| "Jenny!" my dad shouted somewhere outside the house. "Where are you?" |
| Feeling a bit guilty, I hurriedly finished doing my hair, sprang from the chair in front of the dressing table and stepped over to the window. Standing on tiptoe, I stuck out my head, the morning sun pleasantly warm on my face, and yelled, "I'm coming!" |
| I bolted out of the room and bounded down the stairs, my speedy descent causing the wooden steps to creak even louder than usual. As I rushed along the corridor to the entrance, I heard my mother and my sister talking in the sitting room, so I halted at its door. I opened it a crack and peeked inside. "Bye, Mommy. Bye, Maisie," I said, waving at them. They bade me goodbye, and I shut the door. With renewed urgency, I went outside. |
| Seated in the front of the farm wagon, my father and my brother Brad were waiting for me a short distance down the path leading away from the house. Brad beckoned to me impatiently, but shortly after I started to run toward them, a sudden sting in my foot made me stop with a shriek. Balancing on one leg, I pulled the thorn I had stepped on out of my bare sole and angrily threw it into the grass beside the path. |
| Somewhat vexed, I hobbled back to the house and took my sandals from the trunk on the porch. When I had turned around, I noticed my brother was on his way to me, and I energetically waved him back before I sat down at the top of the stairs. There was a smidgen of blood where the thorn had pierced my skin, and I wiped it off before I put on my shoes. Doing my best to not let my smarting foot bother me, I walked to the wagon as fast as I could manage. |
| "Are you all right?" my dad asked me when I finally arrived at the vehicle. Since I was breathing heavily, I responded with an emphatic nod, and he helped me get on. |
| "It's about time," Brad said, gazing at me with displeasure. Ignoring him, I clambered over the backrest and sat on the stack of folded blankets in the rear. My dad drove Bucky forward, and the draft horse began to pull the wagon at a moderate pace. |
| Changing to a kneeling position, my brother turned around. He squinted a little as he scrutinized me. "We had to wait because you put ribbons in your hair?" |
| Smiling, I adjusted one of them. "Aren't they pretty?" |
| "No one cares about your stupid ribbons," he replied in a tone that never failed to annoy me. |
| "I care," I pouted. |
| "Do I really need to remind you?" my father said sternly. "No bickering today or we'll stay home instead of going to the fair." He gave Brad a serious look and also directed one at me. "Would you rather help out around the farm?" We both burst into protest and promised to behave. "Very well, but I expect you to be nice to each other from here on out." |
| Once my dad's attention was no longer focused on us, my brother leaned forward and gave me an inconspicuous signal to come closer. Reluctantly, I complied. "Your ribbons are still stupid," he whispered. |
| "You're still stupid," I whispered back. |
| My father briefly raised his hand. Nonetheless, Brad made a silly face and mockingly touched his hair. I stuck out my tongue in return. He merely smirked at me before he turned about and sat again. |
| For quite a while, I watched the dull landscape pass by incredibly slowly, yet my irritation lingered. I sighed and removed my sandals. Gently, I massaged the area around the speck of dried blood on the sole of my foot. Although the pain was all but gone, it provided a welcome distraction and made me feel better. |
| Eventually, my good mood was restored. I lined up the folded blankets and lay down on them. Hands crossed behind my head, I stared at the clear blue sky and tried to remember what my older siblings had told me about their visits to the fair, but my vague recollections only heightened my eagerness to see all its wonders myself. |
| Some time later, the dirt road we were on merged into a paved road. "Are we there yet?" I said excitedly as I looked around for signs of the fair. |
| "I already told you," my brother snapped. "It takes a long time to get there." |
| "Tone it down, Brad," my dad admonished him before addressing me. "He's not wrong, though. We still have most of the way ahead of us." |
| Disappointed, I reclined on the blankets again. The succeeding boredom was only interrupted by the occasional appearance of other travelers. |
| Late in the morning, we came to a wooden sign, a crude representation of a tent painted on it in bright yellow, and changed course to follow the dirt track it indicated. I perked up and moved to the front, sitting between my father and brother. "We're almost there, aren't we?" I asked my dad enthusiastically. |
| He gave me a quick hug. "Yes, sweetie. It's not much farther." |
| I was no longer able to contain my anticipation and started to fidget. My restlessness slowly grew worse until it culminated in a cry of delight the moment I spotted a colorful banner in the distance. Brad threw me a look of disapproval, but I didn't let it faze me. |
| The sparsely wooded terrain gave way to a vast plain on which the fair was situated. It was even more impressive than I had imagined. A large wooden fence enclosed tents of various colors and sizes along with an assortment of market stalls. |
| Brad nudged me. "Look!" he said, pointing at the sky above the highest tent. |
| I reacted just in time to catch sight of what appeared to be a bird of fire before it faded away. "Was that magic?" I asked in awe. |
| "Indeed. Pyromancy, to be exact," he answered smugly. |
| "Right." I still tended to mix up the terms for the four magic disciplines. |
| Not far from the entrance of the fair, a track branched off the one we were on, and my father turned onto it. "Daddy, what are you doing?" I exclaimed. |
| "I'm heading to the stable grounds to park our wagon and have Bucky taken care of. It shouldn't take long." He smiled reassuringly at me. |
| I tried to keep quiet, but my impatience won out. "May Brad and I go on ahead? Please?" |
| "We'll be careful, Dad," my brother said promptly. |
| My father looked at him. "So I can rely on you to watch over your little sister?" |
| "Of course," he answered earnestly, "there's nothing for you to worry about." |
| "Very well," my dad said and brought the wagon to a halt. "Make sure to stay together and in sight of the entrance." |
| We agreed unhesitatingly and alighted. As soon as my bare feet touched the ground, I let out a squeak. "What is it now?" Brad inquired with a frown. |
| "I forgot my shoes," I replied sheepishly. |
| "Again? Really?" Visibly annoyed, he slowly walked away alongside the vehicle. |
| My dad helped me get back on. I returned to the blankets where I sat down and quickly put on my sandals. Gingerly, I jumped off the rear end of the wagon and rejoined my brother, who was waiting there with crossed arms. |
| Brad took me by the hand, his grip uncomfortably tight, and headed to the fair at a brisk pace. I struggled to keep up with him and was panting by the time we passed through the entrance, a tall arched gate. We stopped next to the stall right by it. |
| I looked about while catching my breath. Even though the crowd made it impossible to see much of the attractions ahead, the varied people it was composed of were rather intriguing as well, and I couldn't help but stare at the most flamboyantly dressed visitors. |
| "Exciting, isn't it?" my brother said. He took my hand again and walked onward. |
| "But Daddy said we have to stay at the entrance," I protested immediately. |
| "No, he told us to stay in sight of it," he corrected me. "Come on, I know you want to see more." |
| I went along uneasily, but the confidence with which Brad navigated the crowd was very encouraging, and I was no longer concerned when we reached an empty stage a short while later. |
| "The pyromantic bird from earlier is the final part of the show taking place here every two hours or so," he said, pointing out the metallic sandglass attached to one of the corners at the front of the stage. Most of the glowing blue substance it contained was still in its upper half. "Four mages, one of each type, display their abilities in a funny manner. We should be able to catch a performance sometime if you're interested." |
| "Of course I'm interested," I replied, desiring to experience as much as possible. |
| We moved on, passing an enormous midnight blue tent with a design of silver stars, its entrance closed. A group of acrobats was nearby, most of them warming up. Mesmerized by the smooth movements of two young women practicing together, I stopped. |
| My brother gave me a tug. "Don't bother watching the tumblers now, we can attend one of their shows if you like them that much." Still unwilling to leave just yet, I let him drag me along while I continued to observe the duo. I was so distracted, I scarcely noticed my hand slipping out of his. "Keep up," Brad said loudly. |
| By the time I managed to turn away, he was already a bit ahead, and a group of visitors stepped between us before I could catch up with him. I waited a long moment for them to move along, but since they stayed put, I went around them only to find myself amid the crowd. Anxiously, I called out my brother's name, but if he replied I was unable to hear it among the babble of voices. |
| I was shoved by someone behind me and had no choice but to go along with the people surrounding me. The heat was stifling due to the lack of space, and I began to sweat. Constantly looking for an opportunity to escape, I squeezed through a gap in the wall of bodies as soon as it appeared, yet my overall situation didn't change. |
| After a few more unsuccessful attempts to get free, I ceased my efforts out of frustration and pondered my predicament instead. At some point, I suddenly realized there was an opening leading out of the crowd right beside me, and I dashed through it at once. |
| I stopped at the booth ahead and leaned against its sidewall. With great relief, I took a deep breath and wiped my sweaty brow. As I rested in the shade, the savory smell of the food being sold here made me hungry, but there was nothing I could do about it. |
| Once I was ready to find my way back somehow, I stepped away from the booth and looked for the prominent arch of the entrance. Unfortunately, it wasn't visible from my location, though a smaller gate was close by, and I saw only a few people come through it. It seemed worth investigating. |
| I made sure to stay away from the crowd as I went to the gate. The gaily dressed man lazily leaning against one side of it glanced indifferently at me when I got close. The gate connected to the stable grounds, and I was filled with the hope of finding my dad there before I realized the unlikeliness of it considering how much time must have passed while I was trapped. |
| Even so, the stable grounds offered a much more appealing route due to being uncrowded, and I continued through the gate. The noise of the fair gradually lessened while I slowly walked down the passage formed by the stables on one side and a line of vehicles on the other, a second line behind them with some space in between. |
| Apart from the stablehands, only a few other people were in the area. As I had expected, my father wasn't among them. About midway along the passage, I caught a glimpse of our wagon in the far row and paused. As I looked at it ruefully, I espied the top of the main entrance in the distance. |
| Invigorated by the sight, I ran through the gap between the two vehicles ahead and turned sharply at the corner to find an opening in the next row. Focused on my destination, I inadvertently bumped into someone I had failed to notice and lost my balance. Although I was able to catch myself with one hand, I landed hard on my knee and almost tore my dress. The pain was bad enough to make me cry. |
| "Stupid brat, can't you watch where you're going?" the man said coldly as he stooped down and picked up the coins he must have dropped when we had collided. Straightening, he tucked them into his pouch and pocketed it. "And cease your blubbering." |
| Disturbed by his callous demeanor, I brushed away my tears with my forearm and stared helplessly at his unfriendly face. His unwavering gaze made me lower my eyes and mumble a barely audible apology. |
| "Now, that's no way to treat a lady," a female voice with a distinct accent said out of nowhere. "Especially one in need of aid." |
| Startled, I looked at the young woman who had approached unnoticed. She was of average stature and had brown skin. Her long hair was black, as was her outfit, consisting of a brief jerkin, sleek pants and leather boots. Two sabers in ornate scabbards hung from her belt, one at each hip. |
| The man was just as astonished as me. "Mind your own business," he said rudely and faced her. His posture relaxed as he studied her in detail. "On second thought," he continued in a very different tone, "why don't we do some business together? I'm feeling awfully generous all of a sudden." He patted the pocket of his jacket containing his pouch, coins jingling. |
| Somewhat amused, she replied, "I'm not a courtesan, though you should be able to find one on the fairgrounds who will only be too pleased to receive your undoubtedly big generosity." |
| He put his hand on the hilt of his sword, a straight blade longer and heavier than hers. "Are you mocking me?" |
| "Not at all, I merely suggested an appropriate course of action." She smirked. "But it seems you're more interested in wielding your other sword now." |
| "I've had enough of your insolent attitude, wench. Are your pretty blades just for decoration or do you know how to use them?" he sneered. |
| She shrugged. "I can hold my own in a fight." |
| He gave her a triumphant look. "In that case, I expect you won't refuse to engage in a duel with me. If I win, you'll give yourself to me. If you win, I'll apologize. Do you accept my challenge?" |
| "Lousy terms, but I accept," she answered nonchalantly. |
| "Excellent." The man stepped away from me and drew his sword. "I'm going to enjoy this, though not nearly as much as what I'm going to do afterward." |
| The woman positioned herself opposite him and unsheathed her blades. "For someone who loves apologizing, you certainly are shy about it." |
| He let out a grunt and attacked her vigorously. Steel met steel as she gracefully parried his strikes. He was able to drive her back due to his size advantage, yet she never seemed to be in danger of losing the contest. I watched in awe, marveling at her skill. |
| The man grew visibly angry as she fended him off with ease. Before long, the woman dodged a reckless thrust and used the opportunity to direct his sword downward with a deft maneuver. Once its tip hit the ground, she stepped on the broad side of the blade, disarming him. He scrambled after his weapon and was able to free it, but when he raised his head, he saw that one of her blades was pointed at his throat. |
| "I believe you owe the young lady an apology," the woman said insistently and sheathed her swords. |
| With deliberate movements and an indignant expression, the man stood up, put away his weapon, straightened his clothes and looked at me. "My apologies," he said curtly and strutted off toward the fair. |
| The woman came to me and knelt in front of me. "Hello, little one," she said amiably. "I'm sorry for the delay. Are you all right?" |
| "I hurt my knee," I said timidly. "My hand, too." |
| "Let me see." She gave both a cursory examination. "Only bruises, nothing to worry about." I was thankful but only managed to nod. She arose and helped me get to my feet. "What's your name, child?" |
| "I'm Jenny," I said, brushing the dirt from my skirt. |
| "Pleased to meet you." Our wagon was right behind her, and she leaned against it. "My name is Zahia." |
| "Hello, Zahia." The pretty jewel in her navel caught my eye when it sparkled in the sunlight. |
| "Tell me, Jenny, what are you doing here on your own?" she asked curiously. |
| "My brother was gone, and I was trapped in the crowd, and then I was free again, but I couldn't see the entrance, and then I wanted to find Daddy here, but he wasn't here, and then I saw the entrance, and I tried to run there, but I didn't see the man in my way," I said rapidly. |
| "So you got separated from your family," she said, eyebrows raised, "yet you didn't ask any of the attendants for help?" |
| "Attendants?" I asked uncertainly. |
| "The fair attendants, they wear striped clothing and a tricorne." She indicated the direction I had come from with a gesture. "There should have been one at the gate." |
| "Oh, you're right," I said with sudden recognition. "Should I go to him?" |
| "No need for that, little one. I'll help you get back to your family." She smiled. "The dragons will have to wait a little longer." |
| "Dragons?" I said, eyes wide with wonder. |
| Zahia laughed softly. "I don't think dragons are making a return, though my contact seems to believe otherwise." |
| I was confused. "Your contact?" |
| "My contact was supposed to meet me here, but he's late. He has information for me. Secret information." She squatted in front of me. "Can you keep a secret, Jenny?" |
| "Of course," I whispered. |
| "Then don't tell anyone what happened here or what we just talked about." She winked. "It's our little secret." |
| "I won't say a word," I promised. |
| "Good." She stood up. "As for your family, you mentioned they might be at the entrance?" |
| "Yes. Daddy told us to wait there, but my brother wouldn't listen," I said peevishly. |
| "Don't fret, little one. Everything is going to be fine." She took me by the hand and headed to the fairgrounds. |
| While we were walking, a thought suddenly occurred to me. "Zahia," I blurted out, "are you a princess?" |
| "A princess?" she replied in surprise. "No, I'm not. What gave you that idea?" |
| "You're so beautiful and nice and can fight so well," I said admiringly. |
| "Thank you, Jenny, but I doubt many princesses are trained in combat." With obvious pride, she added, "I'm a ranger." |
| "A ranger," I echoed quietly. It was an unfamiliar term, its meaning only limited by my imagination. |
| We went through the gate, and I was confronted with the hustle and bustle of the fair once again. Reminded of my prior experience, I fearfully clutched Zahia's hand. "Keep an eye out for your family, they might be searching for you," she said and began to guide me through the crowd. |
| I peered at the people we passed, but my view was very limited. "I can't see much." |
| She halted immediately. "Right you are. It seems we need the help of a two-headed giant." |
| "There are giants here?" I asked, bewildered. |
| "There will be at least one." She smiled and crouched down beside me. "Climb on my shoulders." When I had done so, she grasped my legs and stood up carefully, then continued on her way. |
| My elevated position afforded me a much-improved view and almost made me feel like a giant. Looking down at Zahia's head, the meaning of her remark became clear, and I started to giggle uncontrollably. |
| Zahia slowed down to help keep me steady. "What's going on up there?" |
| Once my fit was over, I said, "I figured out what you meant. You're funny, too." |
| "I'm glad you're amused, but I didn't come up with it. My father played two-headed giant with me when I was little." She resumed her normal pace. |
| I continued to scan the crowd. We were almost at the entrance when I saw my father and my brother in the same place where Brad and I had stopped earlier. "Over there," I said, pointing wildly, and Zahia changed course accordingly. My dad was speaking agitatedly to Brad, and they didn't notice our approach. "Daddy!" I shouted, getting their attention. |
| "Jenny!" my dad exclaimed with obvious relief as he quickly covered the remaining distance between us. I stretched out my hands, and he lifted me from Zahia's shoulders. "I'm so glad you're safe, sweetie," he said as he gave me a big hug. He planted a kiss on my cheek and set me down, then addressed her. "I'm very grateful for your help, miss." |
| She smiled. "My pleasure." |
| My dad gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Thank the nice lady." |
| "Thank you, Zahia!" I put my arms around her waist, awkwardly embracing her. |
| "You're most welcome, little one." She lightly tousled my hair. "You all enjoy the fair now. Take care." I let go, and we said goodbye to her. She disappeared in the crowd almost as soon as she left. |
| Reluctantly, I faced my father. Brows furrowed, he said, "As happy as I am that we're all back together, I'm also very disappointed that you ignored my instructions." |
| I lowered my head. "I'm sorry, Daddy." |
| He continued in the same stern voice, "I already had a talk with your brother, who really should have known better, so I'm going to spare you. Don't get me wrong, though. There will be consequences for both of you. I'll come up with an appropriate punishment tomorrow, but we can still have a nice time today provided you'll be on your best behavior from now on. Have I made myself clear?" |
| I nodded remorsefully while Brad said, "Absolutely." |
| "All right, let's see what attractions are on offer this year," my dad said in a friendlier tone, and we started to move clockwise around the fair. Since it was my first visit, there was hardly anything either my brother or I didn't take at least a passing interest in, and we progressed slowly. |
| We had only seen a small portion of the fair when we came to a large rectangular tent selling food and drink. All of us were quite hungry, so we went inside to have dinner. We had to wait in line because it was rather busy, but I used the opportunity to convince my dad to let me have a spicy dish. |
| He ordered when it was our turn, and our meals and beverages were ready shortly. While he paid, Brad and I took our plates to the unoccupied end of one of the long tables. My brother went back for our lemonade and returned together with my father who carried a mug of beer along with his food. When everyone was seated, we ate heartily. The dish I had chosen made my mouth burn and my eyes water, but it was delicious all the same. |
| With renewed enthusiasm, we left the tent and soon passed a troupe I found a little scary. All members had bare chests, their bodies painted crimson with black symbols. A man and a woman, facing each other, juggled lighted torches, frequently trading them between each other. Another man, tall and muscular, breathed streams of fire into the air by utilizing some kind of liquid. |
| About halfway around the fair, a stall with glittering trinkets for sale caught my attention. The middle-aged woman standing behind it noticed my interest and said, "Pretty jewelry for a pretty girl." She made a sweeping gesture above her wares and smiled. "Each piece a real bargain." |
| The gaudy merchandise also included some simpler articles. I fancied one of the exceptions, a bracelet of small dark beads strung together. "Daddy, may I have something?" I gazed up at him. "Please?" |
| He appeared disinclined, but his features softened after a moment. "The prices are reasonable, so I'll allow you to have a souvenir of your first visit." He held me back, adding, "You won't get anything else, so make sure you pick something you like. I don't want to hear any complaints later." |
| I examined the jewelry again, but I had already made up my mind. Pointing out the bracelet, I said, "I'd like this one, please." |
| "A fine choice." The merchant picked it up and dangled it from her fingers. |
| My dad looked at me questioningly. "Are you certain?" |
| "Yes," I said firmly. My father paid the woman, and she put the bracelet around my wrist. I beamed as we left and felt as if I had just acquired a great treasure. |
| Not much later, we reached an enclosed area. A painting hung on one side of the entrance, showing several portraits at the top, a kissing couple in the middle flanked by dueling scenes and elaborate lettering at the bottom. The doorman on the other side made it known in a loud voice that the next performance was about to begin. |
| "The Duelists!" Brad said excitedly. "Can we watch it this time, Dad?" |
| "If your sister doesn't mind." My father looked at me. "The play takes a while. Are you fine with that, Jenny?" |
| "Please agree," my brother said to me before I could respond. He showed me his warmest smile. "There's some romance in it, too. Who knows, you might enjoy it." |
| His eagerness would have made it impossible for me to refuse, though I wasn't going to object in the first place. "All right." |
| "Thanks, Sis." Brad was so happy he even gave me a brief hug. |
| "But I want to see the tumblers next," I stated quickly. |
| "The tumblers? Oh, you mean the Midnight Stars? Sure, we can do that." He didn't sound too enthused. |
| My dad bought our tickets, and we entered the theater. The veiled stage was on the far side, with several rows of wooden chairs taking up most of the remaining space. We located our seats in the second to last row and sat down. |
| A short time later, the door was shut, a small group of musicians at one side of the stage started to play unobtrusive music, the red curtain was drawn back, and a trio of actors in fancy attire made their entrance. They talked in stilted language, declaring their identities and motivations. The first duel took place not long after. It was well executed and dramatic, but I wasn't nearly as impressed as my brother due to seeing Zahia in action earlier. |
| The following two acts played out in a similar manner, with brief pauses in between. A few other characters were introduced, each one featuring a distinctive style. The finale had the sole woman duelist, disguised for most of the play, reveal herself to the man she loved. They threw away their rapiers and met in the center, kissing passionately until the curtain closed and concealed them behind it. |
| I thought it was over, but no one left their seat, and presently the curtain parted once more. The cast was standing side by side at the front of the stage, and I joined in the applause. They bowed repeatedly until the curtain closed for good. |
| As we departed, Brad asked me if I had seen this or that fencing move, imitating them with wild gestures. I wanted to tell him how amazing Zahia had been in her duel, but I had promised her to keep it a secret, and I merely nodded in return. |
| A bit farther along, my brother became unusually quiet, and I noticed him furtively glancing sideways. I looked at the cause of his strange behavior with undisguised curiosity and saw a half-circle of luxurious wagons. In the middle, several beautiful young women wearing flashy jewelry and little to nothing else were lounging on or around a big couch along with a few nondescript men. |
| The door of one of the wagons was opened from the inside, and a burly man, his shirt undone, emerged. He was followed by a redheaded woman who put her arms around him from behind and whispered something into his ear before she let him go. He left with a smile, adjusting his clothes. As she went to the group in the middle, a slender girl with black hair rose from the couch and lead the man beside her to the wagon. |
| We moved past, and Brad looked at me accusingly. He seemed to be embarrassed for some reason. I shrugged uncomprehendingly. He shook his head in exasperation and left it at that. |
| Soon after, we reached a pastry stand and stopped for a snack. I chose a large cinnamon bun and devoured it quickly. It was very yummy, but it left my fingers annoyingly sticky. Fortunately, one of the small fountains located around the fair was close by, and we freshened up before proceeding to the grand tent of the Midnight Stars. |
| We arrived just in time for their next showing. My dad took care of the admission fee, and I tried to contain my impatience until we went inside. To my disappointment, all the benches in the front were already occupied. Fortunately, Brad spotted a big enough space for the three of us in the second row, and we hurried to secure it. |
| As soon as the show began, I was utterly spellbound by the incredible acrobatics. The trapeze act in particular delighted me to no end, and I recognized the two women performing it as the ones who had distracted me earlier. Like the others, they wore skintight black suits adorned with silvery glitter. |
| Still dazzled when it was over, it seemed I left behind a different world when we exited the dimness of the tent. I blinked in the bright sunlight and suddenly realized how tired I was. "Hey, the mages are performing right now," Brad said, giving me a tap with the back of his hand. "Let's go and watch them." |
| The excitement of seeing actual magic made me forget my weariness for the moment, and I followed my brother through the crowd, markedly thinner than before, to the nearby stage. We sat down on the ground in front of the other spectators, my dad standing behind us. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I didn't want to miss anything. |
| The talent of each of the four mages was indicated by a brightly colored piece of clothing. The earth mage, a woman clad in a verdant summer dress, waved away the other three in annoyance. Standing in the center, she struck a proud pose and slowly rose into the air. |
| When she was at a sufficient height, the water mage, a man wearing an azure doublet, casually lay down beneath her and playfully looked up her skirt, smirking all the while. Indignant, she descended with her legs pressed together, and he hastily rolled out of the way. Once she had landed, she put her hands on her hips and glowered at him. |
| The water mage was visibly apologetic. His face suddenly lit up, and he raised a finger. He quickly fetched a bucket from a corner of the stage and handed it to the earth mage. He made her hold it in front of her and put his hand into it. When he withdrew it a short while later, it held a gleaming tiara of ice. He set it on her head, and she smiled happily. |
| The fire mage, a woman dressed in a skimpy scarlet tunic, stepped between them and brazenly took the crown to wear it herself. When she showed it off to the others, the earth mage became angry. The water mage shrugged and touched the tiara with the tip of his finger. It melted instantly, soaking her hair. Giggling, the earth mage dumped the water left in the bucket over her head as well. |
| Incensed, the fire mage raised her hands high, and a flame appeared between them. She lowered her outstretched arms sideways, creating an arch of fire. The air mage, a man in a white shirt, calmed her down with gentle gestures. The flame disappeared, and the fire mage lifted a handful of her wet hair in resignation. |
| The air mage moved behind her and held out his hands, making her long blonde mane undulate slightly. She abruptly shook her head, and droplets of water flew into the surprised audience. One of them hit me squarely on the nose, and I was wide awake again, though only for an instant. My vision blurred as I futilely attempted to keep my eyes open, and I dozed off. |
| A clang caused me to wake up with a start. The noise repeated not far away from me, right where the earth mage was standing now. My dad touched my shoulder to get my attention and pressed a coin into my hand. The earth mage stepped in front of me, and a bowl of shiny metal sank to just above the ground between us. It contained an assortment of coins, and I groggily added mine. She moved on, the bowl floating alongside her, and my brother also threw his coin into it. |
| My dad helped me get to my feet and said, "There's no sense in staying any longer, Jenny can barely stand." |
| "But it's still early," Brad protested weakly. |
| My father took my hand. "The trip is quite long as you well know. It will be dark before we get home." |
| "I guess so," my brother replied, disappointed. |
| We headed to the stable grounds, but I was too exhausted to walk at a reasonable pace. My dad simply carried me all the way to our wagon and put me in the rear. Drowsily, I snuggled into the blankets, using one as a pillow. |
| I was barely awake by the time Bucky was hitched up, and even the frequent jolting of the wagon did little to change it. While waiting to fall asleep, I usually fantasized about being a princess. This time, however, I imagined myself as a ranger. |
