Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke Read Free Book Online Page A

Darius. I know I persuaded you to stay, but. . . but the Adderhead is still looking for you, and you go out at night with the robbers. Maybe Resa doesn’t notice, but I do! We’ve seen it all, the fairies and nymphs, the Wayless Wood and the glass men.. . ."It was so difficult to find the right words, words that could also explain to her what she herself was feeling. "Perhaps . . . perhaps it’s time.
    I know Fenoglio isn’t writing anymore, but we could ask Orpheus. He’s jealous of you anyway. I’m sure he’d be glad if we went away and left him the only reader in this story!"

    Mo just looked at her, and Meggie knew his answer. They had changed places. Now he was the one who didn’t want to go back. On the table, with the coarsely made paper and the knives provided by Fenoglio, lay a blue jay’s tail feather.

    "Come here!" Mo perched on the edge of the table and drew her to his side, the way he had done countless times when she was a little girl. That was long ago, so long ago! As if it were in another story, and the Meggie in it a different Meggie. But when Mo put his arm around her shoulders she was back in that story for a moment, feeling safe, protected, without the longing that now felt as if it had always lived in her heart.., the longing for a boy with black hair and soot on his fingers.

    "I know why you want to go back," said Mo quietly. He might have changed, but he could still read her thoughts as easily as his own. "How long since Farid was last here? Five days? Six?"

    "Twelve," said Meggie in a miserable voice, and buried her face against his shoulder.

    "Twelve? What a faithless fellow, Shall we ask the Strong Man to tie a few knots in his skinny arms?"

    Meggie had to laugh. What would she do if someday Mo wasn’t there anymore to make her laugh?

    "I haven’t seen it all yet, Meggie," he said. "I still haven’t seen Balbulus’s books, and they matter the most. Handwritten books, Meggie, illuminated books, not stained by the dust of endless years, not yellowing and trimmed again and again . . . no, the paint has only just dried on their pages, the bindings are supple. Who knows, maybe Balbulus will even let me watch him at work for a while. Imagine it! I’ve so often wished that I could see one of those tiny faces being painted on the parchment, just once, and the tendrils beginning to twine around an initial, and . . .

    Meggie couldn’t help it, she had to smile. "All right, all right," she said, and put her hand over his mouth, "All right," she repeated. "We’ll ride to see Balbulus, but together."

    As we used to, she added in her thoughts. Just you and me. And when Mo was about to protest she closed his mouth again. "You said it yourself! Back in the disused mine." The mine where Dustfinger had died . . . Meggie repeated Mo’s words in a soft voice. She seemed to remember every word that had been spoken in those days, as if someone had written them on her heart. "Show me the fairies, Meggie. And the water-nymphs. And the book illuminator in Ombra Castle. Let’s find out how fine his brushes really are."

    Mo straightened up and began sorting out the tools lying on the table, as he always used to in his workshop in Elinor’s garden.

    "Yes. Yes, I expect those were my words," he said without looking at her. "But the Adderhead’s brother-in-law rules Ombra now. What do you think your mother would say if I put you in such danger?"

    Her mother, Yes. . .

    "Resa doesn’t have to know. Please, Mo! You must take me with you! Or . . . or I’ll tell Gecko to tell the Black Prince what you’re planning. Then you’ll never get to Ombra!"

    He turned his face away, but Meggie heard him laughing softly. "That’s blackmail.
    Did I teach you how to be a blackmailer?"

    With a sigh, he turned back and looked at her for a long time. "Oh, very well," he said at last. "Let’s go to see the pens and brushes together. After all, we were together in the Adderhead’s Castle of Night. Ombra Castle