Free Ravenspell Book 3: Freaky Fly Day by David Farland

suitcases was money—five million dollars worth of hundred dollar bills.
    There was some discussion as to just who should go on this trip. Amber wanted all of the mice to go, but over the past few days, hundreds of thousands of them had taken up residence in the woods behind Ben’s house.
    Ben’s mom pointed out that this would likely be a very frightening experience for mice, and so she suggested that just a few of the bravest mice should come.
    So finally they decided that Ben and Amber would be the only mice to come, along with Amber’s advisor, Lady Blackpool. “You’ll need someone to protect you,” she had warned, “until you’ve gathered enough mage dust so that your powers return.”
    The rest of the mice and voles planned to stay in the woods. Ben figured that they wouldn’t need anyone to protect them. The mice had their needles to use as weapons if they needed, and, of course, Amber had held a meeting a few days earlier and warned all of the nearby predators that mice were no longer to be a menu item.
    Then, of course, the travelers had to decide how to travel. “You mice can’t just wander around in Disneyland,” Ben’s mom said. “There are people everywhere, and someone might step on you.”
    “We’ll have to carry them around in a little cage,” Butch suggested.
    “Not me!” Amber warned, “I’ve had enough of cages in my lifetime!”
    Ben agreed. “We can’t go in a cage. We’re supposed to get people to free the mice.”
    “It would only be for your own protection,” Dad said. “I know . . . how about if Mom carries you in her purse?”
    “That would be dark and stuffy,” Ben objected.
    Amber whispered in Ben’s ear, “But I like dark, stuffy places!”
    “Not that dark and stuffy,” Ben said. “Besides, her purse smells like lipstick and chewing gum.”
    His mom came to the rescue with an idea of her own. “I know: I have that old yellow blouse with the big pockets! The mice can ride in those!”
    It was settled. Mom put on her yellow blouse, the mice were loaded into the pockets, and they went to the car. The paparazzi were all over the lawn, flashing pictures and shouting questions.
    “Amber,” one of them cried, “is it true that you’ve agreed to do the special effects in the next Harry Potter movie?”
    Another shouted, “Who does your hair?” A third asked, “Where do mice go when they go out on dates?”
    Amber got confused and tried to answer the questions as fast as she could. “What’s a movie?” “Mostly I paw through it myself.” “I’ve never been on a date!”
    Dad and Mom had to fight their way to the car, shoving aside photographers, squeezing in as quickly as they could.
    Then they were in the car, and everyone sighed in relief. Dad started the engine and began honking the horn, trying to get the paparazzi to move, but they just crowded around, flashing pictures and yelling questions.
    Flashbulbs strobed again and again, blinding everyone in the car.
    Amber picked up her little red phone and called the president, asking for help.
    At that moment, Ben noticed a beautiful little blue butterfly that had flapped in just as the door closed. It flew overhead then landed on the dashboard.
    “Hey,” the butterfly asked. “Have you guys heard the buzz?” The creature might have been staring at Ben, but he couldn’t be sure. It had faceted eyes, and so it could have been looking at everyone in the car at once.
    Lady Blackpool nosed up to the dashboard. “Are you talking to me?”
    “Of course,” the butterfly said.
    “What’s your name, little one?” Lady Blackpool asked.
    “Serena,” the butterfly said.
    Lady Blackpool smiled wisely. “So, Serena, what’s the buzz?”
    “The Lord of the Flies has hatched!” she said. “Her name is Belle Z. Bug. She has the most beautiful eyes in the world—as red as rubies—and the most beautiful metallic green carapace. Everyone says that she’s the most gorgeous fly, and so friendly and humble.