Firebird

Chapter 4- Just Watching

Chapter 4- Just Watching

   The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the majority of the ring. The crowd screamed as the smokeless flames rose higher and higher. They stopped only a few yards from the high wire.

   Barnabus was free of fear as he leapt across the thin wire, flames nipping at his toes. The first time across, he did no tricks but on the other side he was sure to impress.

  Gen leapt onto his shoulders, standing on them as easily as he would the floor. Beside him, he lifted two Chinese girls. He held one of their hands and they leaned to the side as far as Gen’s arms would allow.

   Carefully, Barnabus started across again. There was complete silence amongst the crowd. Their anxiety overwhelmed the tent.

   Halfway across, Gen suddenly let go of both girls. The silence was shattered by horrified gasps. They would fall to their death by flame…

Barnabus’ arms shot out and the girls grabbed on. The swung above the raging fire, their faces full of delight. The crowd went wild.

   I felt a smile spread across my face. I loved how every act could draw you in by the danger of it. I’d never seen a more daring set of performers than in Chalavar’s Circus. But I hadn’t been to any other major circus. Only small ones held by my town.

   Even after seeing them perform the previous nights, the show was still just as breath taking and entertaining. Of course, some of the routines were changed every night,

   I turned as Astley approached me. I found it odd that he didn’t suddenly appear beside me like he usually did. Maybe he always simply walked up behind me and I’d never noticed…

   He hadn’t mentioned what had happened between him and Chalavar a few nights ago. I didn’t tell him that I’d heard some of it despite how much I wanted to know what Chalavar meant by ‘Watch her.’

   Astley draped an arm over my shoulder. He wore a silk performance suit and fancy neck tie with his usual hat that covered his blue eyes with shadows. His fingertips poked out of his black gloves. His face was neatly shaven and hair combed and washed. He smelled of cinnamon and mint.

   “Enjoying the performance?” he asked already knowing the answer.

   I gently lifted the large curtain a bit to see out into the ring. The acrobats were riding unicycles across the tightrope while balancing others on their shoulders and balance poles. “Are you next?”

   “I am. Then only a few after me and we’ll be done in Warbrooke.” He yawned and rubbed his chin. “But don’t worry, we’ll do this again the next town over and the one after that. Then we’ll move on again in a never ending circle.”

   I couldn’t wait to perform with them. Astley pat my shoulder. “Soon, dearest. Savor the time you get to spend just watching. Not to dampen your spirit but, once you start performing you won’t get many opportunities to just watch.”

   “Isn’t performing even better than watching?” I asked.

   The crowd cheered once more, distracting Astley from my question. He peeked out of the curtain. The fire disappeared, as if the floor soaked it in. “It’s show time.” He said, fixing the slightly withered flower in his jacket pocket. “You’ll wait here for me?”

   I nodded. “Good luck.”

   He winked and literally disappeared in front of me. It was the first time he’d ever actually vanished completely outside a performance. I stood dumbfounded for a moment. Explosive enthusiasm outside snapped me out of my trance and I looked out. Black smoke slowly floated away from him. I assumed he had appeared out of nowhere in the black cloud.