"I think it's on your shoulder," he said.
"Oh, dear me yes, how silly of me," he said with a rueful chuckle. "Did I introduce myself?"
"You just did."
"Jolly good. I always forget about that," he said in that strange voice. "Have you seen my drake?"
Tarrin wasn't sure if he was being serious or not. And it wasn't exactly putting him in a good mood. "Isn't it on your shoulder?" he asked in a less light tone.
"No, my boy. I say, you're remarkably dense for such a sensible looking young fellow. My other drake."
"How was I to know you had more than one?" he asked defensively.
"I say, kids today," the man muttered. Tarrin wasn't sure what that meant, for the man couldn't be more than twenty five. "Turnkey!" he shouted. "You're being a very naughty drake! Come out this instant!"
And with that, the bizarre man puttered down the companionway, shouting for his other little pet. But the red drake turned on the man's shoulder and stared at Tarrin intensely, like a wary rabbit keeping an eye on a circling hawk.
"You have to excuse him," a young girl, probably fifteen, said as she came around the corner. She wore a simple dress of brown wool, a peasant's dress. She had a rusty colored hair, a dark red, but not quite auburn, though her skin was dusky and swarthy. She was either Arkisian or Arakite. He'd never seen red hair on an Arkisian or Arakite before. It was a rather exotic look. "Phandebrass usually isn't this distracted. I think he's been working magic again. It always leaves him a little scattered."
"That's not scattered, that's windblown," he told the girl, which made her giggle.
"Well, he'll grow on you. Just like a fungus," she winked. "I'm Tess."
"My name is Tarrin," he replied. "Sorry to greet and run, but someone's waiting for me."
"That's alright, I have to help Phandebrass find Turnkey."
She gave him a bright, inviting smile, then she rushed off after the odd man. That worried him more than the strange man did. She had no idea just what she was making eyes at.
Keritanima was obviously in a fury. She sat on her bed, stock still and upright, and her amber eyes were absolutely blazing. "You need to calm down, sister," he told her immediately.
"Oh, no," she seethed. "I am not going to dance. I'll sink this ship first."
"You're being silly," he told her. "Dancing isn't that bad."
"No? No? How would you like to wear a couple of ribbons and gyrate around while people try to look up your skirt!"
"You never said you were wearing a skirt," he noted.
She glared at him, hard enough to make him put his hand back on the doorknob. She looked ready to bite him. "Don't you start with me, Tarrin," she snapped. "I don't see him making you wear a little bit of fluff and-"
"Sister," he interrupted, approaching her and putting his hands on her shoulders. The feel of her silky fur was odd under human hands. "Before you go off the deep end, let's find out what Renoit wants. Is that too much to ask?"
"Oh yes it is," she said adamantly.
"You're not being rational."
"I don't want to be rational!" she screamed at him. Since he was right in her face, her voice made his ears sting. "You mark my words, Tarrin, if he tries to make me dance, I'm going to stick that feather of his up his-"
He put a hand on top of her muzzle, which cut the location of that promise short. She looked up at him with furious eyes, but he wouldn't back down. "Let's not get nasty, Kerri," he chided.
"You get nasty," she accused.
"I'm expected to get nasty. It's a cat thing."
"It's not fair," she fumed. "You get to have all the fun."
"Want to trade?" he asked immediately. "I'll wear a dress and dance, and you can be an acrobat."
She gave him a strangled look, then burst out laughing. "You'd look so darling in a dress," she said with a wink.
"Only if I wear a matching hairbow," he told her dryly.
She laughed again, then leaned up and licked him on the cheek. Her version of a kiss.
"Are we calm now?" he asked her.
"A little," she replied. "But I guess I'll have to take this up with Renoit. Screaming and throwing things down here won't help."
"I don't think so," he agreed calmly.
"You look so weird like that," she noted, looking at him. "It looks unnatural."
"It feels unnatural," he agreed with her, flexing his fingers. They all cracked audibly.
"How is it?"
"It's starting to throb a bit," he replied. "I've been like this for about two hours. I'm starting to reach my limit."
"Dolanna said you have to stay like that til you can't take it any more. And each time you do, you can stay like that longer the next time."
"She's been right about that," he admitted. "I can hold it a little longer each time. I guess it's just like building up endurance when you run. Every time you wear yourself out, you can run a little further the next time you do it."
The door opened, and Faalken peeked in. "Dolanna wants us in the hold," he announced.
"Alright," Tarrin told him. "Shall we?" he asked Keritanima.
"Do we have a choice?" she asked.
"I guess not, but we can pretend," he told her, which made her chuckle.
The hold was more like a huge closet than a large empty space. It was what was left of the original hold, and it was packed with boxes and crates, as well as a large canvas pile that had to be the tents they used. Assembled inside was the entire carnival's staff, about thirty men and women of various sizes and shapes. There were five Wikuni among them, a big cat like a cougar or puma, a wolf or dog, a bear, a bobcat, and a ferret or weasel. The wolf-like one and the bear were huge, but the other three were sleek and looked very supple. The humans followed the same templates. Most were thin and looked athletic, but some were heavily developed and looked physically powerful. They were almost equally split among gender, looking to be half and half, except for the Wikuni. All five Wikuni were male, and they were already starting to give Keritanima and Miranda speculative looks. The rest of his group was there as well, gathered together on one side.
"I see the rest of you are here," Renoit said as Tarrin, Keritanima, and Faalken entered. "Very good. My friends, we have been hired by Lady Dolanna here for a special task. That task is rather simple. We will be performing in Tor and Shoran's Fork, then we will move on to Dala Yar Arak for the Festival of the Sun."
"What about our other bookings, Renoit?" one of the performers asked.
"Cancelled this year, or at least postponed. Lady Dolanna has graciously compensated us for the lost revenue. In exchange for that, we're taking her and her group to Dala Yar Arak. While with us, they will perform in the carnival just like any other member. We'll probably try to make up our missed appointments on the way back from Dala Yar Arak, but that's going to depend on how things turn out. Sometimes Emperor Kartaka holds us over." He pointed to the others. "We have picked up two new strongmen, two dancers, two acrobats, and an Illusionist. Lady Dolanna will act as a secretary and treasurer, and the two large people behind the Wikuni will be acting strictly as guards and defenders."
Dolanna stepped forward. "Certain truths must be made clear now, so there will be no misunderstandings later. There are several things about us that you must understand, so that we have no friction. The first is Tarrin. Would you please, young one?"