Shadows wove fleeting patterns across the vast stretch of grasslands and farms. In the distance, rolling hills stretched upward, yearning to embrace the clouds hovering just beyond reach. Rue thought of all of the panoramas she saw while traveling by train and found it quaint that this scenery complemented the serenity in which they traveled; the raucous, cramped freight cars of previous excursions traded for a pleasant lounging cabin.
Against Oz’s objections, and possibly their better judgment, Audrey convinced them to travel to Nelenurth by rail. They each packed lightly, but enough to endure life on the road; when the need arises. Oz hefted a large canvas bag—loaded to the brim with provisions. Rue recalled, before they left, Audrey taking a moment to regard the place she called home for so long and left the residence unlocked. Much to their surprise, they hadn’t seen a single Zherrai-Myr agent since leaving the townhouse. Rue considered it to be a welcome change to their fortunes, but the others weren’t as receptive.
The lounging car had two upholstered benches facing each other across a fold-out table. Oz sat closest to the cabin door, his arms crossed and tense. Gus sat next to him, gazing out the same window with Rue. Blair positioned themself between her and Audrey; Rue was detecting a hint of jealousy within Blair, but she didn’t understand why. Tension and calm wrestled in the space between them; it was clear that Audrey made the right call, but there was still a collective reluctance to relax.
“Did you travel by train often?” Rue asked Audrey, partly out of curiosity—but mostly to ease the atmosphere.
“No, my duties kept me from traveling for the most part,” she said, twiddling her thumbs in rhythm with the hum and rumble of the moving train. Audrey mentioned that she was responsible for managing the family’s finances while they were traveling. She withdrew enough to cover their tickets and then some—but not too much to rouse suspicion. Rue could see that it didn’t sit right with Audrey, but wealth is often wasted by the dead. “but there were a few exceptions,” the diviner continued “short day trips, and this was the norm for them.”
“What was your most memorable ride?” Rue followed up as Blair leaned back against the bench. There you go, can’t be on alert every waking moment.
Audrey stared off into nothing, clearly pondering. She was very careful in divulging any information about the household; whether it was out of reverence or grief was anybody’s guess. “It was about three years ago; there was a circus that was set up just past Fort Hantyx. The daughter was giddy about attending, the father had business obligations and had to stay behind—so she insisted I come along with her and the mother.” She smiled, but her eyes didn’t. “A nice little day trip, just us girls...” The air grew quiet once more as Audrey stared off into space.
“What kind of circus was it?” Gus asked.
Audrey seemed to snap out of her daze. “I’m sorry?”
“Food stalls, games of chance, performances?”
“Y-yes, that all sounds right.”
“What about exotic animals?”
Audrey furrowed her brow, “What about them?”
“Did they not have any animals at all?”
“Not that I immediately recall, why d—”
Gus shook his head. “Man, things really have changed since my time.”
“What’re you on about, Gus?” Blair accused. As harsh as their tone was, Rue was inclined to agree; Guspare had a penchant for being eccentric, but he could easily become a handful and embellish.
Gus returned the frown. “Haven’t I told you I used to be a circus performer?”
Rue turned to Blair and shared the same puzzled expression before she returned to Gus. “You were? When did this happen?”
The older man’s eyebrows lifted “You haven’t heard me tell this?” he asked, incredulously.
“None of us have, Gus.” Oz growled, catching them all off guard. “Quit grandstanding and just spit it out!”
Guspare’s expression faded from astonishment to delight. “Well, for starters, this was about—roughly twenty years ago.” He pointed to both Rue and Blair. “Right before your time. I was a performer in Carigry’s Cavalcade of Curiosities!” He fanned his hands out in a flourish. “We had folks from all walks of life, and creatures of all shapes and sizes. The fan favorite was Fannengeath, our gryphon—and impromptu mascot of sorts.”
Rue’s jaw dropped in disbelief. “A gryphon?”
Gus nodded. “Oh, yeah. Much more common in Arenoor at the time.” He thumbed his chin. “But we had a troupe of acrobats, Sunildi was a contortionist, Ronaldo swallowed swords—he even had a bit where he would swordfight with some of the others, all while having a meter of steel running through him.” His smile widened “Then, he would get disarmed and use the sword he swallowed to get back into the fight.”
Audrey guffawed “I’m afraid there was nothing like that for the one we went to.”
“So, what about you?” Blair asked, a bemused smirk on their face. “Were you responsible for keeping the grounds tidy?”
Gus straightened up haughtily. “I was an especially rare specimen within our collection of creatures. I was the fabled Enigma.”
A quiet fell across the cabin as Gus preened—awaiting some sort of validation. The pause went on long enough for Rue to realize that Gus wasn’t going to elaborate further.
“A what?” Oz asked, more confused than impatient.
Gus reiterated. “An Enigma.” He looked around the table, frowning. “You don’t know what an Enigma is either?”
“We’re expecting you to tell us.” Blair spat.
The former circus performer scratched his head. “Well… I’m not sure how to explain it without sounding like a loon.” Oz’s eyes flickered towards Blair, but neither said anything. Rue found it funny and a bit ironic that the two thought so much alike even though they didn't get along. Gus carried on. “An Enigma is a bizarre creature that can copy the appearance of people—actually turning into them, nothing like a glamour veil.”
“So, you would pose as this… Enigma,” Audrey began “and you would fleece customers who were none the wiser?”
Gus’s confident grin dropped. “Well, when you put it like that, it sounds…” He scrunched his face. “Hmm, I guess that’s accurate. But, regardless,” he continued with resumed enthusiasm “We had this tattered tent that we put off to the side—not on full display—circusgoers had to stumble upon it. Inside would be dark, save for a small light affixed right outside my cage.”
“You were caged?” Rue was aghast; struggling to suppress the haunting memories of her own imprisonments.
“All part of the act.” Gus held his hands up. “After all, you can’t have a shapeshifting beast freely walking about. Anyway, the act was always the same. Someone would be drawn in by the mystique of the attraction. Sometimes, the ringmaster himself—Mr. Carigry—would be the attendant, selling the myths to the mark while I memorized their face from the shadows and cast my glamour.”
He leaned forward, lowering his tone. “The mark would then step up to the cage—again, they couldn’t see inside the cage itself. I’d give it a few seconds before I stepped toward the light wearing their face.” Gus snickered. “Eight times out of ten, they would run out of the tent. Groups were always fun”
“And the other two times?” Blair challenged.
“Occasionally you’d get customers whose fascination won over their fear. They’d try to talk to me, but since glamour doesn’t copy voices very well, I would make this—” He began huffing and slurring, shaking his head to exaggerate the noise. “—that would usually be enough to make them leave.”
“And people actually believed the performance?”
“Most folks have never even heard of Enigma, let alone seen one.” Gus shrugged before he paused. “But… there was this one woman I remember. We went through the whole bit and I copied her appearance.” Gus’s expression darkened as though he were recounting a failed fishing triumph. “Got nothing out of her, she just looked me over and told me that it was a ‘good trick’; then left.”
“How long were you with the circus?” Rue asked.
Guspare remained stoic. “A few good seasons during some bad years. It was right around the time Veran was overthrown, when the Council decreed the prohibition on spell craft. People weren’t too quick to enforce the laws during those early days, so we just kept on traveling and performing. So, we get to this town, Morinrey Creek and set up shop. The first day was the usual fare, but it was the second day that they came to kill me.”
Rue blinked, a sink-pit of dread opened within her. Accounts from the early days were rather tame prior to the rise of the Zherrai-Myr, so to hear of such violence then was troubling considering what it all led to.
“Part of the reason I’m even here now was because the mob showed up before I got into the cage for the day. Thankfully none of the others were targeted or harmed, they just wanted me.”
“Do you know why?” Audrey asked.
“Part of the fables surrounding Enigma involve them being crafty, sinister creatures that will stalk people and then replace them.”
“What happens to the original person?” Blair drew close to Rue.
“Every story that I’ve heard, Enigmas eat the people they replace.” Gus announced with a haunted countenance. “The folks of Morinrey Creek couldn’t risk nor tolerate an existential threat, so they gathered up torches to burn me alive.”
Rue’s hand found Blair’s, both squeezed each other anxiously. “Were any of them Bloodcloaks?”
Gus shook his head. “This was before. The Zherrai-Myr was just founded around that time, but their influence and decrees weren’t as prominent then. Another key element in the stories surrounding Enigma is their susceptibility to fire.” He raised his shoulders, palms fanned out. “Must be something about the magic they cast to transform themselves, but fire takes to them like a bone-dry log.”
“So they chased you out of town?” Oz inquired.
“If only they were that merciful.” Gus shuddered. “I have never seen a group of people so dedicated to snuffing out a life.”
“Sounds just like the Bloodcloaks.” muttered Blair.
“You would think that.” Gus said, almost bitingly. “I saw the faces on those people—and they were far more terrifying than any Bloodcloak ever could be.”
“Bullshit,” Blair flashed.
Gus stared them down. “These weren’t expressions of malice; they didn’t look at me as though I was a roach on their kitchen floor. I saw abject fear in their faces.” Rue squeezed Blair’s hand and they backed down. Gus continued. “As far as they were concerned, they wouldn’t be able to live in peace as long as I was alive.”
“You didn’t even do anything to them.” Rue added.
“Didn’t matter.” Gus shook his head. “Within their culture, Enigma were a scourge that was to be eradicated. It was life or death to them.”
“So, how did you get away?” Audrey asked.
“I didn’t.”
No one said a word as Gus stood up and lifted his shirt, revealing a horrendous scar arching along his backside to his shoulder. Oz grimaced at the sight, and Audrey cupped her hands around her mouth. Rue felt nauseous. It looks so bad, I don't even want to imagine how it felt! She squeezed Blair’s hand while they sat motionless.
Gus lowered his shirt and returned to his seat. “Mr. Carigry followed the mob and caught up as they took the torches to me. He was hysterical, screaming at them to stop; he pointed out how the fire wasn’t spreading, proof I’m not actually an Enigma.” Gus heaved a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how he managed to get through to them through their frenzy, but they eventually came around to reason and put me out. Despite all of it, the people of Morinrey Creek offered no apology, no medical treatment—they just showed us the door.”
“How awful.” Rue exclaimed.
“Once I was stable, Carigry’s Cavalcade of Curiosities was disbanded. I don’t blame him, that event just signified a mark of the times. The animals released to their respective habitats. The circus folk scattering into the wind. I still wonder how they’re all faring these days.”
“Probably for the best.” said Oz.
“So they all left while you were in recovery?” Audrey asked.
“Everybody, but Mr. Carigry.” Gus confirmed; a corner of his lip tilted upward. “He stood by me all those months. I feel like he wanted to atone, even though the ruse was all my idea. I can’t think of what would have happened to the others if we both died there that day.”
Rue nodded solemnly, but then frowned at the realization. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say they were only hunting you?”
“They were, but Carigry threw himself between me and the torches. If he had been hit, he would have gone right up in flames.”
Rue shared a look around the table, an air of consternation surrounded them.
Audrey’s mouth was agape, as though she couldn’t find the words before admitting. “I-I don’t understand.”
Gus looked at them quizzically. “What do you mean? That was the ruse. Carigry was the Enigma who played the ringmaster, and I was the performer playing the Enigma.”
A soft screeching echoed beneath them as the scenery outside the window began to slow. Nobody said a word; the juncture was meant to process it all. Eventually, the moment was broken by Blair blowing a razz.
“I gotta tell you Gus,” they said with a sneer “the story was believable right until that point.”
Oz shook his head dismissively and returned his attention towards the cabin door. Audrey huffed as she produced a book from her bag and opened it up. Gus leaned back dejectedly, his face as long as the tale he just spun.
“Don’t let them get to you, Gus.” Rue stated as she reached across and patted his arm. “I believe every word.” She then rose to her feet, then shuffled past Blair and Audrey toward the cabin door. As she slid the door open, she caught Oz staring in the corner of her eye. "I just need to get some air."
Oz nodded. "Don't stray too far."
Rue stepped out into the corridor, which was empty and quiet, save for the rumblings beneath. Windows lined the luxury car, facing the enclosed cabins that made up most of the space. Rue found that she couldn't open any windows, at least not without drawing undue attention; she walked down the aisle to the vestibule at the far end of the car. She stiffened when she opened the door to the tight space leading out to the gangway. There are ways out, no need to panic. The door hadn't closed behind her before she forced the exit open.
A duet of rushing winds and squealing metals met her as she stepped out onto the compact platform of her car. The gap between carriages may have been an extended step but still felt chasmous, complete with a racing river of railroad ties at the bottom. However, Rue didn't intend on crossing over. She closed her eyes and felt the winds envelope her; a cloud obstructed the sun adding to the brisk sensation. No need to disturb the mhyra of her affinity, Rusuuz let the wind carry away her anxieties. Belonging.
Rue felt a shift in the atmosphere, the cramped space of the vestibule behind her threatened to swallow her whole. She staggered as she whipped around, tripping over her own feet before dropping.
Oz caught her before she lost her feet, he effortlessly pulled her up and onto the platform. He backed into the vestibule, giving her space while keeping a steady hand on her arm. Rue was still processing the fall when silence wrapped around her.
"What are you doing out here?" Oz barked, his tone more concerned than angry.
She stepped towards the threshold, placing her own grip on the doorway. "I-I felt trapped." She admitted.
Oz regarded her as the sound returned between them. "You okay?" Even though he relaxed, his large frame in the tight space looked uncomfortable. Rue nodded, prodding him farther into the car. Oz opened the opposite door into the corridor. "Blair was getting worried."
The winds behind Rue caressed her before the exterior door shut. "I wasn't always like this." The words slipped out just as quickly. Her breath caught in her chest. Why would I tell him that? Her eyes met Oz's as she awaited his questions.
Oziomon raised an eyebrow, then shook his head. "Yeah, hanging around Gus as long as we have; it was bound to happen."
Rue shuddered, releasing her held breath as a giggle. "He did say he was an enigma."
Oz stood aside, motioning her to pass. "Please, don't encourage him."
She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the glass panels. That was close, not even Blair knows everything. Which was probably for the best, Rusuuz wanted nothing more than to be rid of the memories before they met. Oz might be an ideal confidant, maybe one day. Maybe after they reached the safety of Saeden-Clach.