Again he reached behind him and picked up the longest trumpet that I have ever seen in my life. It was easily seven feet long. He lifted that one up and blew a long note. You'd have to be deaf not to have heard it. I glanced around and saw that he had indeed gathered some more people.
He lowered the instrument and shrugged. "I suppose you'll do." Casually chucking the instrument over his shoulders, he beamed us a bright smile. "Now, I'm sure that all of you have seen people juggle things before."
Most of us were nodding because we had seen it done.
Jachamo expected the answer and wagged a finger at us. "Ah, but was it on fire?" Picking up three sticks near him on the floor, he lit them with a nearby torch. "People near the stage, you should be warned that I have, on occasion, let one of these slip," Jachamo noted idly, with just an edge of mischievous amusement coloring his voice. "So if I do, and it hits you, well…there are water buckets up here for emergency purposes. Designate now one of the people near you to grab the bucket, alright?"
I think some of the people near the front took him seriously because they quickly scampered back several benches. Jachamo laughed at them, even as he started to juggle the flaming sticks in his hands. "What kind of a professional jester do you people take me for? I'd never let something fly out into the audience! Now, I have on occasion let one slip—” one of the rods fell about a foot making everyone in the crowd reflexively flinch before Jachamo "miraculously" caught it.
Watching him, I had the suspicion that Jachamo had a twisted sense of humor. He was rather enjoying seeing all of us on edge.
With a final rotation he caught the sticks one by one in his right hand, blowing them out all at once. There were the usual stomps as the crowd showed their appreciation.
"Thank you, thank you," Jachamo waved us down with both hands, "but I know that you've probably seen that trick done before as well. However, I can do something better." This time he picked up three metal axes with (I hoped) blunt edges. "Now, what if I could juggle these?"
There was more foot stomping, and even more enthusiastically this time.
"You do realize that this is dangerous and I could possibly lose a hand attempting it?" Jachamo stared at us with both eyebrows raised.
This time the crowd was more vocal, egging him on.
"Fine, fine, for your petty amusement I shall do it. If I lose an eye, however, I lay the blame solely on your heads." He took a deep breath, and then the axes started flying through the air.
I had unconsciously held my breath when that first axe was thrown up, but when I saw that he had complete control over them, I felt a little foolish. Despite what the man said, I was sure that he had practiced this very thing for many long hours.
Have you ever seen something go wrong, but sheer shock kept you in place?
I knew the instant that Jachamo really did lose control of one of the axes. It slipped completely out of his hand and flew over his head, landing with a solid thunk into a wooden beam behind him. The look on his face was one of classic consternation—he had clearly not meant to do that.
Being a true professional, however, he just grinned and said cheerfully, "Good thing it didn't hit the baby in the front row, eh?"
He threw one axe around to go over his back, caught it easily in the front, then caught the other in his hand before bowing to us. We were laughing and stomping both feet vigorously in approval. That had been quite the sight.
"Next question!" Jachamo called to us. "Have you ever seen someone walk a tight rope and juggle at the same time?"
Somewhat intrigued, I shook my head.
"Well, you're about to! I shall now ask the strongest, toughest man in the world to come and hold one end of the rope for me." Jachamo scanned the crowd expectantly…then frowned. "Obviously he couldn't make it today."
Chatta and I both were snickering. His sarcastic brand of humor was very infectious.
Heaving a great sigh, Jachamo climbed off the stage. "Well, I'll have to make do with some of you." He started to point at various men and gesturing them up. "You, and you…not you, the one sitting beside you…yes him, did you think I wanted your girlfriend sitting there? Let's see, too skinny, too short, you'll do and you. That makes four…hmmm, I better have one more. Annnnnnd…you."
He picked up a rope that was already tied to a pole at the back of the stage and started arranging the men until they were all on the other end, pulling the rope tight. Jachamo tried the rope with one foot, which promptly sagged under his weight. "By the stars, you're not there for show! That's my job. Pull!"
The men strained backwards, and this time the rope held when Jachamo stepped on it. He held his position perfectly still on the rope for a moment, and when they didn't drop him, he slowly started to juggle the three axes.
We were all laughing and shouting encouragements by this point, as much for Jachamo as for the men holding the line. I was impressed they could do it—holding a man's weight like that wouldn't be easy, even with five men.
Well past the time that we had finished eating, we sat there and watched Jachamo's show. Some of his humor was a little crude for my taste, but the man was entertaining. When it ended, I tossed a coin into his hat without a qualm.
"Where next?" I asked Chatta.
"To find Didi," she responded ruefully.
I froze, only then realizing that we hadn't been interrupted by Didi the entire show. I started envisioning just how much trouble the Meuritta could find in a crowd this size, and groaned.
"I know," Chatta acknowledged darkly. She was scanning the area around her anxiously. "I gave him a puzzle box to play with, but something must have distracted him."
In this crowd, anything could have. I wasn't sure on how to go about finding him, however.
As we dithered in indecision, there was an outraged scream from behind us. Chatta and I shared a glance, and as one, spun about and raced in that direction. There was no doubt in our minds that whatever the reasons for that scream, Didi was probably behind it.
A crowd was gathering around near a candy shop, and it was there that we found the little Meuritta. I pushed my way through the people, with Chatta right behind me, but when we finally made it through the door, we just froze and took in the sight.
Apparently this shop made taffy—stringed taffy. Right smack in the middle of the cooking area was Didi, wrapped from ears to tail in different colors of taffy, and mewling in distress. Every time that he pulled off one strand, it would simply transfer to his fingers. When he saw Chatta in the doorway, he gave a cry so pitiful that I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
"You've done it now," Chatta observed in dark humor. "You're well and stuck aren't you?"
"Di," Didi uttered mournfully.
"Uh-huh. Didn't I tell you not to wander off?"
The Meuritta sniffed, head meekly bowed, with eyes large and imploring for some help.
A large woman in a plain blue dress appeared. She took in our arrival, and with a thunderous expression, stalked toward us. "Is this creature yours?"
Survival instincts kicked in and I quickly pointed to Chatta.
Chatta nodded in a resigned fashion. "He's unfortunately mine. Tell me how much damage he’s responsible for and I'll reimburse you."
Mollified that she would be paid, the shop owner settled down and started to explain just how much inconvenience and trouble Didi had caused. Chatta soothed the woman, passed over several coins, and promised to keep Didi under close surveillance. Only then did she gingerly pick up the Meuritta and carry him out of the store.
I saw her reach for her wand but stopped her. "No, let him clean himself up. Maybe if he learns that his actions have consequences, he'll think twice before getting into trouble like that again."
Chatta paused, thoughtfully considering the Meuritta in her hands and then nodded slowly. "Yes, I think you have a point.” She turned a stern frown to the sticky creature in her arms. “Didi, you'll have to get yourself clean."
The Meur
itta's ears went flat in dejection. "Diiiii."
We had no sympathy for him. This was the same creature that tormented us when we were dead tired; he deserved to lie in the bed he made. Chatta concocted some sort of magical bubble that he could ride in, which prevented the sticky taffy from getting all over us too. She slung the bubble over her back, so that her hands could remain free.
I watched as Didi started to wash himself, tongue busy licking all of the sugary mess away. "You do realize that he'll be sick tonight after eating so much sugar," I muttered to Chatta.
"Probably, but that's just another consequence, isn't it?"
If she didn't care, I wasn't going to worry about it. I looked around to get my bearings and saw that Night was still behind me. Reassured that we still had everyone, I turned back to Chatta. "So what next?"
We ended up simply touring the city, just taking in whatever was around us. There were red flowers all over the place, no doubt in honor of the festival. Arts and crafts of every kind were to be seen, and everything was being sold, from delicate glassware to livestock. Several times something would catch my eye and I would think, "My mother would love that," or "Braeden would die to own something like that." I'd striven hard to not think about my family because all it would do was worry me. But now, seeing so many things like this, I found that I couldn't keep them out of my thoughts.
I tried not to let it show, focusing on other things instead. I bought a blanket for Night, which he loved and insisted on wearing despite the fact that it was scorching hot. For Chatta, I bought a bag of her favorite candy, simply for her being such a good friend.
It was late afternoon before I thought about stopping. We'd walked the length of the city (or at least it felt like it) and I was getting tired. I was about to suggest stopping, or at least resting somewhere, when I caught something out of the corner of my eye. Turning fully, I looked…and blinked in surprise.
There was a tent set up in the alleyway between two large shops. A table was set up front that was filled with clothing of all sorts. What caught my attention was the style which was distinctly Chahiran.
A Chahiran merchant? Here?
I quickly made my way to the tent, dodging people almost impatiently as I moved. I vaguely heard Chatta and Night scurrying to keep up with me, but my attention wasn't really on them.
Just as I reached the table, a man appeared from inside the tent. One look at him and I knew that he was Chahiran. He wasn't much taller than I, but broader, and with fair skin and coloring of my people. Recognition lit in his face as he saw me, and we both smiled. We were deep within Hain, but even here, there was at least one other Chahiran.
I bowed in greeting. "Vraula."
"Vraula," he returned, his smile broadening. "I had not thought to see one of my countrymen here, of all places."
"Neither had I," I admitted ruefully.
"Garth?"
I turned at Chatta's voice and saw that she was looking up at me with some concern. "Sorry, I just recognized the clothing. This is a Chahiran merchant."
Understanding dawned in her eyes. "Oh!"
"I am indeed," the merchant admitted in good humor. "I am Vorhaben."
"Rhebengarthen," I replied politely with a slight bow. "Thank you for the gift of your name. This is L-Chattamoinita." Chatta nodded cordially. "Tell me, Vorhaben, are you returning home soon?"
"I have one more festival, but that's near the Hain border. After that I'll go directly home."
I had this wild idea in my head, and I prayed that I could make it work. If it did, I might be able to send some sort of message to my family. "Do you go anywhere near Tobadorage?"
"I go right through it," Vorhaben responded, manner alert and interested. "Is that where you're from?"
I nodded. "I haven't been able to find a way of getting anything back to my family there. Could I ask you to deliver a letter and perhaps a few gifts?"
"Certainly. I won't charge you much, considering that it's on my way. But you'll have to get it to me by the end of the week. I leave then."
"I'm leaving the city tomorrow, so you'll have everything by tonight." I felt excitement course through me. My main concern was trying to contact my family through official couriers, if anyone had suspicions about me. A Hainian courier was sure to arouse further interest. A traveling Chahiran merchant, delivering what looked like trade goods, wouldn't warrant even a casual glance. "It'll take a few hours to get everything together, but I'll return soon."
Vorhaben nodded as if he had expected this. "Come before the last evening bell because I'll be closed about then."
"Understood. De Evana." I gave him another short bow, before leading Chatta and Night away. As I walked, I was frantically trying to remember all of the things that I had seen earlier, that I thought my family would like. More importantly, which stores the items had been in, and where they were located.
"Garth, slow down!"
Whoops! I had been nearly running without realizing it. I slowed abruptly and allowed Chatta to catch up.
As soon as she was near me, she latched onto my arm, breathing a little heavily. "What has gotten into you? I've never heard you refer to a family before this, and now you're acting like this is the only chance you'll have of contacting them!"
"It is," I responded softly.
That shocked her, and she froze for a moment. "Why?"
"Why do you think I'm in this country, Chatta?" I asked wearily. "Magic of any sort is outlawed in Chahir. If you are magical, and you’re discovered and convicted, it means death. That is not just for you, but for your entire family, as they are considered contaminated."
Her mouth dropped and an expression of horror crossed her face. "Great good gods, are you serious?"
"Yes. I do not dare contact my family through Hainian couriers—it would bring on too many questions. I left abruptly from my country, and I'm sure that brought suspicion on my family as it is. But with Vorhaben," I gestured to the merchant's tent, "they won't think anything of a Chahiran merchant delivering packages to my family."
She slowly nodded, eyes taking in my face as if she had never seen it before. "I see. I'm assuming that you want to send back more than just a letter saying you're alive and well? I thought so. All right, you're going to need help if you want to buy everything, write a letter, then deliver it to that merchant before night falls."
I wanted to kiss her for being so understanding. "The first thing is in that shop with all of those scarves that you liked so much."
She grinned, took my hand, and started towing me quickly back through the shops.
I have no idea how many shops we went into—I lost track at some point. But when we finally stopped, my purse was considerably lighter. I bought several pieces of parchment and quill and ink before we settled into an out-of-the way corner. Chatta was busy wrapping everything up for travel while I quickly wrote a letter to my family.
I had to be careful in how I phrased things, and what I said. I told them that I had arrived safely and that I was furthering my education as planned. That was a safe enough way of putting it, I thought. I told them about Chatta and how I had made other friends here. For my mother's sake, I mentioned the little things too—how the food was so very different, and the clothes more binding than I was used to.
I explained some about the presents, so that they would know what belonged to whom. There was so much more that I wanted to say, wanted to tell them, but I didn't dare. I might have said too much as it was.
Finally I made myself stop, just signing the bottom before rolling it all up and tying it with thick cording.
Chatta finished about the same time I did. Without a word we gathered everything up, and retraced our steps to Vorhaben's tent. He greeted us with a warm smile, and helped me pack everything into one crate. I gave him directions on how to find my family, and haggled a bit over the price of delivery, but in the end gave him more money than I had planned on. It was worth the price, for my peace of mind, and my family’s too. I needed to
tell them that I was alive and well, and I loved them.
I looked at that crate that held all of the gifts, and felt a longing to stash myself in there as well. Not once had I really felt homesick, but now I felt a wave of it wash over me. I missed Braeden's laughter, and Xajen's way of sneaking up on me, wrestling me to the floor. Kaydan always had an array of seemingly endless questions, ones that she would pepper me with at lightning speed. I missed those days of working beside my father at the forge. I missed my mother's voice as she sang, and mended, and washed, and cooked. I just missed everything from home.
Shaking myself back into reality, I thanked the merchant one last time before making myself turn around and walk back to the inn. I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly jumped when Chatta linked her arm through mine.
There was sad understanding in her eyes when I looked down at her. She must have realized that I was feeling a little homesick. Even Night sensed something because he kept rubbing his head on my shoulder. I patted his neck, reassuring him, maybe reassuring myself as well.
"Tell me about them," Chatta requested quietly.
"My father's a blacksmith." I was startled at how husky my voice was and cleared it before continuing. "A good one. He works with gold and silver too, although not often. Mostly he does work for the city; he helps build most of the government's construction projects. He's also a prankster at heart, which both of my brothers’ unfortunately inherited. My mother is a small wisp of a woman, but there's not anyone in this world fool enough to cross her. Out of all of us, I'm the one that looks most like her." I had to take another deep breath and fight against the emotion trying to clog my throat before I could talk again. "I have two brothers, both older than I am, and larger. I've been trying to catch up to them all of my life, but I haven't managed it yet. I only have one sister, younger than I. You've never met a more curious person; she's constantly asking questions. She's probably the smartest child out of the bunch of us, too."
Jaunten (Advent Mage Cycle) Page 15