The Magic Trick (The Card Game #2)

Ch 7 - Under the Tent Flaps

CHAPTER VII

UNDER THE TENT FLAPS

The tent flaps of the Bizarre Bazaar opened at sunset. The field outside of Prospect Street was swarming with people, and it took Viktor and his serf friends awhile to find the Gypsies.

"It's about time," Romulus said, flashing a sooty smile, his arm draped over Evenova's shoulder.

Andrei, who was still glistening with sweat after a day of boxing, grunted. "These four held us up," he said, nodding to Arseni and the Yully triplets.

Viktor almost didn't recognize Cappi and Dukker, who for once wore shirts and silk headscarves. Roksana, too, looked remarkably elegant in a black dress with her dark hair in a bun. Even the fire-juggler had lost his singed clothing: Arseni looked more like a noble than a Ruska Roma in his black, old-fashioned suit.

Andrei grinned at Arseni's combed hair. "If I didn't know better I'd say they were trying to impress some Aryk-angels."

"Well, what should we do first?" Charlotta asked as heat rushed into her face.

"Romulus and I want to see the Magician's show. It's at the Town Square stage if anyone cares to join," said Evenova.

Andrei agreed, as did Rover and an incessantly twitching Belch.

"Alright," said Arseni, shooting the Yully triplets a knowing look. "And in the meantime why don't you three poke around the main tent. We'll meet up after and compare notes."

"Fine," said Roksana, looking as annoyed as Cappi and Dukker. "Viktor, what about you? Are you coming?"

Viktor hesitated. He needed to talk to Romulus about his new Betrayer idea, but he had no wish to see magic or return to the stage that haunted his dreams, especially if Arseni and Charlotta were going to be there together.

Belch rubbed his hands together and crept closer to Viktor. "Tis now the very witching time of night, when churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out contagion to this wor-"

"I'll go with the triplets," Viktor blurted out.

The groups nodded and broke apart, but before Viktor could get Romulus' attention, Cappi had stepped in front of his vision.

"Listen up and listen good," said Cappi. "I've heard about circuses like this. They're dangerous."

"Yeah, that's what I was trying to tell Rom-"

"Forget the others," Dukker said, jabbing a finger in Viktor's chest. "If you want to come with us, then you follow our lead. Else this place will swallow a serf like you whole, understand?"

Viktor glared back at the twins. What do they know that I don't?

Roksana intervened and slipped her hand around Viktor's. "Ignore my brothers. They're worse than Belch."

For a moment Viktor relaxed as they set forth, yet the sensation passed too quickly. Roksana was holding his hand too tightly. Her palm was too slick with sweat. And her dark eyes, they flew to and fro across the grassy field like ravens, always circling. Viktor knew that whatever fears the twins were harboring, she harbored too.

As the main tent loomed closer, Viktor craned his head up at the structure. Sewn from bright and dark patches of fabric and propped up by long wooden poles, its shell was like that of an ancient tortoise, one with whole carriages for legs. It was as if the great beast had crawled through time and space, leaving behind deserts and oases to travel far into the east, into a world where it did not belong.

"Step up, step up! The Bizarre Bazaar accepts all who all-accept, except those who all-except!"

So preoccupied with the tent's grandeur, Viktor hadn't realized he'd floated past a series of sideshow booths and carriages. Now he saw that it was the Ringmaster who had shouted out. The barrel of a man stood at the entrance flaps of the circus, collecting coins and calling the crowd forward.