His breath came in short painful gasps. The dirt alleys he ran down gave no echo to his pounding feet as he put as much distance as possible between himself and the pair he ran into. The caitshidhe’s long white fur fluttered around him as he checked the scroll tucked tightly into his harness.

“Let’s go, Devon. Step it up.” He chanted to himself. With a quick glance, his purple eyes scanned the empty alley behind him. He ducked around the cover of a building and scrambled up the shambles of a decrepit statue. Devon hopped from the top of the statue onto a window ledge and shoved at the broken latch. The window swung open and he dropped into a brightly lit room.

A striped caitshidhe turned to look at him as he entered. “Hey, Devon.” She turned back to the table before her.

“Ciar.” Devon peered around Ciar’s shoulder. The table lay littered with jewelry in all stages of disassembly. Ciar worked the stones and colored glass from metal settings and made separate piles.

“Out of my light, mondo.” The smaller caitshidhe muttered, with little malice. She flicked a dark stone from its silver setting and nudged it into a pile of similar stones.

Devon backed up. “Yeah, yeah.” He flopped onto the single threadbare couch and pulled a pair of equally thin cushions over.

Keeping her eyes on her task, Ciar called out a question. “Lift anything good?”

Devon pulled the scroll from his harness and twisted it between his paws. The soft bag rustled as he toyed with the drawstring. “Not really. Just a couple of coppers, a bead bracelet and a scroll.”

“A scroll?” Ciar turned to stare at the younger caitshidhe. “Why? You can’t read.”

“Neither can you, so just muzzle it!” Devon snapped. “It looked important. I went on a hunch.”

“Well.” Ciar stood and padded over. She turned the scroll over and peered at the symbol on the bag. “Rasa’s Tail! Devon, this is the royal seal! Who’d you pinch this from?”

“Someone from at the Academy. I remember dark hair.” Devon shrugged. “I didn’t exactly stick around to find out.”

Ciar held the scroll closer to inspect the symbol. “Looks like one of those royal messages. You must have taken it from a currier. If they weren’t marked, it’s probably very hush-hush. You could start a lot of fuss over this.”

The corners of Devon’s mouth pulled down. “So what do I do?”

Ciar thought for a moment, mirroring Devon’s frown. She spoke slowly after a moment. “The Guild won’t touch this. I’ll set up a meeting, see if I can sell it back to the palace.”

Devon’s ears swiveled to a half alert position. “How much is your cut?”

“Quarter of the payout.” Ciar replied, her voice even as she returned to dismantling the piles of jewelry. “Same as my fencing fee.”

“Not even a friend discount.” Devon grumped.

“Of course not. Friends are the worst about bills.” Ciar’s smile softened the words.

Devon slumped back into the couch, battering the cushions to get more comfortable. “Better get a good price for it.”

Ciar grunted as she pulled a bright green jewel from the silver setting. “I will. I’ll start on it tomorrow.”
~~~~~~~~~~

Amoren sat across a small table from Illiyara. Two cooling cups of tea sat neglected to the side. Amoren had invited Illiyara over to better understand his Resonant’s new partner. The grey gryphon shuffled his wings a little as seconds ticked by.

Illiyara smiled at Amoren. “So you’re a mage in training, hoping to become a maestro magus. And our Resonant’s first partner.”

Amoren nodded in reply. “Lady Kylie told me your Resonation was largely unplanned. I hope we work well together.” He inclined his head to her.

The blue jhari mimicked the polite gesture. She stood and stretched. “Do you know of any good boarding houses here? I have to find a place to stay in town, with my two younglings.”

“Well.” Amoren hesitated for a moment. “You can stay here, at my house.”

Illiyara stopped and stared at him. “Are you sure about that?”

The gryphon nodded. “My home is very large. It used to be the main house for town events and council meetings. Until they built a newer, more fashionable one just out of town, that is. Since the old one,” Amoren clicked his beak and rolled his eyes, a sign of gryphonic mocking. “was now ‘out of style’, they gave it to me as a gift. When I was accepted to the Academy.”

“Nice gift.” Illiyara murmured. Her eyes drifted over the high ceilings and large bookshelves along the walls. “It’s beautiful.”

Amoren followed her appraising glance. “I guess a little. The reason takes most of the joy out though.”

“Either way,” Illiyara grinned. “We’ll be happy to accept your offer. That is, if you are willing to have to younglings tearing around your house at all hours of the day.”

It was Amoren’s turn to mirror her expression. The soft skin around his beak turned up in a grin. “I think I can handle that.” With a promise to return before sun up, Illiyara bowed and departed to the streets, on down to the circus grounds.
Performers tossed practice equipment into handcarts as others doused lamps and collected glows from the evening’s performances. Toward the back, Ala’co’s personal tent stood open, glows on stands holding the flaps open. The Nightmare stallion sat in the evening air with account books open in front of him. His assistant, a bat still in performance make-up, took dictation as the stallion balanced the accounts. Ala’co looked up to see Illiyara. He nodded and continued dictating for a few more minutes before nudging the top book shut with a hoof.

“That will be good for now, Chestra.” Ala’co addressed his assistant. “We’ll continue tomorrow when I have the tallies from today’s shows.” The bat nodded and stuffed her stylus and inks into a pouch before flying off to the dorm tents.

Ala’co adjusted himself in his cushioned seat to address Illiyara. “How can I help you, Illi?”

Illiyara perched lightly on the seat vacated by the bat. “Which would you prefer, the blunt approach or the pretty one?”

The stallion stared at Illiyara for a moment. “From the opening question, I don’t think I am going to like this.” He gave a wry smile. “I will take blunt, thank you.”

Illiyara flashed him with a brilliant smile. “Good.” She sobered slightly. “I am quitting the Carnival.”

Ala’co leaned back. “Well, I didn’t see that one coming. Don’t tell me it’s a male.”

“No, no. Female actually.” Illiyara chuckled. At Ala’co’s curious stare, she continued. “Human actually.”

Ala’co’s curiosity faded to confusion on his long face. “What?” He snorted. “I’m afraid I am quite lost, my dear.”

Illiyara settled farther back onto her haunches and explained slowly. “I’ve Resonated with a human female in the Shadow World. She has one other partner, a gryphon here in town. I will be living with him.” She paused and bit her lower lip with small sharp teeth. “I do have a favor to ask.”

Ala’co sat up straight and looked into her eyes. “Anything.”

The jhari took a deep breath. “Please let me take Saga and Nox with me.” Illiyara pleaded. She rushed on, cutting off the stallion’s reply. “I know they’re really your wards, but I wanted them to live with me.” Her plea dropped to a quiet murmur as she begged Ala’co. “I don’t want them to feel I abandoned them.” She dropped her eyes to the dusty ground beneath the seat.

A rough snort startled Illiyara as Ala’co flared his nostrils. “When I say anything, I truly mean it. Of course you may take them” A mischievous twinkle shone in his large eyes. “You know they only obey you anyway.”

“Yes.” Illiyara laughed and pawed tears from her eyes. “My trained terrors.”

Ala’co caught the blue jhari’s eye. “Before I can release you in good conscience, put this old mind at ease. Do you have a way to support yourself?”
She reached across the gap and patted his deeply polished hoof. “A talented creature will never go hungry for long in this town. I can more than make due.”

Ala’co nodded. “Then go, with my blessings.”

Illiyara stood, her neck chains jangling in time with the coins on her head scarf as she turned to survey the circus ground. She flicked her ears and shook her head, eyes sparkling and damp. “I’m going to miss this troupe.”

With a quick parting hug, Illiyara left Ala’co by his tent and made her way to the dancer’s tent. Dancers and trainees bustled about as seamstresses and washer gathered costumes for maintenance. Illiyara reached her bunk and began packing up her few belongings. She turned to a wolf chatting nearby.

“Kahke, would you go and get Saga and Nox for me?” Illiyara paused for a moment. “Also can you help them pack a bag?” The wolf nodded and padded to the children’s tent.

A gryphon with the badge of an apprentice seamstress tied to her upper leg looked over at Illiyara. “Did the boss send you ahead as the crier this time, Illi?”

“No.” Illiyara returned with a grin. “It’s the end of the circuit for me.”

The gryphon took a surprised step back. “What? Illiyara’s settling down? As a townie?”

“May I remind you, lady that I, as well as most of you, started as townies.” Her frown softened with a chuckle. “But no, I’m no townie. I’ll always be a trouper.”

A dragon leaned against her. “We’ll miss you.” Illiyara bit her lip and patted the dragon on the shoulder, her voice caught.

The gryphon spun and began issuing orders. “We can’t let her leave without a proper send off! Rael, go to the provisions wagon; try to talk Richter out of some good wine. Don’t let him give you that cooking sherry.” She clapped her claws together. “Come on, dancers! Dig up all those niceties and tidbits you’ve been saving. Illi’s worth it.”

Creatures ran back and forth, preparations under way. Performers from other tents came and cleared a spot by the tents and rigged up tables from barrels and planks.. The wolf returned with Saga and a small dark unicorn colt in tow. Musicians set up their instruments and struck a lively chord.

The night bled away in a haze of whirlwind dancing and touching goodbyes. Several times during the night Illiyara was pulled into a quiet corner for a personal farewell. The festivities began to die down as the moon passed its peak, arching back down to earth. Saga and the small unicorn, Nox Lunari, lay on a pile of blankets, sleeping sound. Illiyara knelt by their slumbering forms. She ruffled Nox’s pale mane and ran her paw across the small crescant under his single horn.

“I had wanted,” Illiyara whispered to their silent forms. “to get you over tonight and get you settled by morning. But I can’t carry you both.” She sighed and tucked the small crystal ball in Saga’s claws back into the side pouch on the young dragon’s side.

“I’ll help.” A voice said from behind her. Illiyara turned to see Ala’co. The dark stallion dipped his head. “Consider it one last favor.”

Illiyara nodded. She helped settle Nox onto the older unicorn’s back and draped the rucksack with the children’s belongings across his shoulders. Picking up Saga, Illiyara settled the dragon child between her wings and led the way to Amoren’s home. The long walk to her new home was silent, Illiyara lost deep in thought.

She drew from her thoughts at a soft snort from Ala’co. Illiyara look up to see the broad door of Amoren’s home. She gently shook Saga and set the drowsy dragon child onto her feet. Saga yawned, showing off a set of sharp teeth as she rubbed her eyes. Ala’co carefully helped Illiyara remove the still sleeping Nox from his shoulders. Illiyara pulled the stallion in close for a parting hug.

“I’ll see you around, old friend.” Illiyara whispered into his shoulder.

Ala’co nodded and returned the sentiment. “If you even need my help, just call.”

With a final nod, Illiyara bid him goodnight and ushered Saga inside the sleeping house.