Taiken lay alone in the bedroom part of his tent, staring up at the ceiling as a breeze made it rustle.

Outside he could hear the bustle of people putting up the frames and setting up the complexes around the amphitheater. He closed his eyes, just listening. Just allowing himself to sink into a serenity that rarely visited him.

He should go out and help. He had insisted on setting up his own tent and unloading his own cart. And in the morning he expected a load of things that needed repairs.

But, for now, he just didn’t want to move.

That’s why he groaned loudly in protest when the tent flap abruptly moved and he could smell someone outside.

“No.” He moaned it. Like a child, he thought but he didn’t care.

He got a pillow in his face for the effort.

“Get up. You have a messenger.”

Taiken pushed the pillow off and rolled over onto one elbow, squinting at Sheldon. The boy, er, man was struggling not to smile. So Taiken pretended to pout and threw the pillow back.

“Tell them I’m busy.”

“It’s Lita.”

Something jolted through him and he sat up in a hurry. “What? Lita’s back?”

“No.” Sheldon spoke slowly, looking up at the tent ceiling. “She’s just playing messenger.”

Taiken hesitated before asking cautiously. “Have you talked to her?”

Sheldon frowned but didn’t answer. Still looking up.

“Uh huh.” With a sigh, the weight of the world beginning to drop on him, Taiken got to his feet and stretched. “Alright. Let’s go see what Lita wants.”

By the time he stepped outside his tent his entire demeanor had changed. All hints of a smile had vanished and his shoulders tensed, almost bowing under some invisible weight.

As they walked through the quickly forming Complexes he nodded to people that made eye contact with him. Especially Dennin and Isha as they abruptly, and without any fear, ran out in front of them in some sort of game.

Or some sort of sibling mock fight.

He caught their eyes, first one and then the other, then Dennin tripped and Isha fell over him. Taiken gave both of them a stern raised eyebrow.

“Dennin! Isha! You’re going to get hurt if you keep doing that.”

“Or you’re going to hurt someone else.” Sheldon pulled the little girl up but neither child seemed to be hurt now.

“We looking for mama. You see her?”

Isha was very proud of her four-year-old ability to say things better than her brother. The other child immediately pushed his way into the conversation, spouting excited baby gibberish that left the two adults baffled.

“He said he want to show Mama the rocks he found.”

“Did he?” Taiken immediately dropped into a crouch, letting his hands dangle between his legs. “Can you show me, Dennin?”

“Master Taiken-”

“This’ll only take a heartbeat.” Taiken waved Sheldon’s concern away as the child, face brightening, pulled the rocks from his shawl pocket and waved it at the demon. “They’re pink,” he told the boy admiringly as he took the stones and lifted them to the light. “Your Mama will be surprised.”

He handed the little stones back. The boy clutched the three little stones in his hand as he waved it around and started excitedly talking in his own, indecipherable language at Taiken. Once in a while he caught a word. “Bu-er-fy. ….. Hun-nee… Mama likes…”

He was amused as Sheldon’s shifting became more and more agitated next to him.

“I think I see your Mama.” Sheldon quickly interjected when Isha showed signs of trying to assert herself into the conversation. Mainly by her words beginning to get louder. He pointed down the Complex, toward the wall that was now erected between them and the amphitheater.

Both children whipped around and squealed their delight as they again started to dash.

“Go slow!” Sheldon called after them, exasperated.

“Might as well tell the rain not to come.” A smile flickered on Taiken’s lips. He stayed crouched for an instant, watching the children go.

“They’ll trip someone.” Sheldon’s scent was growing increasingly sour with anxiety. “Then they’ll be smashed.”

“Relax, Sheldon. They’ll be fine.” Taiken stood up and tried to distract the worried man. “Lita?”

“Uh, right. Right.”

If anything Sheldon’s anxiety seem to go up. Or the smell was becoming more noticeable as they walked into the breeze. By the Void! The breeze felt wonderful and Taiken wanted to close his eyes, allow himself to hold onto the small amount of relaxation his conversation with the children had given back to him.

It was no use.

By the time they saw Lita, bouncing tensely with her head down and hood up to avoid attention, he’d already tensed again.

The girl had stayed out of camp, stayed as far away as she could. By the recent smells that trailed to and from her she hadn’t escaped notice but, for the most part, had managed not to attract the entire troupe’s attention.

There was an absent scent.

Coward, Taiken thought in amusement with a quick glance at Sheldon. Waiting for me to come with you before facing her yourself.

She heard them coming and reluctantly looked up.

Her lips were pinched together and she smelled just as anxious as Sheldon. Worse. She smelled faintly of recent pain and anger. And… something that else that he couldn’t name but it almost made him gag whenever it overpowered the other scents.

It wasn’t her smell that caught his attention though. With a quickened stride he hurried to her and grabbed her gently by the chin.

“Who did this?” he demanded before anyone else could say anything.

She yanked her bruised cheeks and lips from his hand and stepped back.

“None of your business.”

He clenched his fist and let it drop to his side. Right. None of your business, Taiken.

“You took your time coming.” She lifted her chin, refusing to look at her brother who had stopped walking just behind the demon.

Taiken grunted. Sour little minx. “And I should have hurried, why?”

With a sigh she reached into her bag and pulled out a folded vellum missive. His face fell into a grimace and she held it out to him.

“I’m supposed to wait for you to give me an answer. Be quick.” She waved a hand around. “I don’t want to be here.”

“I can tell that for myself.” He stepped back, refusing to take the vellum.

The girl sighed and sagged her stance a little but still holding the letter out. “What are you doing? Take it. It’s from Diana Veran.”

Slowly he shook his head. “No. Whatever Diana has to say to me she can come and say it herself.”

He turned to walk away, almost flashing a triumphant smile when he provoked the girl into grabbing his arm. “Taiken, Master Taiken, please. I have to serve table tonight. I don’t have time to play games.”

“Who’s playing games?”

Technically you got my answer. He wasn’t about to point that out to her.

“I’ll take it.” Sheldon stepped closer and Lita sighed. Eyes tired, smelling sad, she finally looked at her brother. He held out a hand.

“It’s for Taiken.”

“I’m his steward, now. I have the authority to make replies.”

The girl sighed and started to hand it to her brother. The attempt was blocked by Taiken whipping around and pushing her hand back down, blocking the exchange. And not letting go of her arm.

“It’s just Taiken now? I get no respect as soon as you’re not trying to manipulate me?”

“T- Master Taiken-”

“Sir, this isn’t-”

He interrupted the two trying to talk at once at him. “Shut up, both of you.” He was starting to get a headache from trying to decipher the smells of complex emotions each of them were emitting. Ugh. “Lita, I will take the message. And I will reply myself. But, you and Sheldon need to have a conversation.”

He pointed to a circle of boulders behind them with one hand and slid the other hand down her captured arm until he’d taken the letter from her.

“Go sit over there and talk.”

She didn’t move, gritting her teeth stubbornly. “You’re not my master.”

He folded his arms, message hanging over his elbow. “Then I won’t read this.”

“Sir, it’s alright-”

“No, it isn’t.” Taiken didn’t look at Sheldon as he spoke, glaring at Lita and holding her angry gaze. The bruises were making him angry, too, and he kept glancing at them around her mouth. “You’ve been avoiding us too long, girl. Make up with your brother.”

Her face reddened and she opened her mouth.

“Or I’ll keep you here all night. All week. All month.”

He stepped closer to her, closing the distance to inches and she quickly took a step back.

“Whatever it takes to force Diana to come fetch you herself.” He grinned, allowing a little bit of a fang to grow. “It makes no difference to me.”

“You really are just like all other demon.”

He flinched and she whipped around to stalk toward the boulders, plopping down and crossing her arms. She glared at a boulder so hard that he mentally pictured the thing exploding.

“Great. Thank you for your interference, Master Taiken.”

Sheldon now stank of anger and anxiety as he, too, followed Lita to the boulders.

“You’re welcome,” Taiken muttered as he opened the stupid letter.

He read it once. His face blanked. His mind blanked. Then he read it again.

By order of Lord Aridon, who has seat with the Brethren at the Central Palace, Taiken Vaughn is being informed of the decisions of the Brethren.

It is hereby declared that the annual taxation of the Outside Circus is to be increased to 2000 pebbles or the equivalent in goods. Due immediately upon receipt of this missive.

If the amount due cannot be provided, or there are complaints, arrangements are to be made directly with Lord Aridon. Please provide the messenger with the goods or inform them of your intentions.

-Diana Veran, Chief Enforcement Officer for the Council of Brethren, Central Palace, Capital City

“They’ve got to be kidding! 2000 pebbles?”

He looked toward his tent, practically hidden at the other end of the Outer Complex. It was still visible, with supply tents going up around it, because the Inner Complex walls hadn’t been put up yet.

If only he could just go back and pretend nothing was happening.

Then he looked back at the letter.

With a sigh he wrinkled the vellum into a ball and pressed it to his forehead. “I need to talk to Sheldon.”

Pressure began to build up inside his chest as he glanced at the siblings. They seemed to be mostly sitting in silence. No signs that they’d already hugged and made up.

With another sigh, he walked back into the Inner Complex.

2000 pebbles.

He wandered around the Complex, moodily glancing at the vellum and then around at the tents. Most of the sleeping tents had gone up last night. But more and more, along with the various walls around the amphitheater and between Complexes, were now going up.

People, his people, were busily putting them up and unpacking supplies. Talking. Laughing.

Children and dogs ran around.

He almost smiled. A heavy smile.

So many people depending on him. He felt like a lizard who just wanted to sunbathe. But someone was aiming to smash him with a rock.

2000 pebbles.

Voids on those old bastards!

He could take a few more Contracts.

But, who’d pay him when they could just go up to the Palace and ask a demon there? A demon who’d do it at no real cost to the asker?

Maybe he could make more goods to sell. He grimaced at the thought.

There were demon who consistently made beautiful things. His main skill had to do with repairing things. Not making them.

Maybe he could repair things? Set up a booth somewhere…

But, that still came down to who’d pay for a service that other demon mostly did for free? Just sign this Contract and there you go.

“I was wondering if you’d be coming by, sir.”

He looked up and realized where he’d come to.