a melodious voice greeted us.
A tall woman in a red dress with a mandarin collar stepped out of the semi-darkness. She clapped her hands and a series of multi-colored lights ran up the seams of the tent to the highest point of the ceiling.
“I am Madame Tan,” the woman said with a beautiful smile. “Please follow me.” Her fiery red hair was whipped into a high up-do, which then descended down her back in a wide intricate braid past her shoulder blades.
The striped canvas walls appeared to divide the interior of the interconnected tents into sections. We followed a short narrow corridor that opened into a medium size room.
“Here, I keep unanimated objects,” Madame Tan explained, making a sweeping gesture. A long curl of smoke followed her hand trailing from a thin, long cigar she had in a holder attached to a ring on her index finger. “All exhibits in my collection are unique, with no exception. Unless you have visited my menagerie before, I guarantee you haven’t seen anything like what you’re about to see.”
She pointed at the first display, a lit glass container on a small table.
“A dead branch of a jastira tree, a predatory plant from Ilimitar Forest.”
“Where is that?” Fleur whispered into my ear.
“Not sure.” I stared through the glass at the two-foot long stick that somehow reminded me of a human femur with a jaw bone of a wolf-size animal at one end. “What does it matter? It’s not real.”
Madame fixed her gaze on me, and I realized she must have heard me.
“Obviously, the branch is dry. It’s dead,” she said coolly. “If we had a living jastira tree in here, none of you would be alive.” She lifted one shapely eyebrow. “It’s the most bloodthirsty plant across both worlds.”
She then moved along the canvas wall, fluidly pointing at the shelves, jars, and curio cabinets as she passed them by.
“A shell from Olathana Ocean. It used to house a hermit Water Fae. Most of the merfolk are lively, sociable creatures. Some, however, prefer solitude...”
The shimmering, nearly translucent shell in front of us seemed big enough to encase me and maybe Fleur, too, at the same time.
“This headpiece was made with the feathers from the wings of a griffin.” Madame pointed at a gorgeous plumage that looked more spectacular than anything that could be found at Mardi Gras. “I used to have a griffin in my collection until last year.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, he choked on a mouse and died.”
“Griffins eat mice?” I tried to recall what I knew about these mythical creatures.
“They don’t exist,” Fleur whispered back. “It’s all a show, remember?”
“Pretty well-done, though,” I had to admit.
Fleur reached for the shimmering feathers of the headpiece on the display table.
“Please, do not touch the exhibits,” Madame warned sternly. Fleur jerked her hand back, and Madame continued, pointing at a row of clear, faceted pieces on display, “Biqirelle crystals from the mountains of Dakath. These have healing powers and are highly treasured by the winged people of the mountain peaks...”
Next, she moved on to a square, metal object, finished with rivets and with some bizarre gears and bearings visible in the many openings on its surface.
“This here is a communication device, invented by the dwellers of the Lorsan Wetlands. They’re not as technologically advanced as humans, but could be considered mechanical geniuses, in a way. They are magical with their hands.”
I lingered by the device for a moment, wondering how all of its moving parts would perform when turned on. Madame’s voice, however, redirected my attention to the large curio cabinet, with small, brightly lit sections behind the glass. “This here is my collection of jewelry made from werewolf teeth and claws.”
“Wow.” Fleur exhaled at my side as the rest of the visitors gathered around as well, admiring the items on display. “I really love that crown.” Fleur pointed at a high diadem, made of alternating white and black spikes in an intricate bronze setting. The whole thing reminded me of a crown of thorns.
“That piece is my favorite.” Madame smiled, coming closer. “Werewolves have snow-white teeth and graphite-black claws. I find the contrast especially pleasing to the eye.” Something sinister flashed through her inky black eyes. “Not all of them were dead when these were extracted.”
A chill ran down my spine, even though I knew it was all fake.
“Well.” She stood at yet another striped curtain-divider. “The next room holds my exhibit of live creatures. Please keep your voices down so that we don’t irritate