Reaver's Servants
Circus Lights
When sitting in the chilly autumn night, one must remember to be adequately dressed. The wind was frightfully cold for autumn, but the wind didn't seem to be on the mind of the woman sitting by the lake. It was too cold to swim but not cold enough to go ice skating. The fall leaves that surrendered to the wind danced helplessly toward the water, landing on the calm lake surface and causing the soft ripples to echo one another like a soft yell.
Rosie sat on one of the cold stone steps leading to the dock, contemplating the events of the evening. In her lap was a wooden box with her name etched on the lid. One of the few things Rosie was able to save that fateful night she and the others left the circus. Rosie opened it for the hundredth time that night and stared at its contents. The box itself was younger than the treasures it contained.
The box's treasure was in no particular order, which seemed odd for such an orderly woman like Rosie. Some sepia toned pictures and some old crinkled up flyers seemed to be in abundance amongst the other small knit-knacks and memorabilia.
"Come one, come all!
See Albion's Finest Acts under One Big Tent!
Come Get Your Fortune Told by Albion's Most Mysterious Seer!
Rosie the Fortune Teller Awaits to Tell Your Future! Good Fortune or Impending Doom? 10 Gold Coins Will Reveal All!"
This poster, amongst the others Rosie kept, were often plastered all over whatever town the circus was going to a week ahead of time. Rosie often got tired of seeing them and often thought ten gold pieces was an insult. Her craft was still fuzzy back then, but since that time, Rosie had perfected it.
Sifting through the old pictures, Rosie found what she was looking for. This sepia toned picture was of the entire group (her, Miss Sarah, Gordon, Willa, and Beryl) standing outside a big circus tent. Rosie was debating whether or not to have it framed and give it to Miss Sarah as a wedding gift. The singed corner of the picture made Rosie give the idea a second thought. Rosie sifted through the various objects and papers until she found what she was looking for.
A memory in one object that seemed so innocent yet damning at the same time, this old box of matches meant more than one could figure. Rosie shook the box softly and her memory began to blur in front of her own eyes. One match was missing…
Two Years Earlier
The wagons had stopped for the first time in days. Everyone was cranky and the horses were in desperate need of rest. The circus troupe had stopped in a village a few miles from Bowerstone and was now setting up for what the Ringleader was calling their biggest show yet.
Of course, they had all heard that line before.
From the wagon windows, the troupe sharing this wagon could see Bowerstone. They decided to bide their time with leaving their respective wagons today. They weren't in much of a hurry. The other circus members were already out of their respective wagons and helping the road crew set up. Everyone had a duty and slacking off meant the show couldn't start on time, which meant the Ringleader (who also owned the circus itself) was losing precious money.
"Hey, get your lazy behinds up!" shouted one of the Ringleader's lackeys. "We need to get this dump set up before the evening crowd! We're sold out for the entire week we're here!" The lackey knocked loudly on each wagon and waited for a moment. As if rehearsed, each of the wagon doors in question opened up.
The big red wagon housed Olaf the Strongman and his daughter, Willa. Promoted as the strongest man in Albion, with muscles big enough so no one would dispute it, Olaf had to be gentle when opening the door to his wagon. Olaf slowly opened the door and crouched down to leave. His daughter, Willa, trailed behind him. Willa, despite being a teenager, was a very small young woman with the top of her head reaching just past her father's shoulder. Olaf had been training Willa since she was young to take his place when he retired. By the intensity of the training as of late, Willa believe it would be soon.
The blue wagon housed Beryl the Contortionist. Billed as "The Lady Pretzel", Beryl could bend her body at any angle. Because of her lifestyle as a contortionist, Beryl was very thin. However, she had very poor eyesight and wore thick glasses because of it. Beryl looked like she had just woken up, as her hair was a mess and her clothes weren't on right. Beryl ran her fingers through her long brown hair and used a hair band to put it in its usual high messy bun.
The yellow wagon housed Gordon, the Trapeze Artist and Acrobat. While the other acrobats shared a wagon, Gordon had his own. He inherited the leader position when his former master died a few months before and the position included the wagon. Gordon was a tall man with light brown hair and peach fuzz on his chin. He wasn't sure how he always had stubble, considering he shaved almost every day. Gordon stretched his arms out wide and stepped down the steps from his wagon.
The green wagon housed Miss Sarah, the Magician's Assistant. Though usually the assistant would bunk with the Head Magician, Miss Sarah haggled for the small wagon that the Ringleader just wanted to get rid of. It was no secret that Miss Sarah came from money and she had plenty of it when she arrived a few years earlier. The rumor was that she killed her parents and ran off with her half of the inheritance. Miss Sarah was quick to dispel those rumors, saying simply that, "I decided not to wait for them to die for my freedom." Everyone called her "Miss" Sarah out of respect (since she was older than the others) and because of how motherly she was.
The purple wagon with the weird yellow designs on it housed Rosie, the Fortune Teller. Rosie was an odd woman, which was saying something considering she worked for the circus. No one is sure when or how Rosie came to work for the circus. She had just always been there. The Ringleader often said that she "came in with the wind one day" and had been there before all the others. Rosie was a tall woman with long black hair and a gaze that would set damp wood on fire. While her abilities were sub-par at best at the time, Rosie was slowly getting the hang of her abilities. Rosie didn't talk about her past much, if she even talked at all. Most of the others avoided Rosie, except Miss Sarah who became almost immediate friends with Rosie when she arrived.
Olaf stretched his long arms wide and smiled happily at the sunny morning. "Stop with noise, we are up!" he shouted. Olaf had a strange foreign accent that Willa didn't seem to inherit. The Ringleader's lackey walked away, not wanting to test the Strongman's ire today. Olaf had been acting strange lately, but Willa didn't seem to be paying it much mind. To Willa, her father was infallible. He was the only family she had now, seeing as her mother died when Willa was very young.
Miss Sarah had taken the mantle of acting as mother to the others, whether they (or she) realized it or not. Miss Sarah looked sleepy, though the late nights she and her magician had been putting in with practice might have been to blame for that. Miss Sarah was the assistant to a man calling himself "The Great Mandelo", though she knew his real name was actually Ernie. "The Great Ernie" didn't look as good on posters as Mandelo. Of course Miss Sarah agreed to that. She certainly didn't want to be sawed in half by "The Great Ernie" and people wouldn't pay to see some guy named Ernie pull a rabbit out of his hat.
"Another lovely day, isn't it?" Miss Sarah yawned, stepping down from her wagon.
Olaf seemed to be the only one who heard her. "Yes, lovely day, Miss Sarah. It is indeed lovely day to make gold for pompous idiot in fancy hat." Olaf snarled and looked towards the big tent with the big wagon parked outside. Miss Sarah made a nervous smile while Willa gave her father a big hug. Olaf seemed to have a lot on his mind and whatever it was made him very angry. His temper would normally chill down when Willa hugged him. Olaf placed his massive hand on Willa's shoulder and smiled happily. "Wilhelmina, go help others with set-up. I have to fix wagon."
Willa hated being called by her full name. The others joined Willa and started towards the fairgrounds. Olaf's wagon didn't really have to be fixed, but it's the excuse he used so his daughter wouldn't see the sad look on his face. He watched forlornly as his daughter walked off with the others.
The circus was alive and well with life of all kinds. The clowns were getting their best outfits, wigs, and make-ups ready for the opening night performance. The venders were getting their wears ready for the opening night rush. The animal tamers were waking their animals up and getting ready for rehearsals. The small group made their way to the big tent, which was almost already up. Outside the big tent was the biggest wagon, which belonged to the Ringleader.
The sounds of hammers and one of the Ringleader's lackeys shouting orders could be heard from outside the tent. Gordon looked over and noticed something. Recently, the small group had been running a small betting pool. "So, who had 'popcorn stall' in the 'things going missing' pool?" Gordon asked. Beryl raised her hand slowly. The same hand caught the gold piece Gordon flicked to her. As the others handed Beryl their gold, Gordon stood in the place where the small popcorn stall used to be.
"I'm going to miss that old thing." Beryl mused, putting her newly acquired gold in her pocket.
"I won't miss having to help fix that thing when it breaks down." Gordon snorted. "You'd think with all the new-fangled garbage they push out every year, they'd make it to where you didn't have to fix it every two minutes." Gordon put his hands in his pockets and made his way into the tent.
It was no secret to the circus patrons that the Ringleader had something of a gambling problem. They've had to cancel shows in the past because of it. When bandits came looking for the money owed, it was the troupe's job to fight them off. It was not an easy task, but the bandits eventually left. It seemed that every town they stopped in, the Ringleader sniffed out the gambling den and somehow got himself deeper and deeper into debts. The real bet would be seeing how far the circus could go before the Ringleader couldn't run anymore.
This time seemed worse than the last time. They hadn't been in this new town for more than a day and things were already going missing. The troupe was sure the Ringleader wasn't even finished paying off the debts he owed from the last town. The last town had claimed two tents, a spare wagon wheel, and four clowns. Sadly, the Ringleader wasn't against betting his own acts. What happened to those clowns was probably best left unsaid. The troupe wondered who would be next.
By the time the troupe walked into the tent, most of the dirty work was already done. The only things left to set up were the audience seating and do their rehearsals. Tonight was a big night for the troupe, as it was to be Willa's debut. The Ringleader knew that someone as tiny as Willa lifting up weights bigger than she was with ease would bring in the crowds, so he made posters and had the clowns set them out all over the town and even in Bowerstone.
Come one, come all!
See Albion's Finest Acts under One Tent!
See Olaf, the Strongest Man in Albion Perform feats of Strength and Vigor!
…And Introducing his Daughter, Willa! Can The Strength of Ten Men Really Come from Such a Small Package?
For Ten Gold Pieces You can Find Out!
Don't Miss Young Willa's Debut!
If that night's show was sold out, as the Ringleader's Lackey had pronounced earlier, then there might have been hope for the circus yet. The troupe separated and went off to their respective corners to begin their rehearsals. Willa looked around and waited for her father. She never began her rehearsal routine without him. Rosie didn't have much of an act, seeing as she was a fortune teller. But her mysterious air made the Ringleader see some kind of potential and decided to book something around her. Beryl made her way to the clowns (the ones left) that assisted in her routine. Gordon and the other acrobats took to the high wires and Miss Sarah found her way to Mandelo's corner.
The Ringleader, having finally left his wagon, watched the rehearsals with an uninterested gaze from the main opening to the big tent. He'd seen this acts many times before and they didn't amaze him anymore. Being both Ringleader and owner of the circus was tough, but he liked the money that rolled in during each show. He had already gambled off half of the ticket sales. He held a slip of paper in one hand, which was crumpled up in anger under his twitchy fingers.
"Those five think they are some kind of special." The Ringleader's Lackey mumbled as he walked up to his boss. "They didn't help with the set-up and they're late for rehearsals."
The Ringleader nodded and kept his hands in his pockets. The Ringleader kept his eyes on the action going on around the ring. He pointed to Willa, who was lifting a giant weight with no trouble. "Short Round over there better be as good as her father says she is. I invested a lot of money into those new posters and I want to get my money's worth." The Ringleader grumbled.
"Boss, how deep are we?" The Lackey asked after a long silence. The Ringleader didn't respond, and the Lackey had his answer. "Boss, you promised after the incident with the bandits that you'd quit!"
"I had a good hand!" The Ringleader semi-shouted, trying not to alert the performers. "I know they cheated me! I was winning big and then he came out of nowhere with that flush! If I can make the money back by tonight, they won't come after us."
The Lackey sighed and shook his head. "Is that where the popcorn stall went?" he asked. "Along with your spare wagon wheel, two tents, and those clowns? If word got out to those soldiers roaming around here that you sold those clowns into slavery, the Queen will have your head!"
"The Queen is too busy signing papers and looking over royal decrees to worry about a bunch of missing circus freaks!" the Ringleader growled. "You think rebuilding after that horrible darkness descended on the land is an instant thing? Luckily it killed some collectors that were after me. The gods help me if that wasn't the only good thing about that horrible time."
The Lackey sighed and shook his head. "Well, you don't have utter darkness to blame your lack of funds on anymore, Boss. Whoever you owe money to isn't going to keep accepting payments in whatever you think won't be missed around here. Eventually, they are going to come for blood."
The Ringleader looked out amongst the rehearsals going on, just moving out of the way for Olaf as he made his way into the tent. Olaf stopped for a moment and gazed at the Ringleader. The paper crumbled in the Ringleader's hand seemed to interest Olaf the most. "Betting on races again, Boss?" Olaf asked. "Horses don't run as fast as you when bandits come for money, yes?" Olaf laughed and cracked his knuckles a bit. "Tonight is Wilhelmina's debut. You stay to watch?"
"I wouldn't miss it, Olaf. She's been preparing for tonight for a long time. I'm betting she'll bring in the crowds something fierce!" The Ringleader laughed. "I swear she's getting prettier by the day, Olaf. Hard to believe she's your daughter." He laughed.
Olaf laughed loudly. "Wilhelmina gets strength and stubbornness from Papa. Luckily, that all she get. She gets good looks from Mama." Olaf smiled proudly toward the direction Willa was rehearsing in. "I hope that maybe Wilhelmina find good man, strong man that can take care of her when I am gone. I hope tonight she catches eye of good boy."
When Olaf left their sight, the Ringleader and his lackey stared at each other. "If she doesn't hit some kind of growth spurt soon, no man in their right mind will even look at her." The Lackey whispered, sticking a tooth pick in his mouth. "You know boss; if tonight's profits go where I'm betting they're going you'll have more than just angry debt collectors to deal with. How long do you think you can go skimping these geeks on their pay? They may work for a circus, but they aren't stupid. How long can you keep this up before you can't pay them at all?"
The Ringleader held the piece of paper up but didn't read it. "I hope it doesn't come to it…" he muttered, walking away.
The day passed by almost instantly and soon the crowds were descending upon the circus. Under the big lights and the moon filled sky, citizens of the nearby village and even from Bowerstone came to see the feats of fancy advertised on every available building. Tickets had sold out almost instantly and the big top hadn't opened yet, but the excitement could be felt. People walked around outside and gawked at the attractions featured while eagerly awaiting the big show.
Clowns juggled and dancers entertained while games were played and a line formed outside a small purple tent. Rosie hadn't opened for business yet and already her head hurt. Her abilities were blurry at best and trying to overexert them made her head hurt. She'd been practicing her craft in secret, but meditation could only do so much for the headache. Rosie prepared her table and hung her charms along the tent to invite good fortune to her tonight. Something told her she'd need it.
Rosie opened a small box and cocked her eyebrow. Her crystal ball was gone. Though it was pretty useless as far as actually having a purpose in fortune telling, its presence gave the customers solace. Rosie knew things were going missing around the circus, but didn't actually expect personal items to go missing. Despite being useless, the crystal ball was still pretty valuable and she didn't need to be a fortune teller to know what happened to it.
Taking a deep breath, Rosie fixed her outfit up and waited by the flap of her tent. Her hooded dress had been mended many times in the past and the patchwork was pretty obvious now. Rosie slowly walked to the tent flap and opened it, welcoming her first customer. When the customer sat down, Rosie took out a deck of old tarot cards and placed them on the table. These had been a gift from an old teacher, the one that had discovered that she had the gift of foresight and taught her to use it (for the most part, anyway). They never left Rosie's person.
"You come to seek your future?" Rosie always asked. Rosie felt bad for these poor fools. To her, the worst thing in the world was to know what happens next. Rosie didn't wait for the customer to answer. She shuffled the deck and laid it down. "Shuffle the deck." She murmured. The customer did just that and handed it back to Rosie. Rosie placed three cards down and then turned them over. The customer shivered in his spot and waited for a response. Rosie made a tsking noise with her tongue and shook her head as she looked at the customer. "I see you will enjoy our show tonight, but if you want to live long enough to tell others about it, I wouldn't take the scenic path back to Bowerstone if I were you."
The customer, visibly terrified, paid his ten gold and left in a hurry. Rosie shook her head and shuffled her cards as the next customer sat down.
Inside the tent, the performers were getting their acts ready. The crowds started getting into their seats and chatted amongst themselves as music played in the darkened big top. The crowd was looking forward to the show planned. The troupe pulled back the flap from the opposite side of the tent and watched the crowds pour in. Each wearing their performance outfits and ready to get opening night over with, the troupe kept close vigil over the crowd.
Miss Sarah, wearing fishnet stockings with her skimpy assistant's outfit, sighed and waited for the other acts to show up. "Is it just me, or are there less clowns than before?" she asked.
No one answered. Gordon, wearing bright red tights with his oversized yellow shirt, folded his arms and sat on a nearby crate. Beryl, in her purple leotard, shivered at the sudden wind that came from the nearby forest. Willa's outfit matched her father's, it being a leopard print fur dress mean to symbolize strength somehow. The crowd seemed to murmur louder by the minute. Soon, each seat was occupied and the lights started to go down.
The Ringleader, in his tuxedo and hat, put on his gloves and made his way toward the tent. The troupe stood up, waiting for the usual opening night pep talk the Ringleader gave them. Tonight, he said nothing as he walked inside the big tent. The Great Mandelo, Olaf, and the other acts soon came toward the troupe. Miss Sarah put on her own top hat as her magician made his way toward her. Olaf hugged Willa tightly, softly wishing her luck. The acrobat team ran to Gordon, looking at their new leader with unsure charisma. The dance troupe clowns made their way to Beryl, their faces painted opposite of what they were feeling.
Rosie, who had closed her tent for the show, slowly made her way to the others. They could hear her coming, as the little metal charms sewn unto the bottom of her dress chimed as she walked. "Good luck out there, you guys." She murmured with a soft smile. The troupe nodded and ran inside the now darkened tent. Rosie sat on a crate, out of the way, to make room for the animal tamers and their charges.
The drum roll quieted the audience down and the spotlight was now on the Ringleader. "Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages! Welcome to the greatest show in Albion!" The Ringleader was met by thunderous applause. "The Grand Albion Circus welcomes you to see and discover the great talents the world over! Come one, come all, and experience flights and feats you've never seen and probably will not see again! I give you, the Great Albion Circus!"
Small fireworks went off near the rear of the tent as the acts of the evening piled in. Gordon led his acrobats in first, doing cartwheels with the clowns that led Beryl in. Olaf grabbed Willa and placed her on his shoulder as they waved to the adoring crowd. The Great Mandelo appeared in a puff of smoke in the middle of the three rings, as he was the first act after the opening introductions. The animals and the clowns circled the three rings as the other performers waved. The music was deafening and could be heard for miles. Despite each time they saw it, the troupe was always fascinated by opening night.
As the animals and the others left the tent to await their time to perform, the Ringleader took to the spotlight again. "They say he's not of our small world, and that he can traverse time itself. The laws of the land have no effect on our first performer. He comes from far, having studied under the greatest illusionists to bring you feats of wonderment and awe! The Great Mandelo as a treat for you, my lovely audience. But, there seems to be someone missing." The Ringleader basked in the soft laughter coming from the audience. "Mr. Mandelo, where is your lovely assistant?"
The Great Mandelo, with his fake confusion, only shrugged and looked around. A table stood next to him with only a hat on it. The hat wiggled a bit and soon started jumping around on the table. The Great Mandelo grabbed the hat and started shaking it. A leg with a fishnet stocking popped out. Then another, and soon a woman's torso came out as well. Mandelo shook harder and before he knew it, almost an entire woman came out. The hat seemed to be stuck. The two arms pulled the hat up a few times before it finally revealed Miss Sarah's big smiling face.
"Ahh! There she is! Ladies and gentleman, The Great Mandelo would like to introduce his lovely assistant, Sarah!" the Ringleader shouted, leaving the center rings as the crowd applauded.
The others watched outside. Miss Sarah was more competent than her magician. While the Great Mandelo fumbled with his act, Miss Sarah picked up the slack. They often wondered why she didn't just replace her magician if she was better at it then he was. The others watched the band get ready for the performance of the acrobats. They tuned their instruments and stayed in the dark, ready to play their music and perform their own type of magic.
The audience applauded as the Great Mandelo and Miss Sarah left the center rings, though no one was sure if they were just happy to see Mandelo quit embarrassing himself. "How can you forget the ring trick? It's the first thing you taught me when I became your assistant!" Miss Sarah asked, losing her patience. It was rare to see Miss Sarah mad; miffed maybe, but never mad. The Great Mandelo didn't answer, he just shamefully walked away.
"Why hasn't the Ringleader just fired him?" asked Beryl.
"Because seeing 'The Great Mandelo' on the poster brings in the crowds more than 'Sarah the Assistant'." said the Ringleader's Lackey, having made his presence known. The troupe didn't like this man, as he was always around when something bad was about to happen. He looked at Rosie, who glared at him with disgust. The Lackey looked away and put his hands in his pockets. "So, you guys know of any good poker games going on tonight? The boss thinks he's got a good streak going on." He laughed.
The troupe looked at the lackey with disapproving stares. "If he keeps betting all our earnings, he'll soon run out of stuff to bet!" Gordon shouted, obviously angry.
"Oh, don't you worry, Gordo; the boss has plenty of property to bet." The Lackey walked away, hands in his pockets. Everyone looked around in confusion. Their boss was up to no good, and things were starting to catch up. Now it was only a matter of time before the others knew how bad it actually was.
Willa wiggled around on the crate she was sitting on. Olaf stood nearby, as if guarding her. Olaf sighed and looked back at his daughter. "Don't fidget, Wilhelmina. It is almost time for your debut. If it go off without hitch and you soon become your own act."
Willa smiled. "Sorry Daddy; what he said made me nervous. Things have been pretty weird lately and not the normal type of circus weird." The others agreed with Willa, though not out loud. They knew such talk could get them in trouble and the last thing they all needed was trouble from their Ringleader. Olaf looked at the others, feeling exactly the way they looked. These people were more than just his circus mates; they were also his and Willa's closest friends. He felt if anything happened to him, they'd be around to take care of Willa.
Olaf sighed again, his own angst at the situation pretty prominent. "Don't worry, Wilhelmina. When you and your friends feel as if you are in danger, come get Papa. Papa will take care of it." Olaf laughed, trying not to make it sound forced. This reassured the others and Willa, who hopped down from her seat to finish getting ready. Olaf wished he could believe his own words.
The rest of the show went off without incident. Beryl's snake-like maneuvering kept the crowd on their toes as Gordon and his acrobats swung high above to the haunting melodies of the band. Willa's debut was met with widespread applause; no one wanted to believe such strength came from such a small woman. Rosie's fortune telling seemed oddly even more cryptic than usual, but it didn't stop people from lining up outside her tent just to hear of their fortunes.
Rosie counted her take as the last costumer left her tent for the night. Half of the gold would go to her and the other half would go to the Ringleader. That was the agreement made years ago when Rosie first joined the circus and it was paying off well. Rosie put her share in a bag and placed it in her special box. The simple wooden box had her name carved on the top and it was spacious enough to hold her personal treasures and knick-knacks. Mr. Finn, a man Rosie gave more time and attention to than he deserved, made it for her before his squad was station in Mourningwood two years before.
It wasn't that Rosie didn't appreciate Mr. Finn's gift. She adored it, actually. But Mr. Finn never seemed to stay in one place long enough for Rosie to know him. He was a soldier, it was to be expected. But she knew she'd never be cut out for the life of a military wife and shot down his last offer to leave with him. It wasn't even a marriage proposal, just an invitation to stay in Bowerstone while he went off and died wherever he saw fit. Rosie didn't like being thought of as a notch on someone's belt.
Closing the box, Rosie shook her head and sighed. Rosie made sure no one was looking and wrapped the box in a silk blanket. Rosie left her tent and closed it for the night, wanting to get back to her wagon as soon as possible. Using her still gathering abilities made her tired and sleep was looking pretty good. She decided to drop off the Ringleader's take in the morning and started for the patch of dirt where the wagons were parked.
Rosie stopped just as the wind picked up. It didn't feel like regular wind that precedes a light storm. It felt like a guiding motion, as if telling her to go a certain direction. The wind was insistent and blew harder whenever she tried to resist and go down the path to her wagon. Rosie felt if she fought any harder, the wind would blow her clothes off.
"Fine, fine…" Rosie muttered to the wind. She wandered toward the side of the big top, where the Ringleader's wagon sat. The wind stopped blowing as Rosie stepped closer. She heard the sounds of a small gathering inside and knew this wasn't good. Before she could take another step, a big hand grabbed her shoulder. Rosie spun around and saw Olaf, out of his costume and in his ill-fitting regular clothes. Olaf looked as if he had been standing there all night.
"Rosie, why are you still up?" He asked quietly. "If Boss finds you snooping around, he'll be mad. You get back to wagon." Olaf commanded. Rosie was probably one of the only people not intimidated by Olaf's strength. For that, Olaf had a lot of respect for Rosie.
"I was dropping off his share of my business." Rosie murmured. "And besides, you're out here, too."
Olaf nodded somberly. "I have reason to be out here. Boss called to me after Wilhelmina's act and told me to stand guard outside of his wagon. I have feeling he will need more than just my strength to keep him out of trouble tonight. I heard things, Rosie…" Olaf looked away from Rosie and folded his massive arms. "…Boss tells of hard times ahead, but for whom he did not say. Rosie, make promise to me, ja?"
Rosie looked at him and nodded. "Anything, Olaf."
Olaf nodded. "Please, if anything were to happen to me, please take care of my Wilhelmina. She is strong girl but strength only in body. Her heart still young and I fear she would not be able to handle being alone just yet. She is like her mother: she puts up strong front but deep down; she knows it is only a matter of time. I hoped to find her a husband to take care of her, but time is not on my side. If I were to disappear tomorrow or the next day, promise me you and the others will care for her. Until her Papa finds her again…"
Rosie didn't have a chance to respond. Olaf heard his name being called and left Rosie standing there, somewhat taken back by Olaf's cryptic statement. Rosie watched Olaf walk toward the wagon door, as if he was presiding over his own funeral. He didn't look back at her. Olaf opened the door to the wagon and shut it slowly.
The lights around the circus shimmered softly as they blew in the wind. Little paper lanterns used to light the way for anyone looking for the circus danced in the wind, like little ballerinas in the night. In the distance, as Rosie left the area, she could hear cheering, laughing, and eventually the angered grunt of a familiar voice. Rosie told herself she had to get some sleep, as she and the others were scheduled to make an appearance in the nearby village to promote the circus the next morning.
On her way back, Rosie found Miss Sarah sitting on a crate near her wagon. She was staring at the sky, which was something Miss Sarah seemed to make a habit of. Miss Sarah looked behind and saw Rosie making her way toward her. "Sit with me, Rosie?" she asked softly.
Rosie shook her head. "Not tonight, Miss Sarah. I think I need some rest for tomorrow."
Miss Sarah smiled. "You've been getting headaches again, haven't you?" she asked, turning back to the sky. "I told you not to overexert yourself. I tell that to everyone, though no one wants to listen. I guess we all know what our own bodies are capable of. Maybe I'm too motherly. Probably to make up for the lack of it I got as a child." Miss Sarah sighed sadly and straightened herself on the crate. "When I was a girl, I always envisioned getting married and having a family of my own to dote on. My parents barely noticed me or my brother unless it was socially acceptable. I'm not sure what that means, but it's what I once heard our nanny say to a servant. I want to be a good wife to whomever I marry and I want to be a good mother to any children I have."
Rosie walked over to Miss Sarah and sat on the barrel next to her crate. Rosie looked at Miss Sarah and then at the sky. "I am getting better, Miss Sarah. Please let me tell you your future." Rosie pleaded, as if this was something she had personally wanted to do. "It's still blurry, but I know-"
Shaking her head, Miss Sarah hummed her refusal. "No thank you, Rosie. I appreciate you wanting to tell me my future, but I like to keep it a surprise. I'm glad your 'craft' is getting better, but to me the future is mine for the making. If I knew what was going to happen tomorrow, there would be no point in getting up. I want to embrace my future when it gets here. I want to be surprised and I want to be genuinely happy."
Rosie nodded and turned her attention to the paper lanterns strung across the wagons. Like dancers on a string, the lanterns fluttered about to their own tune. Miss Sarah hopped off her crate and nodded her good night to Rosie. Rosie nodded back, but didn't watch Miss Sarah leave for her wagon. Rosie wondered if Miss Sarah thought about the paper lanterns. Rosie wasn't quite sure why she was thinking about them.
The next morning, it was hard to tell that anyone had gotten any sleep. Despite the sunshine and the warmth, clouds loomed over the circus grounds, a sign that a storm was coming. The fairgrounds were abuzz with citizens walking around, eating the disgusting overpriced fair food and wasting money on the obviously rigged games. Rosie's tent would be closed today, but she was going with Gordon, Willa, Beryl, and Miss Sarah to the nearby village. Willa was the only one not ready when the others walked up to her wagon.
"Come on, Willa. We need to head out to the village." Miss Sarah yawned, holding up a picnic basket. Her magician got the pleasure of sleeping in while she was going to be out promoting him of all people. She didn't like the notion of being second fiddle to a hack, but Miss Sarah knew the audience saw who had the real talent. She got a small pleasure from that; and from the fact that she used her Magician's imported cheese to make sandwiches for a picnic lunch she made for herself and the others.
Beryl would also be without her dancers today, but she preferred to work alone. The dancers were really only in her act to keep time with the band and to make her look good, but sometimes they bumped into her little stage and knocked her off balance. "We have a long walk ahead of us, we need to get going." She murmured.
Rosie, with her hands in front and her hood on, looked around as if knowing what was taking Willa so long. Gordon was the first to talk up to Willa's wagon. "We didn't wake up extra early just so you can sleep in. We have to get going." Gordon shouted.
It was then Willa yanked her wagon door open and looked out feverishly. "Daddy is missing!" she shouted, running down the steps of her wagon.
Gordon looked around and then back at Willa. "Are you sure he didn't go for a drink with the others and fall asleep in the woods again?" he asked.
Willa looked somewhat insulted. "That happened once and he's branded for life." She muttered, looking under her wagon. "No, Daddy said he was called to the Ringleader's wagon to play bodyguard again. I knew those characters the boss met with after the show were a shifty bunch and I bet they hurt my dad somehow."
"I doubt a bunch of drunks can hurt your dad, Willa." Beryl mentioned, stepping into the wagon. The wagon itself looked innocent enough. Willa, like everyone else, kept anything that couldn't be replaced in a secret spot somewhere in the wagon.
Willa's "treasures" were hidden in a suitcase in a secret compartment Olaf built himself near one of the wheels. Beryl's secret stash of irreplaceable treasures was stuffed in the mattress in the built-in bed of her wagon. Miss Sarah kept everything she couldn't replace in her steamer trunk under her bed, which was too big to lift alone. Gordon didn't have much, but his stash of emergency money was in a busted panel just above his own built-in bed. Rosie kept her box of things under her wagon's floorboards.
"Daddy never came home! He promised he wouldn't go drinking again and he always keeps his promise!" she shouted. The others looked at each other and then back at Willa.
"Last night he said he was going to the village to pick up some supplies whole we were performing today. Maybe he went ahead of us." Gordon assumed while looking at the others. He felt he was convincing himself that was the answer.
Willa eventually conceded and joined the others. She stayed near Beryl as the group started to leave the fairgrounds. Despite the sunny weather and the happy faces of all the practicing acts, the air was tense and stifling like a funeral. The band could be heard from the big top practicing and the clowns were taking a break by the animal cages.
As the troupe walked toward the entrance, a shout caught their attention. "Hey, you guys!" shouted the kid at the photography booth. The photography booth was a new acquisition that brought in more money than one would deem proper. Of all the things the Ringleader was willing to part with to pay off debts, this was not one of them. It was a novelty item and patrons to the circus could have their picture taken for five gold pieces; the photograph later being mailed to them.
The troupe walked over. "How's kicks, Freddy?" asked Gordon, folding his arms.
"Could be better, but I finally got this damn thing working again!" The Photographer shouted happily. "I figured out a mixture that can have photographs ready in less than a day instead of an entire week! I have to keep the tent aired out constantly or it'll give me a head rush something fierce. But the mixture is useless unless this damn contraption is working properly. You guys mind helping me out?" he asked, kicking the machine in anger.
"What do you need us to do?" asked Gordon.
"Just stay still." The Photographer answered. The troupe stood perfectly still and waited for their signal. "Watch the birdy!" After a few seconds and a weird clicking noise, the group was met with a bright light and a loud mechanical sound. Temporarily blind, the group staggered about, holding onto each other. "Thanks! I'll send the picture by later after I develop it." The photographer pulled out the film roll carefully and stuck it in a nearby box. "Say, wasn't Olaf going with you guys?" he asked.
Willa looked like she was about to burst into tears. Miss Sarah shooed her along with the others while she walked up to The Photographer. "He wasn't in his wagon when we went to go fetch them this morning and Willa is a little worried that he got drunk and fell asleep in the woods again."
The Photographer just stared at Miss Sarah. "You mean he didn't go back last night?" The Photographer asked. "I saw him go to the Boss's wagon after he and Rosie were done talking last night and then I saw him leave with some shady looking fellows. I figured they got a little rough and the Boss had Olaf 'escort' them away, but the men weren't putting up a fight. Olaf seemed to be walking with them willingly. I figured he was going to show them to the entrance and get rid of them, but I was up for another hour fixing my machine and I didn't see Olaf for the rest of the night."
Miss Sarah cocked an eyebrow. "What kind of shady men?" she asked in a low whisper, clutching her picnic basket closer.
The Photographer looked around and made sure Willa was far away. He had a sudden look of realization on his face. He sighed and gave Miss Sarah a sad look. "Look, the wee one will have to know eventually, but for right now, just get her out of the fairgrounds until we know something for sure, alright? I know the types that the Boss had in his wagon last night. Those were no poker buddies, those were debt collectors." The Photographer watched Miss Sarah's confused look turn to shock. "I recognized one of them from a wanted poster a guard gave to me during our last show. He's a slaver, wanted by the crown for illegal slave trade. I think the Boss is in a bind and they won't accept popcorn machines and random knick-knacks from him anymore. He owes a lot of money to people you don't want to owe lunch to."
Miss Sarah tightened her grip on the basket handle. "I knew he was in bad, but bad enough to sell an entire human being?" she whispered, glancing over to make sure Willa wasn't listening. Willa was happily joking around with the others and her bad mood seemed to clear up.
"Where do you think those clowns went to? They didn't just 'quit', though I know they tried to. I was hoping the Boss wouldn't resort to it again, but I think I know why he wanted Willa's debut to be a hit. He needed to replace Olaf and fast." The Photographer looked over at the line forming near the sign of his booth. "Look, I have to get back to work. Don't tell Willa until something is definite." With that, the Photographer went to help the first customers.
Miss Sarah walked back to the others, not sure of what to say. The group left the fairgrounds and made their way down the path to the nearby village. Miss Sarah hoped that the distraction would get Willa in a better mood. Miss Sarah knew she couldn't hide this news from her, but she could delay it. "You know what I'm looking forward to?" Miss Sarah chimed in after a long silent walk. Rosie seemed to be the only one paying attention. "The fireworks on our last night, those are always fun."
For once, everyone seemed to be in agreement. The closing night fireworks always seemed to get the downed spirits up again. When the circus was done in a location, the Ringleader would always have the biggest, brightest fireworks fired into the air to signify a job well done to the acts and also the next leg on their journey through Albion. It was certainly a sight to behold and it never got old to some. Rosie had seen the closing night fireworks many times, though she always had a smile when it happened.
After the performance in the village, smiles seemed to return all around. Maybe it was the change of scenery or the happy villagers cheering just for them, but the troupe seemed happier now than they had been all morning. Willa in particular had a big smile on her face.
They stopped by a nearby lake to have lunch, which Miss Sarah spread out for them with careful haste. After lunch was eaten and Miss Sarah started packing everything in the basket, the others sat by the lake and looked around. "This is a nice place." Gordon yawned, fighting back the urge to take a nap. "I think if I ever leave that dump of a circus, I'll live out here. Where is 'here', anyway?"
Beryl picked up a rock and tossed it at the lake, making it skip. "Bower Lake, I think. You can see the stone dam from here." Beryl pointed to a small stone dam a few yards away. It wasn't an effective dam, but it kept a lot of water in Millfields. "Over there beyond the stone dam is Millfields, where all the nobles live. I hear that Reaver guy we keep seeing on those posters lives in one of those houses. Not sure which one, though." Beryl lifted her glasses and squinted, but it did nothing for her sight. They could only make out a few of the houses from where they sat.
Gordon grunted and lifted himself up from his laying position. "I think," he moaned as he got up. "…that I'd save up all my gold, eat only lettuce and beans for a year, and buy…" Gordon traced his index finger through the air and landed on a random house. It was the biggest house in Millfields, right on the lake with its own dock and a big gate. "…that house."
Willa laughed from her place on a big rock. "That big brick house with the ivy growing up the sides? I wonder who owns it. Would they be willing to sell it?"
"I bet a really happy noble family owns it." Beryl sighed, sitting against a tree.
"I've never seen a happy noble in my life." Rosie chimed in, leaning against the rock that Willa sat on.
"They do get happy, though not over things people would consider good." Miss Sarah said, making her way to the others with her picnic basket. "From my experience, all nobles get happy over is money and how much more they can have."
The others had a soft chuckle and looked out along the lake. "I hope whoever lives in that big house is grateful for the life they have and the limited time they have on this plain." Gordon sighed, sitting up all the way now. He stretched his arms out and stood up, wiping off his pants. He looked toward the edge of the lake, the setting sun reflected in the calm ripples of the lake. "We should probably be heading back now, girls. Can't keep the big tuna waiting."
After a few more laughs and soft playing around, the troupe made their way back up the path toward the fairgrounds. Willa was obviously in better spirits now. "Maybe Daddy will be back at the wagon. I bet that idiot boss of ours sent him on another errand. Maybe I can talk him into leaving the circus. I know he's saved up a nice big chunk of money, maybe we can build our own home by the lake!"
Everyone seemed to like that idea. The idea of leaving the circus, anyway. The idea had graced everyone's mind at least once or twice and the idea seemed to be permanently moored into their minds now. Willa giggled softly. "…and I'll hire Gordon as my butler!" she laughed. Everyone, except Gordon, laughed too.
"Hey! I'm no butler!" he shouted, somewhat offended. "If anything, I'll be a gardener." Gordon had always been good with plants. He had a small windowsill garden he was quite proud of that bloomed and gave his otherwise poorly painted and depressing wagon a nice splash of color. In between busy seasons, Gordon would cultivate plants and provide himself (and the others, to an extent) with fresh veggies. Gordon had always had a green thumb and when food went a little thin in the leaner years, everyone would benefit from it.
"And I'll hire Miss Sarah to be my cook!" Willa pointed to Miss Sarah, who only giggled with an appreciative smile. "Beryl, you and Rosie would be our maids!" Willa pointed to Beryl, who only laughed while Rosie maintained a bemused smile. "And every night after dinner, Daddy will sit in his big chair by the fireplace and smoke his pipe. Yes, that's what Daddy needs. He needs me to take care of him. He's getting old and I think the boss knows that. The other day, Daddy couldn't even lift the wagon by himself to fix the wheel! He needed my help!"
While the others just thought Willa was panicking over nothing, they still tried to smile. The group continued to joke around as they walked up the upcoming hill. Rosie stopped just short of the hill and looked around, as if someone had called her name. Something was wrong, but she didn't get a chance to warn her friends. Rosie heard Miss Sarah's loud gasp from the other side of the hill.
Down the hill, the circus wagons were in shambles. Gordon led the way as the troupe ran toward the fairgrounds. Each wagon was in a state of disarray, with doors hanging off hinges and windows broken just to name a few. The troupe ran toward the fairgrounds and found the other circus acts looking around in disbelief.
"What happened here?" Gordon shouted.
The Animal Trainer turned around sharply. "Oh thank goodness you guys are alright! We got worried!" she shouted. "The Boss sent all of us to different villages to hype up the circus, but when we came back, the entire fairground was in shambles!" Before Gordon could ask anything, the Animal Trainer went back to her crew to make sure the animals were alright.
Motioning for the others to stay close, Gordon slowly walked toward the area where he and the others kept their wagons. There was still panic going around and the shouts from the other performers could still be heard as they approached their wagons. Beryl gasped loudly, seeing her wagon's door lying by the stairs. The troupe disbanded and ran to their respective wagons, not sure of what they would find.
Miss Sarah ran into her wagon and found it almost completely empty. Everything that wasn't bolted down was gone. She opened every cabinet, every drawer, and ran her hand along every shelf. Pictures on the wall, her hobbe figurine collection, miscellaneous books, and even her clothes were gone. She was somewhat comforted to see her streamer trunk was still under her bed. Whoever ransacked her wagon must have assumed it was part of the bed.
Beryl's wagon was in complete disarray. Her clothes, her various collectables, her stored food, even her training equipment was gone. While she was relieved to see her secret stash of money was still in its hiding spot, she was dismayed to see all her costumes and equipment gone. Even her spare pair of glasses was missing, though the case was still there.
Rosie's wagon was completely empty, save for some old blankets and her hidden keepsake box. The only thing that wasn't taken that was out in the open was her tarot cards, though they were strewn all over the wagon in what looked like a scared frenzy.
Gordon's wagon looked about the same as the others: empty save for whatever whoever took his things didn't feel like carrying. His plants, his books, his clothes, even the puzzle he had been working on in his spare time was nowhere to be found and its respective box was missing too. Gordon leaned against his doorway and tried to shake his head, hoping this was all a bad dream. He ran from his empty wagon and met up with the others at Willa's wagon.
Willa didn't need to say anything. Her wagon was emptied out and her father was still missing. The others joined her and sat there, comforting each other. Miss Sarah was the first to look up and see their Ringleader standing near the entrance to the big top. Her worried expression turned into a frown at his obviously faked look of horrific surprise.
"Oh, you guys were hit too?" he asked, though not as sincere as he tried to be. "Bandits raided our fairgrounds. Took anything that wasn't bolted down and just made a run for it."
Gordon looked up toward the Ringleader's wagon. "Funny how they rob us blind but leave your wagon alone, don't you think? I'm sure you have much more valuable stuff in there then we had in ours. In fact, the safe is in your wagon. I'd bet my last gold piece that it's still in there, full of money. If the 'bandits' hadn't run off with my last gold piece, that is."
The Ringleader loosened his tie a bit and cleared his throat. "Well, you know bandits are a lazy lot. If they came from the woods, they would have seen your wagons first. And gone for whatever they could haul off with them."
"Doesn't explain how the other side of the big top was hit too. If the supposed bandits came from the woods." Rosie interjected. "I don't think we were hit by bandits. I think our stuff was sold off without our knowledge and the reason you had all the acts promoting in the nearby villages was so the debt collectors could take anything of value without any hassle. I think you've been orchestrating all the thefts of the missing items and the selling of all the extra stuff around here so you could pay off a sizable debt."
The Ringleader didn't look at the others. He didn't try to deny it, either. His eyes looked like they were trying to come up with an excuse. "We know you're the reason Olaf is missing!" Miss Sarah blurted out, not realizing that Willa was still next to her.
"Daddy's missing and he knows?!" Willa shouted, pointing to the Ringleader.
"Olaf is fine! He's just…working for someone else until things blow over." The Ringleader stammered.
"From what I heard, he didn't have much of a choice!" Miss Sarah shouted again. "You sold him off, you wretch!"
"You watch your tongue, Missy!" The Ringleader shouted. "You need to know your place around here!"
"I know my place around here! It's making that two-bit magician look good while he gets all the credit! For all I know, you probably sold that hack off too! Well, I won't give you the chance to sell me like a piece of livestock! I quit!" Miss Sarah shouted. The others agreed with her and yelled their disapproval too.
"Need I remind you peons that you're still under contract?" The Ringleader shouted over his employee's yells. "You quit here and you don't get one rusty pence from me!"
"You probably don't have it to give!" shouted Beryl.
The Ringleader had finally reached his point. "You idiots don't know what we're up against. It's not just me they are after, it's all of you. You are part of this circus, so if they can't collect from me, they will collect from you. If need be, they will collect you." The Ringleader had a feeling they knew what he was talking about.
As the Ringleader walked away, the troupe looked amongst themselves. This was a man who would literally sell a human being to pay off a debt. Gordon looked at the girls, know that any one of them could be next and he wouldn't be surprised if, after Miss Sarah's outburst, they were. He wouldn't blame Miss Sarah for that. The Ringleader was to blame.
"Daddy…" Willa whimpered, with Miss Sarah holding her close.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Willa. I didn't know if it was true or not. I guess it is. He didn't even try to deny it." Miss Sarah rubbed Willa's head and sighed softly. She looked at Gordon, as if he could read her mind. Gordon put his hands in his pockets and sighed softly at the chaos of the fairgrounds. Everyone was still running around trying to figure out what happened.
Rosie looked at the others, after a long eerie silence. "We're next." She muttered, as her eyes refocused. The others looked at her. "We're next, and he won't stop there."
Gordon sighed. "That's it, then." He whispered, though everyone could hear him. "There really isn't anything left tying us to this place."
Miss Sarah nodded and made her way toward her wagon. "You guys, in my wagon now. We don't have a lot of time. Willa, I'm going to need your help with something, if you don't mind, that is." Miss Sarah didn't wait for an answer, but Willa followed anyway. The others, knowing what was to come, followed Miss Sarah as well. They knew what she was going to say, and they knew of the actions that needed to be taken to ensure that this didn't happen ever again. Miss Sarah closed her wagon door tightly after everyone came in.
The night was slow to come, but it probably only seemed that way. The entire circus was in a panic and didn't notice Willa effortlessly dragging a steamer trunk up the hill and into the woods. She made sure to cover her tracks and ran to Miss Sarah for more guidance. Willa ran out to finish her final errand, as did the others. When the night finally came, Miss Sarah stood on the hill overlooking the fairgrounds.
Sighing with a heavy heart, Miss Sarah knew what was to happen. Her hands were on this as much as the others, if not more. But she had a duty, she believed, to protect the people she had begun to know as her family and if it meant drastic measures…
"…then so be it…" Miss Sarah murmured, finishing her own statement in her mind.
They packed only what they needed into a big steamer trunk. After their wagons had been ransacked, the group didn't have much left. Clothes, jewelry, even meaningless knick-knacks were taken and now being sold who-knows-where. Rosie's prediction had been right and her advice was well heeded. Anything that the troupe didn't want gone was hidden in the big steamer trunk in the woods.
Miss Sarah wasn't proud of her part in all this, but knew it had to be done. Olaf wasn't there to protect them, anymore. Miss Sarah brought her shawl closer and sighed as the wind died down. The drugged wine would be taking effect and soon the others would be done with their tasks. She hoped that the other circus members believed the news her friends were delivering. She realized she had been in a weird state of denial when it came to how badly in debt the circus was. Part of her was thinking it'd just be shut down, but she didn't think the Ringleader would go to such horrible measures to keep it open.
Selling Olaf like an animal was the final straw for Miss Sarah and Willa. While Rosie told Willa that she'd see her father again, Willa took little comfort in her words. Miss Sarah had always tried to see the sunnier side of things, but there was no sunny side to this. Gordon had a good point, about there being nothing left to tie them to this place. Miss Sarah stood still as the others walked up the hill. She started fashioning her shawl into a hood. "Is it done?" she asked, though she knew the answer.
Willa, still in tears about the news of her father, nodded. She was holding a small suitcase. "I warned anyone who would listen to me. I went back to my wagon to make sure my stuff hadn't been taken. They took all my clothes and the rest of Daddy's stuff, but they didn't find my treasures." Willa sadly opened the small suitcase and smiled at its contents. "My pictures from the photo booth and some of my mother's old things. Her favorite dress and her old costume jewelry, it's worthless but it means so much to me."
Beryl had only a small purse with her. "I had some money hidden away for emergencies. I guess this is as good a time as any to get it out. They didn't find parents' wedding bands, since I keep them in the same purse as my hidden money. They sold my clothes and my training equipment, though."
Gordon had a sack over his shoulder and a small barrel under his arm. "All that was left in my wagon was my old sheets and some of my spare costumes. I took a look in the other wagons after the drugged wine kicked in. Every wagon is empty; whatever wasn't nailed down was sold off. I stashed anything of value in this sack and hid it under my wagon before they ransacked it. Bandits in the area, my ass. I wish they could have come up with a better lie."
Rosie held up a wooden box with her name etched into the top. "Mr. Finn made this for me before he left for Mourningwood. I keep everything in here that can't be replaced. They won't be paying off any poker debts with my history. I made sure of that."
The steamer trunk belonged to Miss Sarah, so her things were already inside. Mostly cookbooks and needed supplies for their journey. Everyone put their respective items in the steamer trunk, including some pieces of old circus tents that Miss Sarah decided to use to make new clothes for the group. Gordon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Are you sure this is the only way?" Gordon asked, looking at the girls.
Rosie nodded. Though she knew it was only a delay. She didn't tell the others that. They others watched Gordon uncork the barrel and pour a black dust onto the ground. He made a trail going to what the others knew as the fireworks wagon. They knew there was enough gunpowder and explosives in that wagon to ignite the entire circus and burn it to cinders. It was exactly what they were aiming for. After a few minutes, Gordon ran back toward the others and took one match out of the small box.
Miss Sarah pulled the others close as Gordon struck the match on his boot. He looked to Miss Sarah, as if asking her if she was sure. Part of him wanted Miss Sarah to stop him, but he knew he couldn't even if she said something. Miss Sarah closed her eyes and nodded.
It seemed like forever as the match fell onto the gunpowder trail and made its way to the fireworks wagon. Gordon motioned for everyone to stay back. If not for the horrifying destruction, the fireworks flying off in every direction and setting the tents and wagons ablaze would have been a welcoming sight. They used to look forward to the closing night fireworks but instead of marking a new leg on their journey, the fireworks symbolized purification. They watched for a moment and then started to leave when the big top finally burst into flames.
Gordon and Beryl carried the steamer trunk down the path. Miss Sarah lingered a bit until she found herself being pulled by Willa. Rosie stopped for a moment and looked behind at the crumbling circus, as if the spirits that guided her during her life wanted her to take one last look at their handy work.
The wind carried the flames well into the night, along with the panicked screams of anyone who didn't listen to Willa's warning as well as one last souvenir for Rosie. The wind carried a stray photograph from the burning photo booth and it landed in front of Rosie on the path. She picked it up and patted the burning corner. She smiled somberly and ran to catch up to the others. The path led to Bowerstone, but it might as well have been endless.
The first thing they did when arriving in Bowerstone (besides finding lodging at the Inn) was take a look at the bulletin board near the bridge. No job openings were listed, but something told Rosie that they needed to keep coming back here every week when new things were posted. They all stood in front of the bulletin board, in their clothes made from old circus tents and scraps of old costumes, and pondered the board weekly.
It would be a little while before the bulletin board held any fruit. "'To anyone interested'…" Miss Sarah started, tracing her finger along the new flyer. "'Reaver of Reaver Industries will be holding interviews for jobs in and around his home by Bower Lake'…"
In the Present
Rosie opened her eyes and looked in her box again. Its contents didn't seem to shift from their respective spots. Rosie sighed and tapped her fingers on the lid. "There you are!" shouted a voice coming from the main walkway. Rosie looked up and found Gordon approaching her. "Mr. Hatch sent me to find you! He's about to lock up the manor for the night so unless you want to sleep in the garden shed, you might want to come in now."
Closing the lid of her box, Rosie stood up and walked slowly to Gordon. Gordon knew Rosie well enough to know when something was bothering her. It was one of the only emotions she actually showed. He had seen that box many times too, and knew exactly what it meant. Gordon stopped before they walked into the manor. "Is something troubling you, Rosie?" Gordon asked.
Rosie kept her box close. "Gordon, what would you do if we ever had to leave Mr. Reaver's employment?" Rosie asked. Gordon cocked and eyebrow, his facial expression seemed to ask his question for him. "I sometimes wonder what I would do if it ever came down to leaving Lakeview Manor. I scolded you all tonight for being selfish about what will happen if Miss Sarah and Mr. Hatch left, but I find myself asking the same questions you all asked."
Scratching his head, Gordon just stared at Rosie. "I don't think I know the answer to that any more than you do." Gordon answered. "Have you been thinking about leaving?"
Rosie shrugged. "I have a little money saved up; I might start traveling again if I do find myself leaving Mr. Reaver's employ." Rosie and Gordon walked back into the manor, closing and locking the door behind them. "Maybe, if it does happen, I'll buy a wagon from one of those Eco-Warriors in Driftwood and travel Albion. Make my way telling fortunes or healing or something to that nature. I do miss all the traveling we used to do in the circus."
Gordon swallowed hard. "You'd leave all of us just to travel? Won't you be afraid that you'd miss us?" he asked. "You know, we'd miss you. I know I'd miss you, Rosie." Gordon walked over to a potted plant and played with the flowers. He remembered setting these up earlier that day, so the flowers were fresh. He picked one out and handled it carefully. "The way you described what would happen if you left made it sound like you had already made up your mind."
"I have other options, even if they don't work to my favor." Rosie remarked. "I just have to know everyone will be alright if it came down to it. What if Mr. Reaver decides to fire all of us when Mr. Hatch and Miss Sarah leave? He's just as unhappy about Mr. Hatch's job offer as the rest of us."
While he knew there was more on Rosie's mind, Gordon decided to tackle one problem first. "If something like that does happen, I really don't think we have anything to worry about. We've weathered worse and I know we can bounce back from anything. I mean, we survived almost being sold into slavery by our old ringleader; we can survive being fired by a pompous industrialist. There are other jobs out there and if we can survive working for Mr. Reaver, than we can do any dirty job that comes our way." Gordon's reassurance gave Rosie little comfort but it eased her troubled thoughts somewhat. Gordon cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head. "I think as long as you're around, I can do anything." Gordon blushed, realizing what he just said.
Nodding softly, Rosie held her box close and smiled at Gordon. "Thank you, Gordon." Rosie said no more and started for the servant's hallway. Gordon, still holding the flower, smiled softly and twirled the flower in his fingers. After a while, he made his way toward the servant's hallway as well.
Rosie, with a skip in her step, made her way back to her room. Despite the events of the night, Rosie was happy. The wedding wasn't for a while, so she had time to think about the choices put in front of her. She had a big decision to make but decided that tonight wasn't the night for that.
One thing Rosie didn't count on, though, was her boss's efforts to sweeten the pot. She didn't realize how far Reaver would actually go to get what he wanted. But that wasn't one her mind. Rosie, after getting back to her room, put her keepsake box on the nightstand and sat back on her bed. Despite Gordon's reassuring, Rosie still had a choice to make.
Sitting back, Rosie picked up the contract and started flipping through it.
N'cha my loves!
I must apologize for this late update. I have a lot of people I need to apologize to, and you guys are first on my list. I've been working nonstop on my novel and I found a point I'm happy with to take a break from it so I could update my fics for you guys.
This is the year, my doves. This is the year, I've decided, that I'm going to finish my novel. Also, sadly, "Reaver's Servants" is going to end sometime this year. I know, I'm sad too. This was the first fic I uploaded onto fanfiction and it holds a special place in my heart. I just want to make it special when it ends, you know? Extra special for my extra special fans.
So, how did I do? I know, I'm naughty for not updating it soon, but let me know how I did! Give me some feedback; tell me how you feel about knowing the servants' past. Hurry! Don't let the moment pass you by! Review, review, REVIEW!
Haha, read, review, and be merry my doves!
Reaver and Barry Hatch belong to Lionhead.