Manota snarled at the clowns who were crowding the corridor. Some were talking animatedly while a couple were walking and tossing several sets of colorful hoops back and forth to each other. They were totally oblivious to the warriors walking around them.
Well, most of them were oblivious. Manota felt like rolling his eyes when one of the female clowns turned and walked backwards, staring at three of the warriors as they passed by. She made a low comment that drew a laugh out of the others.
He was finally able to turn down another corridor, only to freeze as a striped four-legged animal with another hairy creature on its back trotted by him followed by another female.
“Excuse us,” the breathless voice murmured as she passed by him. “They needed exercise.”
Manota stared as they disappea
