  "Besides no one 'summons' me," mumbled the Shadows' King to himself, "even if she is a Dragon Clan Counselor."