The Adventures of the Bluejay: Episode 2

Bluejay's Decision

Those who read this should have read Inkspell or it will be a bit of a spoiler for you.

This is when the real action starts. Please don't ask me how Fenoglio got into the book… just enjoy it. I'm not as terribly brilliant as I look. Oh and its in Fleetfoot's point of view now. Also, I think I need to do a disclaimer thingo: YADA YADA CORNELIA FUNKE'S CHARACTERS XEPT FOR FLEETFOOT (SO DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT STEALING HIM)

Fleetfoot stopped fidgeting and looked up. He was convinced now that Bluejay was mad. Not angry-mad but crazy-mad.

"That's absolutely bonkers of you!" Fleetfoot yelled.

The Black Prince looked at him. "I agree. That's the most foolish thing I've heard since the day Dustfinger told me he stuck horns on a marten."

Dustfinger smiled.

"Yeah," protested Fleetfoot. "I thought you were going to teach me to steal like you!"

Oddly, Bluejay just grinned. "Whoever said that I wasn't?"
"Considering that you'll probably be strung up on Adderhead's gallows until your head falls off…" he said hotly.

"Since when have you been an expert on politics? You've never been to his silver fortress. Have you clung to the ceilings while guards scrambled around searching for you? Have you even seen the Adderhead? I assure you, Fleetfoot, I am not stupid. I don't plan to step foot into the castle until I am secure with my plan."

"Bluejay! Don't scare me so much!" said BP (a/n all this black prince stuff is a kick in the can to type so he will be referred to as BP from this point forth) with a tiny chuckle.

"Well, I'm convinced that your too brave for your own good, mate. Yet, I'm not sure if I'd rather stay a cowardly fire-eater or become a risk-taking robber… I just hope that you're clever enough to hold your own," commented Dustfinger with a certain perception to his voice.

"Oh, since when have you been the wisest of the wise?" BP looked at Dustfinger mockingly.

Dustfinger left that question unanswered save for a grin. Fleetfoot hadn't expected this at all. He had always imagined BP as silent and daunting, not all this boyish banter! The Bluejay and his sarcasm are quite enough for me, he thought haughtily. I thought thieves were supposed to be cunning!

"We should get a plan in order then…" said Bluejay. Anyone could tell that he the anticipation of a child on Christmas Eve. (a/n YES, there is Xmas in Inkworld) "You can go now, Fleetfoot."

"But--"

"Just go!"

"But--"

"FLEETFOOT!"

"Fine," he muttered angrily and turned out of the tent.

Once Fleetfoot was out of the tent, he began walking around quickly, muttering under his breath about how he was fourteen and more mature than the leaders here. Everyone who he walked past could almost see steam rising off him with his face tinged pink and his straw-yellow hair sticking up higher than usual. In fact he was so mad that he collided into a man.

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE--- wait! What's a kid like you doing around here? Who're your parents?"

"I d-don't have any… please, just let me go!" The man had Fleetfoot by the scruff of his collar.

"Then what are you doing in the Strolling Player Camp? What's your talent?"

The man's suspicion was loosening along with his grip.

"I'm apprenticing…"

"With whom?"

"Uh… Georgie?" The first name that came to his head was his mother's.

"I don't know no Georgie's…." The man tightened his grip once again. "Who is it really? Tell me!"

Fleetfoot finally noticed that the man had dragged him out of the pressing eyes of the camp and into a little circle of bushes. Apparently, no one would see him being threatened by this psycho.

"Why are you so nosy anyway, Mr.? Who might you be spying for?"

He had meant that last question as a mock but it turned out that he had hit the nail right on the head.

"THE ADDERHEAD! So, I could have your snippy little nose chopped off and sown onto that stupid minstrel!"

Fleetfoot had no idea what minstrel he was talking about, but he did get that he'd better not tell this bloke about Bluejay being just a little walk away.

"I won't tell you! Not even if you kill me!"

"Now why would I do that? Your only use to me is to give me the information that I want. I have my ways of persuasion, as long as I can figure out your weakness. And I can…"

With only a few moments, Fleetfoot found himself tied to a tree with a handkerchief in his mouth, watching the man walk away. He was feeling extremely down-trodden and stupid. He never should have left that tent. He didn't even know how exactly he'd let the man know that he had information. Why didn't he just lie before? The man returned holding onto a struggling girl about the age of Fleetfoot himself. She was beautiful. Her hair was a long sheet of shining black and her eyes were large and the color of chestnuts.

"Would've liked a younger one, but she'll do. You noble idiots have too soft a heart!" The man took the handkerchief out of Fleetfoot's mouth and put a knife at the girl's neck. "Now, are you as enthusiastic about her dying as you were about yourself?"

Fleetfoot scowled, having painted himself into a corner. The beautiful girl was staring fiercely at him. He resented having to tell about Bluejay, but resented even more having to watch an innocent girl die for something she didn't even know about.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you but under one circumstance--"

"NO CIRCUMSTANCES! Who's got the knife again?"

"Fine! The Bluejay is in the camp. But you'll never be able to take him by yourself! He could kill you with his pinky, you dirty, rotten, son of a--"

The man cut him off once again rudely. "Oh, really? How long have you been training?"

Fleetfoot decided that fighting was inevitably pointless. "For about 3 days…"

"Figures."

Fleetfoot scowled.

"Alright, we should be off to the Adderhead's now," the man said as he whipped a rope out his bag and moved for the girl. She kicked him the gut and grabbed his knife. With a swift motion Fleetfoot was no longer tied to the tree.

"I'm coming with you," said the girl as Fleetfoot made a movement to start running. He gave her a look that said what-the-hell-is-your-problem, but just started running. If she wanted to keep up with him she could. He didn't care what she did and he certainly had no problem with letting her try to sprint as fast as he did. He took off, faster than a frightened fawn, and even rivaling the humming-bird's beating wings.

When he reached the tent, he had lost track of how far behind she was. He burst in, meriting an annoyed glance from Bluejay, which he ignored.

"A man… he caught me… he knows… works for the Adderhead!"

He was talking so fast that that was all anyone got out of it.

"Calm down, calm down," said Bluejay evenly. "Now what happened?"

Seconds after his story was told the girl stumbled in huffing and puffing. Bluejay, BP, and Dustfinger alike looked worried.

"This must be the girl," said Bluejay.

"The name is Corey," she said as if being called 'the girl' was the dirtiest thing to say.

"We've got to get everyone out of here!" BP said as he stood up. He was tall although not as tall as Bluejay. "Who knows how many spies are just waiting in the wood. They could all be with that man. We're much too close to the main road for them to be afraid of the creatures in here. Dustfinger and I will go around a tell everyone that we're getting out of here--- and fast. You two had better go to---"

There was a huge crash and a scream. Followed by more screams and crying. Everyone in the tent looked up. BP ran out and from there Fleetfoot could here him yell, "EVERYONE OUT!"

"Let's go, Fleetfoot," said Bluejay. He looked at the girl. "Do you have somewhere to go?"

"No," she answered shortly. She momentarily grinned. "I'm coming with you!"

Bluejay sighed. "As long as your safe…"

And then they ran, as fast as they could.