Chapter 4: Cammi

Drums were pounding, and people were shouting. "Get your roasted mutton here! Only fifteen copper pieces! Don't be shy, folks! There's plenty to eat!" A man yelled out from his stand. The smell of roasting sheep's legs wafted through the air in dense smoke. The smell was captivating. People were rushing left and right. This was bad; a mob was forming for the mutton. The circus was alive, with booths everywhere, from left to right, scattered about. Hastily put up with wooden poles and fine sheets over the tops to provide shade from a hot day in the Bublub field. Another stand sells gourmet pies. While hot, their crust is golden, and steam drifts off the tops. Other stands sell wonderfully grown fruits. Bursting with flavor with every bite. Some are coated with candy, some with nuts. All the same, they are delicious. The grass and dead grass areas dotting the ground beneath the two people walking by struggled not to float up into the air. The little one realized her feet were ready to take off.

"He must be a really good piece of mutton if he's that busy every day." A man with the blue-scaled body of a dragon said to his shorter friend His bright yellow eyes pierced the crowd.

"Oh yeah! You better believe it, Morgaiz! His food is so yummy!" A short gnomish woman said She was giggling with laughter and her mouth was watering. "I bet he won't have left-overs today for you to eat! His stand looks packed, and it's a full circus today!" She said it with a burst of energy.

"Bags. I was really hoping that he would have some leftovers to throw away. The trash adds flavor! That is very sad news, Cammi." Morgaiz said, rubbing his eyes in a feigned expression of being distraught. As they walked to an extremely well-circled tent. They saw people in armor. Plate armor shone with a glimmer from the light of the torches circled on every beam of dark wood, lifting the crimson-red tent and its rafters.

A man swung a battle mace the size of his head with lethal intent. Its curved head slammed into the dirt with a loud thud. The man it was aimed at floated to the side. He didn't make a single sound in his armor. He stopped, and in a fury of blows, he brought a thin, pointed sword up and pierced the man. His armor creaked a bit with the speed of the thrusts. His attacks were true. They pinged off his opponent's armor with loud clangs, echoing throughout the spacious tent. His opponent went flying back and landed with a huff and a crash into the sand they set up in the tent.

"Hit! Hit! Hit! Damn it, Daniel! Stop!" The man shouted as he lay on the floor with bits of his plate armor dented inward by the force of the blows.

"Wow, Daniel is really light on his feet today. He must have visited Madam earlier." Cammi thought to herself. Watching the two people fight with glistening eyes of excitement.

The man sat up with the help of his opponent, Daniel. He took off his helmet and set his Mace to the side in the sand. He spit blood and looked over to Cammi and Morgaiz.

"Oh my gosh! That's why you started getting so serious! You saw Morgaiz!" He shouted in a fit of hurtful rage.

"I have no idea what you're insinuating, Eric." Daniel said after taking off his helmet.

Oh, you don't know, huh? Maybe you've got the hots for Morgaiz!" Eric yelled once more. Pointing his finger accusingly at Daniel, then at Morgaiz.

Daniel scoffed loudly and with extreme exaggeration. "You think you're so clever to taunt me because you lost!" Daniel said this with rising anger.

The two continued to argue as Cammi and Morgaiz quickly made their way out of the tent. The sky was starting to blend into a shadow of orange as the sun dropped into the west. As they walked, they noticed that the vendors were closing down their shops.

Well, that was good! They were doing great until they started arguing!" Cammi said this with an eager bounce in her step. Skipping as she went.

Yeah, I may visit him more times than Eric would prefer." Morgaiz chuckled softly. "Things are going great with Daniel, though." Morgaiz said with a bright smile.

Cammi and Morgaiz came to a halt as they realized they had reached their destination. A large purple carriage with a roof. It looked like a house on wheels! At least that's what Cammi always thought. A sign over the side window said in bold letters "Madam Rose's Apothecary!". Following the sign was a list of potions and their prices. While expensive, they claimed that Madam Rose's potions worked like no other in the land. That's what they said, at least. Cammi quickly hopped up the steps and knocked on the door three times. Each knock was louder than the last. A tiny tap came back twice from inside the shack, and the door opened.

The shack was alive once more. The door opened into an amazingly large house. Potions being brewed and potions that were already brewed sat on their tables, respectively. The room was decorated with purple drapes, a purple carpet, and a pale brown finish on the wood. There, in a wicker chair rocking back and forth, sat an old woman with dark skin.

Cammi gleefully yelled, "Hi Rose!" her voice echoing off the walls. Rose took a second and turned to her. Rose then took off her glasses and stood up. "You dare step into the witch's lair, young one?" Rose's voice was as sharp as a blade.

Rose scoffed with a short laugh. Squatted down and said it in a booming voice. "Come give mama a hug!" Rose stretches her arms out to Cammi. Cammi ran straight into Rose's chest. Cammi hugged Rose so tight that it threatened to squeeze her like a bug. Rose returned the favor, making Cammi's eyes bulge from her head.

"Hi, Rose." Morgaiz said sheepishly. He wanted a hug too, and Rose gave the best hugs in the entire family.

"Of course you get your hug too, my favorite son!" She stood up, letting go of Cammi. To Cammi's displeasure, she let go of Rose as well. Rose stood up and gave the tall, scaly man like a dragon a crushing hug as he hugged tightly back. They sat down in the wicker chairs after their hugs and began to talk. Rose's face hardened with the intent to talk about something serious.

"You children are going to have to leave the circus," Rose said, her face tearing up with just those words. "I love you, Children, but you guys can't stay here. We're goin' somewhere dangerous, and I'd rather not have y'all put in danger." Rose said so solemnly.

Cammi was incredulous. The Circus was all she ever knew; the circus was everything she or Morgaiz ever knew. She couldn't just leave. "But why, Rose?" Cammi said. She was also tearing up at the thought of leaving everyone. "The day had started out so well and ended so well. Why now?" She thought to herself, looking down at her feet in the chair. Tears filled her vision.

"We can't just leave, Rose. We live here; this is all we have." Morgaiz said it in a stone-cold tone. His reaction to the information shocked both Rose and Cammi.

"You have to, Children. There is no other option; we may even die where we're going." Rose said as she wiped a tear from her eye.

Cammi's world was turned upside down. Her head was spinning. She lurched forward to throw herself off the wicker chair, but nothing came forward. Her stomach was in knots.

"Cammi. If Rose says we should go, We probably should. I'll meet you in my shack." Morgaiz said this with tears forming in his eyes. He covered his face, stood up, and quickly left through the door.

"I know this is hard, Puddin. You have to understand that it's for your safety. I love you and Morgaiz, and I can't have y'all getting hurt because Circus Master Wortan wants to put us all in danger." Rose said as she put one hand on Cammi's

Cammi looked up. Her eyes are red, and she is pouring tear after tear in a violent stream down her face. She got up, ran to Rose, and gave her the biggest and best hug she could. Then with great hesitation. She left Rose's shack to get her stuff.