Chapter Three
Haven City, the Lower Elements
Holly sneakily checked her lunascope. Three minutes to go. Then her shift would be over, and it would mean she could return to her apartment. Below, the tones of a pixie orchestra played on. Next to her, Foaly yawned openly.
"I don't know why they bother with this anymore," she remarked to him. "It doesn't mean anything anymore."
Foaly chuckled. "Don't let Julius hear you say that. You'll never get a raise again."
Holly groaned. "Is it my fault Frond liked concerts? Why do we have to have these?"
"It's a tradition," Foaly said. "If the Council keeps supporting it like it has in the past, it'll live longer than a dwarf. Besides, we have to come to pay tribute to whatever lucky commander wins the right to conduct it."
"Wonderful," she retorted. "So since good ol' Beetroot shows some musical aptitude, I get to sit here and be bored to death. Being kidnapped was more exciting than this." She checked the wall mounted lunascope. Just a minute more. Then she could escape to the privacy of her home, maybe even take a long, luxurious bath. With her schedule, it was harder and harder to find time to herself.
The orchestra came to its final crescendo. Root held the baton, summoning all of the power he could from the band. Finally, it was over. The Council members stood up for a standing ovation, although Holly noted some glazed looks on some faces.
As the crowd began to disperse, Holly and Foaly lingered to congratulate their commanding officer. He walked over to them, in a dark green suit instead of his usual uniform.
"Congratulations, Commander!" Holly said. "I really enjoyed it."
"Thank you, Holly. I know you're not an enormous fan of these concerts, but it means a lot to me. I'm glad you both showed up," he replied.
"It was wonderful, boss," Foaly said. "I loved the...uh...loudness, and the, er...well, it was great."
Root took Holly aside for a moment. "You know, Holly, you didn't have to stay the entire time. I was just glad you were there for the introduction."
Holly shrugged. "I was happy to do it. It's no big deal."
Root's eyes got strangely bleary. "You know, Holly, I feel guilty. Here I am, we wouldn't even be having this without him, and I pulled the plug on his memories."
Holly began to feel odd, too. "It was what you had to do," she said. "What if he had leaked. It's...better this way." She turned away suddenly. "I've got to get going. You know, things to do, stuff to catch up on."
"Goodbye, Holly," Root said. "Remember, it's not your fault. It just...wouldn't have worked."
"I know," she replied, "but it doesn't make it any easier."
Haven City, the Lower Elements
Holly sneakily checked her lunascope. Three minutes to go. Then her shift would be over, and it would mean she could return to her apartment. Below, the tones of a pixie orchestra played on. Next to her, Foaly yawned openly.
"I don't know why they bother with this anymore," she remarked to him. "It doesn't mean anything anymore."
Foaly chuckled. "Don't let Julius hear you say that. You'll never get a raise again."
Holly groaned. "Is it my fault Frond liked concerts? Why do we have to have these?"
"It's a tradition," Foaly said. "If the Council keeps supporting it like it has in the past, it'll live longer than a dwarf. Besides, we have to come to pay tribute to whatever lucky commander wins the right to conduct it."
"Wonderful," she retorted. "So since good ol' Beetroot shows some musical aptitude, I get to sit here and be bored to death. Being kidnapped was more exciting than this." She checked the wall mounted lunascope. Just a minute more. Then she could escape to the privacy of her home, maybe even take a long, luxurious bath. With her schedule, it was harder and harder to find time to herself.
The orchestra came to its final crescendo. Root held the baton, summoning all of the power he could from the band. Finally, it was over. The Council members stood up for a standing ovation, although Holly noted some glazed looks on some faces.
As the crowd began to disperse, Holly and Foaly lingered to congratulate their commanding officer. He walked over to them, in a dark green suit instead of his usual uniform.
"Congratulations, Commander!" Holly said. "I really enjoyed it."
"Thank you, Holly. I know you're not an enormous fan of these concerts, but it means a lot to me. I'm glad you both showed up," he replied.
"It was wonderful, boss," Foaly said. "I loved the...uh...loudness, and the, er...well, it was great."
Root took Holly aside for a moment. "You know, Holly, you didn't have to stay the entire time. I was just glad you were there for the introduction."
Holly shrugged. "I was happy to do it. It's no big deal."
Root's eyes got strangely bleary. "You know, Holly, I feel guilty. Here I am, we wouldn't even be having this without him, and I pulled the plug on his memories."
Holly began to feel odd, too. "It was what you had to do," she said. "What if he had leaked. It's...better this way." She turned away suddenly. "I've got to get going. You know, things to do, stuff to catch up on."
"Goodbye, Holly," Root said. "Remember, it's not your fault. It just...wouldn't have worked."
"I know," she replied, "but it doesn't make it any easier."