The Alabaster Comb
By Limewah
Patron Reward for Flarfenarfle (October 2023)

It had taken some time around her crystal ball, and a few sleepless nights, but Anastasia’s divine divinations had finally found her mark. The disappearances that had been reported throughout the land seemed to converge on a sleepy hamlet of a few hundred people by the name of Cedarflute. Apparently a lot of musicians and artisans who created their instruments lived there. 
…She was hoping for something a bit less jarringly loud.

The snowy owl could hear the awful organ music from a mile away. There was no point in hoping that the circus wasn’t in town at her destination - the garish tents gave the game away. How was she supposed to investigate all the disappearances with this annoyance? 

The Alabaster Comb seemed to have brought everyone out of the woodwork, with its striped tents and admittedly well-painted signage. Felines with painted faces, a displacer beast lunging through a ring of flame, and overseeing all of it was a rather dapper-looking  pink-eyed rooster with his arms outstretched as if to cover the entirety of the circus. It was likely an embellishment, of course - carnies were never that handsome.

Cedarflute had so many extra bodies, so many distractions… it would be very easy for her quarry, the one responsible for those disappearances, to elude her piercing yellow gaze. Large crowds made it even more difficult to divine intentions. The best thing for it would be to find a place to stay, someplace quiet ideally…
Of course, the town was rammed with people. Brightly coloured performers, gawking slow-moving tourists, and - worst of all - screaming children who could have been having fun or getting murdered, it was impossible to say which.

After the first few bed-and-breakfasts and inns she approached gave her a sad, conciliatory shake of the head, she was beginning to feel like she would have to do things the old fashioned way. 
She groaned out loud when the realisation hit. 
“Drat it all…” She sighed and began to wander the cobblestone streets, slithering through the crowds. She never understood the appeal of circuses anyway. Detestable spectacles. 
She made her way into the throng of people, getting closer to the entrance to the main tent. Jostling, smelly bodies soon became too much. She had to hold her breath and push a little harder, ignoring the curses and yells of annoyance as she hurried until she managed to escape, before 

“You there! Madame! You with the beautiful h-white plumage!”
The light, plummy voice was every bit the voice of an impresario, and when she looked to the source, she was gazing into the eyes of the rooster she’d seen on the signage. Even as he approached with a confident stride, his plumage seemed to gleam. He was incredibly well-groomed, and his comb stood up high like a tower. He was very hale and hearty.
“Are you quite alright, Madame?” 
Anastasia cleared her throat. “Yes, perfectly fine, thank you sir.”
“I will admit, you’ve come on what has proven to be one of the most busy days of our tour!” The rooster closed the gap between them as he proffered a crisp-winged hand. “Someone like you deserves a stress-free experience.”
“Thank you,” she said, steeling herself and straightening her spine. She took his wing, and didn’t have time to shake it before he theatrically dropped to one knee and nuzzled his beak against it.
“Please, allow me to apologise on behalf of the Alabaster Comb! I am Thomasso, and it is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Aha…” Anastasia slipped her hand free from his grasp. “My name is Anastasia. You seem to have a good grip on the chaos of the crowd… perhaps you might be able to help me?”
“Mmm? Anything for a beautiful bird such as yourself.”
“I’d appreciate less flattery, thank you.” Anastasia tilted her head back with an imperious scoff. “I’m not some starry eyed farm girl you can seduce with a glance and a few charming words.”
“Perish the thought, m’dear!” Tomasso laughed. “Please, go ahead, tell me what it is I can do for you.”

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