Copyright 2025 (TXu002497745)

CARNIVAL WORLD CHAPTER 2 (13 – 14)

Orlando the Bard stepped out of his personal suite at the Adventurer’s Inn, lute in hand, dressed in a fine green cloak, a bright orange ascot, chocolate shirt, vest, and tan corduroys. He was wearing a green feathered felt cap.

He was wearing a special set of clothes, all imported from earth, for tonight’s bard show at his inn. The cap was a favorite, like that of the Allan Bow, archer character, in a “Might and Magic Three” game, he had played decades ago – a present for his 22nd birthday, from one of his Cryptid Team Four friends, back on earth.

Orlando had been on Carnival World since 2011, Earth Time, but had not built and purchased the inn until about 2013.
He smiled and strolled briskly into the common room of his inn. Bard listened to the chatter of voices, and the plunk of wooden mugs on oaken tables, then drew in a long draft of the aroma from the long, raised fire pit, red and crackling, with split logs of maple and oak.

More than one person in Orlando’s life, here on Carnival World, had remarked that he always walked with fluid grace like a stalking panther.

A few men and women, some native visitors, and some visitors from earth, were cooking at the fire pit.

Most of the visitors were sitting around the oval tables positioned around the stage, quietly chatting with friends, or oohing and ahhing over the meal.

All, whether hushed or whispering to friends, eagerly anticipated Orlando, the famous Bard of Carnival City, and waited for the half elf (of course he was not really a half-elf) to regale them with songs and stories from his years as the Bounty Hunter Bard of The Adventurer’s Inn.

Author’s Note: Some of the elements in Bard’s tale, if they would directly or indirectly reveal his true identity, may be mentioned, in the story, but they are merely stray thoughts in his mind, and will not be spoken out loud to the audience. Sometimes these secrets will be obviously signaled in the text with phrases such as, “Of course, I did not tell them this…” Other times, you, the reader, will have to make the connections yourself.

Orlando introduced himself and intoned dramatically, “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming. If you need to take a break, feel free to do so, but exit and return as quietly as you can. I usually sing and tell tales for about ninety minutes before we take a short intermission of about twenty minutes when, afterwards, I will finish the second third of the show.
“I start the story at the point not long after,” he paused to gesture around him dramatically, “
I purchased the inn, but I also share stories from back when I first located the Star Portal Great Wall edifice and met the advance party of Conner Corp, who made the great theme park you are all now enjoying!” Bard strummed his lute and asked, “Are we ready?”

Several shouts of eager agreements and a few hearty claps burst out from the audience at the table and from some of the men and women around the fire-pit.