Kat's Story

"Have you always had the ability to transform yourself like that?" she asked the albino woman.

"No, not always. I used to be the assistant in a magic act. The magician did all the usual tricks - sawing a woman in half and that sort of thing. Of course, most of the tricks involved deception and sleight of hand rather than true magic, but some used genuine spells. Then one day a trick went spectacularly wrong, and I found that I was a horse. As you might imagine, I panicked for a bit, until I found that if I concentrated I could change myself back. When I did change back, I discovered that, apart from my eyes, I had lost all my pigmentation and was left as an albino. That's a nuisance, as I get badly sunburnt very easily. So when I discovered that I now had the ability to turn myself back into a horse at will, I decided that during sunny days I would be much better off in that form, only changing myself back to human for the evening.

"The magician could not undo what he had accidentally done, and nor could any of the mages I consulted, so I learnt to accept what I had become. I wanted to stay in show business, but as you might imagine I didn't want to be a magician's assistant anymore. So when I got the chance to join this troupe, I jumped at it. Since I joined three years ago, we've performed not only in the Three Kingdoms and next door in Allaria, but in almost every country north of the Shreken. And before you ask: no, I don't mind helping to haul the wagons. Everyone mucks in, and does whatever they can."

Squiggy smiled at Astra's discomfited expression. She hurriedly changed the subject. "Nobody's yet told us what your detailed itinerary is," she pointed out.

Lois, as leader, answered her implied question: "As you know, we are heading for Caemlyn, and we'll be doing one-night stands at the various villages we come to along the way. That journey should take us just over three weeks. Then we'll take a few days' break, enjoying ourselves in the city. After that, starting four weeks today, we have arranged a week of performances in Caemlyn. They've actually got a genuine, purpose-built theatre there, you know! We're looking forward to that. After that, we're not sure where to go next."

"Why not visit Aqualaria?" Astra suggested. "My people appreciate good entertainment. I imagine that Fred will want to leave when you reach Caemlyn - he'll have some good news and some bad news to bring to his King - but I would consider staying with you."

"You say your people appreciate good entertainment, but you haven't seen us perform yet, though," Lois said with a chuckle. "To be serious, I think we are pretty d***ed good, and it would be interesting to see a new country. We've never been south of the Shreken."

1. The conversation continued.
2. Soon it was time to turn in for the night.
3. Lois gave Fred and Astra a script each to learn. "Everybody has to pull their weight, and that includes performing," she told them.

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