Anything With Nothing by Mercedes Lackey

Author:Mercedes Lackey [Lackey, Mercedes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: no data
Published: 2023-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

What A Chosen Family Chooses

Dee Shull

“So why are we going to Hartsbridge again?” Hesby said just loud enough to reach everyone’s ears. The Avelard Family Circus wagons were still a candlemark out from the town, midday sun casting sharp shadows on the road behind them, but everyone seemed more cautious than usual.

Ronnet shrugged, the strongman’s shoulders flexing his leather vest and tunic. “Why do we go to any town with a reputation like theirs? At least we’re traveling with traders—they’ll make us seem more acceptable.”

Those traders were further along the road, carts mostly full of goods for Hartsbridge and towns further along their route. In the last town, the Avelards had set up just as Mathias and his crew had rolled in, and the two groups struck up a comfortable working relationship rather quickly. Mathias was the one who’d warned them about Hartsbridge, shrugging when Hallen said it sounded like a town in need of entertainment.

“Jus’ keep it nice and tame, mind. They’re wanting for entertainment, surely, but some places, well, mebbe it’s not worth the coin or time.”

The night before Mathias planned to leave, the family got together and voted. Go on with Mathias to Hartsbridge, or continue on the way they’d planned. Nine people, nine votes.

Ronnet continued, “Besides, you voted aye, just like the rest of us.” He chuckled, deep and rumbly and warm. “We all know what it’s like in places like that. Sure as anything there’s someone there who needs out.”

Ella piped up from the wagon to the right, tugging on her brown braid, “And if there’s not, well, we know to stay away in future.” Hallen was driving that one, and he looked off into the distance for a moment before focusing again on the here and now.

Hesby laughed, a bit darkly. “And depending on how things go, we may need to stay away regardless.” He shook his head, black hair gathered in a short horsetail wagging behind him.

“So do we need me to be a boy or a girl this time?” Zanner didn’t sound thrilled, but the way Mathias described the town, they’d stand out like a raven in a flock of magpies. For the moment, they were in the back of the wagon Ronnet was driving, practicing a bit of juggling.

“What will you be more comfortable as?” Hallen called out gently, since they all knew how little Zanner liked playing one or the other in towns like this.

The juggler thought a moment, balls briefly flying and falling with gentle pat-pat-pats inaudible over the sound of the wagon wheels. Eventually, Zanner said, “I think a girl. Better gossip, different expectations. It’s unfortunate my hair’s short, but not much to be done about that.”

• • •

In their tents the night after their first performance, with curtains hung and small chimes rustling in the wind, Zanner said, “It’s worse here than we thought.”

They’d arrived and set up in a square clearly meant for entertainment. The square had risers for the people to stand on so everyone

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