Sphinx sat on the steps to the castle, waiting for us.

“Poor Sphinx.” I picked him up and held him close. “Staying out here all night by yourself.”

Mr. Optim patted Sphinx’s head and Sphinx meowed happily.

“Well he seems to be alright, just like I said he would be. Well now that we’re reunited once more, it’s time to be on our way.”

When Mr. Optim, Sphinx, and I got far enough away from the castle, Mr. Optim took my arm once more after Sphinx jumped onto his shoulder. He waved his hand over us and the castle disappeared before my eyes.

A plethora of colorful tents and caravans replaced it. Everything was so dizzyingly colorful, I had to squint my eyes to take it all in. As we walked closer, wonderful smells of spices and sounds of cooking filled the air. Exotic music undulated throughout the area with the sound of drums, tambourines, flutes, violins, guitars and sitars. Loud singing and laughter accompanied the lively music, and I couldn’t help the growing bounce to my step, excitement rippling through me. Sphinx jumped off Mr. Optim’s shoulder and bounded merrily towards the tents. When he got close enough, he turned and waited for us to join him, shifting his little paws impatiently.

There was a spring in Mr. Optim’s step as well and when he glanced down at me, we smiled broadly at each other.

We made our way through some of the colorful tents into what looked like a large town square. There were over a hundred people of all different shapes, sizes, color, and ages dancing and singing together. Their clothing was a rainbow of color that blurred into one as they twirled round and round the dance floor.

At one end of the square, a raised wooden platform held over a dozen people playing instruments, and at the other end a large open tent sheltered the campfires of the makeshift cafeteria. I looked above me at the colored cloths and paper art that were strung across tentpoles, adding to the festive atmosphere. The art depicted animals and flowers, even people.

I laughed in utter delight, spinning around to take it all in.

“Mr. Optim the Cirque are even better than I imagined.”

Optim puffed out his chest proudly.

“You’re in for quite a treat today, Mia. Today is the Comunete Fete which means the Cirque are celebrating unity and togetherness with as much song, dance, and --most importantly-- food as we can muster. Visitors travel far from all over the Cirque lands to join in on the festival.”

A tall, olive-skinned woman, who was dancing in the square, spotted Mr. Optim and smiled. She weaved her way through the crowd of people and beelined for us.

“Augustus!” She shouted over the music and spread her arms jubilantly. “I thought you’d never arrive. Where have you been?”

The woman hugged Mr. Optim tightly, and he returned the embrace with a laugh.

Good God, she was taller than Mr. Optim! She had a fierce kind of beauty and her incredibly long hair was pure white and braided in a long plait down her back.

Sphinx pawed her leg. She leaned down and opened her arms for him to jump into.

“Hello, pretty kitty.” She kissed the top of his head. “Have you been taking good care of our leader?”

I felt a twinge of jealousy at her familiarity with Sphinx and how readily he cuddled up to her. He was my lynx after all.

“Zelena.” Optim looked at her with mock disapproval. “You know I don’t like that title. It belongs to you now.”

Zelena laughed, shrugging off Optim’s words before looking at me.

“And who’s this?”

Optim put his right arm around my shoulders.

“This is a dear friend of mine, Mia Beaumont.”

Zelena stuck out a hand for me to shake.

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Beaumont. My name is Zelena Qrodalf. Any friend of Optim’s is a friend of mine.”

My ears perked up at her last name as I shook her hand.

“Did you say ‘Qrodalf?’ Are you Zalzar’s sister?”

“I did, and I am.” Zelena smirked and there was a hint of malice. “I’m his older sister. But he’d never admit we’re related or that I even exist in the first place.”

I furrowed my brow.

“Why is that?”

Before Zelena could answer, a dark- skinned boy with wild, black hair, who looked to be around the age of ten, came running towards us.

“Zelena, we ran out of scallions and Valentina told me to ask you where I can find more. She said I had to get them fast and she really scares me so ...”

The boy caught my eye and his eyes widened.

I waved.

“Hello. What’s your name?”

The boy blushed and hid behind Zelena’s legs.

Zelena laughed.

“This is the local trouble maker, Amrit.”

Despite his shyness, Amrit looked up at Zelena in anger and said, “Hey I don’t go looking for trouble. It just happens to me.”

When I giggled, Amrit blushed a deeper red and hid again.

“If you two will excuse us,” Zelena let Sphinx jump out of her arms. “Amrit and I have some scallions to find. Please help yourself to some food, or if you feel like dancing just jump right in.”

Mr. Optim caught her arm as she turned to leave.

“When you get back, Zelena, we have some things we’d like to discuss with you.”

Zelena’s brow furrowed at Optim’s serious tone. But it quickly passed and she nodded then walked away, Amrit trailing behind her.

Mr. Optim took my arm and scooped Sphinx onto his shoulder again as we walked through the crowd to the food tent. Anywhere there wasn’t dancing in the square, there were wooden tables with barrels for seats. As we passed by, people greeted Mr. Optim cheerfully.

“Why didn’t you tell her about the Source thing?” I asked Mr. Optim quietly.

Optim cleared his throat and looked uneasy, fixing his hat one way and then back to its original tilt.

“W-well because I-I thought it would be best to explain things to her first …”

As I watched Mr. Optim fumble for words, it became clear to me why he was so hesitant.

“Zalzar was right. Your people don’t believe in the Source do they?”

Mr. Optim sighed and stopped walking, his eyes changing to blue.

“There was a time when my people believed wholeheartedly in the Source’s return. But for reasons Zelena will reveal when we speak to her, they stopped believing quite vehemently.”

Mr. Optim glanced into the cooking tent and gave a small smile when he heard a shrill voice shouting.

“Then again, I can’t speak for everyone in the Cirque.”

I had so many questions, but I knew Mr. Optim didn’t want to share them at the present moment. So I figured I would just have to wait until Zelena got back for answers.

We made our way into the cooking tent and met with an amusing sight. A tiny, elderly woman with long gray hair was barking orders at a row of people behind long wooden tables. They appeared to be the cooks and servers. Even the men, who were many heads taller than her, cowered against her sheer authority.

“Ah, Valentina.” Optim’s eyes turned back to gold.

Valentina turned sharply and her stern gaze melted into one of affection at the sight of Mr. Optim.

“My wonderful Optim,” she shuffled over slowly with arms held out toward him. “It’s about time you got here! I knew the Fates were right!”

Valentina offered her cheek to Mr. Optim and he bent down to kiss her.

“The Fates are always right, my dear. I have someone I’d like to introduce to you.” Optim gave her a look and stepped out of her line of sight so she could see me.

Valentina blinked twice and she stared deep into my eyes, a knowing smile slowly spreading across her face.

“So the Source has finally arrived.”