"May I ask why you're being so nice to the girl?" Dustfinger asked softly so as not to wake Meggie, still sleeping comfortably on Capricorn's lap. Capricorn stared at Dustfinger icily.

"I have my reasons." Capricorn said dangerously. Dustfinger knew better than to ask why again. But Dustfinger was still curious. He had never seen Capricorn be so nice to anyone, let alone a child. Something just wasn't right. Capricorn sat for a little while longer, then carefully lifted Meggie up and carried her to a room to sleep. Then Capricorn went off to his own room.

Dustfinger quietly left, Basta followed silently. Dustfinger hardly ever slept in the village, but tonight was different. He had a feeling that Capricorn had something nasty up his sleeve, and he wanted to be here to protect Meggie. That poor child.

Dustfinger wasn't the only one wondering about Capricorn's motives for being nice to the girl. Basta also was puzzled. Sure she was a sweet girl, even Basta wouldn't think of harming her, but Capricorn wouldn't care if he had to dispose of her. He followed Dustfinger to a little hut apart from the village. Dustfinger turned around to face Basta.

"Why are you following me?" Dustfinger inquired.

"I'm just as confused as you as to why Capricorn is being nice to the girl. We both know that it isn't like him at all. I wanted to talk to see if we could figure it out." Basta replied. Now Dustfinger was really puzzled. First Capricorn is acting nice, now Basta is acting like he actually liked Dustfinger. It was just too much.

"Alright; come on." Dustfinger said. Basta nodded and followed Dustfinger into the hut. They talked for many hours and neither of them could figure out why Capricorn was acting nice. It was just too much.

Mo sat up against the wall wondering what was going to happen today. Capricorn had mentioned bringing Meggie here. Mo hopped he was only bluffing to get Mo to read for him. But then Capricorn hardly ever bluffed. Mo put his head in his hands and thought about Meggie. She probably isn't here. I highly doubt she is. Mo thought. He only hoped it was.

A couple hours later Basta came in to take Mo to Capricorn. Mo went silently, following behind Basta. Basta took him to a large building that was probably once a school. Mo went to the center of the room and stood waiting for Capricorn.

Capricorn came in a few minutes later with Meggie. He was holding her hand and was walking up the center of the room. When Meggie saw Mo she let go of Capricorn's hand and ran to Mo.

"Mo!" Meggie shouted as she ran up the aisle. When she got to Mo she jumped up into his arms. Mo stroked her hair and kept asking if she was alright.

"I'm fine Mo, really!" Meggie replied. Mo was just so relieved that she was safe. He didn't know what had happened to her, or if she was even alive.

As all this was happening Capricorn was heading up the aisle. He went and sat in a chair at the head of the room, and stared at Meggie and Mo until Mo finally stared at him.

"You have a charming daughter Silvertounge. I just couldn't bear the thought of her all alone, so I brought her here. Now that she is I'm sure you'll display you're talent without much struggle won't you?" Capricorn said.

"What talent Mo?" Meggie asked.

"Instead of telling her why don't you show her? Cockerel, where is Darius? Didn't I tell you to bring him in?" Capricorn demanded.

"He was still choosing books. I'll go get him." The man named Cockerel bowed out and went to get Darius.

"You see Silvertounge, while you were skillfully hiding from my men I found a reader named Darius. He's completely useless. You should see Flatnose's face! And that's also why Cockerel has his limp. So you see why I am so eager for you to read for me." Capricorn explained. "Now that your daughter is here as well I expect that you'll do what ever I ask."

Mo stared at Capricorn. So that was why Meggie was brought here! Mo should have known that. He knew he couldn't read for Capricorn, yet now that Meggie was in danger he had to. He would do anything to keep her out of harm's way. Capricorn made a signal to Basta, who was standing not far off.

Basta walked up and stood behind Meggie.

"Basta will be Meggie's personal shadow. He will protect her from snakes and all other manner of things, but that doesn't account for Basta himself, who will be kind to her as long as I say." Capricorn said. Just as he was finishing his sentence Darius came up with Cockerel.

Darius stared at the little girl standing with Silvertounge. He knew instantly that she was his daughter. She really was a cute little girl. Darius felt so sorry that she had to be here with these awful men. It just tore him apart. She must be scared stiff. Darius thought. He was carrying an armload of books. He set them down before Mo, and went up to stand before him. Mo nodded grimly and kneeled down in front of the books.

"Meggie, would you like to help me choose a book?" Mo asked. Meggie nodded enthusiastically and knelt beside Mo. "What do you want me to read out?"

"Gold, I want gold and lots of it." Capricorn replied. Mo nodded, then turned back to Meggie.

"Read this one Mo." Meggie said, picking up Treasure Island. Mo paled a little when he saw her choice.

"Are you sure Meggie?" Mo asked urgently. Meggie nodded her head. Mo sighed and grabbed the book from her. He opened the book to about the middle, where the treasure was hidden within the words. He began reading, and instantly everyone was lost in Mo's words spoken aloud from words printed on old pages.

Meggie saw all of Treasure Island, the sand, the trees, even the pirates. She saw almost everyone was spellbound, everyone but Capricorn. Meggie wondered why Mo had never read aloud before. She was lost in the sound of his voice and wished it could go on forever.

But then Meggie heard another sound with Mo's voice; the clinking of coins on stone. Gold started to appear on the floor, falling from thin air. The ground was almost covered in them. Then they stopped, as soon as Mo closed the book. Capricorn's men stared at the gold at the ground.

Meggie saw a green lizard crawl out from among the pile of coins scattered across the room. Basta started to throw a knife at it, but Meggie cried out not wanting the lizard to die. The lizard stared at her and scuttled off across the floor. Basta picked up his knife off the floor, and walked back behind Meggie.

The men still stared at the gold all over the floor, and Capricorn stood up…

A/N: Oh I'm so evil! Haha! It may take a while to update, so I'll leave you on the edge of your seat for now. I laugh at you pain and misery.