Today is an especially nice day, with the sky clearing after several showersthat drove tourists indoors and kept many attractions closed. A rainbow hasformed over the amusement park, in front of which several costumed shiga andsimilar creatures are attempting to persuade small children that this will bethe greatest experience of their life. Welcome to Safar, the place togo for a great time at low risk to life and limb.

Several airships have just docked at the nearby port. The crowd begins toswell with new tourists fresh off the boat, mostly Khattas and Katthas from AbuDhabi, plus a scattering of mixed species that, judging by the cut of theirclothes, must be from Rephidim.

Hopping about at the edge of the crowd is a costumed performer, wearing a fakecreen-body (but having very realistic looking wings) and trilling to anychildren nearby.

"Visit Great Safarland!" the costumed Cris Creen chirps. "Travel all over Sinaiwithout leaving the park, for only 20 shekels apiece!"

A Gallah pup, looking mostly like a collie, pads up to the performer and putshis hands on his hips. "An' what're ya s'posta be, huh?"

Flapping its wings a bit, the performer turns to 'face' the young canine. "Why,I'm Cris Creen! Bringer of good luck!"

Brushing through the crowd, a pretty brown bat tries to tug a rather largedufflebag without either putting her shoulder out of joint or getting knockedover. She stops for a moment to brush her black hair over her shoulders, thensits down on the bag to start knotting it up so it won't keep falling forward.

Cris Creen hops around the Gallah pup, chirping, "And what's your name?Wouldn't you like to see all of the wonders of Sinai in just one afternoon?"

The Gallah snickers. "Good luck huh? 'ou must t'ink I'm some sorta yokel."He peers at her costume, trying to see where the seams are. "An' I'm Guyfren.I'm gonna grow up to be a pirate!"

The puppy adjusts his long coat, which does look sort of nautical if you squintat it hard; otherwise it just looks too big for him.

"Oh my!" Cris Creen chirps, "A pirate? Why, pirates need the most luck of all!" Out of a slit in the side of the Creen-body, a white-furred arm pokes out totug on the mouth of the costume, so that the performer can see the pup better.

Guyfren shouts, "I saw that!" He points at the arm. "You ain't no Creen! Ik'n tell a Creen from a silly whatchamacallit wearin' a suit!" Nearby, severalchildren stop to giggle at the antics.

The bat sits on her duffle bag to watch the going-ons, catching her breath,then reaches into her bag and pulls out a wooden two-pronged flute to play idly.

Inside the suit, Envoy ponders what to do next. "Why, I am so a Creen!" shechirps. "Just watch!" She begins to beat her wings and sing like a Creen.

This performance starts to draw more children, and their parents watching withamused looks. Guyfren rubs his chin and leans back a little, apparentlyplaying critic.

Envoy starts singing the song she's heard Creens do when they find something toeat.

Guyfren grins and throws up his hands. "Okay, okay, I guess 'ou k'n be acreen. But why's you want to be a Creen? What makes 'ou think that'll make mewant to buy one o' your bloomin' tickets, huh?" The little puppy is obviouslyvery thoughtful for his age.

The flute-playing bat lowers her instrument and watches the going-ons withmerriment. She looks rather familiar, actually, though the lighter clothes forthe hotter Safar weather fooled Envoy for a moment.

Envoy pauses a moment in her act after having spotted Vielanika. Why would shebe in Safar? Hopping back to Guyfren, she chirps, "Why, because you want to bea pirate! And pirates live for adventure! And that's what Safarland is allabout! Fun and adventure!"

"Yeah? Is there looty in Safarland?" Guyfren demands. He pulls a wooden'sword' from inside his coat and points it at Cris Creen. "Tell me where 'tisor I'll run 'ou t'ough like a side o' Rughrat!"

The sword in question is rather blunt, so the threat probably would only bedoable with a great deal more strength than one Gallah puppy could wield.

Cris Creen chirps in alarm and spins around in a circle! "Oh no! Who will saveme from this pirate, who wants to take all of the wonderful gifts and toys andprizes to be found within Safarland at reasonable prices!"

Several of the parents start to clap and laugh, and children point at Guyfren.Emboldened, the pirate-would be says, "T'ere's no one 'ere to save 'ou – huh,what?" A brown-furred hand settles onto his shoulder.

Vielanika smiles down at Guyfren. "Good day, lit'un, and do be nice to thecreen, won't you? She doesn't know anything about the treasure inside, I'msure." Kneeling a little to whisper into his ear, she adds, "It'ssecret. Only a real pirate could read all the clues inside."

Cris Creen uses his wings to make a 'hands over mouth' gesture, "Oh no, I'vesaid too much! Next thing you know, I'll admit to there being loads and loadsof candy in there too, and then what will I have left to eat?"

Guyfren looks swayed at first, then suspiciously back at Cris Creen. "Whowants candy? I'm out f'r the real looty, I am, matey! Gimme real iron! 'ousure you don't know anytin' about buried treasure?"

"Oh no Captain," Cris Creen shakes his head from side to side – not that it canmove very much. "I know nothing of all the treasure to be found in Safarland!Nobody needs Creen-luck to uncover it… "

Guyfren hmfs! "'Ou're lucky to have escaped the wrath o' Dread Pirate Guyfren,f'r now, you Creen, but watch out next time!" He grins and puts the swordaway, then tumbles off apparently to find his parents and tell them that he'sgoing to look for buried treasure. One can only hope that toy shovels aren'tfor sale within.

Vielanika smiles and shoulders her bag again. "Well, have a good day," shesays to the Creen-dressed person. "Oh! Do you know if there are any shipsgoing upriver to the City of Hands? I asked at the dock, but they didn't thinkanyone would be going there soon."

The crowd starts to dissipate again, but it does seem like a few more peoplehave been convinced to try spending the day at Safarland, judging from thosewho are heading for the ticket booths.

Envoy blinks inside the costume. "Why do you want to go to the City of Hands,Vielanika?"

"It's Bard's Guild business," the bat says with a smile. Then stops. "How didyou know my name?"

Cris Creen produces the white-furred arm again, and tugs his mouth open toreveal a familiar golden-eyed face. "It's me, Envoy! What sort of business? Ijust came from the City a little while ago."

Vielanika looks surprised. "What? Aren't you supposed to be on the EasternFlower, Envoy? And I'm just supposed to check it out, see if there's call fora bard to be rotated through there regularly."

After a short pause, Envoy says, "I got left behind when the Flower departedSafar. Do you know Savanite Sign?"

Vielanika blinks. "Left… behind? What were you doing off the ship? Anddon't they always do a crew check an hour before they leave?" She seems toodistracted to answer Envoy's question about Savanite sign.

Envoy shifts from foot to foot, like a Creen on a branch. "Well, I had tofulfill a previous obligation to a Temple Inquisitor." Reporting toMelchizedek, albeit a year late, seemed a good enough excuse.

The brown bat puts her duffle bag down again and puts her hands on her hips."Are you evading me, Envoy of Lothrhyn?" she says flatly.

Envoy smiles, "Yes. How am I doing at it? Do you have any suggestions forimprovement?"

"I would suggest not evading questions from people you're supposed towork with, especially not people who are supposed to be yourmentors, your friends!" Vielanika says rather distressedly."Whatever prompted you to break a contract with the Eastern Flower? Don't yourealize this will look very bad for the Bard's Guild, if we promise performersand then they wander away in the middle of their contracts? What could be soimportant to you that you'd risk that?"

Envoy blinks. "I had to go to the City of Hands to witness the Coronation ofthe new Priest-King. Inquisitor Melchizedek was part of the Temple delegation,so I gave him my report about the last time he sent me to the City."

"Arch-Inquisitor Melchizedek," Vielanika corrects automatically. "Never forgetthe full titles. Very Important People resent demotion." Taking this in, shethen says, "Then why did you sign the contract, Envoy? Why didn't you simplybuy a ticket, or go with the Temple delegation?"

Envoy says, "I didn't know there was going to be a Temple delegation … and Ididn't have enough money for passage on my own. I didn't even know about theCoronation date until after I'd signed the contract."

Vielanika sits on her duffel bag rather distraughtly. "Well! Now you've goneand ruined your career, Envoy."

Envoy blinks three times, then asks, "Which one?"

"I was going to recommend that you be considered for a senior bard circuit onbasis of your singing ability and your performance in that opera," Vielanikasays. "It would have been contingent on successfully completing your route onthe Eastern Flower. They were very concerned about that in the Guild, becauseyou have a history of being away from Rephidim quite often. But well, thiswill look really bad. I think they'll probably want to yank your Bard's Guildcertificate for this, Envoy." She shakes her head disbelievingly. "Why didn'tyou come and see me about this before you left?"

Envoy frowns, and sits down awkwardly in the costume. "The Temple said Icouldn't talk about the City of Hands to anyone, so how could I have told you?"

Vielanika throws up her hands. "I don't know, but you could at least have toldme there was a problem! Honestly, Envoy, I could swear you were bornyesterday, some of the time!" This flamboyant gesture draws a few looks frompeople, who are wondering why Cris Creen has been decapitated, but other thanthat, the day progresses as usual for Great Safarland.

Envoy blinks again, and says, "I was born two years ago, not yesterday. Howcould you think I was born yesterday if you've known me for longer than that?"

"It's just an expression," Vielanika says with a sigh. "It means thatsometimes you can act just absolutely like a baby who doesn't know any better.You're a grown up, Envoy, and you have to act like it. When you take on a job,you're supposed to follow through!" She shakes her head. "Well, I guess thismeans that you don't know of any ships or expeditions going to the City ofHands either."

Envoy shakes her head. "I think the boat I came back on has already left. I'msure there must be some sort of regular traffic though now. And the terms'grown up' and 'baby' are out of context. I am an artifact, not a naturallifeform that goes through developmental stages."

The bat says, "Well, maybe you can answer some of my questions, Envoy." Shetries to sort out her thoughts. "I won't be going back to Rephidim any timesoon, but I'll give you money to buy a ticket back. I think I owe you thatmuch at least, though I don't envy you the reception you're going to get. Thisis such a disappointment!" She shakes her head. "Anyway, where was I?"

Envoy says, "You were asking about transport to the City of Hands."

Vielanika nods. "Oh. Yes. Well, I needed to go there because I wanted toknow if they enjoy music, like many cultures do. Some don't, but those thatdo, their kings and queens often hire a bard from us, to provide music at theirroyal festivities. It's a very important job, you can learn a lot that way,and give us the news, and we can pass anything that should go on, to the rightpeople. But you have to know what not to say too. Anyway, if the Savanitesdon't like music, then there's no point in going, is there?"

Envoy says, "They enjoyed the parade, when the Cobalt Lance was performingmusic."

Vielanika lifts her eyebrows. "Really? Maybe the Collegia Esoterica will wantto stage a mage of the Sphere of Illusion there too, then. Anything else?"

Envoy nods, "The Nagai Empire apparently has chosen not to acknowledge the Cityof Hands as a sovereign nation … although there were an awful lot of Nagaitypes working as servants there."

"Hmm! That's interesting," Vielanika says. "That must explain why they keptgiving me strange looks and wouldn't even agree there was any such place." Thebat bard frowns.

Envoy says, "There are probably plenty of free Savanites migrating to the Cityfrom Safar though. You could try asking them."

Vielanika looks doubtful. "I'll try the usual places first," she decides. "Isthere anything else I should know?"

Envoy ponders, then says, "You probably shouldn't mention that you know me."

Vielanika looks disconcerted. "Bards are supposed to be very likable, Envoy.What did you do to them?"

Envoy says, "Also, there is a person there that looks a bit like me which wasacting as translator. You'll probably need one."

Vielanika taps a foot. "I can sign," she says. "What did you do?Spill soup on their Priest-King?"

Envoy shrugs. "I don't know exactly why Third-Eye doesn't like me. It might bebecause I tried to help her sister become Priest-King instead of her."

Vielanika swallows. "Oh, that would do it. We aren't supposed to get involvedin politics, either."

Envoy says, "Zoltan doesn't like me anymore either."

Envoy says, "It wasn't exactly political at the time. I was just trying to savethe world."

Vielanika looks puzzled. "I don't think I know him… Is he important? Itsounds like a Vartan sort of name."

Envoy says, "You met him on the first expedition to the City of Hands. Bigblack Vartan."

"Oh!" The brown bat snaps a finger. "Yes, he looked quite strong. Veryreliable too. I'm sorry he doesn't like you anymore, Envoy, but no one isliked by everyone that I can think of." She grins wryly.

Envoy says, "He's the Baron of Paradys now, and very close to the Priest-King."

Vielanika looks impressed. "Really? That's a big jump in the world for him.I'll be sure to congratulate him if I do see him."

After shifting from foot to foot again, Envoy quietly asks, "Vielanika, can Iask you a personal question?"

"Of course," Vielanika says, surprised again.

Envoy asks, "How did you learn what to say and what not to say? Was it in abook?"

Vielanika says, "Oh, no. Books can't teach you that kind of thing. You haveto look at other people very closely, and understand how they feel. Then youthink about what you're going to say, and how it will change that." Sheshrugs. "It's not easy to learn, but that's the point of getting experience onthe road."

"And you do it on the road so that you can leave your mistakes behind you?" theExile asks.

"Some people have a gift for it," the brown bat adds. "Others don't, so theyhave to spend a lot more painful experience getting that kind of experience.No, not at all; you do it on the road because that's how you meet new people.If you stay in the same place, then you only get experience working with thosepeople."

Envoy asks, "How long should it take me to learn then? Everyone expects me toknow it all now."

Vielanika blinks. "I… don't know," she admits. "I guess you look likeyou're old enough to know better, so people think you do. I'm really not surewhat to suggest."

Envoy frowns, and asks, "And you're sure there are no books on the subject?"

"Someone might have written one, but if so, I haven't read it yet," Vielanikasays matter of factly. "That doesn't mean there isn't one. But a lot ofpeople don't read, and they get along just fine. You have to be careful,that's all, Envoy."

Envoy nods again. "Thank you, Vielanika. I owe you so much, and I'm sorry tohave disappointed you."

Vielanika sighs. "Well, there's not much we can do about it. Maybe you canapply to the guild again in a few years, when you've figured these things out,Envoy. I'm sure they'll be willing to consider you again." She stands andthem fumbles about in her coin pouch a moment. "Here. You should take aticket and get back to Rephidim, Envoy. Don't lose it; that's coming out of mytravel allowance! I'm sure you can find a job of some kind there, maybe beinga courtroom transcriber."

The brown bat drops two coins into Envoy's gloved hand.

Envoy looks at the coins in her hand, then impulsively hugs Vielanika… despitethe Creen-costume.

Vielanika squeaks! She smiles, hugging back. "All right, Envoy. You getalong now; I don't think that you really wanted to wear a hot and stuffy Creencostume all day for a few shekels."

The coins appear to be copper. Enough to buy an airship ticket, if one travelscheaply, to Rephidim, or most other places.

Envoy says, "It was not my first choice, no. But… did you think I was a goodCris Creen?"

"Oh, you did Creensong very well," Vielanika says with a laugh.

Envoy smiles, proud of at least that small accomplishment.

Shouldering her duffel bag again, Vielanika smiles to Envoy and then heads offtoward the tavern district. Perhaps she'll find some small-time airship pilotwho'll be willing to take her down the river, perhaps not. But it seems thatat any rate, a chapter in Envoy's life is being drawn to a close.

Envoy tucks the coins away into the clothes she wears under the costume, thenreadjusts the head and starts to caper around again as Cris Creen. Despite thediscomfort, she decides she should at least get used to finishing jobs shestarts.