Thanks again for reviewing, Duckweed.

This chapter is entitled Gone.

Chapter Four

Farid just had leave Meggie's side. He was getting restless; he had no idea why. Farid's mind went to Orpheus. Orpheus. Farid immediately knew that something was wrong. He dashed around the barn, jumping over sleeping people and nearly smacking himself into a wall. But no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find Orpheus.

No. No. No.

Farid ran to the door and came face-to-face with Resa. Her face was tearstained, but Farid was too desperate to care. "Have you seen Orpheus?"

"No." That was all Resa said. That was all Farid needed to hear. He stumbled outside, and found a single scrap of paper on the ground. Shaking, Farid picked it up. On it was Orpheus's familiar handwriting; a line of words had a line crossed through them. It said - Dustfinger's body lay cold and dead...

"No. No. NO!" Farid screamed and tore the paper in half. He sank down to the ground. There was no point in searching any more, for Orpheus was gone. Almost certainly gone.

Farid wanted to dash something to pieces. He was just looking for something to smash with his fists when a voice came from behind him. It wasn't any voice. It was Silvertongue.

"Farid." Angrily, Farid turned. He had an urge to punch something. Farid involuntarily clenched his fists. Silvertongue was just standing there, although Farid was wary of the sword at his belt. Perhaps it was because of his voice, perhaps not. But Farid let his fist down. Silvertongue sat down at the base of a giant tree.

"Come here." Reluctantly, but having nothing else to do, Farid obeyed. Silvertongue motioned for Farid to sit down beside him. Farid did so.

"He's gone, isn't he?" Silvertongue startled Farid by saying this.

"How do you know?" Farid said in surprise.

"I saw him." Silvertongue said to Farid with a strange smile that so reminded Farid of Dustfinger's. Again, that ache in his heart.

Farid couldn't help but let tears cloud his eyes. Then he turned at looked at Silvertongue accusingly. "You let him go!"

"I'm no good with a bow and arrow, Farid. And no one can stop a man with an arrow without killing him. He was a hundred feet away."

Farid scowled but said nothing. He looked at Silvertongue, who was absently rubbing his chest. "You all right?" Farid asked uncertainly.

"Yes, thank you," Silvertongue said curtly. Farid felt himself turn red.

"Farid," Silvertongue spoke, breaking the silence, "I know how you feel about Dustfinger - "

"No, you don't," Farid muttered under his breath. It was likely that Silvertongue had heard him.

"But be patient. Orpheus isn't the only man around that can write; you still have hope. Don't expect Dustfinger to come back so easily, understand? Look what happened to Cosimo..." Silvertongue sighed deeply. "Think of all that we've been through, and don't lose hope."

Farid closed his eyes, and thought. Silvertongue was right, as always. It wouldn't be easy to bring back Dustfinger. For sure. Even Orpheus might not have been able to do it, thought Farid. Maybe it wasn't such a big deal that he ran away.

And they had been through a lot. Farid had died, then he had come back. Farid didn't remember being dead - it was as if his memory had gone fuzzy. Only brief pictures and sounds were left in his mind. Meggie had asked him often enough about being dead. Farid didn't answer. It wasn't because he didn't want to; it was because he didn't remember. Actually, he didn't want to remember, either.

"I must be off, now." Silvertongue said, getting up from the tree. "But, Farid, tell me one thing - Is Meggie all right?"

Farid felt as if his tongue had frozen in his mouth. What was he to say? What would Silvertongue do if he found out that Farid and Meggie eavesdropped on him and Resa?

"Er... She's fine... I think..." Silvertongue obviously noticed Farid's hesitation, but he didn't say any more. Nodding slightly, he strode away from Farid.

Farid was left with hopelessness, although he didn't feel as bad as he did five minutes ago. Strangely his short conversation with Silvertongue had taken away most of his rage and frustration.

Shrugging to himself, Farid slipped the scrap of paper into his pocket and headed back to the barn.

Meggie had no choice but to follow everyone else.

She didn't want to walk, no more than she wanted to face her parents again. But the strolling players and robbers were heading off again, and Meggie didn't want to be left alone in a deserted barn. She had heard that they were moving off again - closer to Ombra. From there they'd decide where the best hiding place for the robbers would be.

Again her thoughts drifted over to Mo and Resa. It was frightening to see them argue in such a way; Meggie hadn't seen Mo nor Resa afterwards. It felt strange not having her parents close by as she used to. Again, that ominous prickling in her nose.

Farid was walking silently beside her. He hadn't said much since he came back from his short and mysterious walk. All that Meggie had found out was that Orpheus had run away. Run away! Meggie had never been so shocked and angry, but her exhausted brain refused to think much about the situation. Her mind was with her parents.

Meggie felt as if she had been walking for days. More likely, it was just a few hours. But she was tired of this life - hiding, hiding, and more hiding. They couldn't even take a walk without the risk of being killed! Meggie missed those times where she, Resa, and Mo often walked around Elinor's garden in the evenings. That life seemed like a dream to Meggie, now, and she would have done anything to get it back.

Meggie stumbled on her own feet for a second time. Again, Farid righted her. Gritting her teeth, Meggie walked on, with Farid's hand in hers. Farid was in a silent and dark mood, but he was still very friendly towards Meggie. He was always friendly to Meggie. Meggie appreciated that; for even Mo and Resa quarrelled with her.

"Farid?" Meggie whispered.

"Yes?"

"I want to go home..."

Farid caressed Meggie like always. "You will. Soon." He whispered in her ear.

Meggie closed her eyes for a moment. "I want all this to be a dream... a long dream..."

Farid closed his mouth. To tell the truth, he was wishing for the exact same thing. Dustfinger... What he would do to be back with his master; in this world or the other. Farid involuntarily clenched his free hand - for he had just reminded himself of Orpheus.

By evening the long line of exhausted people had made their way to the outskirts of Ombra. Some scouts had reported that they had seen a few suspicious-looking men on the road. The Prince had ordered everyone to get off the road and walk in the forest path.

Meggie ended up riding the cart again, along with Farid, of course. She got increasingly worried about Resa and Mo; she hadn't seen the two of them for nearly a day. She didn't tell Farid about this. It was a family matter.

"We've arrived! Let's go set up camp!" Snapper's voice made Meggie jump. She slipped off the cart and made her way to the front of the line. The Prince was there, with his bear, but Mo was nowhere to be seen.

"Prince, have you seen Mo?" Meggie tried not to let her voice shake. Farid was standing behind her.

"No, but he told me he's going somewhere for a few minutes," the Prince replied. "He was a little moodier than usual." The Prince looked sympathetically at Meggie.

"Thank you," Meggie said. She ran on to the back without a word. Hopefully Mo and Resa would be there.

Hopefully.