The Tales of Tarya, Books 1-3

Chapter 2 - Delays and Distractions-4

Six princesses were thus locked away within the thick stone walls of the secret cavern, weak and despairing. The youngest princess, the one whose gift was to tell stories, knew in her heart her sisters had not run away, whatever the rumours might say. She was determined to search for them. Though she was the last of the king’s daughters, and despite the minstrel’s growing power, many of the courtiers still looked to her to rule them in the king’s absence.

For months she searched for her sisters, but she could not find them, for the minstrel had placed spirits and cast spells to guard the cave’s entrance. One day the minstrel asked her to teach him her gift of storytelling, and she came to understand he must be behind the disappearances. She pretended she would teach him, but each time he asked she begged for more time. In secret, she continued to search for her sisters.

Finally after months of stalling, the minstrel realised the princess would not give him the final gift he craved, the gift that would give him complete power over the kingdom and allow him to take his place as ruler. He declared to the populace he had discovered the youngest princess had murdered her sisters, one by one, to become queen of the land. He had her locked up in a circular chamber at the heart of the palace.

Filled with the creative powers of the princesses, the minstrel lived on and on. The old king passed away and the courtiers, in the minstrel’s thrall, named him king. In time the children of the children of the original courtiers forgot the woman in the circular chamber had once been the rightful heir to the kingdom. They visited her to hear her stories, marvelling that she never grew a day older, but always returned to the grand feasting hall to be ruled by the minstrel, their king. The kingdom was no longer the joyous, music-filled place it had once been, for the minstrel was at heart a tyrant and any who crossed him faced his devious revenge. But none alive remembered how the kingdom had once been light of spirit, so they believed they were content. And the minstrel, the princesses long buried away in the recesses of his memory, ruled the kingdom with a secret smile on his face. Every now and then he would perform for the people to renew their love for him, but they had forgotten he was nothing more than a minstrel, and in time he trained others to perform for him. But the princess in her chamber never forgot who he was, and what he had done. In the stories she told she remembered her sisters. She promised herself one day she would find a way to return the enchantment of music and dance to the land.

Time sweeps all before it, and eventually only the stars remembered the story of the lost princess in the circular chamber, and of the hidden princesses. The stars told their story to the river, who whispered it to me one day as I passed by. And so I bring this story to you now.’

Sofia completed the telling and the audience sat, nodding, letting the final words ring in the air, before they stood as one and offered the blessing of the Creator to the story teller. Their shuffling movements broke the spell that had held the divina in silence and soon the audience was chattering avidly. Two of the village folk, dressed in finer fabric than many of the others, invited Sofia to join them for a banquet. As they led her out of the divina, Sofia indicated Mina.

‘My apprentice,’ she murmured, and they beckoned her to join them.

~

It was late afternoon the following day before the Gazini troupe stood by their wagons in the merchants’ quarter of the city. It had taken a full day to plan but finally everything was loaded: costumes, props and backdrops. Mama Tina had supervised a reshuffling of wagon contents since they were only taking the stage and living wagons for this journey, with the most basic of requirements for performances. The huge, cumbersome set wagon and the costume wagon were to be left in storage, as speed was paramount. All the players would bunk in together. Life promised to be very crowded on this journey.

Now the business of getting organised was completed, the questions began. Was there any guarantee they would regain their place as the royal troupe? Where were they going? The players’ voices were filled with despondency. A few days ago the future had looked exciting. Now their only chance for wealth and fame lay in finding a girl who no longer wanted to be with them.

Lisette eyed Miranda unhappily, fearful of the journey ahead. Miranda was not like Isabella, nasty for the pure enjoyment of it when she sensed vulnerability, but she was Uberto’s daughter and had not learned to temper the privileges that gave her. Time spent living in the palace could only have increased Miranda’s arrogance. The girl seemed shaken for some reason, but her jaw was set in a determined expression.

Uberto held up a hand to silence the troupe’s anxious questions.

‘Our efforts to have Mina re-join us have been unsuccessful. Dario was unable to persuade his love to return.’

Dario shot an angry look at Roberto.

‘My own humble efforts were thwarted also. However, all is not lost. I believe I know where she has gone and I do not think we need even hurry. Once she reaches her destination she is likely to stay for a time.’

Lisette saw Dario’s face turned a shade of light green. He glanced at her. She carefully gave the slightest shake of her head, making it clear she had not revealed Mina’s destination. They looked back at Uberto. He was drawing out the silence for as long as it could withstand, creating drama. Finally he bowed, sweeping a great imaginary cloak in front of him. He spoke in a triumphant voice.

‘I can see you are wondering how I came by this information. It seems Harlequin merely had to stand still for a moment and think. Not an easy task for me, I know. But we know exactly where she is going. Tell them, Miranda.’

A strange, sad smile flickered across Miranda’s face and was gone. ‘To find Paolo,’ she said, her husky voice soft. ‘She’s Paolo’s sister. I told you at the prize giving.’

‘It’s been many years since we left him in Pedon,’ Uberto continued, ‘but I will stake our post as the Royal Players he is still there.’

‘He wasn’t going anywhere,’ Miranda said, her face empty of expression.

Chapter 3