Book 3: Chapter 107 (2/2)

“The earth never sleeps,” Diamant said in reply.

“Neither do skeletons,” Mr. Skelly said. “You should rest too, Alice.”

Alice frowned. “I’m a little worried about Tafel and Mary. Mary’s a bit of an idiot, and Tafel’s the type to get dragged along by idiots’ whims. What if they’re doing something stupid right now?”

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Mr. Skelly said. “The only dangerous thing inside of these forests are rude genies, and that’s only if you make a vague wish.”

“Baaa.”

Alice furrowed her brow. “Did one of you just bleat?” she asked the elementals.

“It was probably Mistle,” Zilphy said with venom in her voice. “She’s a filthy animal.”

“Excuse me?” Mistle asked, standing up. “Why don’t you say that to my face?”

Zilphy crossed her arms without standing or turning towards the blue rock. “Sorry, I don’t speak animal.”

Sheryl wiggled over to Diamant and poked his side. She whispered, “Shouldn’t you do something about those two? Isn’t it your fault in the first place?”

“Yes, yes, blame me,” Diamant said and rolled his eyes. “It’s always the earth elemental’s fault.” He sighed. “I suppose it’s my fault for being too handsome and having two elementals fall for me.”

Sheryl’s eyes narrowed. She reached down, dug her sticklike fingers underneath Diamant, and flipped him over in one motion. He shouted, but Sheryl ignored him and wiggled back to her previous spot by Vur’s head.

“Baaaa!”

“Someone shut that sheep up!” Stella said, popping out of Vur’s hair.

“Mistle can do it,” Zilphy said. “Maybe it’s her cousin.”

“I’ll do it,” Diamant said and righted himself. He stood up and walked past Alice and Mr. Skelly towards the source of the sound. The darkness seemed to swallow him as he walked into the woods. A moment later, he came back out. “Alright. It was a weird sheep that looked like a human, but I shut it up anyway. Happy?”

“Ye—”

“Baaa! Baaa!”

“—s?” Stella tilted her head. “Why does it sound like there are even more now?”