Jester

“Enjoy!”

Tossing the microphone somewhere off-stage, the ring master stepped back into the darkness as the lights in the tent rapidly dimmed. The excited buzzing filling the air settled into a hush as the audience was plunged into complete darkness. Then, the stage exploded into a frenzy of color, music, and action.

Dressed in matching stripes of different color, the circus members of Bazaar Avalon performed.

The audience craned their necks upward to watch trapeze artists swing from ropes hung high above them, catching each other by only the tips of their fingers. When the audience looked down—lions, doves, and snakes filled the stage, each accompanied by their respective trainers as they performed trick after impossible trick. Around the stage, dancers fluttered about in their brightly colored tights and glowing accessories, tossing flowers at lucky audience members.

Then, the lights dimmed once more.

Music fading, the other performers rushed off-stage as stagehands wheeled Carmel onstage. You followed closely behind the giant wooden board, face painted with glitter and waist heavy with a dozen throwing knives.

It was time for your initiation. A debut in the Bazaar Avalon meant receiving a dedicated portion of the show to one life-threatening skill between mentor and mentee. If the mentee is able to pass the test and rouse the crowd back to excitement after a complete lull, they would be fully accepted into Bazaar Avalon as a new performer. If the mentee failed, suffice to say, they would be kicked out along with their mentor—if they were still alive. A show has no room for mistakes, especially for any member who would bring in someone new without training them up to standard.

Carmel’s first performance was the ‘Globe of Terror’ with his now retired mentor.

Now, he was going to be on the receiving end of the ‘Wheel of Death’ with you.

You approached him at a small town the Bazaar Avalon had stopped to perform in. Dirty and thin, you snuck your way into the staff area after a show with a poorly written letter and a wish to join the circus. It was by sheer luck that Carmel was the first one to discover you. Had you encountered any other member, you surely would’ve been thrown out with a resolute ‘no’.

Luckily, Carmel had just been thinking of searching for a mentee of his own. Your appearance reminded him of his own past—fresh out of luck and money, and since the circus became his saving grace, he decided to extend the same opportunity to you as well.

Known for his knife tricks and death-defying acts, Carmel started you off small. You ran errands for him, polishing daggers, fixing up needed equipment, and purchasing supplies from nearby traveling merchants for the rest of the circus. You were given only busy work for months before he finally started your proper training. By then, you had developed enough familiarity with the equipment itself for him to trust you with their handling.

Now, you were to show off the culmination of your hard work here, at the circus’s tenth anniversary show.

A single spotlight illuminated the center of the stage where Carmel was, strapped to a wheel. Another lit up where you stood, off to the side, and the ringmaster began his announcement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you our newest mentee and the Wheel of Death!”

The audience cheered, excitement stoked to a near fever pitch.

Carmel attempted to look in your direction past the bright lights, black painted lips curling into a smile.

You got this.

Concluding his speech, the ringmaster took his leave and the audience fell silent once more. Despite the resounding hush, the tension left in the air was nearly palpable as hundreds of bodies shifted forward in their seats.

All eyes were on you.

Carmel allowed his smile to fall, bracing himself for the outcome of this performance.

After the wheel is spun and you’ve tossed all your knives, would he still be a member of Bazaar Avalon?