Thanks to all reviewers and those who have read, but has not reviewd, too. Sorry for the slow pace. I'm busy with school, homework, exams, etc. I won't be able to write as much now, because my dad isn't happy with me being absorbed with fanfics. But don't worry, I'll continue, so you can look forward to lots more chapters!
Chapter Seven: Elinor and the Inkworld - and a Fire-eater
Elinor blinked. Was she going mad? Was that a tree she saw in her library?
In fact, she wasn't in her library, at all. She was standing in the middle of a forest, but it was unlike any wood she had been in. There were fairies in the trees. Wait... Faries? Elinor was glad Darius was standing there, gaping, as well.
"Darius, are you seeing all this?" she whispered, reaching out and touching a tree.
"Yes." was all Darius said, his voice shaking.
Elinor turned around, and was startled beyond imagining.
Dustfinger. The fire-eater.
The man was staring at her with astonishment, fear, and amazement in his eyes. Elinor, as usual, found her voice first.
"What are you doing here?"
"That's the same to you." Dustfinger said hoarsely. "You know what world you're in, don't you? This is my world, not yours."
Elinor gasped again. "How- how is this possible?"
"Don't ask me." The fire-eater shrugged. "Perhaps the reader read you here?"
Darius shook his head vigorously. "No, it's not me, Elinor! How many times do I have to tell you? I had nothing to read from, either."
"Then who..?" Elinor was interrupted by a voice.
"Who's there?" Elinor instinctively stuck close to Darius, and Darius to Dustfinger. The fire-eater was already tensing, and reaching for the knife at his belt.
"Show yourself!" Suddenly Elinor saw a bright, sharp blade pointed at Dustfinger's chest. She couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise.
Elinor kept her eyes on the attacker's feet. You've read it, Elinor, haven't you? If a dog attacks you, dont' look at it in the eye... Perhaps it applies to people, too...
However, Dustfinger's exclamation of surprise made Elinor's curiousity get the better of her. She looked up, and let out another gasp and clutched onto Darius' arm to steady herself.
For the man holding the sword was none other than Mortimer, Mortimer Folchart. Resa's husband. Meggie's father.
Elinor almost couldn't recognize him. His dark hair was longer and messy; his blue eyes were cold, hard, and burned with ferocity. He was more muscled than Elinor last remembered him being, as well. But the look in his eyes vanished instantly when he met eyes with Elinor.
"Elinor?" he lowered his sword. "Darius!" Then his eyes went to Dustfinger. "How- what are you doing here?" he looked astonished at seeing the fire-eater. Why? Elinor thought.
"Well, Silvertongue, it looks like you're really into your new identity?" Dustfinger questioned, still eyeing the sword. "I thought you denied being the Bluejay." Elinor met eyes with Darius, but he just looked bewildered, like she was.
"You've missed out a lot." was all Mortimer said. He sheathed the sword with expertise that made Elinor shudder. But then, instinctively, Elinor hugged him. She thought she wouldn't see him ever again, since Mortola had taken him and Resa away... Then Elinor heard Mortimer's sharp intake of breath. Elinor let go of him in alarm, and looked into his face, where a wince was lingering on his features.
"Are you all right?" came Darius' hesitant voice.
Mortimer just shook his head. "Welcome back. We've missed you." Then he glanced at Dustfinger. "Let's get back to camp. I'm sure you want to see Meggie and Resa?"
"Meggie and Resa? They're here, too?" yelped Elinor. "Of course I want to see them!"
"Then let's go." Mortimer glanced around. "And quickly. I don't want to run into another soldier..."
Elinor was just about to ask him about the soldier when he just swiftly turned and shook his head. "Follow me."
Dustfinger looked back at Elinor and Darius, shrugged, and followed Mortimer into the trees. Elinor held tightly onto Darius as they made their way through the trees - she didn't want to get lost in this eerie forest. She didn't want to get lost for a second time.
INKINKINKINKINK
Elinor saw Meggie first.
"Meggie!" she cried, not noticing the strange looks the people around her were giving her. "Resa!"
Meggie turned, and her eyes went wide with amazement. "Elinor?"
"What is it, Meggie?" a female voice called out. It was Elinor's turn to be astonished. It was Resa! Her niece, Resa! She was talking, talking in her own voice! Elinor hugged Meggie and Resa tightly, and Darius shyly stood beside her, smiling.
"Heavens, Meggie, you've grown!" exclaimed Elinor. "And Resa, since when did you get your voice back?" Suddenly Resa's face was overshadowed with sorrow, Meggie's also. Elinor was alarmed. "What's wrong?"
"We'll tell you later." Meggie murmured, shaking her head. "Is anyone else with you?"
"Why, yes, the fire-eater. What was his name? Dustfinger?"
"Dustfinger?" Meggie stared at Elinor. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure." Elinor said crossly. "My eyesight isn't that bad."
"I'm right here, Meggie." Dustfinger emerged from behind Elinor.
"Dustfinger!" Meggie nearly shrieked. "Farid! It's Dustfinger! It worked!"
Farid. The boy, who Mortimer had plucked from his desert story. He was hugging Dustfinger so hard that it was choking the man. Suddenly Elinor realized who was missing from this scene. Mortimer.
"Where's Mortimer?" Elinor asked over the noise.
Dustfinger was the one who spoke. "He went to the tents, I think." Elinor looked - there he was, with someone following behind him. It was a man, with a huge black bear by his side. The Black Prince.
Elinor found herself becoming all breathless again. "The... the Black Prince!"
"How does she know me?" the Prince looked at Elinor, then Mortimer. "You said she comes from the country you're from?"
Mortimer shot her a look that told her to keep her mouth shut. She did, for the look in his eyes was so dark that it scared her. "Meggie or Resa probably told her about you."
The Prince nodded slowly. "And her name is...?"
"Elinor. That's her assistant, Darius." Mortimer spoke for the two of them.
Then the Prince saw Dustfinger. "Dustfinger...?" His mouth opened in surprise.
Dustfinger just gave a wry smile. "Hello, Prince. Haven't seen you for a while."
"Dustfinger!" The Prince embraced Dustfinger. The boy, Farid, came forward as well. Elinor was really confused, now. "I thought I really lost you, for good..." the Prince looked at Dustfinger again. "You're real good at disappearing and appearing again, aren't you?
"Prince." Mortimer said gently. "I'd like a private word with my family, as well as Farid, Elinor and Darius. Make sure that no one hears what we say."
"But, Dustfinger..."
"I need to speak to him, as well." Mortimer said. "Just for a moment. Then you can talk to him." Dustfinger glared at him.
"Fine. Be back in time for the evening watch." The Prince said as he walked away, with his bear by his side. His voice was still unsteady from surprise and joy. Elinor watched them, still numbed by his sudden appearance.
"Well, shall we sit down?" Mortimer held a tent open for everyone.
"Yes, please," muttered Elinor as she followed Meggie, Farid and Resa inside. Dustfinger reluctantly followed.
Meggie could barely hide her excitement. It had worked! She had successfully wrote, and read, Dustfinger back! Elinor, and Darius, as well! Dustfinger. Oh, how good it felt to have him back... Elinor and Darius, as well. Yes. It felt good, seeing them again, after so many long weeks.
"Will someone tell me what in the world is going on here?" Elinor demanded, her arms crossed over her chest. Meggie had to smile. Yes, this was the same old Elinor.
"Well..." Mo said, running a hand through his hair, "It depends on what part of the story you want to hear."
"I want to know everything." Elinor snapped. Darius nodded vigorously.
"Then I suppose Meggie and Resa should start." Mo said with a sigh. Elinor looked baffled, but she closed her mouth to let Meggie and Resa speak.
"I read myself to the Inkworld, with Farid..." Meggie found it hard to remember the details - Farid helped her where there were gaps in her memory. At last she finished her side of the story - or at least up to where she had been reunited with Mo and Resa. Elinor had listened, without interrupting, with wide eyes. Then, Resa began to speak.
"Orpheus read us to Capricorns fortress." Resa's voice was uncertain, unsteady. Meggie didn't know, in detail, what had happened to her parents when they had first arrived at the Inkworld. Not that she had wanted to know... "Mortola and Basta came with us... And Mortola - Mortola shot Mo." Resa's voice shook. Elinor and Darius gasped stimultaneously.
"Shot?" Elinor looked at Resa, then Mo. There was an unreadable look in his eyes. Pain, or hatred? Or something else? He just sighed and shook his head in answer to Elinor's frantic looks.
"It's nothing. I'm fine. Don't worry about it." Mo didn't sound very convincing.
"It's nothing?" Elinor said hotly. "What do you mean, it's nothing? Resa says you were shot, for heaven's sake! And you tell us it's nothing-"
"Oh, yes, he was fine, other than that he was bleeding half to death, burning with fever, and barely able to breathe," Dustfinger commented dryly. Mo glared at him but said nothing. Meggie knew it was because he had no appropriate reply to Dustfinger's remark.
"And... then a moss-woman called Nettle found us..." Resa's shaking voice continued her story. Meggie knew most of what happened to Mo and Resa; yet it made her shiver once again. Meggie held Farid's hand tightly, and the boy soothingly whispered in her ear - "Everything's all right..."
Meggie didn't want to hear the story again. But did she have a choice?
She shut out the sound of Resa's voice and looked at Dustfinger. He was sitting there, his eyes showing that his mind was far, far away. What would it have been like, making fire for the White Women? Being in their world, somewhere he didn't belong? Meggie would have been afraid beyond imagining. But Dustfinger... He looked calm and steady, as if he was just back from a walk in the park.
"So, what's going on now?" Elinor's impatient voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Now?" That was Mo. "Oh, we're on the run from the Adderhead, who would do anything to get his hands on me and the other robbers." Elinor's face was drawn and white. Darius's eyes were as big as dinner plates behind his thick glasses.
"I must go." Mo started to stand. "Evening watch."
"Wait." Meggie was startled to see that it was Dustfinger. "You look as if you're going to collapse, Silvertongue. I'll go." Meggie saw, with alarm, that he was right. Mo looked exhausted.
"But..." Mo looked at Dustfinger. "Thanks." He said at last, sitting back down beside Meggie.
Dustfinger strode out of the tent.
And Meggie suddenly felt very tired. And sleepy. The last thing she heard was Elinor's muffled curse as she sat on a sharp rock embedded in the ground. Meggie leaned her head against Mo's shoulder, with Farid's hand in hers, and fell fast asleep...