Free Good Curses Evil by Stephanie S. Sanders Page A

chocolate. Besides, I have to find a henchman! It’s part of the Plot. And it won’t even be hard to capture him. Look. The sprites have already done the work for us.” I pointed at the scene below as evidence.
    Jez sighed dramatically, then itched at her nose where the blotchy red rash was finally fading a little.
    â€œSo, what’s the plan?” she asked. I knew she’d come around.
    â€œWe’ll just go tell them we want their ogre,” I said.
    She looked at me like I was crazy. Why do girls always think a perfectly simple plan (like demanding the release of a prisoner from unstable magical creatures) is crazy?
    â€œAnd you think they’ll just hand him right over?”
    â€œSure. Why not?” I asked.
    Jez rolled her eyes as I gave her my most roguish smile. Then we made our way down the hill. The sprites had just hauled the ogre up for another dunking when one of them spotted us. I couldn’t tell what he was saying, because I don’t speak sprite gibberish, but the frantic jumping and pointing kind of tipped me off. Soon, all the sprites had gathered around us, except for a handful who struggled at the crank, trying to hold the capcaun up in the air.
    One of the sprites approached us and began gesturing rudely. He must’ve been their leader, because his toes were longer and curlier than the rest; plus he wore a bright jewel on a makeshift crown made of woven sticks. (Closer inspection revealed the jewel to be just an ordinary drop of water trapped within the crown.) He prattled on and on in his twittering voice.
    â€œLook,” I said. “I have no clue what you’re saying, but we need your ogre—”
    â€œCapcaun,” Jez corrected.
    â€œ Capcaun , so hand him over and nobody gets squished.”
    â€œSmooth,” Jez muttered. I ignored her.
    The tiny sprite didn’t seem to understand. I tried miming. First, I pointed at the ogre. Then I pointed at the sprite leader. Then I took my fist and pounded it onto my palm in a way I hoped was threatening.
    Apparently, some part of my message got through, because as soon as I’d finished, the sprites began running around in a panicky sort of way.
    There was another loud splash. With no one to man the crank, the ogre had fallen once more into the water. The little sprites scattered like roaches, disappearing into the forest.
    â€œGive me a hand,” I said to Jez as I ran over to the creature and untied his leg.
    â€œEwww. No way. I’ll get wet. ”
    â€œHow is it girls can spend three hours soaking in a hot bath but can’t manage a few drips from a sopping ogre?” I asked.
    â€œCapcaun,” Jez said. “And you’re really going to accuse me of too much tub time? I seem to recall last week a line stretching from the bath caves to the Great Clock and several students complaining that Rune Drexler was in the tub again taking his sweet time—”
    â€œLet’s not dredge up the past,” I said quickly.
    I managed to untie the creature on my own. At this point I was expecting him to attempt escape, so I held out my arms, ready to grab him the minute he stood up. This was a bad idea for two reasons.
    First, the ogre had no intention of escape, so my attempts to capture him were pointless. Second—and this was really the clincher—he mistook my open arms for an invitation to hug me. He raised his dripping wet, stony body out of the pool and embraced me in a great big bear hug that nearly crushed my ribs.
    â€œEwww!” I said as he soaked my clothes.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, Rune?” Jez asked with a smirk. “Can’t manage a few drips from a sopping ogre?”
    â€œCapcaun,” I said irritably.
    â€œLittle man save Cappy. Best friends!” the creature said in a deep, slow voice. I started to rethink my plan to make him my henchman—especially when Jezebel erupted in giggles.
    â€œGood job capturing a henchman, Rune.