The Questing Game

"I'm not that strong," Camara Tal admitted. "I doubt any priest on Se

"I don't have a god in my pocket, but I do know a couple of spells specifically designed to affect Demons," Phandebrass said. "Wizard magic can affect Demonkind, if they are specific spells aimed at them."

"Because Wizard magic comes from someplace other than this world," Dola

"I dabble in ancient magic," he told her. "I say, most modern mages wouldn't have those spells."

"Lucky for us you're such a busybody," Sarraya laughed.

He smiled at her warmly. "If we can find a suitable i

"What kind of i

"I say, a building that stands alone," he replied. "With a dirt or stone courtyard surrounding it. Someplace where I could draw the circle without its continuity being interrupted."

"An i

"I say, only if they are circular, Sarraya," he smiled. "It must be a circle I draw. The magic depends on that."

"I didn't see any of those," she said, shifting a bit on Tarrin's head as he looked up at Phandebrass.

"How hard would it be to find a suitable house?" Phandebrass asked.

"Not hard at all," Dar answered. "There are agencies in Dala Yar Arak that rent houses short-term to visiting merchants. My father uses them when he travels here. We just need to find one of them and tell him what we want, and he'll find it for us."

"Then perhaps you should come with us, my boy," Phandebrass said. "I say, my Arakite isn't all that great, and it's not something I think we need to mangle in the translation."

"It shouldn't take long. If we have the money up front, we could have a house by tonight," Dar told Dola

"Money's not a problem," Sarraya gri

"Is it going to disappear?" Camara Tal asked sharply.

"You read too many fables, Camara," Sarraya gri

"I think we could negotiate with the house broker with gold nuggets," Dola

"Alright then, it sounds like a plan," Camara Tal said. "Dar, Dola

The portly circus master, who had been completely silent, nodded gracefully. "It will be no problem, Camara, yes. This tent, consider it yours for now. My regret, it is only that you will not be performing, no."

"Renoit, I think you would be better off without us endangering your people," Dola

"Payment, it is not necessary, no," he replied with a gentle smile. "Your goal, it is a noble one. I am happy only to have been part of your mission. Things, if they go well, it will be enough for me to know I mattered."

"You've done more than matter, Renoit," Tarrin told him, looking him in the eyes. "You've been a great help to us. You put up with me, despite the fact that I directly threatened your people. You bent over backwards for us, even when it conflicted with your own plans. You even lost friends over us. We won't forget that. Ever. Sarraya is going to give you a large chest of gold, and you'll have our gratitude to go with it." He stared at the surprised circus master. "And if you ever need our help, just let us know. We'll find a way to help you."

Renoit gawked at him, then he laughed suddenly. "From you, that is a surprising speech, yes," he said with a rueful grin. "My people, they did not find you a burden, Tarrin. Your behavior, they understood it, yes. And they miss you, in their own way. Many of them, even Henri, they admitted that they felt safe with you on board. Any trouble, they knew you would deal with it. More, that was worth, than the need of stepping around you, yes."

Tarrin was surprised. Had they really felt that way? After all the trouble he caused the people in the circus, they still had the heart to feel he wasn't as bad as all that? In a strange way, it made him feel a great deal better. Even total strangers, people he didn't like, had the compassion to accept him. It made him feel ashamed for treating them the way he did.

"Arrangements, I must make them, yes," Renoit said, standing up. "Dola

"We appreciate that, Renoit," Dola

Renoit left without another word, leaving Tarrin quietly digesting his words. "We must go, Dola

"Yes, yes," Dola

"I'll keep them from wandering, Dola

"Good luck," Allia told Dar as he stood up. "Be careful."

"We'll be alright," he told her with a smile, and then he touched the Weave and placed an Illusion over himself, his appearance changing to that of a short, older man in a very elegant black silk robe. Dola

"Let us be off," Dola

The trio filed out with wishes of luck from those left behind. Tarrin didn't say goodbye to them, for his mind was mulling over what Renoit had said. He felt like a heel. He hadn't been very kind to the circus performers. He only knew one or two names. That seemed worse than being unfriendly to them. He didn't even bother finding out their names. He'd been on that ship for months, and he only knew four names. He could have at least been civil to them. But then again, at that point, he wasn't capable of it. He was too afraid, too feral. He was still too feral. He could tolerate speaking to strangers for short periods, but he got uncomfortable if he was forced into extended contact with them. And crowds of humans made him edgy. There was no real reason to berate himself for something beyond his control, but he couldn't deny that he felt disappointed in himself.

Jula put a paw on his knee. He glanced at her, looking into her eyes. "Can I go to sleep now?" she asked plaintively. "I'm exhausted."

"I don't think Renoit would mind if you borrowed his cot for the morning," he told her calmly.

"Good. I'm about to fall over," she said with a wide yawn.

"Feel like a game of stones, Allia?" The Amazon asked. "I'm going to beat you this time, even if I have to cheat."