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Katerin's face. "All done then?"
    Gemma nodded as the blonde woman beside her looked to Katerin.
    "Let's take you visiting then, shall we?" the redhead asked cheerfully. "I'll introduce you to the rest of our fine troupe."
    "Certainly," Katerin said politely, nodding. "Lead on."
    With a happy excitement, Lucinda led the way towards another wagon.
     
    Names and faces whirled about in Katerin's mind as she entered the large tent with the rest of the circus. The tour of the wagons had been short, there being only a score of performers, but meeting them all at once was baffling. She doubted she'd be able to remember one in three for the next fortnight. They were of all colors and sizes, old and young. Wilm was the baby at a tender four years, Daiki the eldest at fifty-six - though he appeared hardly older than thirty.
    Around her, people laughed and joked as they entered the tent's cool interior. Eyes adjusting from the direct sunlight, she saw Ros standing in the center awaiting them. Several logs had been felled and trimmed, laid out in a rough circle. Outside the circle more were placed in semi-neat lines.
    "What are those for?" she asked Lucinda, pointing.
    "Seating for our guests," the redhead confided. "And the center is the boundary for our stage."
    Ros gestured for the entertainers to settle down. Even little Wilm was in attendance, though the black and white monkey he was playing with distracted him. Once everyone was assembled, their leader clapped her hands to gain their attention.
    "You've all done wonderfully on short sleep. We're all weary from our travels and toils, so there'll be no show tonight." Grinning at the applause and whistles, Ros ducked her tousled head in acceptance. "Rehearsal this afternoon, as usual, and we'll take the evening off." More cheering with a few groans were interspersed.
    She should smile more often , Katerin mused. It eases the stern lines of her face.
    Ros's expression turned serious. "I'm sure the reason why we left in such haste has reached your ears. I'll not lie to you; two men are dead, each killing the other. We've enough problems without the added headaches of dealing with a feud." She waved the two new arrivals forward. "Ilia. Katerin."
    Startled at the candor the circus owner was showing her troupe, the brunette rose and stepped before the audience. Her handmaiden followed timidly, wringing her hands.
    "You've probably already met both of them, if Lucinda's had her way," Ros said with a grin, standing between them and placing a hand on each woman's shoulder.
    "Aye," a black man called from the rear of the gathering. "And when does Lucinda not have her way?" Laughter was his response.
    The woman in question stood and whirled about, hands on her hips. In a scolding tone, she said, "You're just jealous, Usiku, because I haven't had my way with you !"
    Katerin wasn't certain which was more disconcerting - the warm hand placed so proprietarily on her shoulder or the bawdy humor of the crowd laughing and teasing each other in such a manner. She could feel her face heat up as she blushed.
    "Be that as it may," Ros called out cheerfully, regaining the people's
attention, "this is Ilia and Katerin." She indicated each with a nod. "For whatever reason, they found their way into our cook wagon. I've decided to keep them on. Ilia will be our seamstress and can play the lute. She'll train with Gemma and Minkhat as a clown."
    "Can you do the Russian Swing?" a swarthy man questioned Ilia.
    The blonde gave a half shrug and a shake of the head, uncertain as to what it was.
    "For now it's not necessary," Ros interrupted. "Should she decide to remain longer, she'll have the opportunity to learn." Indicating the brunette beside her, she said, "And I've hired Katerin as my personal attendant."
    Guffaws of laughter rippled through the small crowd, several of the men making colorful remarks. One or two women joined in or glared in mock anger at the raucous comments. Katerin stared at her toes in