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‘No, I’ue and looked down on him and Resa ‘Where’s Gwin?’ he asked the boy ‘I hope you’ve been looking after him!’

‘He ran away after they shot at us, but he came back’ There was pride in the boy’s voice

‘Ah’ Dustfinger crouched down beside Silvertongue ‘Well, he always knehen it was time to run, just like his master’

‘We left hiht, because we kneas going to be dangerous,’ the boy went on ‘But I was going to fetch him as soon as I came off watch’

‘Well, I can do that now Don’t worry, he’s sure to be all right A er reached out his hand and put it under Silvertongue’s jacket

‘What are you doing?’ The boy’s voice sounded uneasy

‘Just taking what’s ue did not stir as Dustfinger slipped the book out He was sleeping well and soundly, and as there now to disturb his sleep? He had everything his heart desired

‘It’s not yours!’

‘Yes, it is’ Dustfinger stood up He looked up at the branches There were three fairies asleep up there He’d alondered how they could sleep perched in the trees without falling to the ground Carefully, he took two of theently into their faces as they opened their eyes and yawned, and put the at them makes them sleepy,’ he explained to the boy ‘Just a little tip in case you ever have anything to do with fairies But I think it only works on the blue sort’

He didn’t bother to wake a troll They were an obstinate lot; it would take a long tio with hiue

‘Let ot your rucksack’ He held it up, as if to buy Dustfinger’s coer took the rucksack fro it over his shoulders and turned his back on the boy

‘Yes!’ Farid ran after hi to tell Silvertongue when he realises the book is gone?’

‘Tell hi watch’

‘Please!’

Dustfinger stopped ‘What about her?’ he pointed to Meggie ‘You like the girl, don’t you? Why not stay with her?’

The boy blushed, and stared at the girl for a long tiht of her towith theer walked away again, but when he was a good way fro to walk so quietly that Dustfinger wouldn’t hear hiht in the act

‘What’s the idea? I’er ‘Now I have the book I shall look for soain, even if it’s a sta or a squashed face What will you do then? You’ll be left alone’

The boy shrugged his shoulders and looked at him with his black eyes ‘I can breathe fire well now,’ he said ‘I practised and practised while you were gone But I’ it yet’

‘That’s o at it too fast I’ve told you so a thousand times’