Myth and I were the first fairgoers to enter the Fair when it opened. I had made sure of that. Hours earlier, I insisted that we wait at the Fair’s entrance so as not to have to fight the crowd. Myth failed to see the point of waiting at the entrance for several hours. But I was persistent, and she relented at last. So we headed towards the entrance. Myth walked leisurely. I marched just ahead of her, tugging her hand excitedly like a dog straining against its lead in hopes of forcing its master to walk faster. And now…
Now we were inside the Fair. Rides, games, and sweets surrounded us. My eyes bulged in their sockets as I tried to look at everything all at once. Myth said I looked just like the children who had followed us into the Fair. There was so much to see, so much fun to be enjoyed. I hardly knew where to begin. Chattering excitedly, I pulled poor Myth hither and tither, zigzagging amongst the attractions at a breakneck pace. Oh! Where to begin!
Myth enjoyed our time at the Fair immensely. She shrieked as wildly as I did on the rides, her face glowing with delight. All the burdens of her young life were forgotten, at least for a night. At the Fair, she was a girl again and having the time of her life. It felt wonderful to see her so lighthearted. That was my favorite part of the Fair.
We ate a good many sweets that night. Well, I ate most of them. By night’s end, I had eaten six cryspes and many other types of sweets as well. Myth refrained from attempting to eat her weight in sugar. But she did not refuse when Eye-Gouger handed her a tostee.
The goblin winked at her and said, “On the ’ouse for the woman with the pretty smile.”
Myth smiled at him as she accepted the tostee. She and Eye-Gouger chuckled together for a moment. I think both of them were thinking about the past just then—about another tostee he had given to her.
Despite having no coins to spare on trifles, Myth gave the few coins she did have to some elven boys and girls.
“Here you go,” she said as she handed them her coins.
The children stared at the coins, hardly believing their good fortune.
“Thank you, Miss,” said one of the children.
“Yeah, thanks,” mumbled the others.
“Don’t mention it,” said Myth. “Just promise me you’ll use those coins to enjoy a ride. The Screaming Clipper has always been my favorite.”
The children sped off, eager to spend their unexpected wealth.
Myth’s eyes shined as she watched them scurry away. Hearing the children laughing gaily as they ran off was her favorite moment of the Fair.
“But, Myth,” I said, “those were all the coins you had. What will you do now?”
“I’ll worry about that later. This was more important than whatever else may come.”
“We can give them some more coins. I still have plenty to spare.”
Myth shook her head. “No. Being given enough coins to go on one additional ride is a treat for those children. Giving them more would make them feel ashamed. They’d still spend the coins, but they wouldn’t enjoy themselves. They’d worry the whole time that it had been a trick and that they were going to be in trouble.”
Late in the night, we exited the Fair—both of us were sweaty, dizzy, and elated. My binging on sweets caught me up during the walk back to our camp; my poor tummy felt as if it were about to burst. Myth put her arm around my waist and supported me as we tottered to our camp. Once there, she lowered me onto my bedroll.
“Ow,” I moaned, feeling terribly ill.
“Are you okay?” asked Myth.
“Too. Much. Deliciousness,” I said.
“I bet. How you managed to eat so many sweets is beyond me. I mean, where did you pack them all? Your stomach must be really upset with you.”
My tummy rumbled in disgust.
After moaning once again, I declared, “It was worth it.”