Chapter One
A New Path
When the Black Prince and company were ready to leave the mine it was already late evening. They would travel under the cloak of night to avoid the Adders gaze and make their way back to Badger's Earth. Roxane and six of the remaining robbers had departed in the morning and were already on a course to Ombra, along with Dustfinger. Roxane could barely stand the sight of Dustfingers lifeless body without overflowing with tears, let alone escort his body back to Lombrica. The robber's had picked him up, cloak still over him, by his hands and feet because they didn't have any access to a cart in Argenta.
Farid had said nothing when he saw Dustfingers body being carried away, he just sat outside in silence, as much a Meggie tried to cheer him up. What could she know, she has her mother, her father and he has lost his closest friend, his teacher, he was like a father thought Farid. When the sun had finally set and the night was quiet, did the Black Prince, Mo and his family, Farid and Orpheus who no matter how much he complained never did get to ride a horse, set off into the shadow of night.
The Castle of Night loomed over them with its magnificent towers as they continued on for the Badger's Earth. It was very eerie in the Wayless Wood that night and the Black Prince's bear kept snorting every time something moved within the trees. Mo wound still wasn't healed completely, but thanks to the Barn Owl everything was taking a turn for the best. The Barn Owl had left with Roxane and would be returning to the Infirmary as soon as he was finished his business in Ombra and taken some herbs from Roxane's farm. The night was cold and the air was bitter but it was still better then the mine that smelled of the dead.
It was about dawn when they arrived at the Badger's Earth. It was mostly deserted other then a few moss women and Nettle who were tending to the injured whose bodies still clung to life. Only a few of the robbers, the prisoners from the Castle of Night and the Black Prince went in. Minutes later the Black Prince returned along with the robbers with provisions for the rest of the trip, but the prisoners stayed behind to rest. No one else went with them from the Badgers Earth and no one mentioned Dustfinger even though some had asked about him. They pressed on through the morning but had to move at a slower pace through out the day for Mo had started to develop a fever again and the wound began to give him pain for every step they took. At about dusk they arrived in Lombrica and the Black Prince and his band of robber's left the group at the Inn by the Border, along with Orpheus, Fenoglio and Farid who continued towards Ombra so that they could get to the castle before the gate was closed (at the thought staying in the Castle of the Laughing Prince, Orpheus became overjoyed).
When Meggie, Mo, and Resa checked in to the inn they finally were in peace and sat there and began to talk.
"So….Meggie, if you ever get the idea to read yourself into a book, tell your mom and I first that way we can come to." Meggie began to laugh. It was comforting for Mo and Resa to see their daughter laugh again.
"There's something I need to tell you both…" Meggie began to cry, "I'm sorry, if it wasn't for me and my silly idea of reading Farid and I into the book you never would have been shot and mom, you would have never had to be a prisoner in the Castle of Night!"
Meggie began to cry on Resa's shoulder and Mo rapped his arms around Resa and Meggie,
"But Meggie, its no your fault, now I have my voice back and your father wound is almost healed." spoke Resa in a soothing voice.
"Besides," said Mo cheerfully "We have a whole bunch of things to see in Ombra together and we might even end up staying, or at least until Dustfinger is back."
Meggie hesitated for a moment.
"You still believe he will come back, that Orpheus will find a way" Mo expression turned hostile at the sound of the name.
"Yes I do, even if we have to….even if it's Orpheus…" groaned Mo
"And Elinor and Darius, what about them" Meggie looked at them pleadingly.
"I don't know, but we will find a way." Mo smiled.
The night lingered on through the windows of their room. In silence Meggie sat there and glanced at Mo and Resa, now sleeping. She was used to seeing a room full of books and Mo sitting there hard at work as he tirelessly healed the eaten covers of one of his clients' novels. She remembered her bedroom, soft and warm, and the chest of books that was still at Elinor's that Mo had so finely decorated. But now it was different, not because she was in the Inkworld, but because she had nothing. No books, no room, no Elinor…..she was alone except for her parents and Farid. She blushed at the thought of his face and slowly began to cry, wishing she was back, wishing for a world she couldn't have. As she fell asleep she began to dream, of all those wonderful books and of Elinor and Darius and the garden that was so peaceful and quiet and of her family.