Hosteen Storm 03 by Beast Master's Circus

Author:Beast Master's Circus [Circus, Beast Master's]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The circus had been pul ing in crowds. Cover, it might be, but Dedran was delighted. Laris, too,

was pleased. The animals were always happier playing to a crowd. They understood the

approval, the shrieks and applause. Credits had flowed in. The whole circus atmosphere

lightened. Dedran was even pleasant to Laris, who was surprised but hid it. She supposed that

his boss, whoever that might be, preferred the circus to pay its way. And what pleased his boss

pleased Dedran.

Prauo enjoyed seeing the performances through her eyes. He stil spoke little most of the time

but increasingly she was aware of his emotions. It seemed that he was aware of hers as wel

and sometimes when she was unhappy he'd transmit scenes from the better times. Or just the

remembered feeling so that she laughed and felt happier. Their performances in the ring drew

crowds, which always pleased Dedran. Prauo playing the ferocious predator, kept only in check

by Laris, dressed in her boy's costume, with a whip and courage.

Dedran preferred it to appear there were more performers than there were in fact. So to that

end Laris appeared in a different costume, makeup, and wig for each of the acts in which she

was involved. She loved being in the ring. The feel of the animals' anticipation, their innocent

pride in the applause and a job perfectly done. And she had no need to strike any of them, only

to pretend she did in the tigerbat act. That pleased both her and Prauo.

She wondered when Cregar would return. He'd been gone just long enough to be due back if

nothing much had gone wrong. It was nice staying somewhere for a while. There were times

when she wondered wistful y what it would be like to have a real home. To be settled. To live

on a ranch, say, on Arzor. To ride the land knowing it was yours to care for, to live on for the

rest of your life. To love. She wondered what Storm and Tani were doing just now. And Logan.

Particularly Logan.

She'd liked him. More than she wanted to admit. But she was bonded. There was no future for

her there. Not until the bond was canceled, and not even then if he ever discovered her part in

his brother's loss.

Oh, yes. There'd been a spacegram from Ideena's ship. Laris had managed a brief sight of it

and been interested to learn that there'd been a good season for swingleberries and that Baris

and Ideena had placed and received a very large order on Dedran's behalf.

98

Laris grinned wryly. Dedran wasn't so smart. He'd left that lying about briefly, believing it

would tel nothing to anyone who read it. She'd done so, seen who'd sent it, and guessed the

simple code. Cregar had made a real haul of beasts. They had to be some of Storm and Tani's

teams. She mourned both for the humans she'd liked and the bewildered animals torn from

their homes. They'd be here any day now and it would be her duty to keep them alive.

"Laris!" The voice was a whip-crack. She turned submissively and Dedran's look became

approving.

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