First Girls

originally posted January 17, 2006

Tasta is not happy. That is clear.
When we arrived in Venna several days ago, the proprietor of the Inn made it abundantly clear that animals with more than two legs would have to be kenneled. After a cursory check of the two beasts I had in tow, it was determined that the girl, Joy, the auburn-maned 'Sandal' who carried my packs, was within acceptable parameters. She has only two legs and, according to the proprietor, they were not only acceptable, they were damn fine. Tasta, however, having six legs and a somewhat foul temperment to boot, would have to be boarded elsewhere.
My decision to book passage on the wagons heading south, returning from the recent Sardar Fair to Ar and points beyond, only added to the indignity of the Boarding House's inimitable first girl. She is again, as she was in Venna, behind bars. When a handler, tasked with feeding not only Tasta but the animals of other passengers aboard the wagons, offered her meat, she demured. The fellow shrugged and proceeded to move on to the next cage. Attempted to move on to the next cage, that is. One does not turn his back on an animal such as Tasta, whether she is caged or not. Before he could take a full step away from her cage, he found himself dragged back on his heels and slammed into the bars. The claws of Tasta's forepaw, thankfully, had only secured their grip in the leather of the fellow's vest. And while he suffered the terror of her steaming breath and hot spittle on the back of his head, the girl could not get her head far enough through the bars to do more than rip a few hairs from his skull.
Tasta is not happy. That is clear.