Ink and Tongue

Introduction

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it.” –William Styrom

Wouldn’t it be amazing to be able to become a part of a book? Or to be able to read the characters out of it? Or enchanted, magical artifacts? Or treasures fit for two thousand kings?

Well, now you can.

I started rereading Inkheart by Cornelia Funke and I got this idea. I’m sure many of you who haven’t read the book have imagined jumping into your own favorite book or movie. So even if you’ve never heard of Cornelia Funke, you should still be able to participate.

Without giving anything major about the book away, basically there are a handful of people in our world with the ability to read people into books, and other things out. Some have more control over it than others. And all usually keep their abilities secret, with good reason.

That’s in our world. In the Inkworld, where this storybook will mostly be taking place, is a place of fantasy. Fairies and trolls roam the uninhabited Wayless Wood. Princes and Kings rule over the lands. Fire-Eaters dance with fire. And no one knows they're just part of a story.

But the Inkworld is also dangerous. Extremely so. Villains lurk in every shadow, around every corner. Be sure to watch your back, and be careful who you trust.

As I said before this storybook will be taking place in the Inkworld, at least for now. Lets set it right after Inkheart, but before Inkspell. If you've never read Inkspell, then don't worry about it, you'll catch on.

Plot

A group of Capricorn's followers have been without a real leader for almost ten years. Now, Mithan, a fire-raiser, has stepped forward and taken Capricorn's place. He and his men have been killing, stealing, kidnapping and the like ever since without anything to stop them.

Until now. A ragtag team is assembling of any who wish to end Mithan's days of chaos. The Shifting Shadows is what they're called, and their goal is to stop the fire-raisers...at any cost.

Feel free to play as a fire-raiser, a shifting shadow, or anything else you want, really.

Rules

-No god-modding. Please.
-Two characters per person. If you find that you just have to have more than two, PM me and I’ll consider it.
-No killing off other characters without the creator’s and my permission. No exceptions.
-Keep it PG-13. Swearing stays at a minimum and no sexual scenes.
-All posts must be at least two paragraphs each. 4-8 sentences per paragraph. If you can’t meet this requirement, PM me and I’ll see if I can’t help.
-You must include a profile and at the top of each post, please put the name of your character so that we know who you are.
-If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.
-I hold the ability to change and add to these rules as I see fit.

Character Races

Here are a few selections of the races in the Inkworld. Some of these may not be 100% accurate. But just go with it.

The Humans-

-Outsiders: Outsiders are people from our world that have been read into the Inkworld. Some could have been there for 50 years, and others for 5 minutes. Rarely does anyone believe their story that they’re from a different world. The people who read them into the book are rarely sent in themselves unless they are read in by another who has the talent or they are able to write something themselves that they can read to get them in.
-Royals: The Royals are the Princes, Kings, Queens, Princesses, etc. who rule over the lands and realms of the Inkworld. Most of them are never called ‘The King of Lombrica’. Instead they are given unique names, like ‘The Laughing Prince’ or ‘The Adderhead’.
-Peasants: The lower-ranking inhabitants of the Inkworld. Their occupations range from farmers to scribes to servants to about anything else you can think of.
-Fire-Eaters: A class of Peasants. They are people who talk to fire and befriend it. Most fire-eaters belong to the Motley Folk (explained later). They can control the fire to a certain extent, depending on their skill level.

Other Creatures (Most can’t talk)-

-Fire-Elves: Small fairie-like creatures who make fire-honey, which is very important to fire-eaters. They're about the length of your hand with glowing red skin and nearly-transparent gold-orange wings. They can't talk.
-Martens: Small furry mammals, usually with two horns on their head. They look a lot like weasels. They can't talk.
-Glassmen: Tiny people made out of glass. They can talk.

If you choose one of the characters from 'Other Creatures', I suggest you have them as a companion for one of the human races. I won't count that as a second character.

If you can think of any others that I forgot, feel free to play as one of those as well. Just be sure to add a description of what they are and what they do. Note: There aren't any unicorns or werewolves in this world (as far as I remember, correct me if I'm wrong) so none of those please.

Groups

In the Inkworld, there are a few Groups you should know.

-The Motley Folk: A group of strolling players (entertainers) that fight for good while show off their skills. Fire-eaters more often than not belong to this group, as well as tightrope-walkers, acrobats, etc. There are also people who don’t perform that belong to this group. Most of the Motley Folk have also become part of the Shifting Shadows.
-Shifting Shadows: A group of mix-matched people with mix-matched abilities that have joined together to get rid of the fire-raisers for good. A lot of the Motley Folk have become part of this.
-Fire-Raisers: A group of murderous villains, led by Mithan. They kill, steal, kidnap, etc. just because they can. Most fire-raisers are recruited as children, though it isn't rare that an older member joins.

Feel free to play as double-agents, as well.

Profile Outlines

Please include the following in your profile. Feel free to add to it if you so wish.

Name:
Age:
Gender:
Race: (Peasant, Royal, Fire-Eater, Outsider, etc.)
Appearance:
Personality:
Special Abilities: (Can they talk to fire, can they read people in and out of books, etc.)
Group(s): (If any. You don't have to already be involved in a group.)
Companion: (Optional. Select from 'Other Creatures')
History: (If they’re not from the Inkworld, tell how they got there and how long they’d been there.)
Other: (Optional) (Weapons, possessions, love interests, etc.)

haha there is a movie coming out called Inkheart which I belive it is based off of these books. Brendan Fraiser and Abigail Breslen are going to be in it. Anyways...

Can I reserve a spot and put my profile in later..I'm watching the olympics at the moment...

name:Baylanna (Bay-Law-Na) AKA Bailee

age:20

gender:F

race:human

appearance: Long Black curly/wavy hair, tall, slim, very fit, beautiful, pale skin, bright purple eyes, has alot of drawing like things kind of like tattoos that go from the left side of her stomach all the way to her shoulder and neck but it only covers her left side. She wears a white cloak that goes all the way to her ankles and she is raley seen without her hood.

personality: Baliee is a sweet girl unless she is pushed to the limit, she loves pushing other peoples buttons, she feel like she works better when she's alone, if she can't do something right she obsesses until she does get it right.

Special abilities: She knows how to hide weapons on her body,she's great with knifes and swords. She can tell if someone is lying, she has a great sence of smell and direction.

history: Baylanna never knew her parents and she doesn't care much to, she was raised by a king and a queen. The queen had a son and a daughter, two twins and she passed away, when the king found out his children had been born and his wife died he ordered Baylanna to be killed. She escaped and everyone she knows thinks she is dead. But she's waiting for the perfect time to assassinate the king, the prince, and the princess.

other: SHE'S UP FOR LOVE

Name: Cara

Age: 18

Gender: Femail

Race: Fire-Eater

Appearance: Golden skin, brown, puppy dog eyes, fiery short hair. Short. Thin.


Personality: She has a bad temper. She can be extremely sweet and hospitable, but she can also be extremely angry and lose her temper a lot.

Special Abilities: She can talk to fire and slightly control it. doesn't aways work though.

Group(s): None at the moemnt.

Companion: Fire elf

History: Her and her brother have lived in a secluded part of Inkworld in order to learn how to control fire.

Other: Has a brother. Up for love. Carries twin swords.




Name: Cameron

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: Fire-Eater

Appearance: Fiery shaggy red hair. golden skin. Almond colered, golden eyes. Buff, tall.

Personality: He is normally calm and caring. He protects his friends, but will get mad if anything or anyone threatens his sister. If he does get angry, it's usually severe.

Special Abilities: Can talk to fire and slightly control it.

Group(s): None at the moment.

Companion: Fire elf

History: Same as his sisters, except he remebers watching his parents die under the oppressive rule.


Other: carries a bow and arrows and several knives. Up for love.

Wow. I love this book! Thank you!

Name: Christening Talbot (People called her the Girl of Grace because of her beauty and flexibility, and no one knows her real name, so she goes by Grace)

Age: 17

Gender: Female

Race: Human (Fire-Eater)

Appearance: http://beautiful-shinigami.deviantart.com/art/Elegant-Elf-24666671 She is slim and tall and free of elf ears . She has glossy black hair with a red sheen, smooth ivory skin, and beautiful chocolate brown eyes. She always wears her hair as seen in picture

Personality: Grace has never been one to hold grudges, and she never lets things get to her. She is a very happy person, and she treasures life. She is too trusting, and lets her guard down for those who can take advantage of her. She is rarely pushed to her limit, but it can get ugly when it happens. She thinks of love as the most strong and precious kind of magic, and hopes to fall in love someday.

Special Abilities: Grace is skilled fire-eater, and those whom see her perform are in awe of her *grace* and flexibility when talking to fire.

Group(s): Grace belongs with the Motley Folk, and is a frequent performer.

Companion: A glassman named Jonah.

History: She was born in Inkworld, and was raised by her parents as an only child until the age of two, when her mother was read out of Inkworld. Her father went insane with grief and killed himself with his fire-eating gift.

Other: She has only three outfits, which she carries in her rucksack, and a silver locket that holds the inscription,

Your fortune lies where the heart is.

Grace is up for love.



Yay!

~Noah~

Name: Jason

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Race: Human (Fire-eater)

Appearance: Tall and athletic, with green eyes and long black hair tied back with a red bandanna.

Personality: Sean is a born trouble maker, and loves stirring up people - preferably crowds. He's generally friendly, although he hates Fire Raisers, and he would stop at nothing while protecting the Motley Folk.

Special abilities: He has limited control over fire - he mostly uses it for parlour tricks while performing as an acrobat or telling stories. The only times he has tried anything more powerful than that, his ability to restrain it has disappeared.

History: He was born in Inkworld, and his family have always been members of the Motley Folk. However, his parents were killed alongside a number of the Folk when they were attacked by the Fire Raisers.

other: Up for love, carries a rapier and four throwing knives, except when he's performing.

Name: Sir Polonius Hawk (Currently going by the name of Cyril Miles).
Age: 43.
Gender: Male.
Race: Human.
Status: Peasant. He is a scribe and, secretly, a warrior.
Appearance: Polonius is of average height with white-blond hair and a silly moustache he has grown to help hide his identity. He wears glasses, though he has no need. They are of a weak prescription and he has some trouble seeing out of them. He says this is because he needs a stronger prescription but finds them too expensive. However, when he needs to fight a strong adversary, he will often remove them and make a big deal about being able to take on the enemy blind. Polonius' eyes are a sharp grey and he is always carrying a shoulder bag filled with paper, quills and jars of ink. His peasant clothes are neat but plain.
Personality: Polonius comes across as a silly, flamboyant man who's always in a rush and obsessed with writing of the adventures of others. He is a scribe and a storyteller, spinning tales about a knight who once existed, about Sir Polonius Hawk the brave who defeated many villains, serving 'The Benevolent Queen' from the age of twelve to twenty-four until he was assassinated nineteen years ago. He is known by some to be a surprisingly good fighter.
Special Abilities: Polonius is excellent with a sword but does not carry one with him as it is too hard to hide. He does, however, have many knife blades. There is one in each boot, two at his belt and two small throwing knives strapped to each wrist, hidden by his sleeves. He is fast and has a high tolerance of pain.
Group(s): Shifting Shadows.
History: Polonius joined the shifting shadows in his youth and it was that which made him the victim of many assassination attempts and not his service as a knight. He realised he needed to go into hiding, if only to protect his queen for whom he cared deeply. Now he travels as Cyril, driving around the world in his rickety cart, collecting information and telling stories. He says he is compiling books of adventure and in a way, he is. But he also passes the information on to the Shifting Shadows.

Name: The Lost Princess (Going by the name Kiara.)
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Race: Royal
Appearance: She has long, white-blond hair and gentle, blue eyes. Her figure is slender but slightly curvy. She dresses in masculine clothes and carries a sword at her belt and a bow on her back. She often wears her hair in a high ponytail.
Personality: Kiara is fierce and stubborn, lonely and lost. She is a girl who was brought up learning about politics and poverty, learning about the troubles of her people, how to protect herself and how to rule a country. But the only desire she has ever had is that of finding her father and asking him why he abandoned her.
Special Abilities: She is quick and good with a bow. She is also an excellent horse rider.
Group(s): None.
Companion: A chestnut horse by the name of Lotus.
History: Her mother is The Benevolent Queen and her father is said to be the night Sir Polonius Hawk who was assassinated two months before her birth. Kiara refused to believe this and set out into the world at the age of sixteen. Since then, she has worked hard, following the trail of a scribe who has told stories of her father everywhere he has visited. She is close to catching him now and intends to ask if he knew or knows her father.
Other: Up for love.

*I haven't read the book, so if I go out of line, please tell.*

Name: Raven Tanner
Age: 23
Gender: Male
Race: Peasant (by descent. more of a rover these days)
Appearance: 6'1, tanned. Hardened with some muscle. Green eyes and dark hair

Personality: A little bit grim and macabre. Has a sense of humour, but it's a little hard to find, and a little contradictiory. He has a slight dislike for paragons of virtue, white knights like Sir Polonius Hawk (though he never met the man, he has read some of the tales concerning him). However, he utterly despises evil-doers, and can be a little rough in meting out Justice.

Special Abilities:Doesn't use edged weapons, but rather handy with the staff. photographic memory, though he doesn't realise the significance of it (he assumes everyone has a good memory)

Group(s): Is on good terms with the motley crew and has worked with the shifting shadows once or twice. The fire raisers, particularly Mithan, harbour a special hatred for him. Essentially a loner.

Companion: Black mare named Elaine

History: His parents were professional thieves. Though loving, they couldn't provide for Raven or his two sisters through legal means, and had a bit of flair for criminal activity. When he was 7, his father was caught, tried and hanged. When he was 11, his mother was caught robbing the room of a fire-eater and killed. He lived on the streets, trying to look after his younger sisters until the younger, Vivianne, became ill and died. Distraught, Raven begged a local inkeeper to take the other sister in (but did not manage to go so far as to get himself accepted). Raven was later chased out of the city for theft. He last saw his sister 6 years ago when he went to check up on her anonymously; she was fine.

Other: Carries a staff made out of black metal. Wears a dull grey cloak to escape attention. Always keeps a battered book in Elaine's saddlebags, which he's bound shut with a leather belt.

Theoretically up for love (to answer Rorylegend's question). Haven't participated on the romance edge of storybooks before though. He's dark and twisty so that seems a fair excuse if all goes to hell.

I'll post my profile as soon as I can.

Name: Shadow princess

Age: 19

Gender: female

Race: Royal but also a fire-eater

Appearance: http://kisu-ayla.deviantart.com/art/Pri ... s-53043315 -having been to the human world a few times she looks like this a few times during her boring royal life.
http://lunebleu.deviantart.com/art/My-s ... f-72334993 -fighting as a shifting shadow she has to hide the fact she is royalty
http://miyu-chan.deviantart.com/art/The ... ss-1820003 -only going out to help with the Montley Folk she wears this. (X the dragon and the staff)

Personality and history: She's been quite popular with the darned royal people but she hates that life and refuses to marry even though her father wanted her married when she was 14. She tends to disappear for days on end and her father says she's out with no other explanation. During this time she is with the Montley Folk or helping with the shifting shadows. She enjoys this life better than a million years of royalty. She's free to speak herself. One of the days she first started disappearing she found her ability to speak to fire quite freely and she loved it. The fire wouldn't come to her though when she was in the couped up castle.

Special Abilities: She's quiet good with talking to fire as an old friend of Dustfinger's (she was quite little when she met him) he was very hard on her and taught her the trick of the fire honey.

Group(s): Montley Folk, Shifting Shadows

Companion: n/a she did have a fire elf but the fire elf was killed by someone.

Other: Her friend with fire is her weapon and she would be defencless without it. That is her disadvantage. If someone were to take her ability of being a fire-eater she would surely be defenceless. She loves to be free. Being in a cage is her most frightening though she's had. Dieing as a hero in battle was her life long wish so she didn't have to feel helpless as she died on a death bed. She would love to know someone she could trust too with her secret. She is very doubtful through.

Hullo!

Name: Charis

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Race: Peasant (theif)

Appearance: tall, slender, long dark hair, blue eyes, tattoo in between her shoulder blades, a gold bracalet on her upper arm

Personality: mischevious, steals for fun rather than riches, free spirit, doesn't really belong anywhere, is always on the move and energetic, is ussally positive about things, doesn't like to cry in front of others, strong, head strong

Special abilities: She is very good at being quiet and getting out of tight situations

Group(s): Is on good terms with the Shifting Shadows because of her distain for the Fire-raisers. But she doesn't really keep in touch with anyone.

Companion: No one

History: Charis wandered off from the orphanage she had lived at (if they have orphaniges??) one day and never went back. The world beyond the walls she had known amazed her and she forgot all about her former life as an orphan. She met a member of the Shifting Shadow group who taught her to fight (His name is Evander) and to use a bow and arrow. He became her friend and is the only one she occasional contacts. She met a few young boys when she was about elleven and they started stealing for sport which was how she got into it. She is generally happy but always looking for adventure.

Other: Up for love..but wants to know if Raven is taken?

Hey, I won't be on much for the next few days, so this storybook will start on Wednesday or Thursday. Whenever I get free time. Sorry about the inconvenience!

Also, I'm limiting how many fire-eaters we have because obviously they're a pretty popular character. So currently, excluding my characters (which will be below) there are now only three fire-eater slots left. PM me with any questions you may have.

Name: Arziloret (Usually just called Zilo, or Z)
Age: 16
Gender: Male
Race: Human - Peasant (Servant and occasionally a Guide)
Appearance: He has shaggy brown hair that covers most of his ears and dark green eyes. He is of normal height for his age and is perhaps a bit skinnier than most other boys. His face still holds a boyish quality to it. His build is almost feminine and he is light on his feet and agile and flexible. He wears the clothes of a servant boy when he works in the castle of The Laughing Prince, now known as the Prince of Sighs. When he works as a guide, he wears a simple olive-green shirt and brown pants and usually goes around barefoot. His skin is tanned from working outside when he was younger and working as a guide. He has a small, pale scar running under his chin as a result of a fight with his older brother when they were kids.
Personality: He is friendly and easy-going, if a bit naive. He sees everything optimistically and assumes the rest of the world does as well. He's mischievous but knows when enough is enough. People often call him a chatterbox, probably because he is. He is extremely curious about almost everything and anything and has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. If you have something to say, he'll listen. He has a good sense of right from wrong as well.
Special Abilities: He can scale almost any wall in existence, and he's intelligent for his age. He is also good with the dagger and is light on his feet and can be silent as a shadow. He refuses to use these skills for selfish or 'wrong' reasons.
Group(s): The Motley Folk
Companion: None as of now.
History: Arziloret was born to a poor farmer and his wife, who died three years later giving birth to his little sister. He and his two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister, were put to work in the fields when they were old enough, tending to crops and livestock. When his older brother came of age, his father sent him off to try to find better paying work, not wanting his oldest son to become a farmer. But he had other plans for his younger children. Arziloret was to inherit the farm from his father while his sister was to be married off to some wealthy merchant. Together, they decided to run away and joined the Motley Folk, who pointed them in the right direction for work. Arziloret became a servant at the castle, while his sister became a dancer and occasionally preformed with the fire-eater, Embertongue, who became the their mentor, friend, and adoptive father in a way. Arziloret still checks in on his father from time to time, but spends most of his time in the castle, with his sister and Embertongue, or acting as a guide to those who require his service.
Other: He wears a small wooden pendent around his neck, which used to belong to his mother. He is up for love, but ask me first. A friendly PM would be nice, or just ask on this thread.

Name: Skyler Darcs (His performing name is Embertongue, so normally he is addressed as that, or merely Em or Ember)
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Race: Human - Fire-Eater
Appearance: He has dirty-blond hair that reaches just past his ear and is slightly curly. His eyes are a clear blue, with hints of gray and green around each iris. He stands 6' 1" and is slender for a full-grown man. His face slightly resembles that of a fox, he has been told. There is two scars on his face, one above his right eye and the other going horizontally across his nose. Neither are from a knife, but from fire. He wears the clothes of the fire-eaters, black and red, though when he's not performing and doesn't wish to draw attention to himself, he wears a simple, loose gray shirt, black pants and goes around barefoot (a habit he picked up from Zilo). His skin is tanned, with scars over his arms and chest from being burnt when he was younger. Some are darker, from longer ago, and some are still pale or an angry pink if they're recent.
Personality: He is care-free and reckless and carries himself with an air of one who doesn't really care either way. He's a compulsive liar and very good at it, witty, and a trickster, but he is loyal. His patience level is high, but his attention span could use improving. He doesn't like drawing an awful lot of attention to himself unless he's performing. He, like Arziloret, has a near unquenchable thirst for knowledge, but if you have something to say he'll appear uninterested and get bored quickly.
Special Abilities: He is a great fire-eater and a master of stealth. He is also good with small blades. But he isn't good at climbing or running particularly fast currently because of a burnt foot.
Group(s): The Motley Folk and Shifting Shadows
Companion: A small black, horned marten named Prick.
History: Skyler Darcs (Now also known as Embertongue) was born to a rich traveling merchant and one of his three wives. His father never really cared much for his children and only saw them as means to make more money, either by selling them or training them to be someone - or something - useful. So Skyler was one of the unlucky (or lucky, as he sees it) ones who was sold. The buyer? A younger man who went by the name of Cloud-Dancer, one of the Motley Folk, who spent all his remaining coins on the 14-year-old boy. During the fourteen years he had spent with his mother, father, and his other wives, Skyler had learned how to read and write and was planned to become a scribe. Cloud-Dancer saw him useful and [s]took[/s] saved the boy from his own family. It soon became clear to Cloud-Dancer, however, that the boy would no sooner prove to be a useful scribe any more than he would prove to be a fire-elf. Instead, the boy took a great interest in fire. His new father (Cloud-Dancer refused to be known as the boy's 'owner' and stated that everyone deserved to be free) took him to see a fire-eater's show when he was fifteen and afterwards had introduced Skyler to Dustfinger, a boy perhaps three or four years older than himself. Together, they taught each other how to do what both still do best: talk to fire. But a year and a half later, the two got in a huge argument and vowed never to speak to or of each other again. Then Dustfinger disappeared. Skyler went in search of his lost friend, thinking that it was his fault he was gone and wanted to make up with him. But he never found him and instead returned home a few years later and became the mentor, friend, and in a way, adoptive father to a pair of younger siblings. Ever since, he has been performing and traveling, still searching for Dustfinger.
Other: Carries a 'lucky' one-sided coin with him wherever he goes. He has already been claimed, so he's not up for a relationship.

Name: Isabella

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Race: Outsider

Appearance: Long, brown hair and dark brown eyes. About 5 foot 6, and fairly slender.

Personality: Pretty outgoing, but easily scared, and is very shy when frightened.

Special Abilities: possibly a reader - she doesn't know for sure, but it's in her bloodline

Groups: Becomes part of the Motley Folk and Shifting Shadows

Companion: none yet

History: Her father read her into the Inkworld on accident while reading to her younger sister one night. She was 24 at the time, and has only been in the Inkworld for a few days

Other: Has been claimed by Skylar

Name: Nevik

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Race: Human

Appearance: 5' 8", slim, shaggy black hair, crystal blue eyes. He is very fast and a great climber.

Personality: Likes to do things his way, but isn't closed to new ideas. He's very hard on himself. He's persistent, loyal, clever, and cautious.

Special Abilities: As a result of his love for fire, he has learned how to make anything
flammable or fire-proof. He's a wizard with the bow and very rarely misses anything while out hunting. He also carries two long daggers with him as protection against thieves.

Group(s): None

Companion: None

History: He got read into the story by his friend's mom when he was five. But he got adopted by a farmer and his wife.

Other: Ummm....

Discussion Thread. I highly suggest you go and check that out for information on the storybook. Also, to make it easier, please put the name of your character at the top of your post.

Embertongue

The sky was dark. Clouds hung low in the sky, threatening to dump their freezing cold rain onto the lands below. A chilly wind blew through the cobbled square, causing the flags to flap and rustle restlessly, as if awaiting the downpour that was sure to come any minute now. The vibrant colors of the merchant stalls and decorations that adorned the surrounding walls seemed muted and dull, no longer containing the life they once held.

I hunched deeper into my coat, wrapping one arm over the shoulder of the young girl that stood next to me, shivering violently. She pressed her head against my ribcage and wrapped her arms around her chest, squishing as close to me as possible for warmth. She glanced up at the sky and scowled irritably.

"Where is he?" she asked, her voice tense.

"He's sure to be here soon. Go back to the house if you're cold."

She shook her head. "No, I'm staying with you."

"Suit yourself."

I took my other hand out of my pocket and coaxed a small flame into my palm, holding it close to the girl. The fire wavered weakly, as if shivering and trying to escape the cold. She cupped her hands loosely over mine and looked around the deserted square.

"If I get sick, I'm blaming you."

I let out an exasperated sigh. "If anyone, blame Zilo. And besides, you can go back to the house and start a bigger fire. Nothing is stopping you."

She shrugged. "No, I already told you, I want to see him. It's been too long."

A few more minutes passed in shivering silence. Just as the first raindrop fell upon my head, a young boy came jogging around the corner, puffing out a cloud of steam at every-other step. He stopped in front of us and grinned apologetically.

"Sorry I'm late. I got caught up at the castle."

The girl beside me stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the boy. The flame in my hand faded away and I ruffled the boy's hair.

"Ready to go?"

He looked up at me and nodded. The girl stepped away again and poked her brother in the chest. "Be careful, would you?"

Zilo nodded. "You too?"

"Mhm."

The girl, Jestella, turned and embraced me as well. I patted her back and felt a small, horned head poke its head out of my coat. The young marten chattered crossly and clambered up onto my shoulder, eying me reproachfully. I ignored him.

"Try to stay out of trouble while we're gone, alright?"

Jestella nodded. "I'll be fine. It's you I'm worried about. What, with all the fire-raisers around..."

Zilo laughed. "We'll be fine. Come on Em, can't we go? I'm getting colder and colder by the second."

I nodded and turned from the girl, following the boy towards the road leading to the woods in the distance. I cast one final glance behind me at the girl who stood silently, watching us go. She worried too much, I decided. With one final glance back, Zilo and I turned a corner and lost sight of her.

"To the Inn, then?"

"Yes. But I need to make a quick detour before we get there. We should be there by tomorrow night, at the latest."

And so we set out for the Inn of the Strolling Players.