AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, I thought I made Vinyaya a little too whiny too. But
whoever was going to be taking Holly's place had to be somewhat off-
character from the normal Holly. I know Vinyaya isn't really a whiner but I
can only attribute her whining this book to . . . because she hadn't been
out in the field in years.
6 MONTHS LATER
Mulch was in his cell, pacing. His home for the next twenty years. For a fairy it wasn't that great a deal of time of course. Fairies lived for hundreds of years after all. But still, prison was not fun. Currently he had no roommate but sooner or later they'd book a few goblins for company for him. Goblins and dwarves: sworn enemies. And besides that, the cell walls weren't really very entertaining to look at. 6 months and it was already long memorized. He could see it with his eyes shut.
He reached into a pocket. He was thankful the LEP handed found this when they booked him. It was Fowl's watch. He didn't know why, but he wanted to keep it. Someday, he'd trade it back to Fowl at a high price.
Then again, in twenty years, would Fowl even remember it?
Would Fowl even remember him in twenty years?
No matter. If the mud boy did remember, Mulch would always have a friend and business partner among the mud men.
He stopped pacing and lay down on a small cot in the corner of the room. Nearly 300 years combined in and out of prison cells had taught him how to make time pass quickly. He began to count bricks in the ceiling. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
He glanced up as he heard footsteps and someone stopped outside his cell. "Hello, Julius, Holly." This was odd. Holly had visited he a couple of times over the past six months but this was the first he'd seen of Root.
"Watch your mouth convict!" growled Root.
Mulch rolled over on his stomach. "Why should I? You and I are good friends right, Julius?" Root had arrested him more than a dozen times.
"Say it again and I'll add another 5 years to your sentence."
"Okay, Commander. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"We need your help."
"Again?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you're the only one who's already forfeited magic."
"What's in it for me?"
"10 years off your sentence."
"15."
"5."
"15 or I don't budge. You can't force me to work for you."
Root's face turned slightly purple.
"So what's the job?"
It was Holly that answered. "We've got reason to suspect that Fowl's been monitoring us somehow. Your job is to go in and find out how. He's just about home for Christmas vacation."
"Is it a yes or no, convict?"
"12 years off. Take it or leave it." He was planning his escape anyway.
"Deal. We'll be back to get you a week from tomorrow morning." Root and Holly retreated.
Mulch when back to counting the bricks while he planned his escape. Fowl would help him. Unless of course Fowl betrayed him.
6 MONTHS LATER
Mulch was in his cell, pacing. His home for the next twenty years. For a fairy it wasn't that great a deal of time of course. Fairies lived for hundreds of years after all. But still, prison was not fun. Currently he had no roommate but sooner or later they'd book a few goblins for company for him. Goblins and dwarves: sworn enemies. And besides that, the cell walls weren't really very entertaining to look at. 6 months and it was already long memorized. He could see it with his eyes shut.
He reached into a pocket. He was thankful the LEP handed found this when they booked him. It was Fowl's watch. He didn't know why, but he wanted to keep it. Someday, he'd trade it back to Fowl at a high price.
Then again, in twenty years, would Fowl even remember it?
Would Fowl even remember him in twenty years?
No matter. If the mud boy did remember, Mulch would always have a friend and business partner among the mud men.
He stopped pacing and lay down on a small cot in the corner of the room. Nearly 300 years combined in and out of prison cells had taught him how to make time pass quickly. He began to count bricks in the ceiling. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
He glanced up as he heard footsteps and someone stopped outside his cell. "Hello, Julius, Holly." This was odd. Holly had visited he a couple of times over the past six months but this was the first he'd seen of Root.
"Watch your mouth convict!" growled Root.
Mulch rolled over on his stomach. "Why should I? You and I are good friends right, Julius?" Root had arrested him more than a dozen times.
"Say it again and I'll add another 5 years to your sentence."
"Okay, Commander. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"We need your help."
"Again?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you're the only one who's already forfeited magic."
"What's in it for me?"
"10 years off your sentence."
"15."
"5."
"15 or I don't budge. You can't force me to work for you."
Root's face turned slightly purple.
"So what's the job?"
It was Holly that answered. "We've got reason to suspect that Fowl's been monitoring us somehow. Your job is to go in and find out how. He's just about home for Christmas vacation."
"Is it a yes or no, convict?"
"12 years off. Take it or leave it." He was planning his escape anyway.
"Deal. We'll be back to get you a week from tomorrow morning." Root and Holly retreated.
Mulch when back to counting the bricks while he planned his escape. Fowl would help him. Unless of course Fowl betrayed him.