Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 ~*~I wrote this in just a few minutes, and hopefully sometime soon can turn it into a novel. Karli just popped into  my head...I think she bears investigating, what do you guys think? :0) ~*~

Karli flipped her kinky red hair behind her shoulder and sniffed. The booth she crouched by sold deep-fried peppers. The warm, tangy smell mingled with the smells of other foods and human and animal sweat. She settled against the booth, watching the people go by.

It wasn't just humans. Here and there, she could see an elf, tall and regal. A couple of gnomes went past, scrabbling to stay on their feet in a crowd more than twice their size. And once in a great while she spotted a dwarf, plowing ahead with rugged detachment, as if nothing could knock him off his feet.

She picked up her flat leather bag and slung the strap over her shoulder. Then she stepped into the martketplace. She pulled out three of her juggling balls and sauntered past the booths, lazily rotating the balls with one hand.

Once she had a small group's attention, she stopped and began juggling in earnest—still with one hand. With her left hand she began adding more balls. One, two three—nine balls whirled into the air. They glistened with bright colors in the late afternoon sun, claiming attention from passersby. She wove them in figure-eights, tall circles, short circles, behind her back, to one side.

Now for the crowd pleaser. Karli dipped her free hand into her bag and concealed the flint and steel firestarter that her friend Breth had made for her in her hand. She began juggling with both hands, rotating them in a medium-height circle. As each ball touched her left hand, she flicked the button of the firestarter with her thumb, igniting the balls on fire.

The gasps of the crowd attested to their surprise. She'd done well in hiding the firestarter. Karli smiled to herself and concentrated on her juggling. Every couple of passes or so, the balls required another lighting, since the breeze from being juggled would put out the flame.

Once she sensed people were ready to move on, yet reluctant to leave the spectacle, she decided to wrap up her performance. She dropped the firestarter into her bag, then dipped her hand into a bag of black powder that Breth had given her. The dwarves used it for starting fires when flint and steels didn't work, or for breaking apart large chunks of rock. She tossed the powder into the air near the height of the flaming balls' circuit.

It sparkled and made a crackling sound. More gasps of admiration came from the crowd as huge sparks floated down around her. Karli blew out each ball as she caught them in a pyramid, leaving the top ball flaming. She dipped her head in a bow.

The performance was finished.