Dustfinger cursed under his breath on his way back to the house. He didn't bother chasing after Basta or Meggie because he knew Basta would kill either him or Meggie if he did. He tried hiding his tears of frustration and anger, but he failed in restraining them. Resa was the first person to reach him, handing him a note that read, What's wrong, Dustfinger? Where's Meggie? Dustfinger growled and tossed the note aside.
"Meggie's gone!" he snapped. "Basta kidnapped her!" Resa, Farid, Mo, and Elinor all gasped.
"Basta kidnapped her?!" Mo yelled. "Why?!"
"He's not going to kill her, will he?" Farid asked.
"Doubt it," Dustfinger said. "He that he had some important business to take care and it involved her for some reason. But what does he want with her?"
"Mortimer," began Elinor, "that Capricorn fellow can't be reread out of his book, can he?" Everybody paused for a minute in pure horror; they thought exactly the same thing and knew this would be the worst thing to happen if they allowed it to happen.
"He wants her to reread Capricorn!" Mo cried.
"What should we do?!" Farid asked.
"We're going to rescue her, that's what we'll do," Elinor said, pushing past Dustfinger.
"No!" Dustfinger said, stopping Elinor.
"Why not?" snapped Elinor.
"Do you think Basta will hand Meggie over so easily?" he asked. "No. Basta might kill her or any of us if we try to rescue her."
"Dustfinger!" cried Farid.
"It's too risky, Farid!" Dustfinger argued. "I don't think you should try to save her and end up dying for her!"
"It's better than her dying at his hands!" Farid growled.
"Timeout!" Mo yelled. Everybody stared at him in shock for his sudden outburst. "I know that it's dangerous for all of us," he began, "but we have to do something!"
"What do you propose we do, Silvertongue?" Dustfinger asked, his arms crossed.
"You, Farid, and I will look for Meggie and Elinor and Resa will stay here," Mo said. Resa's eyes widened and tugged on her husband's hand, staring at him with pleading eyes. "Don't look at me like that, Resa," Mo said. "I lost you once and I'm not going to lose you again." Resa just cried softly and kissed Mo. Dustfinger tried not to cry himself at the sight of Mo and Resa's moment. This reminded him too much of Roxane and he knew it.
"If that's what you think needs to be done," Dustfinger said. He motioned to Farid and said, "Let's go."