The people’s feet kept time with the merry bells and rhythmic breathing of Daccora. Her smile and quick witted poems charmed the crowd, but only a few gold coins were left when the day was done. Bluroso- – or just Blue, as he was sometimes called- – emerged from the shadows of a nearby alleyway. Silently, she joined him as they made their way to the campfire.
“Daccora!” Phineas called hazily from his log. “I don’t imagine you had more luck than us, today?”
“No, love,” she sighed, kneeling down next to him. Her eyes drifted to the empty bottles beside him. “Although I see you’ve already spent yours.”
“There’s a spot left if you want it.” Daccora suppressed a smile and lifted the bottle to her lips. From the corner of her eye, she saw Blue disappear into his tent. People used to say to lock up your women when Bluroso came to town. It was stupid of them though; only Daccora knew how lonely he was even in those days…