Chapter 59
Dafne received a pleasant surprise later that night after she and the other maids were put to bed. She had been lying in bed thinking about how long it might take for Basta to return when her thoughts were interrupted by a soft timorous voice,
"Dafne?" it was Claudia. She was standing by her bedside even though Dafne could barely make her out in the darkness.
"Yes?" Dafne said, propping herself up expectantly.
"I wanted to say thank you," the girl said, "The knife man..."
"Basta," Dafne cut in gently.
"Er, yes him. He said that you're the one who made him take us to see Papa today."
Dafne smiled,
"Well I did promise I'd help you see your family."
"Yes you did," there was a smile in the girl's voice, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Dafne jumped as she felt something being pressed against her arm.
"Resa, the lady who can't talk," Claudia said, "She asked me to give you this."
Dafne's heart began to pound excitedly. She scrambled in the dark to take what Claudia had been trying to pass to her.
Yes, it was a piece of folded paper. She couldn't see it but it felt like paper and what else would Resa try to give her but a written message.
The last contact she had had with Resa had been the night Dafne regrettably slapped Agnese. She remembered so acutely the look of sad disappointment on her friend's face. It hadn't just been because of the slap. Resa's disappointment in her mostly stemmed from Dafne's relationship with Basta.
In the following days Dafne had stayed well clear of Resa, feeling it was better to avoid her than risk seeing the same expression which had pierced Dafne like needles.
But now Resa was reaching out to her and she couldn't help but be overwhelmed by curiosity and hope. What did the note say? What did Resa want?
"Thank you!" Dafne said emphatically to Claudia.
"That's okay," there was a trace of embarrassment in the girl's voice, "Er, goodnight."
"Goodnight," Dafne replied, not minding that the girl hadn't chosen to linger. She had a feeling she was still a little wary of her. But that hadn't stopped her from coming over and expressing her gratitude. Dafne was happy she had, especially since she had given her Resa's note.
There was a downside in her timing though. It was too dark for Dafne to read it and she didn't have any matches. She had no choice but to wait until morning, a wait made longer because she had trouble getting her sleep. Her brain was too alert, trying guessing the note's contents. But eventually she drifted off and somehow managed to wake up before Orlanda showed up banging on door.
She prised open the note with her heart thudding and her eyes still bleary from sleep. Letters swam in front of her in a hazy jumble. Dafne rubbed her eyes furiously to bring them into focus.
I heard about what Basta did for Claudia, Resa had written, I've never known him to do something decent like before. I know you got him to do it. I'd like to talk. I know it will hard with M still obsessed with keeping us separated but we can find a way if you want to talk too. Take care. Resa.
Dafne read the message over several times. Of course she wanted to talk to Resa. It had to be a good sign that Resa wanted to talk to her too. If Dafne could speak to Resa in private, she could tell her about Sara. This might persuade Resa that Basta changing for the better. That he was changing for her. If Resa accepted this, how could she object to them being together?
Dafne hoped that this would mean they could be friends again.
She longed to be friends with Resa again, even though she had new friends now. New friends she liked very much. Marietta and Giosetta were wonderful and fun to be around. But she missed Resa's friendship every day. It was like being estranged from a sibling. Hopefully Resa felt the same way and that was why she wanted to talk.
But it wasn't going to happen with Mortola around. Mortola always made sure they were nowhere near each other when they were working in the same room. She was still deeply suspicious of the two plotting escape together. Fortunately Mortola wasn't always around and Orlanda could be persuaded to turn her back on Mortola's rules for the right price. Not that Dafne had anything to bribe her with. But Resa might.
Dafne decided it was best to write Resa a note accepting her invitation to talk first. She could ask Claudia to pass it on to Resa and they could go from there. Unfortunately before she could pen such a message Orlanda turned up to unlock the doors and herd the maids into the kitchen to start their work for the day.
All the maids except Dafne that was.
"Not you," Orlanda told her, "Mortola wants you in her room. Hop to it and don't make her wait."
Dafne didn't dawdle but she sighed all the way. She would rather be making breakfast for the men instead of giving Mortola a lesson so early in the morning. It was bound to be torture.
It was. Dafne had stayed up so late contemplating Resa's message that her body was crying out for more rest. She also had no food in her belly to give her energy to stay awake.
"Wake up you lazy girl!" Mortola snapped when she caught Dafne's eyelids fluttering downwards, "You aren't here to sleep. If I catch you nodding off again, I'll make you put your hands in with the snakes. That's sure to wake you up."
Dafne kept her eyes forced open after that threat. But as wide open as her eyes were, her brain remained sluggish. It made explaining anything difficult because she couldn't think of the right words. Everything she did say was punctuated with um's.
Mortola shook her head impatiently,
"It's a credit to Capricorn's intelligence that he managed to gleam anything from your rambling and learn to read," she sneered, "I've never seen anyone explain something they are supposed know about with such incoherence."
Well you can always find someone else to teach you, Dafne wanted to snap, stupid old bat.
But in spite of the criticism, Mortola ordered her to continue teaching. Dafne pooled all her concentration into it because she wanted to prove that she wasn't a babbling idiot. Her eloquence improved but she still loathed every second trapped with her scornful pupil.
She was grateful when Orlanda unexpectedly brought the lesson to a close,
"They've arrived with Silvertongue," she told Mortola excitedly, "They've just taken him up to see Capricorn."
Mortola rose from her chair with interest on her bird-like face.
"They have? Well, well, after all this time. Take this one back to the kitchen. I wish to go take a look at this infamous Silvertongue myself."
Dafne felt a rush of excitement. Basta had done it. He had captured Silvertongue. She immediately scolded herself. She shouldn't be excited about a poor man being kidnapped and brought before Capricorn. She should feel sorry for him.
But she couldn't help crossing her fingers and hoping that Capricorn would decide to give her back to Basta now.
"Had fun with mouldy Mortola did you?" Marietta joked as Dafne took her place next to her and Giosetta. The maids had already moved onto preparing lunch by the time she got there.
"Oh yes so much fun," Dafne drawled, "I'm starving."
Marietta was slicing up loaves of bread and shoved a piece in Dafne's face.
"Here, cram that in your mouth before Orlanda sees."
Dafne did as she was told.
"Fank oo," she said around a mouth full of bread.
Marietta and Giosetta giggled.
"You're welcome. Take more if you want but be sneaky-like."
Dafne did take another piece. She munched on it as she started cutting up a tomato. She helped herself to some of that too, along with the cheese Giosetta was slicing.
"Did you hear about Silvertongue?" she asked.
"We actually saw him," Giosetta said, "The men were bringing him into the house the same time we were getting back from the church."
"Could you see if he'd been hurt?"
"It didn't look like it," Marietta said.
This was a small comfort to Dafne. Basta must have kept his promise about not harming him.
"He actually looked rather calm," Marietta went on, "which was pretty strange. I mean he was surrounded by scary-looking men like my Nero and he didn't seem frightened at all."
Dafne did agree that that was strange. How could someone not be scared when facing a lifetime of slavery? Maybe Silvertongue was good at hiding his fear. She suddenly remembered something.
"Did they bring his daughter too?"
Her two friends stared at her in surprise,
"Daughter? No. The men only had Silvertongue with them."
"How do you know he has a daughter?"
"Pietro told me," Dafne answered, wondering what had become of the daughter if she hadn't been kidnapped alongside her father.
Mortola suddenly swept into the kitchen,
"You," she barked at Dafne who cringed at being singled out. What did she want now? "Come with me."
Dafne sighed,
"Bye," she said glumly to Marietta and Giosetta.
"Hurry up," Mortola snapped as Dafne unenthusiastically started making her way over, "Capricorn wants to see you."
Dafne paused.
Capricorn?
"You can take his lunch up to him to while you're at it," Mortola went on, "Go fetch it off Resa."
Dafne turned in Resa's direction and saw that the other woman was smiling at her. It was a slight smile but it made Dafne's heart beat wildly with happiness. Resa was smiling at her, smiling because Mortola had unwittingly pushed them into contact with each other. Dafne smiled back and rushed over.
"I do want to talk," she whispered quickly, purposely facing her back to Mortola so she couldn't see her lips moving, "I really do want to talk."
Resa kept smiling and nodded.
"How are we going to..." Dafne started to ask only to have Mortola screech at her from across the room,
"Get a move on!"
Dafne hastened to pick up the tray, her brow furrowed in annoyance. Stupid Mortola.
Resa remained calm and mouthed two syllables. Dafne shook her head for Resa to repeat the word. Lay tah.
"Later," Dafne said, "Yes okay."
Resa smiled. Dafne smiled, a smile she quickly wiped off her face when she turned to face Mortola. A smile was bound to arouse her suspicions. She hurried over to the old woman before she could shout some more.
"What does Capricorn want with me?" Dafne asked as she and Mortola were climbing the stairs.
"Wait and find out for yourself," was Mortola's harsh reply.
Dafne optimistically guessed her summons was to do with Capricorn handing her over to Basta. Why else would he want to see her? He had his new reader to preoccupy himself with. Was Silvertongue still up in the room with him?
He was. She heard him before she even laid eyes on him. She knew it was his voice because she had never heard it before. It was a lovely rich voice even though it sounded slightly exasperated,
"I'm not going to read for you," he was saying, "I only agreed to come because..." he stopped talking, distracted by Mortola opening the door.
She pushed Dafne into the room, the force making the tray's contents rattle. Dafne halted to steady her quarry, consumed with that for a few seconds. Then she looked ahead and found herself staring into a stranger's face. Silvertongue. He was a good-looking man with jet black hair and tired eyes. He smiled at her sympathetically. This took Dafne by surprise. Why was he looking sorry for her?
Because you're a slave stupid, she thought, he pities you.
She returned the look of sympathy,
You're a slave too Silvertongue.
"Ah Dafne you've brought my lunch. How thoughtful," Capricorn drew her attention away from his latest acquisition. She had been so transfixed by Silvertongue that she had barely noticed the other people in the room. There was Capricorn of course, as well as Silvertongue's kidnappers, including Basta. He was standing to Silvertongue's right. Dafne smiled at him in greeting. He smiled back but it was small and rather tense. It was not the triumphant smile she had been expecting. Now she was worried.
Did that mean Capricorn wasn't about to give her back? What did he want with her then?
"This man is Silvertongue Dafne," Capricorn went on, "My new reader."
Silvertongue sighed,
"Capricorn, you need to listen to me. I'm not going to read for you."
"Yes yes," Capricorn said, looking bored, "You've made your reluctance quite clear Silvertongue. But I'm certain you will come to change your mind," he inspected his nails thoughtfully, "One way or another."
"Look..." Silvertongue began in a reasonable voice that was somewhat strained.
"Be quiet," Basta hissed fiercely, looking as though he wanted to hit the man. But then he met Dafne's worried gaze, grimaced and looked at the floor.
Dafne frowned. Would he have struck Silvertongue if she hadn't been present?
"Yes rest that precious voice of yours Silvertongue," Capricorn drawled, "I'm not interested in speaking with you at the moment. Dafne?"
"Yes?"
"Go put my lunch down in the usual place."
Dafne nodded obediently.
"Now come over here," Capricorn beckoned as soon as she set the tray down.
Dafne approached him cautiously.
She noticed he was holding a book, a book he held it out to her,
"Here."
Dafne eyed him with confused trepidation. Why was he giving her a book?
"Take it," Capricorn said a little impatiently.
Dafne did so, looking down at the cover. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
"Now tell me what the name of this book is," Capricorn said.
Dafne glanced up at him uncertainly. Why was he asking her? She knew he could read the title. She had taught him to read after all.
"Why?"
"Just tell me," Capricorn said, his tone hardening. Dafne knew better than to question him any further.
"It's called Little Women," she said, "By Louisa May Alcott."
Capricorn turned to his men,
"That took her a few seconds," Dafne could hear the displeasure in his voice, "A few seconds to work out what the book was called."
Basta and the others were looking rather shame-faced.
"But she can read," Cockerell mumbled.
"So what if she can read?" Capricorn snapped, causing them all to flinch, "Have you not been searching for copies of Inkheart for years? I would expect that after so much time you would able to look at this," he seized the book from Dafne, "and tell that it's not the right book!"
"It was wrapped up though," Basta said, "We couldn't see what it was called."
"And the thought never crossed your mind to unwrap it and check?" Capricorn said harshly.
Basta starred hard at the floor, avoiding his master's angry gaze,
"It's Silvertongue's fault," he said with venom, "He told us that was the right book and we believed him."
"You believed him," Capricorn repeated in utter disgust, "You believed him instead of using your head. Is that what you're saying to me Basta?"
Basta didn't answer. He was staring miserably at the ground. He obviously understood his error but that wasn't good enough for Capricorn. He wanted verbal admission.
"Answer me," he demanded.
Basta glanced up at him with the sad look of an admonished child,
"Well yes. But we all believed him," he said desperately, "It wasn't just me. Cockerell had the book with him the whole drive back. He could have checked it anytime."
"You're the one who took it from the safe and handed it to me," Cockerell glared at Basta who glared right back, "You should have checked it then. Don't try to put the blame on me. This is your screw-up, not mine!"
"This is not my screw-up!" Basta shouted, hand going for his knife. Dafne cringed. How was his knife going to help his cause?
"Oh but it is," Capricorn said in a quieter voice than before but no less forbidding. Basta froze, his knife remaining unsheathed, "It is your screw-up because I put you in charge," he sighed, "I keep putting you in charge and you continue to fail me."
A pained look crossed Basta's face,
"I didn't fail you completely," he said, gesturing at the man on his left, "I brought you Silvertongue like you asked."
"So you have," Capricorn said, "But I also wanted his copy of Inkheart. I didn't want this," he regarded the book in his hand distastefully, "What good is this to me? Dafne!"
Dafne flinched,
"Yes?"
"Have you read this book?"
Dafne shook her head.
"No, but I know the plot."
She had watched the film with Elizabeth Taylor.
"So you would know if there is any treasure in it?"
"Treasure?"
"Gold, jewels, riches, is there much of that in this book?"
"No."
"What about monsters?"
Dafne glanced distractedly at Basta a moment. He looked rather worried. She was worried to. Where was Capricorn going with this? But she had to answer.
"No."
Capricorn nodded, patting the cover,
"No. No treasure. No monsters. So this book is useless to me," he looked Dafne directly in the eye, a thin smile on his lips, "Well not quite useless."
Dafne suddenly found herself staggering back, tears bursting into her eyes.
Capricorn had slapped her across the face with the book so fast she hadn't had time to cry out.
It had connected with her cheek, producing a sound similar to someone clapping their hands together hard.
The sound seemed to ring in the air, or ring in her ears, she wasn't sure which.
Dafne raised a trembling hand to her cheek. The pain of the blow was starting to build in heat.
She couldn't quite believe what had just happened. She couldn't quite believe she had been hit with a book of all things.
A book. A book she would never want to read now.
"Why did you do that?" Basta's voice was tense with concern and tight with shock. She dimly remembered him yelling out "No, don't!" The plea had fallen on deaf ears.
"Because you failed me," Capricorn answered calmly. Dafne imagined he was smiling in satisfaction but her vision was blurred by tears, "You knew the consequences of failing me Basta. I'm only holding up my end of the bargain."
Basta must have taken a step towards them because Capricorn said in a much harder voice, "Stop. You can watch her suffering just fine where you are. Go back and stand with Silvertongue."
"Silvertongue," Basta said before repeating the name with a scream of rage, "Silvertongue, this is your fault!"
By the time Dafne frantically scrubbed her eyes clear of tears, Basta had pinned Silvertongue against the wall and was pressing the tip of his knife into the skin of the man's hairline.
"This wouldn't have happened if you had given us the right book," he was yelling in the man's face, "I should press this straight into your skull!"
Dafne drew in a terrified breath as blood trickled down Silvertongue's head in a thin line.
"Basta!" Capricorn's voice cracked across the room like lightning, "Step away from him right now."
Basta gripped his knife tighter, looking as though he might not obey. But then he pushed himself away from the other man in disgust.
Dafne breathed a shaky sigh of relief. Silvertongue smeared a finger through his blood and looked at it in grave silence.
Capricorn shook his head at Basta as if he were an unruly child,
"What did you think killing him would have accomplished?" he said reprovingly, "He can't read for me if he's dead."
Basta hung his head,
"Forgive me. I just got carried away. I..." he glanced anxiously at Dafne, "Let me go back and retrieve the right book for you. I'll leave straight away. Please don't hurt her anymore."
"Let me go with him Capricorn," Silvertongue said, "I'll help him find it. I never intended for them to bring you the wrong book. I assumed it was the right one because I had left it in the safe wrapped in brown paper. Maybe Elinor..." he trailed off, eyeing Dafne with a look of apology, "It was my mistake. Please don't take it out on this poor girl. I can't see how she's done anything wrong."
"Perhaps Basta will explain it to you," Capricorn replied, "But as for your request, forget it. I've been waiting years for your arrival and I'm not about to let you leave," he turned to Basta, "You're not leaving either."
Basta's face fell. He opened his mouth to protest but Capricorn silenced him with a raised hand,
"I want you to take Silvertongue to his new home. Help him change his mind about reading for us," he pointed at Silvertongue's head, "You've already made a start. Just avoid damaging areas that might affect his voice."
Dafne's heart sank. Capricorn was basically telling him to torture the poor man. Basta had only just put away his knife away after cleaning Silvertongue's blood off it. Soon he would be bringing it out again for another taste.
The thought made her queasy.
Meanwhile Basta's mind was on another matter,
"What about Dafne?" he asked with concern.
"She'll be fine as long as there are no more stuff-ups," Capricorn replied, narrowing his eyes, "I trust there will be no more stuff-ups."
"No," Basta said, looking relieved, "No more stuff-ups."
He looked over at Dafne and frowned. A solemn frown that seemed to say I know you don't like this but I have no choice.
Basta then motioned to Nero. The two grabbed Silvertongue by his arms and started to haul him away.
"Come on Silvertongue. Let's go have a chat about this silly idea in your head about not reading."
"Do you want us go back and find the right book?" Cockerell asked Capricorn.
Capricorn nodded,
"Of course. We need it to complete our collection after all. Take Dafne with you. In hindsight, I should have gotten her to accompany you in the first place. She has no problem figuring out the names of books."
Dafne looked at Capricorn in panic. Take Dafne with you?
Cockerell was smiling nastily at her. He seemed to quite like the idea. Why wouldn't he? It involved Dafne being alone in his company for a long time without Basta around to interfere.
"Can't argue with you there. She's a smart little birdie. She'll be a nice change of company too. Don't you think Flattie?"
"Oh yes," Flatnose agreed with a leering grin, "Very nice."
"Do I have to go?" Dafne said to Capricorn, "I'm sure these two are capable of finding the book themselves."
"This," Capricorn waved the copy of Little Women, "suggests otherwise. That's why you're going with them. To make sure I don't end up with another book I can beat you with."
I'd rather be beaten with a book than go with them, Dafne thought.
"Please," she began, "I..."
That was as far as she got before there was a knock on Capricorn's door.
"Enter."
The person did, revealing himself as Dustfinger. Dafne regarded him in surprise. He looked hot and dishevelled. She wanted to rush over and ask him all about Silvio and Netta but she couldn't.
"Hello Dustfinger," Capricorn said, "You look like you've run all the way back here."
"Just about," Dustfinger muttered, "So you have him now. Silvertongue and the book."
"Silvertongue yes, the book no," Capricorn replied, "There was a mix up. This," he held up Little Women, "is the wrong book."
Dustfinger frowned.
"Idiots," he mumbled.
Cockerell and Flatnose glared at him.
"Who are you calling an idiot, fire-eater?"
Dustfinger eyed the pair a little warily but didn't respond.
"But we need the book if Silvertongue is going to read me back," he said to Capricorn, "That's what we agreed."
"Yes that is what we agreed," Capricorn said contemplatively before a thin smile graced his lips, "That's why I need you to fetch it for me."
"But you said we..." Cockerell began. Capricorn silenced him with a raised hand.
Meanwhile Dustfinger was eyeing Capricorn wearily,
"You want me to bring you book?"
"That's right. You need it the most out of all of us so you should be the one to retrieve it."
Dustfinger sighed,
"I suppose."
"Think of it this way," Capricorn said, "The sooner you bring me the book, the sooner you'll be back in our world with all your fluttering friends."
A look of longing fell upon Dustfinger's face.
"Alright, I'll bring you the book."
He turned to leave.
"Oh and Dustfinger," Capricorn called after him, "I want the girl brought here too. Silvertongue's little daughter."
Dustfinger stiffened.
"Meggie?" he said softly.
"Is that her name? Meggie?" Capricorn said, looking bored at this piece of information, "Yes."
Dustfinger whirled around to face Capricorn worriedly,
"Why do you want her? She's only a child. No use to you at all."
"Oh but she is of use to me," Capricorn replied, inspecting his nails smugly, "A cure for her father's stubbornness. He's refusing to read you see. He needs a little incentive."
Dustfinger eyed Capricorn with repugnance,
"That would Meggie."
Capricorn didn't seem to mind the way the other man looking at him,
"That's right. So bring me Silvertongue's daughter Dustfinger. The girl and book. Then you can go home. Do we have a deal?"
Dustfinger hung his head,
"Yes we have a deal."
"Good man," Capricorn said, "Off you go then."
Dustfinger slunk out, avoiding Dafne's gaze. He probably didn't want to see what she thought of him abducting a young girl. It surprised and saddened her. This had been a man who had selflessly helped Silvio and Netta escape. Now he was doing the exact opposite.
But she was more concerned about the thought of Basta torturing Silvertongue right at this second.
"Turns out it won't be necessary for you to go after all Dafne," Capricorn interrupted her thoughts, "Since you're not, make yourself useful and serve me my lunch."
To be continued...