Ok, heres the whole time setting story for Inkfire.
Its past the first book Inkheart, but Mo ended up reading Dustfinger back somehow by accident. Once he was read back, he was reunited with the Black Prince and Ann. Then, somehow he got read back a year later after Inkheart and they stayed in the 'normal world' for a year, Capricorn though, was brought back to life by the same person who read Dusty and Ann into the 'normal world'. Capricorn wants revenge on Silvertounge for his death, and he wants to kill the man in his world. He plans on using Dusty and Ann's power with fire to start to overcome the rulers of the Inkworld and slowly take it over. Farid is not in this story only because I wasn't too impressed with him, and because I don't want some pansy fire eater in my story that follows Dustfinger around all the time.
Sorry to those of you who like him!
Readers will find out who the mysterious reader is later on, as well as if they will go into Inkworld or not.
"We already know the lay of the land there, right Silvertounge?" Dustfinger asked.
Meggie, Elinor, Silvertounge, and Resa were all surrounding a map that lay out over the table. It showed the whole area from their home to Capricorns many bases.
"They have doubled guard shifts from what I noticed. Ever since we all were being held there. None of them leave a blind spot around their base except," Dustfinger pointed to a small wooded area, "The back of the fortress. There's nothing there but woods, so Capricorn didn't want to waste any of his men by making them look at trees for days on end.
"Now, the last time I was there with Ann, she was being held in the same room that Meggie was before she had to read the Shadow from the book. But they might have moved her. So, I need you, Silvertounge, to check that area first."
Silvertounge nodded. "I can do that. But what about you?"
It never ceased to amaze Dustfinger that even after all he had done to hurt the man and his family, he was still concerned for his safety.
"Don't worry about me. I know a way into Capricorns house. There is a back window in the crypt," Resa and Elinor shivered at the memory, "That has been covered up with wood and rocks for sometime. All I have to move is the stones and then burn away the wood and I'll be able to sneak inside the place from there."
Meggie suddenly piped up from behind her mother.
"How are you going to get inside the house if its locked on the outside?"
Dustfinger bent down a little to reach the girls height. She had grown over the years, but she still was a bit shorter than him.
"Don't worry about that princess; I still have some tricks up my sleeves that you don't know about. As well as some new ones."
The fire-eater straightened out his back and look at the clock on the wall besides the table. It read past midnight from what he could remember about the numbers.
"Heavens above Mortimer, I still can't believe that you are actually going to risk your life for this-this matchstick eater! Just look at all the trouble he caused before! Tricking you and your daughter into coming here, leading the men in black jackets here, stealing you, and then kidnapping you daughter! Of course we got her back as well as Resa, but he took the book and disappears for almost a year.
"Now he comes back asking for help and you risking your life to save some girl that you don't even now from the clutches of a man that you killed!"
Elinor was gasping for breath, her blood pressure rising by the second.
Resa patted her aunt's shoulder trying to calm her down and make her take a seat.
Meggie merely looked up at her fathers calm yet somehow frightened face.
"Because Elinor, every time I think of that girl in Capricorns hands, I think of that time when Meggie was in his hands as well. And how frightened she was. Never in my life would I wish that fear on someone else. That is why I've agreed to this, that is why I'm going to help Dustfinger.
Resa looked up at her husband and merely hugged him close. Even a person who had never experienced a loss of someone for years, could see the love she felt for him. She didn't want him to go back to the village, but she had written in the air that she agreed with Silvertounge that she would've done the same thing if it were Meggie.
"Mo, I want to come with you!" Meggie said.
Both men and Resa whipped their heads around to face the blond girl.
"No Meggie, absolutely not! I lost you once and never again am I going to take you near that wretched place. What are you thinking?"
"Oh I know what she thinking alright." Elinor said, getting to her feet once more, "Mortimer she doesn't want to let her father go either. And in all honesty I want to go too."
Dustfinger merely chuckled. He knew that both may just get in the way, but he noticed that Resa wanted to go as well, not leaving her daughter to her own adventure. Somewhere inside of him, he felt grateful that even though they had once spoke wrongly of his past, that they were now offering to help him get Ann back.
"Silvertounge, I'll let you go over this with your family. I know you don't want to risk their lives and I agree with you. But as you can clearly see, they don't want to risk leaving you either.
"I learned at a young age that you should always look after yourself but," Dustfinger laughed, "If I ever had this option, I would have taken this kind of family anytime."
Silvertounge sighed and looked at his small family, all faces looking eagerly up at him for his answer. But Dustfinger didn't stay to hear what it was.
Outside the chill air came as a pleasing feeling compared to what the stuffy house felt like.
So many thoughts were runny through Dustfingers head. The biggest one was the most important, and that was how close he was getting to getting Ann back in his arms and away from Capricorn.
The night stars shown brightly over the Italian sky, always reminding him of small flickers of fire caught in the dark.
Dustfinger noticed that his feet were leading him to a stroll around the yard, making him walk to the very spot where once a pleasant fire show had been performed for Meggie when she was younger. Whereas it was pleasant, it was also the most terrifying. It was when he had lead Basta to the home of the rich woman under Capricorns orders.
He shook his head. How stupid he had been to believing that that man would have given him a book, a chance to return home. Never again, never would he fall for something so gullible.
Headlights flashed into the yard over by the gate. Dustfinger stood in the shadows suddenly, his heart beating itself against his rib cage.
"I thought that woman said no one ever came to her house, especially at night." Dustfinger murmured to himself.
A shock ran through his veins, and all he could think about was to warn the others. Running straight for the back door, Dustfinger burst through and ran to Silvertounge with his family all in the living room. For a moment Dustfinger forgot the danger as he looked at the family and how they were all so calm and laughing. It made Dustfinger part envious because he himself had never had anything like that. But the family all noticed Dustfingers grave expression when he reached them and they all grew quiet. Silvertounge stood up and walked up to Dustfinger grasping his shoulders.
"Whats wrong Dustfinger?" Silvertounges voice was fearful.
"Shut the lights off, turn everything off and hide."
hehe cliffy! Sorry its takens so long to update, I hade a bit of a writers block. I wanted to get away from the P.O.V of Ann and Capricorn, and wanted to get into the plans that Dustfinger and Mo were taking to getting into the base. I dont know if there are woods behind the fortress of Capricorn, but in my story there is...lol
Anyway, please R&R I dont even care if yo flame!