Artemis Fowl: Wreaking Havoc

6. The Deal

Artemis Fowl was shocked, truly, but he was careful not to show it. He had no idea why this fairy was doing what she was doing, but he would play his own game. Legitimate or not.

The boy genius leaned back slowly, steepling his fingers once more. He gave Teteph his best cold and decidedly evil stare, relishing in the dwarf’s slight flinch behind that tough stance.

Butler glanced from one to the other, both of them with steepled fingers and intensely locked gazes. It was almost comical.

“I see,” said Artemis, rather anticlimactically. He gazed at his slim fingers as he pondered lightly. At last, he spoke. “You wish,” he said slowly, “for the People to live in harmony with humans. Mud Men, you fairies call us. What benefit do you expect this historic mingling of two races to bring? Aside from war, death, conflict, war, etcetera.”

Teteph looked at him, coolly blasé.

“That is what I have said,” she said. “You and this man you call Butler are the only two humans in the entire world to know of the existence of the People. I can reveal my ideas in confidence that you may not…overreact. This is what the leader, Raen, desires.”

“Indeed,” said Artemis. He looked almost bored. “But what is it exactly that you want of me, other than to unfurl your – I’m sure – brilliantly thought-out plan?”

Teteph almost glared at him.

“Raen merely wishes us to work together,” she said, and she planted both hands on the table as she leaned her whole body forwards. Butler gave a slight grunt to remind her that a highly dangerous human stood behind her, but if she noticed she ignored the warning. “She has a plan, but it is not brilliantly thought-out. If I have your agreement for the deal, I will contact you when it has been.”

Artemis narrowed his eyes. “And what of my reward?”

“Reward?” Teteph looked a little taken aback. Clearly she knew little of who she was dealing with. “I was under the impression of speaking to a human in peace with the People. Surely –”

“Missus Molehunter,” said Artemis, placing his elbows on the table as he scrutinised her, “Do you know who I am?”

Teteph regarded him, for the first time, with suspicion. “Yes. You are Artemis Fowl the –”

“I am the son of Artemis Fowl the First, a well-known criminal of the underworld. Do you know how he acquired the vast amount of money needed to design and build this manor? He manipulated, he lied, he stole, and he was relentless. In short, he was not on the best of terms with the rest of society. As his son, I had changed little of the ways that have come into my own blood.”

Teteph looked rather unnerved now. “Perhaps I am mistaken to think you are peaceful with the People, then,” she said. Artemis was quite impressed at how she remained seated despite the situation. But then again, it was probably more dangerous to try and leave.

Artemis gave a friendly smile then, the sort of smile he had been working on to show at school. Unfortunately, he was still working on it; it came out as more of grimace, and certainly made him look that much more threatening.

“But now I have changed,” he said. “But the matter remains that either way, you only have me to come to for help. And the matter also remains that I do not care for peace, and will require payment.”

Teteph’s lips thinned as she sucked them in, narrowing her own eyes. It was essential that the dwarf fear Artemis – otherwise she could easily turn away, backstab him, take control and more or less ruin his carefully formulating plan.

“What is the payment?” she said stiffly. “I may have to reconsider this offer.”

Artemis gave a short, mirthless laugh. “You cannot reconsider, Missus Molehunter.”

Teteph bristled. “That is a threat?”

“That is the truth. Tell me, do you have someone else to ask to aid you with your plans?”

Teteph did not answer but held his gaze unblinkingly.

“Alright, so my payment,” said Artemis. His eyes roved over the various expensive oil painting hung around the manor as though he was thinking; on the contrary, he knew exactly what he wanted but had to play the opposite. If the dwarf sensed how much he wanted it, he would be playing straight into her hands instead. His eyes passed Butler, who was staring at him questioningly. He allowed his gaze to sweep past.

Artemis took a slip of paper out of his pocket, a page torn out of his notebook.

“Six kilograms, or half a brick, of gold.”