Chapter 67

Author's Note: Another chapter yay. As always thank you to my reviewers! I really appreciate them :D

Dafne didn't move. She stood there looking aghast. This was precisely what she had been afraid of. Why hadn't Resa listened to her warning? Why had she stubbornly persisted in looking for that book? Now she had landed herself in trouble. There was nothing Dafne could do to help her. She could only protest the way Mortola was cruelly yanking her along by the hair.

"You're hurting her!" Her concern for her friend made her voice sharp. She could see the pain on Resa's face though her blue eyes were flashing and defiant.

Mortola halted in front of Dafne with a sneer.

"Hurting her?" The old woman looked viciously gleeful. She gave Resa's hair a sadistic tug, causing Resa to grunt through gritted teeth. "This pain is nothing compared to what she'll receive once Capricorn learns of her crime." She narrowed her eyes at Dafne, "So step aside."

When Dafne didn't comply, Basta took hold of her arm and pulled her out of Mortola's way. He then placed himself protectively in front of her. This frustrated her a little. She didn't need protecting from Mortola. Resa did.

"What's Resa done this time?" Basta asked Mortola as she resumed pulling Resa towards Capricorn's door.

"Ask your beloved," Mortola replied, "I'm certain she knows all about it. In fact I'm almost positive she was assisting her," she threw Dafne a nasty glance over Basta's shoulder, "Don't think I won't mention these suspicions to Capricorn girl."

Mortola's words unsettled Dafne. The old woman gave the impression she knew why Resa had been in her room. But how could she know that? Resa certainly wouldn't have confessed to her and Mortola couldn't read minds. It didn't make sense. That made the situation all the more troubling in Dafne's eyes.

But she was still going to deny any involvement.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, trying to sound as calm as possible, "But whatever it is, you can't accuse me without any proof."

"I might not have proof," Mortola conceded with a glare, "But I can accuse you all the same. Your history with Resa speaks for itself," she smiled menacingly, "In any case Capricorn will decide your fate. Just as he'll decide Resa's," she turned to Basta, "Take this one back to the kitchen."

"Come on little mouse," Basta said in a quiet but firm voice, taking hold of her arm again.

He was frowning slightly and looking very serious as he led her to the staircase. Dafne knew she would have a lot of explaining to do once they reached the hallway below. Behind them, she heard Mortola knocking on Capricorn's door. Her heart fluttered anxiously. Soon Resa would be standing before Capricorn.

But Basta diverted her thoughts away from upstairs. The moment they set foot off the staircase, he pushed her against the wall and leaned very close to her,

"Anything you'd like to share with me little mouse?" There was a hint of worry in his voice but he mostly sounded angry. He obviously believed there was truth in Mortola's accusations.

Dafne bit her lip, avoiding his gaze. Yes she had been somewhat of an accessory in helping Resa search for the book. But she was also the one who had tried to persuade Resa not to look for it in the first place.

"Answer me," Basta growled impatiently, "Do you know why Resa is in trouble?"

"Yes," Dafne confessed, "She was looking for the last copy of Inkheart. Mortola obviously caught her trying to search for it."

Basta shut his eyes and sighed frustratedly,

"So you're not in the dark then, well that's just brilliant," he said sarcastically, opening his eyes, "Why was she looking for the book?"

Dafne squirmed a little, knowing he wouldn't like the next part.

"Dustfinger asked her to find it. He's back in the village."

"He's back in the village!" Basta hissed through gritted teeth. Dafne winced at how angry he looked. "You knew that and you didn't tell me!"

He took hold of her arms and shook her.

"Where is he hiding? Is Silvertongue with him?"

Dafne pushed him away from her,

"I don't know," she said defensively, "All Resa told me was he's back and asked her to find the book. That's it!" she crossed her arms, "I begged Resa not to do it by the way. I told her it was a foolish idea."

"Oh you did, did you?" Basta drawled, gesturing at the stairs, "Well she obviously decided not to follow your advice."

"Do you think I'm happy she didn't," Dafne said furiously, "Who knows what Capricorn is going to do to her."

"It's her own fault," Basta said unsympathetically, "Going after the book for Dirtyfingers," he shook his head, "What a stupid thing to do. Resa would have done well to listen to you little mouse."

"Well she didn't," Dafne said bitterly, worry swarming on her face, "What do you think will happen to her?"

Basta shrugged.

"I don't know," he said, "Quite frankly it's not my main concern at the moment. I'm more worried about Mortola telling Capricorn you were helping her," he put his hand on her cheek in almost conciliatory manner, "Which isn't true because you were against the idea in the first place, right?"

"Right," Dafne murmured.

She wasn't about to tell Basta about keeping watch outside Capricorn's room while Resa searched it. He was better off believing she'd had no involvement at all.

"I can't see Mortola convincing Capricorn without proof though," Basta went on, "So you should be fine."

This was true as far as Dafne could see. Even if Capricorn forced Resa to write a signed confession, she knew her friend wouldn't mention her name. She suddenly remembered the piece of paper in her pocket. It was the same piece of paper Resa had been writing on earlier this morning. She brought it out. Now here was signed confession. Thank God she had kept hold of it instead of giving it back to Resa.

"What's that?" Basta asked.

"Proof I knew what Resa was doing since she wrote it all down," Dafne answered.

She held the paper out to him.

"Can you please take it and burn it."

She saw him twitch.

"Burn it?" he said uneasily.

"It's a better way to destroy it than ripping it up."

Basta shifted uncomfortably.

"Little mouse, you know how I feel about fire," he said in a tense voice.

"I know," she said sympathetically, "But I wouldn't ask you if it wasn't important," still sensing his reluctance she added, "I suppose if you have your lighter on you, I could do it right here."

"Set it on fire here!" Basta hissed, "Don't be stupid. What if the house catches on fire?"

He snatched the piece of paper out of her hand.

"I'll do it later," he said.

Dafne smiled in gratitude.

"Thank you."

"Well it has to be done," Basta muttered a little resentfully, "We can't have Mortola getting her claws on it."

There was not much more to say on the matter after that. He walked her back to the kitchen, kissed her cheek, said he would see her at dinner and left. Dafne supposed he would go looking for Dustfinger now he knew he had returned. Dustfinger. Dafne blamed him for getting Resa into this mess. He should never have asked her to take such a risk. Why couldn't he have just stayed away from the village forever? Then none of this would have happened. Dafne wouldn't be waiting on tenterhooks to find out what would become of her friend.

Orlanda looked a little surprised when Dafne entered the kitchen. Dafne found this a mite suspicious. It was almost as if Orlanda hadn't been expecting her back. Why was that?

After a while Mortola appeared looking hideously smug.

"He's utterly furious with her," she informed Orlanda with delight, "As he should be. Betraying him to help the Fire-Eater. She's not his favourite any longer, that's for sure."

Orlanda smiled,

"So where is she now?"

"In the nets."

Dafne glanced around at her other maids. They were eavesdropping on the conversation as well. Some wore grim expressions. They obviously knew what Mortola meant by "nets". Dafne didn't.

"She's going to dangle until the Fire-Eater is captured," Mortola went on, "Then Capricorn will pass sentence over the two traitors at once."

"What sentence will that be?" Orlanda asked.

"Death I presume," Mortola answered, "There's no other punishment suitable for treachery."

Dafne froze, cold fear spilling over her.

Death?

Capricorn was going to have Resa killed?

Orlanda grunted almost indifferently.

"Sucks to be her then," she glanced over in Dafne's direction, "What's the deal with the other one by the way. Wasn't she helping Resa like you predicted her to?"

Some of the self-satisfaction receded from Mortola's face.

"Oh she was. I know she was," she glared at Dafne who was still looking shell-shocked, "I just wasn't able to catch her red-handed like I did Resa. I suspect she was looking for the book elsewhere while Resa searched my room," she was looking more irritated now, "But by the time I got Resa upstairs, I found her talking to Basta, looking the picture of innocence."

"That's a shame," Orlanda said, "I know how much you wanted to kill two birds with one stone."

Two birds with one stone? What the hell is she talking about? Dafne thought.

"Yes well one bird will satisfy me for the moment," Mortola said, "Resa was the main one I wanted to catch and my plan worked like a charm. I knew she would try to look for the book the first opportunity we gave her."

Orlanda laughed,

"When I sent her to dust the hallways, she was none the wiser. She walked right into your trap."

Trap.

Dafne suddenly understood what had happened. It had been a set up from the beginning. With Orlanda's help, Mortola had staged a situation to catch Resa looking for the book. She cursed inwardly. She should have been more distrustful of Orlanda's motives in sending her and Resa off to work together. It had Mortola's intention to catch the two of them red-handed, not just Resa.

Two birds with one stone.

More like two mice in one mousetrap, Dafne thought bitterly. Only she had avoided the trap.

Only one question remained. How had Mortola become aware of Resa's meeting with Dustfinger?

"That foolish woman always thought she could get the better of me," Mortola was crowing, "But not this time. She's finally been revealed for the deceitful creature she truly is. The sooner Capricorn rids himself of her the better."

Those were horrible words for Dafne to hear. She could only pray that Capricorn disappointed Mortola by letting Resa live.

Why would he kill her? She tried to reassure herself, she's escaped before and he's forgiven her. She's his favourite after all. He's always going on about how beautiful she is. Maybe he's even in love with her...

No, that wasn't possible. She didn't think Capricorn was capable of loving anyone, not even someone as lovely as Resa. At the most he liked possessing someone with her beauty. Beauty she hoped he wouldn't destroy but choosing to have her killed.

The rest of the day passed at an unbearably slow rate for Dafne. Worrying about Resa made her feel sick to the stomach. Each chore only provided a slight distraction. She had no companions to divert her attention either. Mortola still wouldn't allow her to work near Marietta and Giosetta. The two sometimes waved to her, mouthed things she couldn't understand because she couldn't read lips. It wasn't the same as being with them. She felt left out each time she saw them talking to each other.

Everything seemed so utterly horrible.

Then Basta turned up and things seemed to get worse. The problem wasn't Basta himself of course. She was happy to see him. It was what he was delivering to Mortola. That was the problem. She didn't recognise it until Mortola unravelled it. It was the dress Capricorn had given her. That horrible medieval style dress. She thought she had seen the last of it after kicking it under Basta's bed. It obviously hadn't been that good of a hiding place since Basta had found it. She groaned inwardly as Mortola beckoned her over. As soon as she came close, the old woman hurled the dress at her chest.

"Put this on," she ordered.

Dafne fought the urge to lob the dress right back in her face.

"Why?"

"Capricorn wants you to wear it when you serve him dinner tonight," Mortola told her irritably. She obviously wasn't pleased about the idea.

Neither was Dafne.

"Serve him dinner?" she repeated unenthusiastically.

She didn't want to serve Capricorn dinner, especially not in this uncomfortable dress. She wanted to serve dinner in the church. She wanted to be with Basta.

She looked to Basta for support but he just shrugged a little helplessly.

Some help you are, she thought.

She sighed heavily.

Perhaps she should see this as an opportunity. She could plead Resa's case, try to convince Capricorn not to punish her too harshly.

"Alright," she said.

Mortola grunted and moved away.

Dafne held the dress out in front of her, pulling a face of distaste.

"Stupid dress," she said hatefully.

"You look very pretty in it," Basta said in a soothing tone. Mortola hadn't dismissed him so he'd chosen to linger, "Like a princess."

Dafne made a scoffing noise.

"Well I'm not a princess. I'm a maid," she sighed, "I don't even know why Capricorn asked for me. He's had Mortola in his ear telling him I'm a traitor just like Resa."

Basta shrugged,

"Mortola has no evidence to back it up so why would he listen? I took care of that thing by the way."

Dafne knew he could only be talking about Resa's note.

"Thank you. I know it wouldn't have been easy for you."

She gave him a smile of appreciation.

"Oh it was nothing," Basta lied, "Anyway, about Capricorn, I think he asked for you because you're one of his favourite maids."

Dafne stared at him in surprise.

"One of his favourite..." she laughed dismissively, "How do you figure?"

Basta shrugged,

"You're the one who taught him how to read."

"I'm also the one he whacked with a book. Not to mention the time he tried to strangle me..."

Basta looked shocked.

"When did he do that?"

It dawned on Dafne that she had never actually told Basta about that incident.

"Do you remember the day I stole your knife. I was crying and you were trying to comfort me."

Basta nodded solemnly.

"Well that's what I was crying about. I dropped Capricorn's tie on the floor by accident. He got upset and used it to well..."

She gestured to her neck.

Basta looked rather distressed.

"Why has it taken you so long to tell me this?"

He was eyeing her neck as if he expected to make out a bruise.

Dafne shrugged,

"It's not something you normally bring up in pleasant conversation," she said softly. She didn't even like remembering it since it was such a vivid and painful memory, "In any case I doubt Capricorn considers me one of his favourite maids."

"How else do you explain him asking for you?" Basta replied, looking slightly uneasy.

Dafne didn't answer. A thought had suddenly struck her.

Maybe I'm his favourite to watch suffer.

It was a rather distressing thought. One she didn't want to dwell on.

"Any sign of Dustfinger?" she asked.

"Oh er no," Basta was a little taken aback by the sudden topic change, "But tonight Flatnose and I are..."

"Basta!" Mortola's voice screeched from across the room, "You've been standing there chitchatting for a good ten minutes. Unless you're going to help make dinner, take yourself elsewhere."

"Yes alright I'm going!" Basta shouted back, grumbling a few choice words about Mortola under his breath.

Then he looked at Dafne with a rather solemn expression.

"Be careful with what you say and do around Capricorn tonight," there was an undercurrent of worry in his voice, "He's in a volatile mood and I don't want him having another go at strangling you."

"I'll be careful," Dafne promised.

Basta made to leave but turned back.

"And whatever you do don't mention Resa. That's sure to set him off more than anything else."

Well that's going to be a problem, Dafne thought, that's the only subject I want to talk to him about.

To be continued...

Yes Sky (when you get around to reading this chapter) it's the return of the dreaded anime dress. Be sure that Dafne loathes it as much as you do.

How I imagine Basta burning Resa's note: He's holding it and the lighter as far away as possible and as soon as it catches on fire he panics and drops it. It flutters to ground on fire and disintergrates. Basta then stands there feeling very proud of himself XD