Chapter Three: Kestian

The circus was set up in the large park on the edge of town. Kestian had come alone. They had pointed out the poster to Egeria on their walk home the night before and she had had no interest in coming, and they did not feel the need to ask around the house when they were perfectly capable of going on their own. The walk across town was pleasant and the ticket price was very reasonable. Kestian found their seat and waited.

More people came into the tent, primarily families with children, a few couples and others that looked more like they worked together than slept together. There were still a few people like them that were there alone. The tent was full of quiet chatter, the rustling of clothes, the squeaking of the benches. And then quite suddenly there was silence like the muffling of a heavy blanket. The space inside the tent dimmed and a darkness gathered in the center of the ring.

"Friends, guests, ladies, gents" a voice rippled out from the darkness. Kestian leaned in closer as if they could see through the inky magical black. "Welcome."

Foot lights flared to life around the ring as a melody from a violin began to fill the tent.

Swirls of flames from the candles began to lengthen and spiral through the air. They penetrated and slashed through the darkness. Bit by bit with the music of the violin the darkness was cut away until Kestian could clearly see the person who stood in the center of the ring playing. She looked almost tiny in the ring and yet she filled the tent. She wore a large coat cut to have tails like a swallow and nimble black boots that reached up above her knees. Her hair was a tumble of short white blond curls. She was beautiful and her magic was fantastic.

Others came tumbling in now jumping and flipping impressively. But Kestian still could only look at the bard at the center of it all. Of course, she had to be a bard. This magic swelled out from her and her music. It was breath taking. The ring became active and alive, full of performers even one swinging on the trapeze over head as the music reached its climax and the tent plunged back into darkness. Applause rose from the crowd. Kestian waited for the ring master to appear again. Light split the darkness around the ring and a man ran and somersaulted into the ring. He threw brightly colored balls into the air and began to juggle them. Kestian could hear the violinist ring master and followed the sound to where she stood playing just outside the ring. Kestian barely paid attention to the juggler. They were vaguely aware of the oohs and ahhs from the crowd as the juggler escalated through various tricks and was eventually joined by a second juggler but there was only one person they were watching. She took graceful and exaggerated steps into the ring just as the jugglers bowed and ran to the back of the tent. She danced as she played and spun gracefully across the ring to make room for the next act. Kestian was reasonably confident the next act was a fire eater. They really did try to split their attention. They had come thinking to see a circus after all, jugglers and acrobats, high wire acts and fire eaters, clowns and someone with horses. As if on cue four horses pranced into the ring and began to run neatly in a circle. A man ran into the ring with them and seamlessly vaulted onto the back of one of the horses. The ring master continued to play her violin but Kestian could hear a full orchestra. They knew it must be an illusion and they marveled at it for the skill it would take to cast it. The acts processed one after the other culminating in a finale with the tumblers and jugglers and acrobats all coming out again before exiting to applause until it was just the ring master left. She played and the music faded to just the sound of her own violin till it ended with sure finality. "Thank you" the ring master announced. "We hope you have enjoyed our show." She bowed and the ring plunged into magical impenetrable darkness again. Kestian rushed out of their seat as the audience applauded a final time. They needed to get out first. They needed to meet her. They rushed out of the tent looking around for one of the performers. It might have been easier to spot one if they had actually been paying attention during the performances. Their eyes caught a man leading a horse.

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"Excuse me sir" they shouted and ran over to him. The man looked surprised though with his hand on the neck of his horse looked entirely calm.

"Can I help you?' He asked. His northern accent was thick, so much show Kestian thought it might be put on.

"I hope so." Kestian said. "The ring master, I would like to meet her, do you know where I could find her?"

The applause still came from the tent.

"I would wager she is still in there." The man said.

"Please, where will she be?" Kestian asked.

The man looked them over. Kestian could feel him taking their weight and measure.

"Her tent is just there." He pointed. "It is one with protective ward on entry and big mean horse standing beside it."

Kestian looked at the direction he pointed. “What is her name?” they asked before they turned to go.

“Cotton.” The man said.

"Thank you." They said and walked towards the tent to wait to meet a woman they had already judged as remarkable.