Columbine's Tale

Chapter 1 - Escape from Aurea-3

‘Absolutely,’ the story teller said.

~

Isabella finished shoving her spangled dresses and baubles into the calico bag, then thrust it at Mama Tina. Shouldering a second over-stuffed bag she’d picked up from the floor, she hurried down the corridor, past the many rooms that had housed competing artisans during the festival. Cirquers, dancers and players scurried around, packing and making ready to leave the palace. These rooms would soon be returned to their former purpose, housing the royal artisans for the next five years. Already stewards were pushing their way past the departing crowd, followed by servants staggering under the weight of mattresses and bureaus to refurnish rooms emptied for the festival.

Isabella led Mama Tina to a lavishly decorated suite where the Andreini troupe usually resided. They had been the royal troupe coming in to the competition, so they had retained their luxurious quarters right next to the Guild banquet hall rather than having to bunk down on makeshift mattresses. Ceramic plaques on each of three doors bore the name Andreini in elaborate lettering.

Lucien Andreini opened the door at Isabella’s knock. He swooped her into his arms and kissed her passionately before turning to thank Mama Tina for delivering his love back to his side. It took several minutes of his effusiveness before Mama Tina was able to withdraw. Isabella, eyes and lips again locked on her husband-to-be, did not bid her troupe mother farewell.

As Mama Tina hurried back down the hallway, she heard one of the royal stewards call her name. She hoped he brought clarification of the troupe’s status, but instead he indicated a haggard looking woman with grey hair. As soon as the woman clapped eyes on Mama Tina, she seized both her hands.

‘Cristina, please, can you tell me where to find Jal?’

Belatedly, Mama Tina realised it was Amora, Jal’s mother. She and her husband had feasted the troupe last time they visited the city. Then, she had been a generous host, buoyant and lively. Now, she looked exhausted and shrunken. Mama Tina led her to the troupe’s quarters, speaking quiet courtesies to the distressed woman, who leaned heavily on her the whole way. When they entered the room Jal ran to his mother, shock sweeping across his face.

‘Mama, what is it? What’s wrong?’

He had dined with his family only a few days ago, during the festival, returning with news that his father, a sculptor, was excited at new developments in his work. Now Jal stared at his mother’s bowed figure. Oblivious to the others in the room, Amora fell into her son’s arms. Watching them, the other players didn’t notice Uberto quietly slip into the room.

Amora’s voice trembled. ‘They’ve taken your father. The Royal Guard. They said he was practising Arcani.’

Jal held his mother tight and shook his head. ‘That’s impossible. He’s a sculptor. He doesn’t know anything else. How could he …’

Uberto placed a hand on Amora’s arm, his voice soothing. ‘Of course this is nonsense. I will speak with the Council of Muses as soon as I can.’

Amora clutched Uberto’s hand gratefully. He held hers briefly, then released it and turned to the waiting players.

‘But I fear we have our own problem.’

Mama Tina could tell even before he spoke that the news was not good. Roberto began to pace furiously while the others stood still, their faces grim.

‘We have lost our position,’ Uberto continued. He held out his arms to his wife, who fell into them with a cry. No one ever recognised how much it cost her to feed and organise the players, always optimistic and reassuring, caring for them through illness and pain. She had hoped their festival victory would allow her a time of rest. Though Uberto did not show his age in his sprightly manner, Mama Tina ached with various pains and longed to stop travelling.

A sombre silence filled the room. There was nothing to say as their golden future evaporated before them. In the silence, the door to the room suddenly slammed open, thudding against the wall. A beautiful girl with elaborately styled black hair and vivid green eyes rushed over to Mama Tina.

‘Mama, Mama, it will be all right.’

Uberto reached for his daughter. She gave him a challenging glare and avoided his embrace. Unperturbed, he demanded, ‘What do you know, Miranda?’

Miranda flicked a curl of black hair over her shoulder with a bejewelled hand. She was wearing a fitted emerald green dress. One of the advantages of being a maidservant to the queen was access to the royal tailors. Another was the opportunity to meet wealthy admirers. Miranda clearly enjoyed both these advantages, for which Mama Tina was glad. She hoped her daughter would have a better life than her own. When Miranda spoke again her voice had a sharp edge to it.

‘They want the girl. The little witch from Paolo’s village. The king loves what she did, creating the buildings during your performance. The Council is not so happy. They’re still debating whether what she did was an illusion or Arcani. At the moment they’re undecided, which is why you won and she wasn’t dragged off and imprisoned. But they want her here so they can question her.’

Uberto nodded slowly.

Miranda continued. ‘I’ve never seen the Council so divided. Those who support the king are arguing strongly it’s all just pretty tricks. The others say it’s a clear case of Arcani.’

‘So either way, our bargaining chip is the girl.’

Miranda nodded. A smile flickered at the corners of her mouth. ‘They’re talking about reinstating the Andreinis.’

Vincenzo swore, and the other players reacted with equal disgust. Mama Tina let out a cry. Miranda turned her back on her father, comforting her mother again.

Jal’s mother spoke into the silence. ‘What about my husband?’ she demanded.

‘My dear lady,’ Vincenzo said, ‘if we lose our place as the Royal Players we will have no power to help you.’

‘He’s right, Mama,’ Jal said. ‘We have to sort this out first. Then I’ll help you find Papa.’

‘We’ll need to talk to the city wardens,’ Amora responded. ‘They’ve locked him away. They won’t let me see him.’

Before Jal could respond, Roberto charged at Dario, pushing the taller man up against the wall. Roberto might have been thin, but he was all wiry muscle and Dario was overwhelmed by the swiftness of Roberto’s rush.

‘We have to find Mina, and quickly. Without her we’re finished. Where’s she gone?’ He was practically growling. Dario shook his head, mute. Roberto pulled Dario toward him, then with a swift shove, banged his head into the wall.

Uberto placed a hand on Roberto’s shoulder. ‘You are not on the streets anymore.’ His voice was quiet, but laden with menace. ‘This is not the way, Roberto. You will pay a fine of ten silver for this outburst, and count yourself lucky I keep you in the troupe.’

Roberto spun to face Uberto, looming over the older man. ‘I’ll pay nothing. We need the girl.’ His eyes flashed black, for the briefest moment, the entire iris filling to a nightmare colour.

Uberto’s face sagged and he took a step back, then another. He caught Mama Tina’s worried gaze, and stopped his retreat from the younger man. Straightening his shoulders, he repeated his earlier words. ‘This is not the way.’

He turned to Dario. ‘My boy, you’re part of our family. You know how hard we have worked to become the royal troupe. If Mina wants to travel she can, but surely she owes us enough loyalty to ensure we are securely in place at the palace before she leaves?’

Dario shook his head.

‘Dario, Dario,’ Uberto continued, ‘if she comes back, you can explain to her why you told me what you did. When she understands she will forgive you, and the two of you can be together.’

Dario looked around the room, indecision flitting across his face. ‘She said you tried to kill her.’

‘Dario, my son. Have you ever known me to do anything violent? You have lived with me since you were three. You know me. We argued, things became confused, but she is wrong. Ask yourself what I, Uberto, am capable of.’

Dario reached a decision. ‘I won’t tell you where she is. But I’ll go and talk to her, if she’ll let me. What she does after that will be her decision though.’

Uberto nodded. ‘Wise thinking, my son. I respect your choice.’

Roberto snickered. Dario glared at him, then pushed past him and out the door.

‘Follow him,’ Uberto hissed at Roberto after Dario was gone.

‘But you said …’ Luka began.

Uberto held up a hand, palm outward, silencing the young player. ‘We must stop her before she gets out of the city,’ he said.

Roberto flashed a feral smile, and ducked out the door.

~

Dario disappeared down the steps to the garden maze. Roberto followed silently, confident he could keep an eye on his quarry. After all, he had been a thief before he was ever a player. In some ways, he thought wryly, his profession had not changed much.

~

Sienna returned from the market with supplies for Mina—bread, cured meat, pickled vegetables and cheese. Together they packed two panniers with enough food for several days’ travel, adding bottles of water and oil, and a generous quantity of olives. Sofia had told them it was two or three days travel to Pedon at the most, though some of the terrain was very steep so it was slow going.

Mina paced the kitchen. She was grateful for the family’s hospitality, but she would only be safe from pursuit once she was out of the city. The players wouldn’t follow her, because they were the royal troupe now. But while she remained in Aurea they could turn up at any moment and she feared Uberto might have some way to impel her to go with him. He understood Tarya far better than she did and might be able to draw upon powers she couldn’t imagine.

Sofia was on lookout in the front room, and Gianni had gone to help his father’s merchant friend load the cart that would take them out of Aurea. Neither of these things lifted Mina’s anxiety.

Sienna closed the panniers, leaving them on the table, and beckoned for Mina to follow her out the kitchen door, through a yard with a small vegetable patch and rampant herb garden, to a back gate. Beyond the gate was a narrow alleyway.

‘They’ll bring the cart this way. You won’t even have to go out on the main street. Papa has organised blankets in case you want to hide under them, although in this heat I can’t imagine anything worse.’

Sienna’s tone suggested she could not understand the urgency, but not once had she questioned Mina’s numerous requests that they hurry.

Suddenly the gate swung open, nearly catching Sienna in the back. Gianni stood there, looking pleased with himself.

‘Balto’s on his way. He’s a bit slow, but he’s a good man. Should be here in a few minutes. Let’s get those baskets out here so you’re ready to go.’

‘I’ll tell Sofia she can come and wait with us,’ Sienna said. ‘No need to keep a watch now.’

Mina shook her head. ‘I think she should watch until the cart’s here.’

Sienna glanced at her brother, shrugged and nodded. ‘Whatever you like, but I’m sure the danger’s passed.’

~

Dario rushed through the palace grounds and out into the city. He was better oriented than Mina had been. A frequent visitor to Aurea, he knew the general layout of the city well. He even knew roughly where Gianni’s house was, and guessed Mina would have known nowhere else to go to get passage out of the city.

He walked quickly, unaware Roberto followed closely behind. After a while Roberto didn’t even bother to hide. Dario had no idea he was being followed as he raced through the streets with one clear purpose. His heart pounding, all he could think of was seeing Mina again and making everything right between them.

~

‘All right everyone, go and finish packing our costumes and props. Except you, Vincenzo. You can arrange for the costume wagon to be brought round to the forge, then help them get everything loaded. We leave as soon as we are ready.’

Startled, the other players started to question Uberto’s commands. He silenced their protests with a look and urged them to make speed.

‘If Roberto fails, we may have to follow her from the city,’ he said and shooed them from the room.

As soon as they were gone, Uberto nodded to Mama Tina, who opened the large trunk gifted by the palace. Previously filled with armfuls of exquisite garb, it was now packed with Uberto and Mama Tina’s personal possessions. Mama Tina pulled a box from the trunk. It was of pale wood with a smooth gloss finish. The lid was inlaid with seven stars in various shades of darker wood, encircling a key of gold. Gold thread ran from each of the stars to the key at the centre. An elaborate gold catch in the shape of an eye held the box closed. Mama Tina took several moments to open the catch, then held the box out to Uberto. Inside, on black velvet, lay a mask. It was unlike any of the standard player masks, which were all of darkened leather with grotesque exaggerated features. This one was undyed, a pale leather similar to flesh, the face so lifelike it could have been modelled on a real person, with a long and aquiline nose, sensuous lips, a strong jaw and high forehead.

Mama Tina handed the mask to Uberto, who slipped it on. He turned his back to his wife, who quickly did up the straps at the back.

‘Roberto has certain skills he can use to find the girl,’ Uberto said, his voice hollow behind the mask. ‘I have my own.’

~

Waiting at the back door, Mina could hear Gianni pacing the sitting room, perhaps caught up in her anxieties. At the other end of the hallway Sofia waited by the front door, her posture alert but her outer demeanour calm. Sienna stood next to Mina, offering reassurances, but Mina barely took in her words. The day was half gone, and despite Gianni’s promises the cart still had not arrived. Sienna’s mother had prepared a delicious lunch of dried tomatoes and thick, dark olive bread, but Mina had barely been able to eat. Now, as she waited, she was alert to every noise beyond the gate, but it was all only passing foot traffic.

Finally Sofia turned. Mina’s heart leaped with hope.

‘Do you see the cart?’

‘One of the players is outside,’ Sofia said. ‘The tall one.’

‘Dario,’ Mina gasped, and her heart pounded faster. ‘Is he … is he alone?’

Sofia nodded. Mina began to feel nauseous. He was here to see her. What could he possibly have come to say?

Gianni came into the hallway. ‘He’s not alone. There’s a man with a sharp nose and mousy face with him.’

Mina’s heart dropped. Dario had betrayed her again by bringing Roberto. They had come to get her. Sofia reached for Mina’s hand.

‘Don’t say anything,’ Mina said, shaking off her sympathy. ‘It doesn’t matter. He’s not who I thought he was.’

There was a knock at the door. Gianni frowned. ‘I’ll deal with them.’

A moment later Mina heard the sound they had been waiting for. The dull clopping of a large horse, and the creaking of a cart.

‘Balto,’ Sienna said, relief palpable in her voice. Sofia hurried to the kitchen and picked up one of the food-laden baskets. Sienna seized Mina’s hands.

‘Good luck.’

Mina followed Sofia through the garden to the gate, where a thickset man in an earth-coloured tunic was halting the cart. She scrambled into the back. Sofia passed up a basket, then climbed in herself as Sienna handed Mina the second basket. The cart was full of wooden crates packed with bottles, but a small space had been made for them to sit just behind the driver’s seat, with cushions and a blanket. Mina and Sofia gave Sienna a last wave and slid the blanket over their heads.

~

At the front door, Dario gripped Roberto’s arm, trying to pull him back, but the wiry man was twisting like an eel and nearly succeeded in freeing himself several times. Gianni blocked the door, feet planted firmly. Dario had been horrified when Roberto suddenly appeared beside him as he had reached the house. Mina would never believe he had tried to keep her whereabouts secret if she saw him with Roberto. Roberto kept struggling to push his way into the house, but made little headway. Dario finally managed to hook both arms through Roberto’s and dragged him back into the street.

‘Let her go,’ Dario said as Gianni yelled at them both to get away from his house. It was Gianni’s neighbourhood and it only took a moment for several tipsy men from the tavern nearby to secure Roberto and Dario. Dario stood still, but Roberto struggled for a minute. Finally he stopped.

‘Fine,’ he said. ‘We’ll go. Get your hands off me.’

He shook his captors off and began to walk away. Dario was freed too, and gave Gianni a brief look of apology before turning to leave. With a roar, Roberto spun round again and gave Gianni a brutal shove, rushing into the house. Gianni’s mother stepped out of Roberto’s way, throwing her arms into the air. Roberto ran through the house, out the open kitchen door and into the laneway. It was empty.

~

Huddled under blankets that smelled strongly of horse, Mina tried to hold back tears. Why was she surprised at another betrayal by Dario, and why did it hurt as much as the first? Part of her still wanted to see him, and she didn’t understand that either. Even knowing all he had done, she still wanted to run to him and feel his arms around her. She leaned into her knees, face buried in the fabric, tears soaking into her skirt.

‘Stop it,’ Mina told herself firmly. ‘Crying won’t help anything.’ She listened to the bottles clinking around her and wondered how far they had gone. Balto had taken them on what seemed like a winding path since leaving the house, muttering he’d let them know when it was safe to come out. He was a man of few words, but seemed to enjoy humming tunelessly as the cart swayed and rolled slowly through the streets of Aurea. Mina wished she could have one last chance to see the beautiful city, with its scenic mosaics and sculptured buildings, but she knew she would be coming back, regardless of the danger. After she found Paolo and helped him reconcile with their father, she would have to face the Council of Muses and tell them the truth about the consequences of playing.

Balto stopped humming and gave an odd whistle, which rose at the end like a question. He called a gentle ‘hoy’ to his horse, and the cart stopped. Mina clutched Sofia’s hand. They weren’t supposed to stop until they were safety out of the city.

Suddenly the blanket was flicked back. Mina blinked in the sunlight. It took her a moment to focus on the man standing beside the cart. His strong features were completely alien to her. At the same time his face seemed to be fluid, the skin shifting. Mina realised she was looking at a mask. Unlike the Commedia masks, it was pinky-gold, almost flesh coloured, and the features, though strong, were ordinary, unexaggerated. It could be a death mask with its close resemblance to a human face.

The man lifted familiar long and slender fingers, and slid the mask up and off his head.

‘Hello Mina,’ said Uberto.

Chapter 2