...so anyway, that day I'm back in the Red District, where I'd tussled with those roughnecks. I'd sent them packing with a bit of the old one-two and a little footwork. Set 'em up, knock 'em down, right?

I mean, come on -- I've seen real combat, battlefield style, not just back alley scuffling. Yeah, one of them got lucky and landed a clout to my cheek, so that's where I'd got the bruise, but what are you going to do? Even mugs get lucky sometimes.

Anyway, I'm walking in the Red District, and who do I see but Miri strolling along calm as you please with the Grinner. And of course this is when the whole place is up in arms over a Bane killing folks right out in the street. Now that's a plus in that Calliope's got other things to do than harass yours truly about a little gladiator scam. But hell if a little girl should be out walking around in that atmosphere.

I don't care if she does have a big pet Ahazu who does anything she says. Bane is bad news.

So I walk on up the street to tell her this, and when she sees me her big eyes get all wide and she gives me that sweet little girl smile and a happy wave. "Dismal!" she chirps at me, and runs forward for a hug.

Naturally I give her one, but then I step back and look down at her all stern-like, hands on hips.

"Miri," I says, "you shouldn't be out here like this. Bad things are happening in this part of town."

She just grins like any twelve-year old who thinks an adult is being silly, and says, "Oh, Dismal, I've got Grinner with me." And of course I know this, but she thinks maybe she'd better point it out, in case I'd forgot.

I try to keep my stern face, which ain't easy with a cutie like Miri, and I say, "Sure and the Grinner's a tough one, and maybe he can take a Bane, and maybe he can't. But let's not force ourselves into finding out, okay little princess?" While I say this I keep a wary eye on the Ahazu, because there are some guys who don't like it when you say that maybe there's someone or something they can't beat. But he keeps staring into space like he always does, his four striped arms just hanging limp at his side.

She gives in, probably just to make me happy, and says, "I'm sorry, Dismal." Then she brightens. "But look! Look who we found!" And she points, and I see it's the juggler boy Zember who's with them. He smiles and tosses a casual nod my way, but I laugh and stretch out my hand.

"Hey, the juggling boy! Give us a hand, gimp!" I shout, which it later occurs to me is not the nicest thing to say, but of course I'm just teasing.

Luckily, that Zember is pretty good natured about the leg, and he takes my words in the right spirit. We shake hands and I clap him on the shoulder. "Name's Dismal, kid. Been looking after our Miri, eh?"

He nods. "She's a nice girl, Maruk. She's not yours?"

I give a real guffaw at that one. "Nah, picked her up in my travels. Mother's dead, and who knows about the father. My partners and I found her after this thing in Akmir--"

"He's been showing me tricks, Dismal!" Miri pipes in. Zember gives a little shrug.

I smile at her enthusiasm. "Is that right? Well, that's some good news, little princess."

She holds out three colored balls. "Watch me!" she says, and hell if she doesn't start juggling them right there in front of me. Kids pick up stuff real quick.

Zember gives a little nod of his head to catch my attention. "Miri tells me that you've entered the Grinner in the Clash of Champions."

"That's right," I says, cause I figure it's hardly a secret.

He pauses a bit, looking for the right words. "She seems very...attached...to the Ahazu. Does she understand what the Clash is?"

Miri hears him, and she giggles while the three balls spin before her. "I know what it is, silly. I'm not worried, cause Grinner can beat anybody." The faith in her voice is absolute. "He's even going to beat that big lizard Zzabul."

Zember looks at me for confirmation and I nod, because I can't quite make myself speak. I hadn't exactly lied to Miri, but I hadn't...well...I hadn't told her the whole truth. I hadn't told her that the Grinner would have to throw a fight. Just then I realize how hard telling her would be.

"So it's true," Zember says.

"He fights for a tournament slot in two days," I tell him.

Zember shakes his head, watching Miri. I don't know him well, but somehow I think he'd be upset if she was hurt. Miri does that to people, and this Zember is just that kind of guy anyhow. "I hope you know what you're doing."

I look at my little princess and the colored spheres dancing before her. My throat gets a little tight.

"Me too," I says, "me too."

Well folks, with the introduction of Miri and her relationship to the Grinner and to Dismal, that's going to do it for my "stage setting." There shouldn't be any more PCs coming from the keyboard of DRB, though I'm not making any promises. From my three stage setting chapters, the PCs are:

Chapel, a Gao sea rogue
Malachai, an Arimite knife fighter
Dismal, a Maruk talismancer
Calliope, a Zandir causidian
The Grinner, an Ahazu warrior
Miri, a Phantasian child

I should point out that Zember is one of Adam's PCs, and the Bane is a PC belonging to Matt.

DRB

I Don't Believe the Hype
II A Matter of Honor
IV A Quiet Little Celebration with a Few Friends
V The Lurker in the Shadows

Next: The Bribe

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