"Keep hold of my scabbard and walk!" Blanco said sternly. Nerissa hefted the large basket she'd been holding in two hands under one arm so that she could grip the end of Blanco's leather sword scabbard in her other hand. She gripped tightly, scared that she might lose her grip and instantly loose Blanco in the shifting crowds. The crowds pressed in on all sides, making Nerissa feel like she'd been swallowed by a giant monster, like the Manticors that prowled her native land since the Carthakis had opened the gates to the Divine Worlds nearly a generation ago.
Since Blanco had taken Nerissa under his wing they had visited many places, including busy towns or cities. Corus was in many ways like the others: the streets ran with piss, there were thin and dirty children reaching for people's pockets, there were stray animals lying in the sun or else watching food mournfully, there was the smell of fresh bread now and again, the acrid smell of rotting things, and a tumultuous noise of the local people going about their everyday business. Corus however differed in one major respect. It was much much larger than anywhere Blanco had yet taken Nerissa.
The basket, laden with a small amount of food, blankets and many swords and knives (the tools of Blanco's trade), instantly began to make Nerissa's arm ache. Nerissa hoped desperately that the merchant who had agreed to let them stay was not much further. She concentrated on taking her steps. She saw each one as a small victory. She dared not stop or change the position of the basket in case Blanco got ahead of her. Her hand became clammy wrapped around the thin scabbard as it was.
As Nerissa's grip began to wobble on the basket Blanco turned into a side passage and stopped at a door. He gave the door a knock. Nerissa gratefully dropped the basket onto the floor, shaking out both her arms that had gone very stiff and painful.
"What have you done, stupid girl. You better not have got any muck on that basket." Blanco said quickly. Nerissa rushed to pick up the basket again just as the door was pulled open. A flour encrusted stout woman, opened the door.
"Come in. If you get any scummer on my floor I swear by the Goddess I'll feed you to a Spidren. Get in. Get in." The woman didn't smile as she slammed the door behind Blanco and Nerissa. "The Master says he wants you to go straight to his office on arrival. Edward, show the performers up to the Master's study." A boy of about 12, a year older than Nerissa, materialised out from the shadows of the kitchen, he didn't look that much more fed than Nerissa. Nerissa was surprised, life on the road with Blanco didn't present many opportunities for large meals but she'd thought living and working in the Kitchens would have rewards. The boy wasn't as flour dusted as the stout woman though so Nerissa wondered what his job was.
Edward looked inquisitively up at Blanco. Blanco gave him a stern look, the kind that Nerissa thought could peel paint. Edward fixed his stare on Nerissa instead. Nerissa looked at the floor and shifted on her feet uncomfortably. She quickly looked at Blanco and was pleased he hadn't noticed her discomfort. As an apprentice to him she had to prove that she was prepared to be the centre of attention. What use was a sword-dancer apprentice who didn't like to be watched? Nerissa suspected that Blanco had only taken her on because her father offered to give him a year's worth of wages to bind the agreement. Nerissa hadn't wanted to go with the thin, lean, imposing man, leaving the family and friends she had known since birth but she hadn't had any choice. Blanco was the only person the village had seen in years who had any need for an apprentice and her own family was too over burdened to miss the opportunity to relieve them of a mouth to feed, even if it came at such a high price. Nerissa presumed that after four years the cost of apprenticing her had been reimbursed by not having to feed, clothe and house her.
"Follow me." Edward said and led them out of the kitchen into a darkened hallway. The whole town house was dark and foreboding. Every corner was draped in expensive velvet curtains and shadows. Edward led them up a grand staircase, painted to look like pink granite, and across a hallway. Nerissa noticed that the floorboards were stained two different colours as if a rug had recently been removed. She saw no one else.
Edward knocked on the door and a voice from inside made an affirmative noise. Edward swung the large door open and it creaked with complaint. Blanco strode into the room purposefully and Nerissa scurried in after him. The pale boy, Edward, winked at Nerissa as she went passed. Nerissa looked at the floor until she heard the door creak closed behind her. Looking around she was partly comforted to see that Edward had not joined them in the Study. His attention to her had unsettled her.
The room was covered in large faded tapestries in an attempt to keep the room warm. Even though it was only just autumn this wasn't working. The room felt very chilly and Nerissa was unsurprised to see that the man who sat behind a large mahogany desk was bundled up in velvet, which looked suspiciously like the drapes that had been downstairs. The man stayed sat down but he smiled at Blanco in a friendly sort of way. To Nerissa it looked more like the self satisfied smirk worn by a stall holder when he knows he is getting a good deal.
"Excellent, you have arrived, I had started to worry you would be late. On such a day that would be most inopportune!"
"I am sorry Master Brotsmith. We experienced the unwelcome attention of bandits some days ago and have struggled to make up the lost time."
"Bandits? I thought the Kings new Bandit hunter was systematically decapitating every one." The Merchant smile widened as if letting them in on a joke. Nerissa didn't see anything remotely funny about the comment. Blanco plastered a fake smile on his face but his reply held no lightness
"Evidently he missed a pocket of them. They will trouble him no more." Nerissa remembered the Bandits looks of glee as they had surrounded the camp Blanco and her had set up, they no doubt had thought a thin man and a girl would be easy prey. Nerissa involuntarily shivered as she remembered one man licking his lips as he approached her. She tried not to think of what he had looked like after Blanco had finished with him. Blanco had later reprimanded her on not killing any of the Bandits herself. He had begun drilling her even more intensely in her knife throwing and tumbling act, as if that would make her more liking to take a life next time.
"Good. That is good." Although the Merchant's heart clearly wasn't in what he was saying. He was looking distractedly down at his desk "I am extremely pleased that you are now here. I shall be taking you to the Palace within the hour. I hope you are prepared to entertain tonight." Blanco bowed
"Entertaining is our profession. We are now in your service. Send us where you wish. We are as obedient as a pet dog." Nerissa saw Blanco smile while he bowed. This was his little joke. All pet dogs had teeth and none were as sharp as Blanco's when he was crossed.
Nerissa's heart fluttered like a butterfly and her stomach began doing flip flops. This was surely to be the most important performance of either of their lives.