"Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, welcome to Babba and Yabba's Tricks and Amusements!"

Thunderous applause roared beneath the big tent as Eres led us to our seats.

"Best seat for you, Lia," he said, causing Ammie and Harriet's eruption of giggles. I smiled modestly.

"Thank you, but Quistelle ought to have it. She hasn't seen anything like this before, have you dear?"

She shook her head.

"Well, then come and have my place and I'll gladly sit here." I took the opposite seat before there could be any arguing.

Eres shrugged off his disappointment. Ammie and Harriet after exchanged looks, sat on the end, while Marge wore an expression of disgust. Pete, caring little for change, said cheerfully,

"Now that that's all settled, Eres and I will make ourselves useful and get some treats. Will Dinah and Lilla lend me a hand?" The two, receiving their brother's approval, happily skipped off with Eres and Pete.

Mr. Henfield leaned forward. "A very thoughtful thing to do, Miss Malstoyke. I'm afraid no one but the girls and myself have shown any interest in her for the evening. And even they agreed she did not seem to be enjoying herself as well as she might have."

"It is my fault. There is so much to see in Gordorf and she doesn't get away from Bedlaam enough. I should've made it my business to see that she was properly entertained.

"She may fancy this, she appears curious enough, though I don't think much of it myself," he said with a nod in her direction.

And indeed she did, looking neat and prim in her seat, as colourful women with flaming torches danced about the stage while the men performed incredible feats, involving handsprings, twists and jumps.

Quistelle's eyes were bright with amusement and a smile too sweet to disturb.

"Mighty good, isn't it? said Eres handing over his bag of nuts.

"Very, though I don't see anyone fitting your description of Babba and Yabba."

"That's the third act I think, or the fourth and then—what's the matter?"

"Sunrise," and remembering our childhood code, he looked curiously towards the entrance.

"Do you see the gentleman in the grey suit?"

"You mean the scruffy, bald fellow with the baby face?"

I smarted him on the arm.

"Not him! The tall, dark one. That's Mr. Dayne! Fancy his being here. He must've wanted some entertainment."

"Well, he's come to the right place," Eres said with a nod. "Although I thought the 'high heads' were too proud to venture from their grand houses to see anything we offered down here."

A woman in a red leotard bowed to the audience's cheers and whistles before balancing on an invisible line while her accomplices raised the bars and let out a pack of hounds who, foaming at the mouth, snapped and growled viciously at her.

"They're a pack of black hounds!"

"Everyone knows that, Pete," said his brother.

"I didn't," said Ammie.

"Dear God, I hope she doesn't fall," said Harriet, peeking from behind her handkerchief.

"They'll eat her if she does," said Marge as though the prospect would be highly entertaining.

"Oh, I can't watch!" cried Lilla burying her face in Mr. Henfield's coat.

"Neither can I," Dinah whispered, "but I can only cover one eye!"

"Didn't they do this trick the last time?" said an annoyed Henfield.

"Susan should have come with us instead of spending the night with relations. It was stupid of her," Ammie said, stealing some of Harriet's chocolate nuttles.

I'm glad she is not here," said Marge eyeing the stage. "She's annoying and there are enough people here I'd gladly do without."

I ignored her comment, feeling it was directed at my friend and the Henfields. Marge Finnicktoff was certainly getting on my nerves.

"Quistelle you look pale, are you alright, dear?" I said, grabbing my fan, fearful she'd faint.

"She is going to fall and there will be no time to get to her before the hounds do."

"Heavens, girl what's gotten into you? It's just an act!"

Quistelle started muttering something under her breath repeatedly, her gaze fixed on the stage. A dangerous chill raised goosebumps on my flesh just as the woman flipped backwards onto another unseen line. There was a snap that made me jolt in my seat and the acrobat hit the floor with a ghastly crack. The audience gasped and there was a scream somewhere. Onstage there were cries of alarm and the hounds pounced upon the girl with a frenzied fury.

A woman rushed on stage screaming "My baby! God help my baby!"

My hands tightened around my shawl as an echoing chant reverberated in my head, silencing the cries of the audience. And just when I thought I'd scream or faint, a burst of light made me shut my eyes.

"Yes!" cried Eres spilling his bag of nuts. "By Gordorf's blood, that was fantastic! Lia? Lia, did you see that?"

Pete whistled and grabbed Mr. Henfield's hat to wave. "She made a perfect landing, didn't she?"

I blinked several times before scanning the audience. The woman bowed and waved to her adoring fans with a wide grin as the stage hands took away the hounds.

I shook my head.

What was that?

"Well, I never saw a more dangerous act," said Ammie. "She could have killed herself, then what?"

Marge dismissed her comment with a wave and proudly sanctioned the lady 'a true artist'.

Harriet only added 'she was glad it was over'.

Quistelle was pale, her forehead beading with sweat. Her hands trembled and eyes were unusually bright and alert.

Could it be...? My thoughts were all over the place.

"Is she alright?" said Henfield from behind me.

"I'm fine," she said quickly. "I suppose my nerves are getting the better of me."

"Shall I get you something to drink?" offered Pete.

"Some fresh air might suit her better," suggested Henfield.

"Wait! The act isn't even done yet!" said Eres.

Quistelle lowered her eyes for the remainder of the act. I found it difficult to focus on the performance as part of me wanted to watch her. But she only sat there staring at her hands in silence.

Wild applause drew my attention to the stage. Two burly giants swallowed the stage in long strides.

"Babba and Yabba," said Eres with a wide grin.

"I gathered that by their bare chests," I mouthed over the din.

Mr. Henfield was shaking his head.

"Albus, how long are you gonna cover our eyes?" inquired a patient Lilla.

The men, after a series of bows and winks for the ladies, causing poor Marge to blush redder than cherries, and mutter 'such nonsense', raised their hands. Silence fell on the audience.

"Thank you all for your tremendous support, and it is our sincerest hope that you were all highly entertained."

Mr. Henfield's 'not in the least' was lost amidst the wild cheers.

"And I know Yabba and I usually give you four acts,– no, no no, we haven't cut it, calm down. We've just decided to shake things up a little bit."

"For this next act, Babba and I will require a volunteer from the audience."

You should know how utterly surprised I was when Quistelle's hand shot up faster than a lightning bolt.

"That's what I call spirit!" said Eres all too pleased. He and Pete shouted and waved and pointed while the girls stared with gaping jaws.

"She can't possibly be serious?" said Ammie.

"Of course not!" I said. Then turned to my companion. "Quistelle, let one of the boys–" but it was too late. Pete was helping her to her feet while Babba or Yabba were yelling in their heavy baritone:

"The beautiful damsel with the bright eyes, ladies and gentlemen! Give the darling a big round of hand slapping!"

I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry, to be embarrassed or ashamed or all of them at once! To throw oneself into the eyes of society at an entertainment such as this was astounding! This was an amusement to watch, not participate in. And for any lady of my company to do this themselves!

I felt Marge's 'I told you so' gaze burning into my head.

Mr. Henfield's amusement didn't make me feel any better.

"Didn't think the girl had any pluck about her til now," he said. "Most women wouldn't have done it."

"A respectable one daren't," said Marge scornfully. "It's clear she hadn't an ounce of good breeding."

"I disagree," said Eres gallantly in her defense, or perhaps my own. "A respectable dame can be lively and fun and not too particular about trying new things—I like 'em that way."

Marge shook her head at his 'innocent stupidity' she later called it. But words cannot describe how much I wanted to fall into a puddle upon the floor! Not even Eres' defense could atone for it. Stealing a glance at Mr. Dayne showed that he too was somewhat surprised if not altogether shocked.

"And what's your name, my lady?" said Babba or Yabba, taking my friend by the hand and guiding her to the stage's center.

"Quistelle Zelpora Lavinia Palton."

There arose laughter from the audience.

"Well," said the showman who'd been silent some time, "That's quite a long name."

"Not nearly as long as your beard."

The spectators found this bit unbelievably funny. Even Marge smiled a little in spite of herself.

"Too true, my dear, too true," said one of the showmen laughing himself. "Now where do you come from, my dear?"

Marge and I leaned forward in our seats.

"I suppose if you had a father and mother then I ought to have had some too, don't you think?"

"What Yabba means is where do you live or where were you born?" said the other as the first was too overcome with mirth.

"Oh! Well, in that case I am from beyon—Leers!" she said, stopping herself.

"Beyonlayers? Hmf! Never heard of it before... Mind telling us where that is?"

"I would if I only knew myself."

"She's a natural!" cried a delighted Eres, shoving a handful of nuts in his mouth.

I buried my face in my shawl.

"Now, the reason you were brought up here, besides the fact that you are the first lady to volunteer since Yabba and I started our shows in Gordorf, is because we wanted someone to help us show the audience that through magic anything is possible!"

"Sounds difficult," she said flatly.

"I agree with her," said Babba folding his arms across his massive chest. His brother glowered at him.

"A chair if you will, Babba."

Babba snapped his finger. Six men came bearing a chair in their midst. Babba single handedly relieved them of their burden. I found myself clapping along with everyone else as his great arms bore it far above his head.

"Might I inquire the purpose of that?" Quistelle asked when he'd finally set it down.

"So the audience would know it was extremely heavy," he said in his big voice.

"How are they to know how heavy it is if you are the one lifting it?" she said innocently.

It was obvious she rankled him then though he did his best to appear at ease. He huffed under his breath, then said with a mixture of quiet pride and firmness,

"Very few men can move this steel chair without need of aid," (only it sounded like 'ide').

"Now, I think you are being overly dramatic," she said, surveying the contraption with an air which made people slide to the edge of their seats. "I am not a man, but I am quite capable of moving—"

The chair fell back with a loud crash that made the audience gasp before erupting in laughter.

"It did sound heavy," someone said.

"Too right," said their companion. "But it couldna been if she pushed it down so easily an' beein' more 'an half his size!"

Babba and Yabba stared at it in shocked silence. I sprang to my feet as the two exchanged looks I did not like.

"What are you doing?" said Eres, grabbing hold of me. "She's brilliant!"

"Don't stop her yet, she's the only thing making this interesting," Harriet said without turning her head from the stage. "I agree with Mr. Henfield, Lia, she must see it through."

Ammie and Marge threw her a sideways glance.

On stage, the giants were proceeding with the act; Quistelle was seated in the chair and as by some extraordinary means, the chair was raised from the ground. The brothers danced round and round clapping and stamping and beating upon their breasts with such energy the crowd was wide eyed and mesmerized.

"It's moving and no one is even touching it!" said a very impressed Dinah.

"They're magic!" said Lilla with eyes as big as saucers.

"That ain't no magic girls, believe me," their brother said.

The seat and its occupant rotated to the delight of the audience who whistled and cheered with great spirit, while Quistelle seemed to enjoy the game immensely. Pete and Eres were on their feet cheering her on with pride.

"She's got spirit enough, aye, Eres?"

"Too right, she does! Lia would've thrown up by now."

"Don't say throw up, Eres, it isn't proper. Regurgitated is more acceptable."

A dangerous snap made everyone gasp and the chair came crashing to the ground with a sound that could shatter teeth. I screamed in fright as the men sprang over chairs as they dashed to the stage.

"Is she dead?" someone said as I stood paralyzed and shaking.

"The girl isn't hurt, I think—oh, there she is!"

"How'd she get out the chair?!"

"Saw her spring faster 'an my cat, Earl. It was unnatural!"

"Mercy pon Gordorf! What would've happened if someone died?"

"Everyone, everyone calm down! Our young volunteer is safe," said Babba or Yabba coming to the edge of the stage. "Please, the show will continue soon but a roaring round of applause for our brave lady!"

There was uncertainty in the claps that followed.

There was a calm firmness in his voice despite how spectators gazed at us and gawked strangely at Quistelle, who calmly descended from the stage with a purely innocent expression. It was as though the words beyond the mountains were stamped across her face.

Someone came to stand beside me.

"I believe it's time to go, Miss Malstoyke. The carriage is outside."

I nodded and quickly caught Quistelle by the hand and dragged her away from prying eyes.

"Why does everyone stare?" she said, looking about her.

"They're curious," said the familiar voice guiding us to the exit. "But never mind that. The sooner you disappear, the better."

Outside, the cool night's air greeted us. A stunningly handsome carriage was waiting and handing us in, he said cordially,

"It was an excellent show, Miss Palton. Pity it had to end the way it did. I enjoyed myself immensely."

To me he only added, "I shall inform your company of your departure, Miss Malstoyke. Good evening," and offering us a nod, more to Quistelle than myself I imagined, the door was shut and we were whisked away in the night.

The girl across from me settled comfortably in her seat.

"Thank you for inviting me, Miss Lia. It was a fine show, despite the fallen chair, and the men not being nearly as good as the tricksters beyond. They ought to have stuck to hypnotism—that would have frightened people, do you not you agree? It appears your fellow Gordorfians enjoy magic and mystery more than they are willing to admit."

She stared out at the blackness outside.

"Gordorf isn't so bad, I suppose..." she said rather thoughtfully, her eyes like stars of gold and a soft smile in her voice.