“Hey, Robert wakes up. I've been up since sunrise. It's almost lunchtime.” Rex said, tapping him on the shoulder. Robert sits up stretching. “ Now I know you're an actor because only actors can sleep this long. Actors or nobles. ”

“Oh, thank you for awaking me then Rex. I could go for some lunch.” Robert said as he moved the blanket off himself. Surprisingly his hands didn't sting during the whole process. “Hey, I think my hands got a little better over night.”

“That's good to hear. ” Rex said, closing the flap. “Come on, leave my blanket there.”

Robert left the blanket and exited the tent. It took Robert a moment to take in all the tent city. In the daylight, it was completely different. Some of the tents had been moved he was sure and the ground was awash with footprints.

“So what has been happening, while I was asleep?” Robert asked as he followed behind.

“While you were asleep. We had breakfast and Willow chose tonight's play. The watery princess. You probably never heard that story before? Not many people have. It's mostly told over in the Waba isles. It's about a princess that fight a water dragon and losses. A cautionary tale.” Rex said as he glanced back at Robert.

A water dragon really? Should I even asked if that story is fantasy or historical? Robert thought, as they left the tent city behind and walked towards the theater area. No I shouldn't. It'll make me look even more out of place.

“Anyway then we got the actors ready for today's many rehearsals. Practice rehearsal was over a few hours ago and the actors are already finishing up dress rehearsal.” Rex said as a ball of fire shot up ahead of them. Then another rocketed into the air. Rex continued without even glancing up. “We'll be needing the extra props from the storage wagons for tonight. Think you can stay awake for that? ”

“Oh sure? I was just extra tried last night.” Robert said as he glanced over that the men catching and throwing fire around. They also had people shaping water into fish. “Hey is there a schedule I can get for all this?”

“What no. Well, no written ones anyway. Parchment paper and wood paper are to expensive.” Rex said. “I'm sure with a few more days here and you'll get the hang of it.”

“Well, how about someplace to freshen up for the day?” Robert asked.

“The dressing wagon but I think you need to be an actor to get in there.” Rex said pausing. “Well You can go into the city for that too. That's another option. ”

Ahead the theater area was abuzz with people. Near the fenced off area was a group of actors. Sofia was at the center of the group with a woman and all eyes were on them. Sofia looked to be helping the other woman with her acting.

“Oh, good the actors are almost done. Come on Robert lets get a few last things done before lunch. You can freshen up later”

“Sure?” Robert said as he followed Rex to the staging area. Where a few guys were stacking wooden boxes. Hundreds of boxes.

“Wow, that's all lot of boxes.” Robert muttered as Rex was already heading to join the men. Robert grabbed a box. “ Hey Rex! Do we have any work after lunch?”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“No, not until night fall. ” Rex said as he casually grabbed three boxes. The other men here were carrying two or three themselves. “Most afternoons I go into the city. To test my luck at the local card tables. ”

“You gamble? ” Robert said as he formed a stack of three boxes. “I didn't take you for that type.”

“Well there isn't a lot to do here for fun. ” Rex said, as he grabbed another pair of boxes. “Hey, your doing that wrong!”

Rex set down his boxes, rushed over and demonstrated the better way to stack boxes. Robert tried it himself and got it after a few tries.

Twenty minutes of moving boxes later. Robert noticed the boxes were taking the shape of a large hill. Soon there were only a few boxes left. Robert wiped his forehead and sit down laying his hands in his lap. Through the whole process he had been careful to keep his hands from the sharp edges. He didn't want more splinters. Lucky his hands were only rubbed raw.

“Ok, I'm done here.” Rex said as he placed the three boxes down. He glanced over at Robert. “Ok we're done. Lets going for lunch. Oh I can't wait. I hear they are finally adding meat to the greens today.”

“Lucky us.” Robert said as he followed the group out of the area.

A line was already forming in the open area. People were getting their food and leaving. Rex joined the end of the line and Robert took up behind him. Sofia was a few people ahead. After a minute of standing around, Robert was given a glass bowl and an empty glass cup with no spoon this time. Inside was a large slice of meat jerky and some dry colorful plants. He spotted some blue water nuts with the orange and dark green leaves.

Is this really lunch? It very small, more like a snack? Last night's soup was only a little bigger than this? Robert thought as he followed Rex down to a group of men eating and talking. But where's the water? He glanced up and spotted a man in the group drinking from his cup. Oh right. Cinta can make water. I can't just ask anyone to make me water. I'm up a river without an answer.

“Rex. There you are. Took you long enough.” one of the group said when he spotted Rex coming. Then he noticed Robert. “So he woke up in time for grub? Must have smelled it from his tent.”

“Hey, give the new guy a break.” Rex said as he took a bite of food and gestured to Robert. Who was sit down next to Rex. Robert sit his useless cup in the sand. “Can't you see how shaky he is. Something tells me he still trying to get over something.”

Am I that transparent and what does he maybe by shaky? Robert thought as he tried the jerky. It was spicy and chewy. It burned his mouth a bit. Whoa is this spiced or is this natural? I wonder what of monster this meat came from. Because all the monsters I had seen so far didn't have meat inside, only Cinta. Like big murder pinata.

Robert sighed as he put down the jerky and started on the color plant leaves in his bowl.

Is this fresh? Where are they getting these plants? There can't be some kind of public garden here. That wouldn't explain all the wood. Do they get it all from monsters? Robert thought, as he remembered back to a few horror movies about giant a man eating plants. Well Sofia did said that they got the blue nuts from an expedition. But where would they go for those... The hole maybe? Surely not. How can there be plants under ground? Their must be some kind of oasis somewhere.

Robert was expecting rough, flavorless plant fibers. But after one bite, he dug in with gusto. They tasted rich, flavorful and surprising fresh. Unlike many earth greens. “Whoa! This is surprisingly good for just plain salad and jerky.” Robert muttered, as he took another bite.

“Ok, how about this guys.” Rex said. “Did anyone see that Liba caravan that came in yesterday?” Robert froze mid bite. Everyone shook their heads. “Anyone.”

“Well this morning during my job, I spotted a few guys with those yellow capes, walking through the market.” a shorter man said. “They were looking for someone. A woman. They didn't say who she was. Just that they were looker for her. Real mysterious.”

“Probably some noble looking for a runaway daughter.” Rex said as he finished his food. “But enough of that. Who wants to join me for some gambling later? Have any of you been in the lucky lady lately?” Everyone shook their heads. “Well I have. We're bringing back weather cry.”

“Really? But wasn't that banned for being to fair?” one of the men asked.

“Not any more, it isn't. Well turn in our bowls and head over.” Rex said as he stood. A few other stood too. Rex stopped everyone with ahead. “ Wait I forgot, I need to trade down some sliver heads for gambling money. You all can head over. I need to visit the quartermaster's wagon first.”

“Why don't we all go.” one of the men said. “I'm sure Rex isn't going to pay for everyone drinks.”

“Hey Rex came I go after you?” Robert asked as he chewing the last of his greens. “I was meaning to check out the quartermaster's wagon. You can show me how it's works”

“Right sure. You can even come with us to the luckily lady.” Rex said “How good are you at cards?”

“Pretty good, if I know the game.” Robert said, as he stood. “But you need to teach me how to play weather cry.”

I wonder if weather cry is like poker? Robert thought as he followed behind the group. I should ask to be left out of the gambling. I don't have any money to waste on it. I should ask about a clothing store later. He glanced down at his dirty water stained jacket, pants and undershirt. Wow this suit was really seen better days. But surprisingly it fits right in with that dirty mercenary look.