Allan COLE - Wizard of the winds

"We had not even a copper to buy a slender mouse for my weekly dinner, Elgy said in his oddly lilted tones.

Elgy was the snake with a man's face. He was also the brains in the act. Rabix, he of the turban and breech cloth, was a mindless soul who sat or stood placidly wherever he was put. Elgy alone could communicate with him and cause him to act.

"He plays an excellent tune on the pipes, Elgy said. As witless as the poor fellow is, he is a much better musician than the last man I had."

Arlain, the dragon woman, was being hunted by a mob set on vengeance when Methydia rescued her.

"I wath hiding in a thed and thort of thet it on fire. And then it thpread and thet fire to the whole thity. Arlain wiped her eyes, overcome by the memory. It wath an acthident, she said. I thaid I wath thorry, but they wouldn't lithen."

Arlain had no idea where she came from. I thuppoth my father dropped me when he wath changing netht, she said. A farmer'th wife found me and raithed me ath a pet. But then I got older and tharted having acthidenth and her huthband chathed me off the farm. And that'th why I wath hiding in the thed."

Methydia was not so forthcoming as the others. Although she never refused to answer any of Safar's questions, her answers tended just to tease the edges of the central question. Details of her background came only in veiled hints or casually dropped remarks.

Much later, after she took Safar as a lover, he complained about her habit of never revealing anything personal.

Methydia was amused. I was born to be a woman of mystery, my sweet, she said. It is a role I have cherished all my life. And with each passing year the mystery deepens, does it not? For then there is more for me not to tell."

She shifted in his arms. Besides, she said, I fear you would be disappointed if you knew all there was to know. What if I was merely a milk maid who ran away with her first lover? Or a young town wife who fled a fat old husband?"

Safar thought for a moment, then said, I can't imagine you as either one. You were never ordinary, Methydia. That I know for certain."

"Are you, now, my sweet? she murmured. Then she nibbled her way up his neck. Are… you… really… really… entirely… certain…? She found his lips, shutting off any reply.

They made love and afterwards Safar thought she was an even greater mystery than before. A delicious mystery, he thought. Then he realized perhaps that was her point.

All he ever really knew about her was that she was a strong-willed woman, a kind-hearted leader others felt comfortable to follow.

She was also a witch.

Safar sensed it the first time he became fully conscious. The atmosphere had been charged with more than her seductive presence. Little whorls of energy swirled about her, making the hair rise on the backs of his hands. And deep in those almond eyes he could see flecks of magic that sparkled when the light struck just so.

He said nothing of his own powers, partly because he didn't know how she'd react. Would she be jealous, like Umurhan? But mainly it was because he was so shaken by his experience in Walaria he was loathe to visit his magical side until he'd had time to recover.

Evidently Gundara felt the same way. The little Favorite was silent for a long time. For awhile Safar worried that the desert ordeal might have been too much for Gundara and his twin. He would take the stone turtle out of his purse from time to time to check. The idol was cold to the touch, but he could still feel a faint shimmer of magic. He thought of summoning Gundara to see if he needed anything, but then he wondered if the spell commanding the Favorite's presence might do more harm than any good he could offer. He thought, Let him rest and heal himself. And so that is what he did.

Early one morning, a few weeks after his recovery, Safar was awakened by loud music and excited voices. He crept out of the little storage room that was his bachelor's cabin, rubbing his eyes and wondering what was up.

The Cloudship was abuzz with activity. The crew was hauling chests of equipment and props out of the lockers. The members of the troupe were all doing stretching exercises or practicing their specialties.

The music came from Rabix, who was sittinglegs crossedin the center of the deck, playing his pipes. It was a strange instrument, consisting of bound-together tubes of varying lengths. They were valved and Rabix played by blowing through the tubes while his fingers flowed gracefully over the valves. A marvelous stream of music issued from the instrument, sounding like an entire orchestra of drums and strings and trumpets and flutes. Elgy, anchored by a few coils wrapped loosely about his neck, rose nearly three feet above Rabix turbaned head, weaving in time to the music.

Kairo practiced his high wire act, strolling along a suspended cable, then pretending to fall. He'd steady himself, then let his head drop from his shoulders. He'd catch it, squeaking in fear, then put it on again.

Arlain, who was so excited she'd forgotten her clothes, bounded naked about the deck, shouting joyfully, Thowtime folkth! Thowtime folkth!"

There was a roar from Biner, Here now, Arlain! Put something on! This is a family show!"

Arlain skidded to a stop, tail lashing furiously. She looked down, saw what she'd done, then turned from pale white to the deepest red.

A claw went to her mouth. Oh, my goodneth grathiouth, she said.

Then she scuttled off, wailing, I'm thorry. I'm thorry."

As she rushed into the wardrobe room, her tail hooking out to slam the door behind her, Biner shouted, And watch out for the"

Fire and smoke blasted out of the wardrobe room's window, cutting Biner off in midbellow. Arlain wailed something incomprehensible and a few crew members came running with buckets of water and sand to douse the fire.

"If only she wouldn't get so excited, Biner said. Then he shrugged. Oh, well. She's a grand crowd pleaser. So what if she starts a few fires? He grinned at Safar. Temperament, my lad, he said. All the best talent's got it. If you can't take the temperament then you might as well get out of the circus business."

"That's good advice, I'm sure, Safar said. But would you mind slowing down for a minute, please, and tell me what in the hells is going on?"

"You mean nobody told you? Biner was aghast.

Safar said, no, he'd not been informed of anything, thank you very much.

"Why, the Deming Fair's only two hours away. First show at dusk, second at eight bells. We'll be there a week. Two performances every night, plus two and a matinee on Godsday."

He clapped Safar on the back, nearly bowling him over.

"So it's just like Arlain said, lad'It's Showtime, Folks!

The town of Deming was the center of a rich farming area, fed by a long snaking river. The fairgrounds sat just outside the town's main gates and it was already packed with people, strolling past tents blazing with color or crowding around exhibits and hucksters of every variety.

Methydia's Flying Circus made a dramatic entrance, swooping low over the town and fairgrounds, Rabix's music blaring through an amplifying trumpet. The troupe had changed into glittering costumes and lined the edges of the Cloudship, waving and shouting invitations to the crowd.

Arlain, wearing spangled breastplates and modesty patch, stood on a rail, breathing long spears of fire and waving her tail. Methydia had donned a red witch's robe, scooped low in front and slit on one side to the hip. She was provocatively posed beside Arlain, the wind whipping the gossamer robe aside to reveal her long shapely legs.

Biner, voice magically enhanced by one of Methydia's spells, bellowed: See the fire breathing dragon! Gasp at the feats of Kairo, the Headless Marvel. Test the strength of the mightiest man alive! See the Snake Charmer dare the deadly Serpent of Sunyan! Wonder at the Miracles of the Mysterious Methydia.