Nedric, Bethan and Rialto took two weeks to travel from Elseth to Elith. It was a journey that took less than a day on the boardway but they weren’t travelling in that fast and convenient way. Instead they took the dusty back trails and stopped at any village of any size to perform.

Two elderly and docile horses pulled the wagon that was to be their home for the next few weeks. This was just as well as none of them were experienced at handling a team and it certainly showed in their driving. It was fortunate that there were few obstacles amongst the farmlands through which they travelled. Even so they had to spend some time pulling the wagon out of ditches and on one memorable occasion it took the three of them and the two horses, several hours to get the wagon from off of its side.

The incident made Bethan slightly unpopular for a while, as Nedric and Rialto had been asleep at the time. Fortunately Bethan was able to turn it into a joke and in some complicated process it brought the three closer together. By the time they entered Esteril they were functioning as a team and life was beginning to run smoothly.

The delay caused by their slow method of travel was essential. Three people with three sets of skills do not automatically make a successful troupe. The constant practice helped and they were able to leave their mistakes behind. They weren’t making a lot of money but each day they could see their takings grow as they learned to play to their strengths and to understand their audiences demands.

One thing that Nedric hadn’t expected was the attention they received. He had expected people to want to see them working, particularly in the smaller communities where visitors were rare, but he hadn’t any idea that they would be treated in quite the way they were.

Older members of the villages would ask them to stay for the night and ask them for tales of what was happening in the world. Having let slip that they had been in Elseth, people were generally interested in hearing about the boardways and the likelihood of war. When the young men suggested that war would come soon, the general mood of these villages became grim and also determined. It was clear that the general attitude was that a fight with Nothering was both expected and in some way desirable.

From the younger members of the villages came two very different attitudes. The males tended towards aggressiveness, which seemed to be mainly due to envy. Fortunately that was lessened by the humour that the three men brought with their show. It was the attention they received from the younger women of the village that caused the most problems. It was clear that Rialto and Bethan would have been very popular if Nedric had not insisted that they needed to move on rapidly.

On one occasion a village youth had taken exception to the way the women had switched their attention from himself to Bethan. It seemed that Bethan would manage to talk his way out of the situation as he had managed to do in previous encounters but on this occasion another of the villagers had been urging the youth on. When the youth took a swing at Bethan it soon became clear that being a soldier, even on the southern borders, had given him a lot of useful fighting experience. Nedric couldn’t quite follow the movements but the youth was soon lying on the floor with his arm being pulled up his back, screaming for all he was worth.

Rialto in the meantime had moved quietly over to the man who had been urging the youth on and quietly suggested to him, with only a little extra emphasis with his dagger, that he keep his opinions to himself. Nedric took the opportunity, when the youth stopped screaming with pain, to point out to the surrounding group that they were packing and would be on their way shortly. This appeared to do the trick and the small crowd who could have been nasty, disappeared.

Nedric was pleased. Not only had a potentially dangerous incident been averted very quickly but also the trio had worked as a team. If this expedition was to have any chance of success there needed to be that quick understanding between them.

By the time they arrived at Elith a routine had been developed. They would ride through a village and depending on the time of day, they would vary the length of show. In the mornings, when mainly women folk were around, Rialto would play ballads and Bethan would sing. Nedric would do complicated tricks that fit with the music but which did not ask to be noticed.

If they arrived during a meal break or in the evening then they would do a full show. Nedric would amuse and impress. Bethan would tell tales both amusing and full of wonder and Rialto would play music that got the audience feeling merry.

If they arrived during one of the slow afternoons then they would pass through the village. Experience had taught them that there was no call for their service at that time and they would make no money. If they had been prepared to wait then they would have earnt more money; as it was they were in something of a hurry although that wasn’t always apparent.

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It was particularly difficult to spot their hurry the day before they reached their immediate destination. It was Rialto who, driving the wagon, first noticed what he took to be smoke. When they went to investigate they found that rather than smoke, what he had seen was steam rising from the waters of a nearby stream.

The water was too hot to be comfortable where they first met the stream but as the track followed the stream they could tell that it was gradually cooling. At a point not far from where the track crossed the stream someone had widened the streambed so that it was more like a medium sized pond. Testing the temperature they found it was now quite bearable and decided to bathe.

“Last one in’s a Flakbut!” called Rialto, referring to a particularly maliferous reptile.

The other two needed no added incentive. They had been travelling for nine days and the cold streams they had met previously had not invited them to clean themselves. Casting off all but their small clothes they raced for the water and dove in. Soon all that could be heard was splashing as they enjoyed the unexpected delights of the warm water.

Recovering from being pushed underwater by Bethan, Nedric made his way to the top end of the pool and found that large stones had been placed in the water so that it was possible to just sit on the stones and have most of ones body immersed. It was incredibly relaxing, feeling the warm water flow past. There was an unfortunate smell that came with the stream but very quickly the nose blocked it out. Anyway, there had been an equally unpleasant smell that accompanied the men, caused by not washing their clothes for days and this was eradicated.

Feeling refreshed, they took the opportunity to clean their clothing. This burst of domesticity was managed without any of them making fun of the others. This was probably just as well as it would have taken them much longer if they were to be constantly throwing each other into the stream.

They hung their clothing on strings attached to sides of the wagon. It was a warm day and the clothing steamed as it dried. Wearing only the minimum to preserve decency they drove along the track, waving at any farmhands they passed along the way. At one point the string holding Rialto’s clothes came away and they didn’t notice immediately. The other two laughed as the smaller man went running back for his clothes whilst the wagon continued in the opposite direction.

The village they entered that evening was a typical example of the places they had passed through over the previous two weeks. It had a collection of houses built along two roads that met at the village square. On the four sides of the square were the four most important buildings of the village, the store, the smithy, the church and the inn.

As it was end-week none of the five gods were being worshipped so the church also served as a meeting hall for any community decisions that needed to be made. Not that anything more momentous than who would be dancing with whom was likely to be decided that week. The church was close to the inn so that nobody had too far to walk to get drinks. All villages were eminently practical in this way.

As it was evening, the store and smithy were closed. The musicians were warming up at the church and the inn was beginning to fill. The trio road in. Their clothing had been returned to suitable locations and they were dressed in their best performing clothing. Children, catching sight of their brightly painted wagon had followed them through the village and their parents were not far behind.

Bringing their wagon to rest in the square, they re-arranged the wooden sides to make a small stage. To one side Rialto placed a stool on which he sat and Bethan began the opening spiel.

“Good folks. Today I bring you the finest show you may ever see. Not only one of the finest minstrels out of Elseth,” Rialto traced a bow with his hand, “but also one of the most amusing masters of the art of prestidigitation you will ever meet. I have tales to tell of wonders from around the world. Hear about the fabulous beasts and the not so fabulous people. Hear of scandals and disasters, the weird and the delightful, stories to amuse and stories to keep you awake at night.”

As Bethan spoke a larger group began to form and when a clear audience was defined he started to tell one of his more amusing tales. Nedric was struck by the way the people seemed to fall under the spell of his words so quickly, it always took him a little while to get the audience to warm to him.

As the show progressed more and more of the village appeared to watch and listen. At appropriate points the trio would ask for money to be thrown into their pot to encourage them to continue. They expected to receive mainly copper but during this evening they were getting some silvers. They didn’t expect any gold, this wasn’t a rich city but the total earnings were mounting nicely.

Nedric finished his spot and was gratified to see the pile of money grow considerably. He had the opportunity to sit and watch for a while before he had to do a final group spot. The audience was the best they had ever enjoyed. Mainly they were just sat there enjoying the show but occasionally someone would head to the inn for some drinks, always aiming to get back as quickly as possible so as not to miss anything.

It astonished him the effect that they had on this and other groups of people. Some of it was just that they were different. The villagers spent most of their lives only seeing the same few people. That they had recently been in Elseth and had tales to tell of the city was another point in their favour. Nedric felt that sometimes the fact that they were entertainers was less important than just being a change to their everyday lives.

As Rialto played a piece of music that was currently popular in Elseth, Bethan came over to talk.

“This is more fun than being a soldier.” He smiled.

“Before too long, that’s what half this lot will be.”

“At least they’ve had a good time this evening and so have I.”

Bethan began clapping in time with the music and Nedric joined him. Soon the whole audience was clapping and Rialto had to play louder and sing stronger. The audience responded and by the end of the song it was difficult to hear Rialto over the noise.

After they finished the three men were asked to join in with the evening dancing. They debated staying the night and decided that they were close enough to Elith that a night not travelling would cause no harm. Dismantling the stage and hiding the money in a specially made compartment within the wagon they went first to the inn and then after obtaining drinks headed for the church.

After a night of dancing with all the village ladies, making sure not to show too much interest in any one girl they retired to their wagon.

“This is a great life.” Nedric said with contentment.

“How much did we earn today?” asked Rialto.

“Close on three golds.”

“You could earn as much as an impressor.”

“Sure but there is no fun in that and we are getting better, we could earn much more in a town or city.”

“I’d rather earn much more as a merchant and hire the entertainment, it’s fun but the challenge isn’t the same.”

“I agree,” said Bethan from beneath his blanket. “If I were in the army my decisions would be essential to the lives of others, here I am merely a distraction. Which is not to say that I’m not enjoying it but rather I will feel more fulfilled doing the job I trained for.”

“Well I’d rather be doing this,” said Nedric forcefully and turned over.