Chapter 2

Meggie's eyes were wide as she closed the book, set it down on the fountain ledge, and stood up, staring Dustfinger in the eye, as a million thoughts raced through her head.

What in two worlds is he doing here? Am I really looking at the same man? Why would he come back now? Unless there's danger—

This last thought struck her. "Is something wrong? Did something happen? Are you—are you okay?"

Dustfinger looked a little taken aback by this question. If she could see his thoughts, she would have known that his heart was breaking to hear her first concern be for his safety when he still felt so guilty for abandoning her.

Looking at his expression, Meggie instantly felt a little silly, but Capricorn stuck out too clearly in her mind. She had known such an evil to come from Dustfinger's beloved world that she couldn't help feeling fear at the sight of him.

The sight of him. Hmm. He certainly was a sight to see. How this could be the same man? Renewed, handsome, his face almost devoid of scars. He looked younger now than he had five years ago.

"I—no, no, everything's fine. I just, well…I just wanted to see you."

The shock could not have been more evident on her face. How many times had they cursed each other, angered each other, how many times had he pushed her aside as unimportant? The thought of him coming back for the sole purpose of seeing her was something she couldn't comprehend.

And yet, she found that she was glad, indeed, she was absolutely overjoyed to hear these words from him, and had to fight a sudden urge to fling her arms around him.

Whoa. Where had that come from? This was a man who could never be fully trusted. He'd been her friend at times, enemy at others, but always distant, and she'd told herself that was how she always ought to be with him…distant.

But that was years ago, he was certainly changed on the outside…perhaps the inside, too?

"Oh," she responded, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "Well…I'm glad."

He greeted these words with a brighter smile than she'd ever seen from him, one that reached all the way up to his eyes, instead of the guarded smile she was used to, though, really, her smiles to him had always been similar, although each had had one element that differed. His smiles had been secretive, whereas hers had been mistrusting, but always, always guarded. Now Dustfinger did away with both of these elements. There was no wariness, no secretiveness, he simply smiled with all he had, and she hoped the smile she returned was devoid of wariness and mistrust.

Meggie looked away, suddenly shy, and gestured to the book on the edge of the fountain. "Never could put it away for good."

"Well, why should you?" he asked, looking at the book and then back at Meggie. "I can't either, but, admittedly, it's transportation for me, not just a sentimental reminder."

Meggie smiled. "I look at it and think, that's where she was. That's where my mother was all those years, and it still amazes me." She picked it up, running her fingers lovingly along the spine, and then returned her attention to Dustfinger.

"So, how's…um, how's everything? You know, in here." She lifted the book in the air.

"Magical," Dustfinger replied. "I should take you sometime."

"The last time someone in my family went into this book, she lost her voice when she came out of it and we didn't see her for years. I don't think I'm ready to take risks like that just yet."

"Understandable."

"It must be strange for you," she said, changing the subject abruptly, "being back here for the first time in…how many years has it been?"

"Five," he said guiltily. He wasn't quite ready to tell her he'd been spying on her every year.

They stood there in silence for a few awkward moments, neither knowing what else to say, and in those moments Dustfinger couldn't help noticing how tall she'd grown. How tall, and, of course, how beautiful. Looking at her, he felt he could gather her in his arms and she could easily rest her head on his shoulder. Suddenly, he grinned.

"Come here. I want to show you something."

And without further ado, he grabbed Meggie by the wrist and took off running. Startled, but laughing, she followed him, allowing him to lead her by the wrist.

"Where are we going?" she laughed, calling over the wind that rushed past her face as they ran, ruffling her long, light brown hair and white sundress.

"Meggie, when have I ever been a straightforward person?" he called back, laughing as well. "You'll just have to see, won't you?"

They ran down the cobblestone road leading from the town square which eventually turned into a dirt road, then, finally, Dustfinger made a sharp turn to the left, off the road and into the thick trees that lined it.

Happy, reckless laughter bubbled up inside Meggie, and when she let it out, Dustfinger grinned swiftly and pulled her into the trees. Still pulling her by the wrist, Dustfinger dragged Meggie farther into the woods, then, when they couldn't see the road anymore, he stopped.

Meggie looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Should I bother asking?"

In response, Dustfinger reached into his pocket and pulled out a match. Striking it on a nearby tree, Dustfinger lit a ball of fire in midair, just as he'd done earlier to amuse himself. As he started working it through his fingers, Meggie gasped, then smiled in delight. Encouraged, Dustfinger stretched the ball of fire into a serpent that wound itself around his arm. Grinning at Meggie, he took the head and tail of the snake and combined them so the snake disappeared into a ring of fire, which he placed in midair above Meggie's head.

"A halo for an angel," he smiled. The smile she gave him in return was absolutely radiant. Then Dustfinger screwed up his features as he scrutinized the halo jokingly.

"No, wait," he said. "This is you we're talking about."

Striking another match, he formed the fire into two more small balls of fire, and then made them into pointy little horns, which he placed under the halo, supporting it.

"There," he said, satisfied. "That's better."

"Hey!" Meggie exclaimed indignantly, slapping him lightly on the arm. Her touch sent a chill down his spine. It was a good chill.

Dustfinger took the halo and the horns, made them into a single spiral of fire, which he twisted around and around, then captured it in his hand so fast Meggie barely saw him do it. The fire glowed between his fingers for a second, then it was gone.

Dustfinger looked up at Meggie, who clapped appreciatively. "That was awesome," she said.

They looked at each other for a few moments, and the joking atmosphere faded.

"You know, I still remember your face when I first put on a show for you, that night in your aunt's backyard. You looked at me like you'd never seen anyone more amazing."

"I hadn't," Meggie said, so quietly it was almost a whisper. She sat down carefully on the ground, folding the skirt of her dress under her and leaning against a tree.

"You were trying to gain my trust, that night. My approval." She knew she was opening an old wound, but she couldn't help it. "So I would trust you enough later to follow you into Capricorn's hands."

The look of agony on Dustfinger's face made her regret her words, but she said nothing in apology.

Dustfinger crouched down on the ground beside her. She looked up at him, her head resting against the tree trunk.

"Meggie," he said, his voice breaking. "Meggie, I've done a lot of things I regret, and I've never forgiven myself for betraying you to Capricorn. Please believe me when I say that I am so, so, truly sorry. I'm sorry for everything I put you through, I'm sorry you ever had to know the name Capricorn, or Basta…or Dustfinger."

She sat up, away from the tree. She was silent for a moment, staring at him; then she said, "I forgive you. Once and for all, I forgive you. And I don't regret meeting you. I don't regret knowing you, whatever you may have put me through. It's forgiven and, from now on, it's forgotten."

His smile was all she needed in response.