Dustfinger sat alone in the cell that had been prepared for him. He had no idea how he had gotten here or even where here was. He knew he wasn't in the Inkworld; he had been read out of the Inkworld yet again. How long would it take him to get back this time? He would not spend another ten years in this place. Dustfinger started pulling at the shackles around his wrists again. It hurt if he kept pulling he would rub them raw. The chains were attached to the wall behind him so high up that his hands were suspended above him. Thoughts assaulted Dustfinger.
The boy. Where was the boy? Had he been plucked from the story as easily as Dustfinger himself? Or was he still there in the Inkworld with Meggie and Silvertounge? For they certainly weren't here…hopefully.
Dustfinger felt any little hope he had left starting to leave him. The cell was dark almost pitch black; there were no windows and they, his captors, wouldn't light the torches or let him anywhere near fire. The only light came from jar full of bugs buzzing around nosily in there small prison.
"We're both prisoners here." Dustfinger said; he knew the bugs couldn't understand him but it felt like the right thing to say. Dustfinger needed fire; his only hope lay in the depths of his pocket. A small box with four matches; he would save them for just what Dustfinger couldn't say. Maybe just maybe they could help him escape. Maybe.
And then what Dustfinger; that annoying little voice called reason piped up. Why did it always have to come out?
"I'll think of something." He said aloud.
Meggie stared at the place where it had happened. The place where her world had been thrown into turmoil once again. Dustfinger and Farid had been performing just outside Umbra; Basta had appeared out of nowhere and of course he had his knife. Isn't that the way it always works right when your at peace and happy something happens to destroy it. today, however that thing wouldn't be Basta's knife or Dustfinger's fire. Meggie screamed "Watch out!" and then they were gone, leaving behind nothing but the faint smell of smaoke in the air. All three of them Basta, Dustfinger, but worst of all Farid; gone in an instant. Tears flooded Meggie's eyes but she held them back, what good had tears ever done anyone. Meggie ran to get her father and Resa at the little apartment they had been staying in.
"MO!" Meggie called when she arrived in the room; no one was there.
Mabey they went out. Meggie thought, then she noticed her fathers tools on the table. Mo never left his tools lying around. In that instant Meggie knew, her father was gone. now the taers came so power ful that Meggie could not have stopped them even if she tried. The girl sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands.