The good thing about being penniless and living in the past was that you were free to do virtually whatever you liked, as long as you had a good enough knowledge of history to be able to predict certain events, which Artemis was able to do.
Soon, the nomadic Holly and Artemis (alias Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rampart), were no longer penniless. But it was too dangerous to settle down and make a name for themselves and risk ending up in a textbook.

Eventually, Holly gave up worrying about Artemis’s age. It was now 1675, and he’d only aged a year. But unlike Holly, Artemis couldn’t replenish his magic in the traditional way, so saved it for healing and the gift of tongues, while Holly used hers for the occasional mesmerization.
“Will you please just tell me where we’re going?” Holly said, letting her voice take on a little pleading tone. Artemis repositioned his turban.
“I’ve decided to invest a bit in diamonds. We’re to meet someone in Agra.”
“Who?”
“One John-Baptiste Tavernier, a famous diamond merchant of the seventeenth century.” They rode a little longer in silence, Holly staring at the back of her camel.
“Why diamonds?”
“We need something that will retain its value. I’ve had all of our money transferred into Indian currency, which I will trade Tavernier for diamonds.”
“You haven’t answers my question.”
Artemis sighed. Over the decades, he’d learned to trust Holly with his plans. It didn’t help to get into a sticky situation with somebody who had no idea what was going on.
“We’ve been in the Western hemisphere too long. It’s time for a change of scene.” He looked into Holly’s eyes and said, “We’re going to America.”
“Oh, and that’s all.” Artemis smiled.

Some other stories by iesnoth:

• STORYLINE CONTEST!!!!
• Artemis Fowl: the forgotten times