The Hundred: Fall of the Wents by Jennifer Prescott Read Free Book Online Page B

the sphere of metal that hung around his neck. Then there was a low moan of anguish and the sphere was released; it swung in its bag into the shallow water of his bed and made a sharp hissing sound.
    Tully rose up suddenly, fully awake. He opened his eyes in the darkness but could see nothing. He heard a quick shuffling sound near the doorway and strained to see who it was, but the intruder was gone. Then he noticed the bag around his neck. The drawstrings at the top had been loosened and the metal inside was glowing with a strange, white heat. Tully gingerly touched it but it felt cool as always. He tied the drawstrings tight again and watched until the light faded and winked out, and the image of the little sphere was swallowed up into the darkness. He had never before seen the sphere of metal change in character at all; this was new.
    Someone had been in the room with him—one of the UnderGrouts? Or Hen-Hen himself? Whoever it was had intended to steal his bauble but had failed. Perhaps there was some protection that Hindrance had placed on it. He was more determined than ever to keep it safe on his person and never let others catch sight of it again.
    He waited some time for the intruder to return but no one came. Eventually he slept.
     
    *
     
    Tully woke near the dawn to the sound of Aarvord’s guttural snores coupled with Copernicus’ hissing wheeze. Like a pair of musical bellows they went, in and out, one then the other. Punctuating this noisy percussion was the high, squeaky singing voice of Fangor as he explored the room:
     
    I’m a louse, oh a louse, oh a louse is me.
    I’m the lousiest louse, I’m as lousy as can be .
     
    “Shut up!” hissed Tully, and threw his reed pillow in the direction of the song. It landed with a wet whump on Aarvord, who snorted, rolled over, and began to snore again. Fangor kept singing.
    Tully ducked his head into the shallow water and groaned with fatigue. He had slept poorly and had had unpleasant dreams. Remembering, he clutched at his necklace to make sure it was safe. It was there, a light yet familiar weight. Perhaps it had all been part of the dream.
    Despite the annoyance of Fangor’s horrid song, there was something oddly pleasant about it. It was like home, when nothing was wrong and they were all innocent of danger—and the Hundred. The Hundred…The Hungered…The Dread…The Dead. Tully slipped into sleep again with the words repeating in his head, like a gong in a deep chamber, drowning out the happy little song of the Sand Louse.
     

Chapter Three: Bellerol
     
    Tully awoke in the bright morning and looked around for Fangor, but could see no sign of him. Perhaps he’d nested in Aarvord’s wrinkled skin and gone to sleep, finally. Tully combed his hands through his hair but nothing dropped out, save some water droplets. Aarvord was still sleeping, and Tully glanced down at the pallet to see if Copernicus was awake yet.
    To his dismay, on the pallet lay a small, shriveled thing, in the shape of Copernicus but without any stuffing—as if the snake had been squashed flat while he slept. Tully leaned over and picked the thing up; it was nothing but skin. He dropped it in horror and let out a shout, which woke Aarvord like a shot. Fangor popped right off Aarvord’s head, where he’d evidently been sleeping, and bounced onto the bed.
    “What? What? Where?” shouted Aarvord.
    “Whuzza?” said Fangor.
    “Coper—” said Tully, in shock. “He’s been….”
    Before they could assess the situation further, a sheepish Copernicus, sleek and shiny, slid into sight along the smooth wood floor. He looked different somehow—new and fresh.
    “I’m here,” he said. “Nothing to be concerned about. I shed my skin and got a new one.”
    “I didn’t know you did that,” stammered Tully.
    “Don’t all snakes?” asked Copernicus. “I do it regularly, as a matter of fact. In the old times snakes did it now and again, but usss snakes do it quite a bit. We like