"Dragon? We need to talk."
Dragon sighed. He heard her footsteps a while ago, so he was trying to get ready to tell her. He just does not know what to say. He did not want her to pity him. It made him feel, tiny. Jane appeared out from the shadows of the dark hall holding out her candle. Dragon looked away ashamedly.
"I know Jane. I will apologize to jingle boy later."
"You? Apologize?" Jane giggled a little. Dragon looked at her and made a face, sticking out his tongue. "I know Dragon. You always end up doing the right thing. But I feel I should be the one apologizing."
Dragon furrowed his brow of scales. "What did you do?"
"I did not try to see your side of the argument. That still did not give you an excuse to say those things to Jester, but maybe you have a good reason." Dragon turned his great body away from her. Jane sat down her candle and sat against his neck. "Are you willing to tell me?"
Dragon sighed. "Fine."
"When I was younger and smaller. I went on one of my many journeys to find dragons. While I was flying over a country north of here, I saw a festival down below. So I decided to stop and explore it." He took a deep breath. "It was so exciting. So bright and colorful. I lumbered through the center of a path to a huge tent. On the top there was a sign. I am not sure what it said. But I know what it looked like."
"Can you scratch it in the dirt for me Dragon?" Dragon nodded. Jane climbed on top of his wide neck and they flew down to the practice yard. He scratched the words into the dirt. He wrote, "Solo i dipendenti. Non entrare. "
Part of Jane's knight training was learning foreign languages. "I know this Dragon. It is Italian for "Employees only. Do not enter.""
"Oh. Well, anyway. I walked inside of the tent. There were thirteen people in strange clothing were sitting at a large table. Candles were all around illuminating the tent. One of them yelled at me excitedly leaping from his chair. He was an ugly man with large crooked teeth. He was very tall and skinny. I did not know what he was saying to me. But whatever it was he sounded angry, so I backed away. A woman with long ebony hair that was tied in a braid got up immediately from her seat and crouched down in front of me.
"Do you know what he is saying?" I shook my head no."
Another deep breath. Jane stared at Dragon's mouth intently, listening to each and every word.
"She shouted something to him. He stopped yelling and sat back down. The woman looked straight into my eyes. She had kind beautiful eyes.
"Do you need help?" I shook my head no. I was very afraid. I was young and small. I was still afraid of people. She must have noticed my fear because she told me
"Do not be afraid. We will not harm you. Do you know where you are?"
I shook my head again. "You are at a Gypsy carnival. This tent is for gypsies only."
I stared at her with a blank look. I had no idea what she was talking about.
"Do you know what a gypsy is? She asked. Instead of waiting for an answer, she sat down cross-legged on the ground.
"Gypsies are traveling entertainers. We go around from place to place playing songs for people and telling stories." She paused.
"You can talk, yes?" I nodded. She smiled sweetly.
"Why are you here?" I told them I was looking for other Dragons and asked her foolishly if she had seen any. She stopped smiling, stood up and asked if I could step outside. I did as I was told. She started talking to the others in the tent in that strange language."
Another huge breath.
"They stopped talking and she motioned for me to come inside. Instead of the nice woman talking to me, a short woman stood from her seat. She was fat and old. When I looked at her eyes, they looked cold and cruel. "Young dragon, we have a friend that you will probably want to meet. But in order to meet our friend, you must do us a favor." I asked them what type of favor. The fat lady still spoke, "Will you travel with us for one week and perform with us? You will gain information and we will gain money for your performances." I saw no harm in the matter so I agreed. They clapped their hands and cheered."
Jane yawned.
"The sweet lady came to my side. "Would you like to know our names?" I nodded excitedly.
"My name is Aurore." She pointed to the fat lady.
"That is my mother Paulette."
She pointed to a nice looking old man beside her. "That is my father Bernard."
She continued to point to people as she told me their name. "That is my younger brother Jaques, my older sister Marie, my older brother Gaston, my aunt Nicole, my cousin Amélie, my cousin Gustave, my cousin Christine, my other older brother Luc and finally," she pointed to the mean man who sneered at me evilly, "my uncle Isaac." One person was missing. I decided not to care."
Jane stared at Dragon in amazement. "I cannot believe after all of these years, you remember every detail." Dragon smiled proudly. "Go on."
"I did not feel as afraid any more. Aurore pulled up a chair and sat down beside me at the entrance of the tent. "What is your name?"
I told her I had none. She looked at me solemnly. "What would you like to be called then?" I told her Dragon would be fine. "Well then Dragon, come with me. It is time for bed. We have an early start in the morning.""
Another deep breath.
"She led me to a tent. She then set up blankets and told me that is where I would sleep. She turned and lay down. "Good night Dragon. Sweet dreams.""