The InkHeart

Chapter 5: The Shadow

It was evening time. He was sitting in his cold room, watching the hills and sky with no clouds through the window. Dustfinger heard guards out of the castle firing out their guns. They always shot at the cats to just miss. They had no knowledge about guns; maybe because they were newly appointed, or maybe they came from a world where guns weren't present. Dustfinger saw guards laughing, gossiping and listening to songs; singing them aloud whenever Basta was not at the castle. Basta would have imprisoned them as a punishment if they did so.

The Capricorn's Village was a massive village, but with a fewer population. The castle's area itself was a humongous containing some individual houses inside it. There was an isolated house that had one bed and a statue of a fairy by it. It was Basta's; he kept that fairy statue for good luck. Poor Basta was a strong superstitious person.

There was a knock at the door and a maid appeared out of the room's door. She was not the same maid Dustfinger had met before. She was short with curly hair and light green eyes. Her hands were not as rough as the other woman. He made the observation that she worked less than her.

She had a tray full of food with her which she placed on the table. As she was about to leave, she heard Dustfinger asking her to stop. She Stopped and stood still like a statue glaring straight into Dustfinger's eyes. She was trying to figure out what he wanted. After a Second, or, so Dustfinger muttered: "Who was that lady I met?" how stupid of him to just say that; he wasn't thinking straight.

"How the heavens am I supposed to know, Sir? There are as many maids working here as you can imagine them" smiled the short lady.

"Oh, The one that is tall and has blue eyes and She cannot speak. I guess?" notified Dustfinger.

"Oh yes, She is Capricorn's favourite maid. She did something horrible today and is being punished. Don't know what that poor woman is punished for." The maid's voice echoed in his ears.

He started to eat his meal, but his hands started to shake; his mind froze. He kept thinking about the mere possibilities she was punished for. Perhaps because she tried to communicate with me? Oh for Goodness sake. It got so confusing with every thought he had. He couldn't swallow a single bite.

There was another heavy knock on the door. Basta was back again, standing out his door with his stupid grim expression. He called off Dustfinger to show the act of fire. Dustfinger started to take all the required stuff downstairs to perform with the fire. He forgot to take enough oil and a magic liquid which he used to put in his mouth for extra effect. He thought to himself, "You're master now, you can do this without them!"

There were two men standing right behind the Capricorn. One was Basta, Of course. The other one was the Shadow. There were rumors about the Shadow that it was Capricorn's most loyal soldier- commander and a man who was immortal. However, he had no appearance as a man. How were people so foolish to believe that kind of story thought the Dustfinger before he actually saw the man himself.

He was Black. Pitch Black. Just like a Shadow. Maybe that's why Dustfinger guessed it might be Shadow because he had heard a lot of rumors about everything related to Capricorn and his kingdom.

He appeared only when Capricorn called him. Sometimes he was red as fire, sometimes as grey as the ashes into which fire turns all that it devours. He leapt from the ground like a flame flickering up from wood. His touch and his breath brought death. He rose up at his master's feet, soundless and faceless, scenting the air like a dog on the trail, waiting to be shown his victim. No one had seen him laugh or gossip with anyone.

They say that Capricorn had Shadow made from his victims' ashes by a troll, or the dwarves who knew all that fire and smoke could do. No one was certain, for it was said that Capricorn had those who had brought the Shadow to life killed afterwards. But everyone knew one thing: The Shadow was immortal and invulnerable and as pitiless as his master.

"If you are back from your sweet dreams, will you start eating matchsticks, you fire eater?" Capricorn hissed at Dustfinger, kissing the gold ring on his finger.

Dustfinger picked up his backpack, took out the lighter, sticks and different sticky gooey material. The fire was his friend, a dear friend that would obey him at all costs. Fire and smoke spread across the Castle as Dustfinger performed. There were flames everywhere as the fire danced on the Dustfinger's hand like it was a baby of the performer. It echoed everywhere, the screeching voice of fire was everywhere. The fire danced, so did the smoke; it was a pleasant sight for some, and frightening for some.

He started drinking the magic gooey material; it looked like he just ate the fire. The fire made statues in the thin air. Dustfinger made a girly character out of fire which dived right into his mouth followed directly by a smoky character of man.

He could Juggle balls with both hands and make fire dance with his mouth at the same time. This was his trick that many performers could not do. His show was off after a half an hour or so. He was tired and it was dark outside now. He almost forgot about the woman he was thinking all the day. He was again worried about her when he became isolated from everyone, thought about her. He didn't know where she was, but he knew one thing that he had to meet her and ask what her what she wanted, and tell her what he wanted. He couldn't forget her smell.

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