Carter had lived the first sixteen years of his life as one of 'them'. It was gratifying to have Marjan, carnival born and raised as she was, number him among the showmen. Even so, his eyes narrowed for a moment at the compliment. Ever defensive, he had to wonder, was she mocking him?
But no. When Marjan wanted to insult a person, she wasn't subtle about it, and so he grinned right back at her.
"Where were you off to, before those two nanny goats interrupted?" he asked, fully prepared to fall in and walk alongside her for a bit. She might not be the big boss any longer, but as ringmaster Marjan still had influence; it wouldn't hurt to cultivate her good graces.