Page 53 (1/2)

"Careful, careful!" whispered Dustfinger, putting Jasper onto Farid’s shoulder

"You’re still as clulass friend to thank forto do to you, and she rode to Roxane" "Brianna?" The glass man blushed when Farid put him on his arm "Thank you, Jasper!"

Then he spun around Orpheus’s voice caer? What are you talking about? How did he get past you?"

"It’s the"The red-haired er listened to the sounds above, s s on his shoulders and his hair They see even under his skin, and Farid’s own skin was hot, as if the fire had been licking it since he touched Dustfinger

"The fire" he whispered "Is it in you?"

"Maybe," Dustfinger whispered back "I’m probably not entirely what I was, but I can do a few interesting new things" "New things?"

Farid looked at hiain from above "Smells of fire, does he? Let me past, you human rhinoceros! Is his face scarred?"

"No Why?" Oss sounded offended

And footsteps caain, heavy and uncertain footsteps this ti either up or down stairs, and Farid heard hiie read Orpheus here!" he whispered as he pressed close to Dustfinger’s side

"I asked her to do it because I thought he could bring you back!"

"Orpheus?" Dustfinger laughed again "No, it was only Silvertongue’s voice I heard"

‘His voice perhaps, but it was ht you back!" Orpheus stumbled down the last few steps, his face red froer It really is you!"

There was genuine delight in his voice

Oss appeared behind Orpheus, fear and rage on his coarse face "Look at hiet out, "He’s not huht

See those sparks on his hair? When I tried to hold on to hiers -- as if the executioner had put red-hot coals in my hands!"

"Yes, yes" was all Orpheus said "He coe a ht dissolve into thin air at any moment -- or, more likely, into a few lifeless words on a sheet of paper

"I’lad you’re back!" he staone! How a I didn’t write that Well, anywayyou’re back! This world is worth only half as much without you, but noill all be as wonderful as it hen I first read about you in Inkheart It was always the best of all stories, but now you’ll be its hero -- you alone, thanks to ht you back from the realue’s courage" Dustfinger made a flame dance on his hand It took on the shape of a White Woainst the cellar wall in terror