Ebby Flint and the Sword of Sorrows (Book 1 in the Artis Trilogy)

An Interview with the Devil

Chapter Twelve - An Interview with the Devil

Billy and I enter the ballroom together after a long journey from my bedroom which was mostly spent calling each other insults. This time the ballroom looks different from the last time I saw it. Gold sculptures, which at first seem to be hanging from the ceiling, are floating in the air above the entire ball. Flecks of gold are raining from the ceiling. On the far side of the room a small orchestra is playing soft music. I don't recognize any of the instruments being used, but that just might be because I'm uncultured when it comes to classical music. I mean, my music teacher in grade six failed me on the five-note music test on the recorder. Maybe he just didn't want to recognize my full potential, but I'm willing to bet that is not the case.

"Hey, Ebby, you in there?" Billy says, waving his hand in front of my face.

I blink out of the music lesson memory I was reliving. "Oh, sorry, I was lost in thought."

He smiles. "Unfamiliar territory, huh?"

I'm about to respond when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around to find Prince Quillan. His appearance is much fancier than Billy's. He wears a long-jacketed suit with a red tie. On the pocket of the suit a black rose is pinned down. What's up with this place and flowers on clothing? His suit jacket reminds me of something a king would wear in the 1700s. The jacket is the same red as the tie and it has black buttons sewed down the side which reach all the way to the back of his knees.

"Ebby, you look magnificent tonight," Quill compliments me.

"It kind of sounds like you're going to propose to me again," I joke.

Quill rolls his eyes. "I was just giving you a compliment as acquaintances should give one another."

Billy pipes in, "Oh Puck, someone get me a drink, I cannot take this conversation any longer."

"You're, like, twelve," I say.

"Fourteen, Ebby, we've been over this. But fine, someone get me some food."

Prince Quillan, who has been looking at me the whole time, seems to suddenly notice Billy standing beside me. He stands almost a foot and a half taller than him and gives him an unimpressed once over. "William," Quill begins, "I believe you are joining us on the quest tomorrow?"

"Billy, and yes," he says trying to avoid the conversation.

"Well, I hope you are prepared for the upcoming mission as it may prove to be a challenging task for someone like you," Quill says. "Now I must be off. There are more fairies my father insists I speak with."

Prince Quillan leaves, and I turn back to Billy. "That guy needs to take a chill pill."

Billy scrunches up his eyebrows. "Who says chill pill? I mean, I agree with you, but chill pill? How old are you?"

"That's a debatable question. But more importantly why are you coming on the quest? No offence, but how will you help at all?"

Billy takes no offence, and look as if he is asking himself the same question.

We walk over to a large rectangular table in the middle of the ballroom as it seems every other fairy in the room is moving to sit there as well. Sticking with a gold theme the table is made of pure gold, and platters of food are placed on it. The king sits at the head of the table along with his wife, the Queen, who I have yet to meet. I go to sit at a spot near the middle of the table, but a servant motions for me to sit closer to the King. On impulse, I grab Billy's arm. If I must sit by the Royal family, I'm not doing it alone. The servant pulls out a chair for me to sit a few chairs down from the King. Beside me is Bartholomew, who sits in the chair so human-like that I'm surprised he is not wearing an ornamental suit. On my other side, Billy has made his way into his seat looking quite uncomfortable. Quill takes a seat beside the Queen, starting up a conversation in low whispers.