Druskov has not only trained himself in our magic, but he is also getting strong enough to crack the ancient language and make a journey through a portal… You mentioned a little girl. Did you ever talk to her? Find out her name?”
Ruth shook her head. “No. She always ran up ahead of me. I never heard her speak. I just heard her laugh… Although, I think she said my name once.”
Tryfod sighed. “Ruth, I don’t want to frighten you anymore, but the little girl is not real. I think it was a trick Druskov was playing on you.” Ruth shivered. She hadn’t realized the danger she had been in. Tryfod was caught up in his thoughts. “He’s shown us his strength. He could not kidnap you without knowing how to perform the magic required for a journey.”
“But why me Tryfod? If I can’t do magic and I’m not calling myself here… I don’t understand…”
“Your mother is a descendant of our people.”
Ruth forgot everything for a moment. “My mom?! So I can learn magic now?!”
“Even with your extra abilities, our magic takes years to develop.”
The excitement drained from Ruth’s face, but her curiosity quickly overcame her disappointment. “But what does Druskov want to do with a portal?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I’m afraid that he’d like to turn Earth into his personal pig pen.”
Ruth didn’t like the sound of that. She thought about her parents, and she hoped they were safe. Tryfod attempted some reassurance. “Ruth, my dear, you are safe in this tent. Druskov’s magic cannot work here… but I do have some bad news.” Ruth looked into Tryfod’s eyes. She was frightened. She had no idea things were so serious when all of this began. Tryfod struggled to break the news to the battered child. “You cannot return home until after the performance. It just isn’t safe.”
Ruth hung her head. “But what about my mom and my dad? What about school? Won’t they know I’m missing?”
“We’ll take care of that.”
“I guess I don’t really have a choice now… as long as you say everything is ok, I will believe you. Do I get to go home after the performance?” Tryfod nodded slowly as Ruth put the puzzle pieces together. “Will I ever get to come back here?”
“Let’s not worry about that just yet. Why don’t you get some rest? You’ve had a long day.” Tryfod patted her tiny head and walked out of the room. As the lights went off, Ruth felt more homesick than she thought was possible.
The coming days were tough on everyone. They practiced from early in the morning until very late at night. At times, Eritol felt like the show might never come together, but everyone, even little Ruth, worked through their sweat and tears. A few nights, Ruth even fell asleep on the tiny podium standing straight up.
Eventually, and very late in the game, the show came together. Ruth followed Eritol’s movements as if she was his shadow, the dancing ladies got the last rhinestones sewn on their costumes, and the trapeze artists ran across the tight rope without worry. It was time.
The last dress rehearsal went flawlessly – just as expected. Every cue was hit, every joke snapped, and every sequin twinkled. After the final bow, the room felt somber. Everyone knew it was now or never.
Tryfod stood on Eritol’s podium. He struggled to find the right words to motivate the crowd. “A few weeks ago, this small child came into our lives. It’s been a rollercoaster ever since.”
Ruth nodded her tiny head in agreement as the crowd chuckled softly.
“We haven’t always been the most welcoming, and little Ruth could have left at any time. But she stuck it out. Her bravery, curiosity, and wonder have all made us better performers and people.” Everyone broke out into thunderous applause. Ruth couldn’t believe what she was seeing and hearing. They were all cheering for her. Tryfod motioned to settle everyone down again. “It is with great honor that we present Ruth
Ruth shook her head. “No. She always ran up ahead of me. I never heard her speak. I just heard her laugh… Although, I think she said my name once.”
Tryfod sighed. “Ruth, I don’t want to frighten you anymore, but the little girl is not real. I think it was a trick Druskov was playing on you.” Ruth shivered. She hadn’t realized the danger she had been in. Tryfod was caught up in his thoughts. “He’s shown us his strength. He could not kidnap you without knowing how to perform the magic required for a journey.”
“But why me Tryfod? If I can’t do magic and I’m not calling myself here… I don’t understand…”
“Your mother is a descendant of our people.”
Ruth forgot everything for a moment. “My mom?! So I can learn magic now?!”
“Even with your extra abilities, our magic takes years to develop.”
The excitement drained from Ruth’s face, but her curiosity quickly overcame her disappointment. “But what does Druskov want to do with a portal?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I’m afraid that he’d like to turn Earth into his personal pig pen.”
Ruth didn’t like the sound of that. She thought about her parents, and she hoped they were safe. Tryfod attempted some reassurance. “Ruth, my dear, you are safe in this tent. Druskov’s magic cannot work here… but I do have some bad news.” Ruth looked into Tryfod’s eyes. She was frightened. She had no idea things were so serious when all of this began. Tryfod struggled to break the news to the battered child. “You cannot return home until after the performance. It just isn’t safe.”
Ruth hung her head. “But what about my mom and my dad? What about school? Won’t they know I’m missing?”
“We’ll take care of that.”
“I guess I don’t really have a choice now… as long as you say everything is ok, I will believe you. Do I get to go home after the performance?” Tryfod nodded slowly as Ruth put the puzzle pieces together. “Will I ever get to come back here?”
“Let’s not worry about that just yet. Why don’t you get some rest? You’ve had a long day.” Tryfod patted her tiny head and walked out of the room. As the lights went off, Ruth felt more homesick than she thought was possible.
The coming days were tough on everyone. They practiced from early in the morning until very late at night. At times, Eritol felt like the show might never come together, but everyone, even little Ruth, worked through their sweat and tears. A few nights, Ruth even fell asleep on the tiny podium standing straight up.
Eventually, and very late in the game, the show came together. Ruth followed Eritol’s movements as if she was his shadow, the dancing ladies got the last rhinestones sewn on their costumes, and the trapeze artists ran across the tight rope without worry. It was time.
The last dress rehearsal went flawlessly – just as expected. Every cue was hit, every joke snapped, and every sequin twinkled. After the final bow, the room felt somber. Everyone knew it was now or never.
Tryfod stood on Eritol’s podium. He struggled to find the right words to motivate the crowd. “A few weeks ago, this small child came into our lives. It’s been a rollercoaster ever since.”
Ruth nodded her tiny head in agreement as the crowd chuckled softly.
“We haven’t always been the most welcoming, and little Ruth could have left at any time. But she stuck it out. Her bravery, curiosity, and wonder have all made us better performers and people.” Everyone broke out into thunderous applause. Ruth couldn’t believe what she was seeing and hearing. They were all cheering for her. Tryfod motioned to settle everyone down again. “It is with great honor that we present Ruth
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