Authoress note: There seem to be absolutely no "InkheartTintenherz" fanfictions out here, which is a horrible shame really. Such a terrific book. I just animated my friend to read it. And such loveable (see below) characters. Okay, I had to write this, I am not Cornelia Funke, I wish I were. Review!
The man let the flames dance around him in endless circles, he played with them as if they were young dogs, that he had trained to behave instead of the burning element of fire.
"You must be a magician" the young boy was sitting cross-legged in the dirt and stared at the flames in amazement. "I will never be able to tame the fire, like you can" he sighed and looked at the redness with a hunger and longing in his young eager eyes.
Dustfinger looked at the boy although his mind was far away. How he longed to be back in his world. The fairies and elves, the forest and the wonderful smell. But he found that he was forgetting things: faces he could not remember, places he could not recall. And no matter how much he tried, the pictures of his home were diminishing.
This world was not his and neither was it Farids. Still the boy seemed all to happy to have left the world of the thieves. And where had he landed? Again on some unknown road with a thief. But the boy seemed content, playing with Gwin and trying to swallow the flame quite sucessfully.
"You have learned quickly." Dustfinger mumbled and the boy almost jumped, unused to praise. "Only because I had such a good teacher" he grinned cheekily and threw the burning stick into the air, only to catch it moments later with his other hand.
"Soon I will have taught you everything you need to know" Dustfinger took Gwin off his shoulder and placed him none to gently onto the floor. But Gwin only climbed his leg up again, seconds later. Why did the blasted animal always have to return?
Like the boy. Why had he come with him? After all, what was it Dustfinger could offer him?
"You should have stayed with Silvertongue and the girl" he told the boy, not too friendly "They can not have gotten too far, you can still find them. You like the girl, dont you?"
Farid blushed again. "Of course, I like Meggie."
But he had made a decision. "I choose to go with you. And that is what I will do!" he looked down "They are a real family now and I do not belong with them."
"I told you, neither do you belong with me!" Dustfingers words hurt him, although he had often heard (and felt) much worse from the other thieves.
"But we are so much alike. We both belong nowhere." Farid watched the older mans reaction. Dustfinger frowned.
"You could. Silvertongue and" he hesitated "Resa would surely adopt you."
To say her name hurt, now that he was reminded that she was Silvertongues wife, Meggies mother and not the mute woman he had spoken to in the darkness of the night. But he still carried her picture with him and when he had tried to throw it away, he was not capable of doing it.
"I do not want to." the boy refused "I would always argue with their aunt. And I do not want Meggie to be my sister." for his age he was surprisingly mature, although his cheeks reddened again slightly as they did when the girl was mentioned.
"Is it that bad for you, having to deal with me?" the chocolate-brown eyes questioned Dustfinger. One of the many reasons he had never wanted to have children.
"You are far too curious for your own good!" was not really an answer, but at least it kept the boy quiet as he continued playing with Gwin.
"You should go to sleep, I keep watch" Dustfinger broke the uneasy silence. "I am not tired" the boy yawned, but lay down. "Why do you want to be read back into your world so much? Even if you know that you could die there?" Decidedly too curious!
"This place is not mine. If I found someone who could read me back, I would go, no matter what would happen to me there. Do you not miss your home?" This was the most personal topic they had ever approached so far.
"No!" Farids memories were not worth missing, the stealing and constant running, having to do the bad jobs for the others, always being on the receiving end of his companions anger and never the one to get a fair share of the stolen goods.
"I like this world much more. So much that I have not seen, unknown places and all of it is waiting for me to be found. And I am free, I can go where I want and do what I like." His young eyes shimmered with an unconcealed passion.
"Just wait" Dustfinger frowned "That will pass. Now go to sleep." "But you have to wake me to change guard duty!" Farid yawned before closing his eyes. Gwin nestled onto his stomach and rolled into a small furball.
Dustfinger leaned against a tree and regarded the boy with something akin to envy. "He will learn" he whispered into the night.
