Some Shiny Scribbles

## Elient 1

It has been many a ten-day since I have been in a mood to write. Things have been hard for the Emporium. City after city had turned us away or demanded that Osmo keep his circus freaks outside the lines of the city — and Osmo has always said that he would sooner disband the Emporium than agree to such terms.

I see Fanya poring over the ledger and I know we are not making enough to cover our costs. Lenar tells me not to worry, but how can I not? This dream of theirs and this home is all I have.

## Elient 13

Last night I dreamed about the Emporium five summers back. What a glorious, golden season. I could taste the chocolate nuts with the colored sugardust and smell the honeyed mead in the air. I could feel the cool specks of Ebuci’s ice swirling through the air and see Citlali’s lights dancing through the crowds. And all the balloons and banners and ribbons — never had the Emporium seemed more fantasimagical. And my favorite part, after the Big Top show, how we sat around the bonfire feasting, drinking, and telling stories. Osmo’s laugh was everywhere and I could feel Fanya’s heart at peace.

I woke up to the animals making all sorts of unhappy sounds. Tom told me last night that we were down to the last of the feed.

## Elient 17

By all the holy things, Fanya got us a gig, and what a magnificent one! It is in Baldur’s Gate herself. I know not what magick she was able to work but she arranged for us to perform for a whole ten-day. Everyone is in such excitement and I can see their hope. Sai’s blur even jumped with joy. And it is all one with mine.

Now that we have this gig, I can tell you a truth that I had feared to say aloud: our circumstances of late had grown more dire than I had ever seen it. We have even been dipping into our popcorn and concession stock for rations. Od has been pushing some of our carts to give the horses a break. Margot has been sewing her fingers into blisters to keep everyone looking like they should for the road shows we’ve been putting on. But hopefully now our luck has changed directions.

We leave immediately for the Trade Way toward the River Chionthar.

## Elient 21

It has been a hard and tiring trip as we rushed to make it to Baldur’s Gate, but we have finally made it to the city. Two days ago, Fanya took Stanwick and parted ways with us to go ahead to Elturel to set up our next gig. As she always said, when the Fates heat the iron, strike it while it is still full of heat.

The city is bigger than any we had performed in before and they are letting us set up in a big, empty space in the Upper City called The Wide. I don’t know that I have ever set foot in a neighborhood such as this. Our caravan drew a crowd. I saw Margot doing backflips and Mattieu smiling and waving, capturing the attention and hearts of several bystanders. I knew this was a good chance for us to start attracting the crowds, but I stayed hidden inside one of the carts with Lenar.

We spent the day setting up. Everyone knew what they had to do and the Big Top was up before you knew it. It has been a long day and I am so very tired. But sitting here under the city lights and stars sipping on Lenar’s genmacha tea, I cannot help but feel that everything will be okay now.