Without any clear intention of doing so, I found myself avoiding the larger cities of Sandar.
I was in a town so small, that the local inn was called 'the Inn', hoping to earn shelter for the night.
"Good evening," I said to the Innkeeper.
"What?" he grumbled, it was late and he'd been about to close up for the night.
"I'm a musician, hoping to earn my shelter for the night."
"Already 'ave a performer 'ere, but I suppose you can stay, planty of empty rooms."
"My thanks."
"Up the stairs first on the left, an' you'll have to stay until you perform."
"Agreed."
The Innkeep locked up and left, presumably to his own room.
The next day, I left the Inn and went to the village square, hoping to attract a crowd with my music.
Much to my irritation, there was already a crowd gathered 'ooh'-ing and 'aah'-ing at something.
I pushed through them until I was able to see what had them so interested, it was a centaur performing magic tricks.
I noticed that it was only of the sleight of hand variety, but it was still entertaining. I stayed behind as the crowd dispersed, to their morning business.
"Good morning," I greeted the Centaur, in his own language.
"Good morning," he replied, after a quick double-take. "It is rare to find a human who speaks our language well."
"I learned it from an Elf."
"That explains your accent," he agreed, "I am called Sallandarandas, or Sallan to humans."
"I am called Lheorayhanni, Lora to humans."
"You are a musician?" he asked, noticing the harp I carried.
"Indeed I am, and you are a magician?"
"An illusionist, it looks like magic but it's just skill. The local mages' Guild gets touchy about non-registered persons using magic."
"Indeed they do," I agreed. "May I ask, Sallan, did you spend the night at the local inn?"
"I did."
"Perhaps I could play while you fufill your own performance obligations, if its' not too much trouble?"
"Do you have a different dress?" he asked bluntly, referring to my somewhat travel stained garb.
"Yes I do," I replied politely (thank you Elven discipline!).
"Very well then, he opens at noon meal, and I will begin one hour after."
"Agreed, oh, and you might want to bathe before you perform," I suggested, in the most polite tone I could manage.
Sallan snorted and trotted away across the square, as he didn't say anything I assumed it was still alright for me to perform alongside him.
I presented myself, bathed and changed, in the common room a quarter-hour before Sallan was due to begin.
"Well well, a human capable of being early," was his only remark at my arrival.
"Try not to pass out from the shock," I suggested sweetly. "Now where shall I sit?"
I could very nearly see him thinking a rude answer...
"Over there," he answered gruffly, pointing to a corner table, "and no singing, just music."
"Any particular tune?"
"Just try and keep it matching my act, and simple enough that the peasants don't get confused!"
"You're lucky, the last lot of peasants I encountered chased me out of town for being a 'Godless harlot'!"
"You humans!" he replied, pulling a face. "On the other hand, my own people responded much the same when I announced my intention to travel."
"You are the first centaur I have met."
"There are not many of us living among humans, some mercenaries and performers like myself."
"Not many other races like to interact with humans, huh?"
"No, they don't," he agreed. "Ready?"
I noticed that the room was filling, and walked to the corner table.
Sallan's show is quite convincing I mused, playing a fast, suspenseful tune as he made an animal 'disappear', and slowing down as it reappeared next to its owner.
"And for my final trick," he announced at last, I took the moment to stretch my fingers, "I will make my lovely assitant disappear!"
what assistant? I wondered, then realised he was pointing to me.
Rather than upset the rather large crowd of people, I stepped up on the stage and bowed.
"Whatever happens don't panic," he muttered in my ear, as he draped a cloth over me, the next moment I vanished, literally.
I was so surprised I stumbled, looking around I realised I was at the Inn's door and the crowd inside sounded restless. I threw open the door, rather dramatically, every eye in the room turned towards me and I bowed with a flourish. The crowd applauded as I stepped back on the stage and bowed again, in unison with Sallan.
"You might have given me better warning," I muttered, smiling brightly at the audience, who were now throwing coins onto the stage.
"Wonderful entrance," he muttered back, picking up the coins. "And now good people, I must retire and rest!"
He grasped my hand in his own, quite a feat in itself as he was nearly 7 feet tall altogether, and led me off stage and into the living quarters.
"A word with you?" he requested politely.
"As you like," I replied, slightly suspicious, but confidant that I could escape if he intended harm.
"You may have noticed that my last trick was no trick," he began.
"I won't tell anyone if that's what concerns you."
"That was one of my concerns," he admitted sheepishly, "your music is nearly magical itself, to that end, I wish for you to join my show."
"Travelling in company is certainly safer," I said thoughtfully, "it seems a practical agreement at this point."
"As long as you think you can put up with me."
"Agreed."
"Very well then, my lovely assistant, shall we prepare to depart this pigpen of a village?"
"Sallan," I began scoldingly, "that's very insulting to pigs!"
"I like you Lora," he replied with a hearty laugh. "One last thing, the business of the money, I propose you take a third of our joint earnings, plus whatever you make on your own."
"I agree." I had spent the last six months having innkeepers try to cheat me, I knew what was a fair deal by now.
"And if we run into difficult terrain, I shall carry you."
"I didn't know centaurs did that," I replied, surprised.
"The strict traditionalists find it demeaning, however I see no harm in helping a fellow traveller."
I picked up my harp from the, now empty, common room and paid the Innkeeper.
"You'll not be staying then?"
"No," I replied politely, "the road calls and we must follow."
"If you'd said you were with the horse fellow, I'd've let you in last night, you know."
"Part of the show," I lied. "Good day to you."
"And you, miss."
I met Sallan outside and we followed the bare dirt track out of the village.