Dustfinger had spent years combing the world for Inkheart. Any copy would do. He just needed one copy. Capricorn, a man he used to want nothing to do with, aided him on his search. Together, they managed to claim a book, and Dustfinger knew Capricorn had a Silvertongue in his possession. A stuttering man, but that didn't matter to Dustfinger. So long as he got home, he didn't care about how.
He stood in Capricorns great room, trying to ignore Basta smirking at him and playing with his dagger, studying the scars he had left on his face. Capricorn had his captive Silvertongue reading the book. He was trying to get servants for his castle, and if they were from Inkheart, they would already know their place, and who he was.
Dustfinger, keeping his eyes locked on the book, waited. His horned marten, Gwin, sat on his shoulder, chattering in his ear at being so close to Capricorn and his men, but Dustfinger would absently brush his hand along the creatures back to soothe him. He waited patiently for his turn. It had been so long, but he could wait a few more minutes before he was returned home.
He watched as a blonde woman was released from the book, and he briefly glanced in her direction before resetting his gaze on the book. His hands felt hot, and his stomach clenched with both hunger and nervousness. He spotted the letters tattooed on the womans face, like how Capricorns men looked, and the nervousness grew. Would he be returned whole?
Once Capricorn was satisfied with the amount of servants he took the book from the Silvertongue. Dustfinger became antsy. "Capricorn." he said, taking a small step forward but held at bay by Basta, who flashed his teeth in a smirk. "It's my turn now." he said past Basta, his eyes remaining locked on Capricorn.
"Your turn?" asked Capricorn, furrowing his brows as if confused, ignoring the few servants in the room as he turned close to the fireplace, opening up the book to glance at the pages. "Oh, your turn to,-- Oops." he said, tossing the book into the angry flames within the fireplace.
"No!" shouted Dustfinger, moving foward. Not even Basta could stop him. Dustfinger ducked around him, jarring Gwin who let out an angry chatter. He dove for the book, his hands flying into the scalding fire. He gasped in pain but kept trying to snatch the book.
Capricorn put his foot on Dustfingers shoulder, pushing him away from the fire. "Don't be so pathetic, Dustfinger. I could use you here." he said, his eyes narrowed a bit.
Dustfingers sky blue eyes were wide in horror, and he tried to go for the book once more but there were arms around him. Gwin ducked into one of Dustfingers large pockets, chirping as he was restricted. Dustfinger tried to fight a bit, but at the cold feeling of Bastas blade against his neck he stopped his fighting and rolled his shoulders, his posture turning submissive as he stared at the burning book with tears in his eyes.
Capricorn smirked and then turned away. "Have one of those servants tend to his wounds. I would utterly hate for him to be without his hands." he said, smirking as he watched the fire continue to burn. One of the men snagged Resa and drug her, with Dustfinger and the rest of the servants, to the servants quarters.
It was a strange feeling to be in one world one moment, and then a completely different world the next. Of course, this had happened to Resa once before, when she had been read into Inkworld unknowingly by her husband, Mortimor. Mo... it felt like a lifetime had passed since she'd last seen him, and their daughter. Would she even recognize her daughter, now that she was undoubtedly all but grown up into a young girl? Would Meggie recognize her? It had been so very long.
Stuck in a world she thought she'd never escape from, Resa had lost count of the days; days that had turned into weeks then years. But to be suddenly yanked out of that world again into this one was another terrible jarring of the senses. This new world was harsh and cruel, with hands that were rough and used force with her... and it did not feel like Inkworld. But neither was it the kind, gentle world with her husband and their daughter.
However, these concerns made way to a new one when she tried to speak, then scream. Her voice was, quite simply, gone. Vanished. The intake of breath with her gasping could be heard, as she panicked, grasping her throat helplessly, but nothing more. Much, much later she would learn that the only sound she could really make was laughter, but this was far from being a moment that called for that. The events that were taking place about her was more of a blur. There was shouting, pleading, and something being thrown into the fire... then those rough hands snatched her up again and drug her away with the blue-eyed man with scars upon his face. She just barely glimpsed them in her nervous state.
After a moment or two of helpless struggling and being pulled along, they arrived in the servants quarters. Resa was thrown inside, along with Dustfinger. "Make sure he can use those precious hands of his again!" one of the men ordered her coldly. "And so you don't get any ideas..." Shackles were put on her feet. There was no point in resisting it all; she was no match to the men and their weapons.
For a moment, after the men had left them alone, she just sat their pitifully, trying to make sense of what had happened. But her pity for another took over momentarily, and with the help of another female servant, she took a bowl of water and a rag... and began tending to Dustfinger's wounds. She did not look at him, nor did she try to communicate. To be honest, she was still in shock, but she did not like seeing another in pain. Also, it helped to keep herself busy and not to think that her voice might be gone for good.
He bit back a sound of pain as he tried to brace his fall with his hands. He curled his fingers in, on his knees, staring at the burns and blisters forming. He jolted sharply when his hands were touched by the woman next to him, but he didn't fight, her hands were gentle and the water, past the initial burst of stinging, felt good. He relaxed more, pain and anger in his eyes. He lamented, "The fire here is so unkind." looking sadly at his hands.
Gwin, sensing the danger was gone, pulled himself from Dustfingers pocket. Dustfinger glanced down and the marten and sighed. "Go find something to eat, Gwin. Whatever you can." he advised, and the marten chirped before moving off, his body awkward but graceful as he moved away.
Dustfinger rested his head back against the wall he was near, looking up at the servant working on his hands. "Thank you." he whispered after a few moments of silence.
He stood in Capricorns great room, trying to ignore Basta smirking at him and playing with his dagger, studying the scars he had left on his face. Capricorn had his captive Silvertongue reading the book. He was trying to get servants for his castle, and if they were from Inkheart, they would already know their place, and who he was.
Dustfinger, keeping his eyes locked on the book, waited. His horned marten, Gwin, sat on his shoulder, chattering in his ear at being so close to Capricorn and his men, but Dustfinger would absently brush his hand along the creatures back to soothe him. He waited patiently for his turn. It had been so long, but he could wait a few more minutes before he was returned home.
He watched as a blonde woman was released from the book, and he briefly glanced in her direction before resetting his gaze on the book. His hands felt hot, and his stomach clenched with both hunger and nervousness. He spotted the letters tattooed on the womans face, like how Capricorns men looked, and the nervousness grew. Would he be returned whole?
Once Capricorn was satisfied with the amount of servants he took the book from the Silvertongue. Dustfinger became antsy. "Capricorn." he said, taking a small step forward but held at bay by Basta, who flashed his teeth in a smirk. "It's my turn now." he said past Basta, his eyes remaining locked on Capricorn.
"Your turn?" asked Capricorn, furrowing his brows as if confused, ignoring the few servants in the room as he turned close to the fireplace, opening up the book to glance at the pages. "Oh, your turn to,-- Oops." he said, tossing the book into the angry flames within the fireplace.
"No!" shouted Dustfinger, moving foward. Not even Basta could stop him. Dustfinger ducked around him, jarring Gwin who let out an angry chatter. He dove for the book, his hands flying into the scalding fire. He gasped in pain but kept trying to snatch the book.
Capricorn put his foot on Dustfingers shoulder, pushing him away from the fire. "Don't be so pathetic, Dustfinger. I could use you here." he said, his eyes narrowed a bit.
Dustfingers sky blue eyes were wide in horror, and he tried to go for the book once more but there were arms around him. Gwin ducked into one of Dustfingers large pockets, chirping as he was restricted. Dustfinger tried to fight a bit, but at the cold feeling of Bastas blade against his neck he stopped his fighting and rolled his shoulders, his posture turning submissive as he stared at the burning book with tears in his eyes.
Capricorn smirked and then turned away. "Have one of those servants tend to his wounds. I would utterly hate for him to be without his hands." he said, smirking as he watched the fire continue to burn. One of the men snagged Resa and drug her, with Dustfinger and the rest of the servants, to the servants quarters.
It was a strange feeling to be in one world one moment, and then a completely different world the next. Of course, this had happened to Resa once before, when she had been read into Inkworld unknowingly by her husband, Mortimor. Mo... it felt like a lifetime had passed since she'd last seen him, and their daughter. Would she even recognize her daughter, now that she was undoubtedly all but grown up into a young girl? Would Meggie recognize her? It had been so very long.
Stuck in a world she thought she'd never escape from, Resa had lost count of the days; days that had turned into weeks then years. But to be suddenly yanked out of that world again into this one was another terrible jarring of the senses. This new world was harsh and cruel, with hands that were rough and used force with her... and it did not feel like Inkworld. But neither was it the kind, gentle world with her husband and their daughter.
However, these concerns made way to a new one when she tried to speak, then scream. Her voice was, quite simply, gone. Vanished. The intake of breath with her gasping could be heard, as she panicked, grasping her throat helplessly, but nothing more. Much, much later she would learn that the only sound she could really make was laughter, but this was far from being a moment that called for that. The events that were taking place about her was more of a blur. There was shouting, pleading, and something being thrown into the fire... then those rough hands snatched her up again and drug her away with the blue-eyed man with scars upon his face. She just barely glimpsed them in her nervous state.
After a moment or two of helpless struggling and being pulled along, they arrived in the servants quarters. Resa was thrown inside, along with Dustfinger. "Make sure he can use those precious hands of his again!" one of the men ordered her coldly. "And so you don't get any ideas..." Shackles were put on her feet. There was no point in resisting it all; she was no match to the men and their weapons.
For a moment, after the men had left them alone, she just sat their pitifully, trying to make sense of what had happened. But her pity for another took over momentarily, and with the help of another female servant, she took a bowl of water and a rag... and began tending to Dustfinger's wounds. She did not look at him, nor did she try to communicate. To be honest, she was still in shock, but she did not like seeing another in pain. Also, it helped to keep herself busy and not to think that her voice might be gone for good.
He bit back a sound of pain as he tried to brace his fall with his hands. He curled his fingers in, on his knees, staring at the burns and blisters forming. He jolted sharply when his hands were touched by the woman next to him, but he didn't fight, her hands were gentle and the water, past the initial burst of stinging, felt good. He relaxed more, pain and anger in his eyes. He lamented, "The fire here is so unkind." looking sadly at his hands.
Gwin, sensing the danger was gone, pulled himself from Dustfingers pocket. Dustfinger glanced down and the marten and sighed. "Go find something to eat, Gwin. Whatever you can." he advised, and the marten chirped before moving off, his body awkward but graceful as he moved away.
Dustfinger rested his head back against the wall he was near, looking up at the servant working on his hands. "Thank you." he whispered after a few moments of silence.
