Columbine's Tale

Chapter 1 - Escape from Aurea-2

‘But why were you following me?’ Mina demanded. She glanced around. Other than them, the street was empty.

‘I’ve been trying to speak with you since we first met. I’m Sofia.’

She extended her hand, which Mina shook, examining it curiously. Growing up in Andon, there had never been many visitors, and Mina had never encountered anyone with a different skin colour. Aurea had been more cosmopolitan, but she had not had the chance to speak to anyone other than palace staff with all the rush of the festival.

‘Would you like to keep it?’ Sofia chuckled, and Mina realised she still held the story teller’s hand. She dropped it.

‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean …’

‘I take it you’ve never met someone like me before? I can tell you haven’t. My parents were from Algaryn, but they came to Litonya before I was born because they didn’t want to be farmers for the rest of their days. This was fortunate for me—I would never have become a story teller otherwise.’

Nearby, a door opened and a bleary-eyed woman in chemise, skirt and apron swept some dust onto the street. She eyed the two of them suspiciously and withdrew, closing her door firmly. In the growing light the buildings’ edges grew sharper with each moment. Mina could see golden highlights on the tavern sign, picking out filigree details on the mask. With the morning air came warmth, promising another fine summer day. The growing light reminded Mina of the danger she faced. Shutters on windows were being pushed open, increasing the chances Uberto could track her down by asking around.

‘I can’t tell you why, but I need to get off the street. Whatever you want to say, you’ll have to be quick. But not here. It’s too exposed.’

Sofia nodded and followed Mina as she ducked around the corner. Too late, a thought struck Mina. What if Uberto had sent Sofia after her? They hadn’t seemed to know each other on the road, but Mina didn’t know who to trust now. She decided to get away from the story teller as soon as possible. When Sofia grabbed her arm again, she instinctively shook her off.

‘Listen, Mina, if you act like a fugitive people will see, and remember. I don’t know what you’re running from, but the secret to being invisible is to look like you belong. No one will take a second look.’

At that moment Mina recognised the door to Gianni’s house.

‘I’m sorry,’ she told the story teller, ‘but I have to go. We’ll talk next time.’ She turned away.

‘But you haven’t heard what I have to say. You’ll want to hear it, I promise. The reason I’ve been wanting to talk to you is because I can help.’

‘To do what?’

‘To find more stories.’

Despite her decision to get away, Sofia’s words made her turn back. They echoed her father’s parting gift, when she left Andon. His entreaty that she find her stories again.

‘Are you offering me a story teller apprenticeship?’

Before Sofia could respond, a commotion broke out further along the street. Mina’s fears rose up and overwhelmed her. Pushing curiosity aside, she hurried to Gianni’s door and knocked, a little too loudly.

It was opened almost instantly by Gianni’s sister, Sienna. Confusion was quickly replaced by a broad smile of recognition.

‘Mina. It’s good to see you again. Come in.’

Desperation tinged Sofia’s last words. ‘You don’t just tell stories, do you? You make them up as well.’

Mina stopped on the threshold. Sofia’s next words changed everything.

‘You’re not the only one.’

~

Roberto paced the room, spinning swiftly each time he reached a wall. ‘Dario, you must have some idea where she’s gone,’ he snapped.

Vincenzo, lounging on cushions again, steepled his fingers and yawned. ‘Roberto, let it go. No matter how many times you ask, if he doesn’t know, he doesn’t know.’

Luka broke his habitual silence. ‘Why do you need to know so badly?’

Roberto looked at each of the staring players in turn. He opened his mouth, and Lisette expected him to snap a sarcastic comment, but he paused. His eyes flashed black and he visibly relaxed his shoulders. Everyone else, caught up in the endless argument, seemed to have missed it, but Lisette didn’t.

‘I don’t know,’ Roberto replied. ‘I’m just concerned for the troupe. I hope you’re all right. Uberto will sort things out.’ But doubt tinged his voice.

Mama Tina put her hands on her hips. ‘Are you suggesting …’ she began, but was interrupted by the door slamming into the wall. Isabella flounced in. Instinctively Lisette took a step backward.

‘Well, everything’s sorted,’ Isabella announced. She was carrying a calico sack and began rustling through the troupe’s supplies. When she found her clothing she started shoving it into the sack. The others watched her pack for a minute, waiting for her to elaborate. Finally Jal gave in.

Someone has to play her game, Lisette thought.

‘Sorted? Have you spoken to Uberto?’The hope in his voice was reflected in the others’ faces.

‘Yes. And don’t take this the wrong way. I’m not deserting you. Although, given Mina has set a precedent … but you all know I planned to find myself a nobleman in Aurea. Even I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly, but it has! Sometimes I amaze even myself.’

Jal and Dario looked at each other, eyebrows raised.

‘You’re leaving us?’ Mama Tina asked, her voice low.

‘Oh Mama, don’t be angry. Be happy for me. Lucien Andreini has asked me to marry him.’

She let out an excited shriek and continued.

‘We only just met, but it’s true love, we both knew in an instant, and …’

Jal burst out laughing. ‘Isabella.’

He couldn’t say anything else because he was laughing too much. Finally he managed to sputter out his thoughts.

‘You’re marrying a player? For love?’

He wiped his eyes and laughed again. When he broke into a cough, Roberto thumped him hard on the back. Isabella waited until Jal’s display had stopped, then walked up to him, standing very close.

‘The Andreini are royalty among the players,’ she hissed. ‘They live in the palace, they have wealth and power. And an Andreini was part of the Mourini troupe—the first troupe of players in Litonya.’

She slapped him.

‘And don’t you dare make fun of me. Love is not a joke. It is all we say it is in our playing. Noble, wondrous …’

‘And rather convenient,’ Vincenzo said drily. Before Isabella could turn her anger on him, he stood and enveloped her in a hug. He was so big she looked like a child in his arms.

‘Congratulations, my girl. You’re right, the Andreini have an ancient playing pedigree—but so do the Gazini.’

Mama Tina spoke up. ‘Uberto’s ancestor was in Mourini’s troupe too.’

‘Well, I can’t really marry Uberto, can I?’ Isabella laughed, and the tension broke. The room erupted into celebration at Isabella’s news. Only Lisette, who had spent more time than any in her company, let her mind linger on the suddenness of the match. Isabella never did anything unless it was the best thing for Isabella. Lisette suspected not even love would change that.

~

Sienna led Mina and Sofia into her home. Mina was able to notice a lot more than she had during her last visit, when the hallucinogenic Visionnaire had clouded everything. They walked along a wood panelled hallway, past a sitting room stuffed with plump velvet chairs and an elaborately carved bureau topped with several pieces of carnival glass. At the end of the hall, the kitchen, clearly the heart of the home, looked out over a vegetable garden. A large oak table, with seating for a dozen, dominated the room, dwarfing even the smoking black iron range. Gianni and his parents sat at the table, all dressed in work clothes despite the early hour. Sienna gestured for Mina and Sofia to sit. She made them steaming cups of tea while her mother served up pasta from a large ceramic bowl. Still anxious to get out of Aurea and escape pursuit, Mina started to plead for help, but Sienna’s mother silenced her with a wave of her hand.

‘Breakfast first,’ she chided, passing a glass decanter of olive oil to her guest. Mina drizzled her pasta with oil and crumbling slices of parmesan, enjoying the simple meal immensely after the exotic palace fare served during the festival. Like Mina’s own, this was a merchant family. They chattered of the increased trade the festival had brought to their business selling olives and olive oil. They could not keep up with supply at the moment.

Only when the family were sated, sopping out their bowls with fresh bread, did they turn to Mina. Looking at their open, friendly faces, she decided to keep her request simple. They would not understand the darkness of the attack at the palace, so she merely explained she had discovered her missing brother was in Pedon and wanted to travel to find him. She had debated not telling them where she planned to go, but since Dario already knew, it seemed to serve no purpose to keep that to herself. Panic still sat in her chest, a cold weight, so she added a note of urgency.

‘The rest of the troupe are not happy I left. If they catch me they might try to stop me. But I have to find my brother.’

Sienna’s mother nodded sagely.

‘I know the roads. I can help Mina on her travels,’ Sofia offered.

Sienna’s father, a taciturn man who had spoken little during breakfast, intervened, waving a hand to shoo Sienna, Mina and Sofia from the room.

‘They need to talk about this,’ Sienna explained, leading them to the plush sitting room they had passed earlier. ‘Don’t worry, I’m sure we can help.’

Sofia sank into one of the chairs, but Mina could not stay still. The room faced the street, and though the burgundy curtains were still drawn, the sounds of a waking city intruded. Mina tugged the heavy curtain aside to watch the street, keeping back so she would not be visible to passers-by. It was full daylight now and everyone hurried about their business, oblivious to the dark shadows at the heart of the city. There was no sign of pursuing players, but Mina still thought it was only a matter of time. Dario would easily guess this was the only place she knew in Aurea and she had little hope he would keep her destination a secret, after betraying her to Uberto already.

A sob choked up in her throat. Why had she thought she loved him? For a moment she could still feel him holding her, his arms wrapped around her protectively.

I won’t think of him, she told herself. She turned back to find Sofia watching her intently.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s nothing. There was someone with the troupe. Dario. I thought he had feelings for me. But it turned out his loyalty was stronger to Uberto than to me. I don’t want to talk about it.’

‘Oh Mina, I’m sorry. Listen, I meant what I said in the kitchen. I can help you on your journey. I’ve travelled those roads a lot.’

‘Why would you want to help me?’

‘I saw what you did during the competition. Everyone could see the buildings you created onstage. I sensed there was something very different about you from the first time I saw you, and what you did at the festival showed me I was right. You bring stories to life. I think you can even create your own.’

Sofia rose from her chair and came over to Mina.

‘I can teach you about storytelling, if you want me to, but I want to learn from you too. I’ve dreamed of finding someone who can do what you can. Will you work with me?’

Mina looked out the window again. A girl stumbled along the street. She barely looked where she was going, her shoulders stooped, her eyes deeply shadowed.

‘What if I told you I created those buildings using the power of Tarya?’ Mina said softly.

Sofia gasped. She came closer and looked out the window too. They both watched the girl across the street, a basket carelessly dangling from her hand. Suddenly she looked up, her dead gaze directed at the two women who watched her. Mina drew back from the window. The girl looked down again and stumbled away.

‘What if it’s not just about telling stories, Sofia?’ Mina asked, her voice low. ‘What if it’s not just about finding my brother? Would you help me if I told you I have enemies, and there’s something I have to do that could be very dangerous?’

Before Sofia could respond, the door opened, and Gianni strode in.

‘Good news, Mina. Papa’s gone to arrange passage for you to Pedon. We’ll help you find your brother. Will Sofia be travelling with you?’