The Tales of Tarya, Books 1-3

Chapter 4 - Washing at the Well-3

‘Go back to Aurea. We have friends and family there, somewhere to stay. We can look after Uberto properly.’

‘You must take one of the wagons,’ Mama Tina said abruptly. ‘All the troupes will be on the road again now and Mourini could be with any one of them. You’re going to have to travel to find him. If he’s taken over Mario Andreini, I’ll send you a message to tell you he’s in Aurea, but I doubt it will be that easy.’

‘Andreini?’

‘They’ve been reinstated as the royal troupe. We lost our place.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘It doesn’t matter now,’ Miranda said. ‘I’ll go and help the others pack the wagons.’ She hurried out of the courtyard.

Mama Tina walked with Mina into the house.

‘This is the end of our troupe, Mina. But that is a good thing. Mourini has no hold over us now. We could never act against him, but you can. Uberto was very excited by your talent. He said you would change things.’

She stopped walking. They stood in a dark hallway. On their left a door opened and Paolo stood there, still and watching.

‘Uberto said something else,’ Mama Tina continued. ‘Mourini wants you, Mina. Uberto said Mourini wanted us to tie you to the players, which is why we accepted your relationship with Dario despite the rules against it. It was wrong, and I’m sorry. But never forget, Mourini wants your power. He can only reach you in Tarya though, because he doesn’t really exist in our world. Find out how you do what you can do. Learn all you can about Tarya, and why you can do so much so easily. I fear that knowledge will be your only protection.’

Paolo made a soft noise and beckoned Mama Tina through the door he had opened. She followed him, turning back to say one final thing.

‘Stop him, Mina.’

~

‘It is time for Uberto and me to retire. Uberto is very ill, and we need rest. We will decide the future of the Gazini players in time, but for now we have offered the living wagon to Mina and Sofia for their travels as they plan to continue touring. Each of you must decide for yourself whether you will return to Aurea with us, or continue to make a life on the road. You are welcome to travel with Mina if you wish, until you can find another troupe to take you in.’

Mama Tina’s announcement led to a flurry of activity as the players shifted items between the two wagons. Anything for performance was stowed in the stage wagon, along with half the living gear. As story tellers, she and Sofia would have no need of all the player paraphernalia. A bed was set up on the stage floor so Uberto could travel back to Aurea lying down. Roberto and Jal left for the market, to fetch provisions for both journeys.

Mina watched Dario carrying a small tub of pots and plates up the steps of the stage wagon, and wondered what he had decided: to travel back to Aurea with his family, or to journey with her. She was not sure which would hurt more. When she had first arrived at the player campsite his eyes had lit up at the sight of her, causing a familiar thrill in her stomach. But the rawness of her confused emotions had caused her to turn away. They had not looked at each other since.

It was slowly dawning on Mina that since Uberto had not actually been the one who had tried to kill her, Dario’s actions were not such a terrible betrayal. His trust in Uberto was not foolish. Yet she had cut him down so badly in Aurea, she was frightened she had destroyed his feelings for her. Until she remembered the way his eyes had lit up … While Mina battled her inner fears, she made herself busy so she wouldn’t watch Dario, waiting and wondering.

Uberto remained at Paolo’s foster home, unconscious. After her announcement, Mama Tina hurried back to his bedside, so Miranda directed operations. Occasionally she glanced at Paolo, whose efforts to help everyone were more of a hindrance, grief palpable in her eyes.

Though she was reluctant to part with it, Mina offered Uberto’s special mask to Miranda when they both stopped for a mug of water. Busy with their tasks, none of the other players noticed.

‘You can keep that,’ Miranda said with a shrug. ‘Uberto won’t need it anymore. I wouldn’t use it though. It might be dangerous. It was his link with Mourini.’

She turned away, distracted by a question from Ciro.

‘If it is the link, maybe we can use it to track Mourini down,’ Sofia said softly from behind Mina. ‘But only once you’re ready, once you’ve learned everything you can about Tarya, so you can challenge him.’

Mina nodded, her thoughts still caught up in Dario, and slipped the mask back into its bag.

‘What do we do with Paolo?’ Sofia continued, and Mina looked at her with surprise.

‘He’ll come with us,’ she said. ‘Now I’ve found him I’m not leaving him anywhere.’

‘Mina, I understand how much you love him. But having him with us …’

‘I’m not leaving him.’ Mina’s voice was steel.

‘What if we took him home? It doesn’t need to slow us down, because we might find players as we travel, so we can still search for Mourini. And I can continue to teach you everything I know while we’re travelling … I mean, what I really know, not just the official story teller knowledge.’

Mina pondered the proposal.

‘I suppose Paolo would be safest at home. And I can explore Tarya, try to learn …’

She broke off, distracted by a small carriage approaching the campsite. It was painted with gilt curlicues and the driver had a robin’s egg blue velvet jacket on. He was beefy, with a bristling moustache, so the overall effect was comic rather than elegant. Much like his master. Another local lord like Geraldo sat in the back, elegant in black hose and an antique shiny gold jacket whose buttons strained across his ample front.

It was his land, of course, on which the players were encamped. His driver halted the carriage and jumped down, tossing the reins to a surprised Luka. He fetched a wooden step from a box at the rear and helped the nobleman down.

The chubby lord walked toward the players, arms out in an expansive, embracing gesture. When nobody responded he beckoned them all to surround him. Player and story teller alike came together in a circle around him. Sometimes it was necessary to pay due attention to those who patronised the arts.

‘My dear story tellers,’ he gestured toward Sofia and Mina, ‘and you delightful players,’ he encompassed everyone else with a nod, ‘it has been such a pleasure being your host. I have brought you a little gift for your onward journey.’

His servant placed a wooden box on the ground and they all heard the tinkle of bottles clinking together.

‘Some of our regional produce,’ he said with a careless twist of his wrist.

Sofia looked around the circle then stepped forward, taking on the natural authority of the anointed representative of the Creator.

‘Thank you for your generous hospitality. Please be assured that we will tell all we meet of the wonderful hospitality of Pedon.

The lord thanked Sofia for her kindness and waddled back to his coach, mounted the wooden stairs, and was gone with a grand cry of farewell and the clop of hooves.

With far less flourish, Jal arrived a short while later, trudging up with a sack over his shoulder just as the players had finished their rearrangements and were investigating the contents of their host’s gift box.

‘Roberto stayed in the village,’ he grunted as he dropped the sack to the ground. ‘These are the provisions for Mina’s wagon. He’s got the rest with him. We can pick him up on our way of this damn hilly town.’

He bent over, hands on knees, to catch his breath, his handsome face red and puffy from exertion.

Dario picked up the sack and carried it to the living wagon, while Miranda quickly divided up the bottles of port and jellies and preserved fruits and meats of the gift, making two even piles. These were quickly stowed in the two wagons.

The troupe began their goodbyes. Mina explained they would begin by heading south, as she had decided to take her brother home, but did not elaborate further on her plans. Those who were not coming with her did not need to know. It took several rounds of farewells before Mina saw Dario tearfully hug Mama Tina. Her heart began pounding as she realised he would be coming with her. She would need to have a conversation with him, and soon. She wasn’t sure whether to flee or laugh. To her relief, Ciro, Vincenzo and Jal had chosen to return to Aurea.

Lisette approached Mina. ‘I travel with you, my friend.’

‘Thank you.’

‘I have something to tell you though. We should delay …’

Before she could finish, Jal swooped in and locked Mina in a tight embrace.

‘I wish I could come with you,’ he whispered, his lips close to her ear. ‘I really like you, Mina. But my father’s not well. I promised my mother I’d help him. I shouldn’t have even come to Pedon, but I couldn’t abandon the troupe. Come back to Aurea soon, won’t you? I know some great taverns we can try.’

He pinched her bottom. Shocked, she slapped his face and he burst out laughing.

‘You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that,’ he chuckled, and bound up the back steps of the stage wagon, disappearing inside with one final, elaborate bow. Mina looked at the blank space where he had stood and her limbs grew cold. His bow was so like Harlequin …

Someone touched her arm, making her lose the thought.

‘I’m coming with you,’ a gentle voice said, ‘if you don’t mind.’

‘Of course, Luka.’

He blushed. Questions arose at the back of her mind, about how they would earn enough to eat as they travelled, and whether the others would expect her to lead them somehow, but when Dario appeared behind Luka, they all vanished like smoke. Luka, seeing Dario there, slipped quietly away.

‘I haven’t asked you, Mina. Is there room for me?’

Mina nodded, but couldn’t find any other words. Their eyes locked for an endless moment. Dario opened his mouth then closed it again and nodded his head.

‘Great. That’s great.’ His smile quelled her uncertainties, and the faintest of smiles hovered on her own lips. ‘Do you want me to drive the wagon?’

‘Great. Yes … great,’ she said, feeling like a fool. The conversation they needed to have was sure to go well.

Lisette was still hovering nearby, but before she could speak to Mina again Jal hurried them all to the wagons.

‘Mama Tina will be waiting, and Roberto.’

They rode the wagons in convoy to Paolo’s house, where Dario and Jal gently carried the still unconscious Uberto to his new bed in the stage wagon. Paolo wept openly, grief-stricken to be leaving his adoptive mother, but when Mina offered him her hand to lead him to the living wagon he left without a backward glance, clambering up to the passenger seat. When Dario went to sit beside him, Paolo shook his head vigorously, so Mina found herself driving as the convoy continued down the steep terraces of Pedon. Lisette poked her head through the upper door at her shoulder, reassuring her and giving her instructions. Mina was relieved to be on the road again. There were many questions and tasks ahead, but moving forward physically made her feel she was making progress.

On the outskirts of Pedon, when the road levelled out, they slowed and moved to the right to let a coach pass, coming the other way. When it came parallel to them, however, it stopped and the driver hailed Mina. Though she had never driven the living wagon before, Peppe-Nappa was so sweet natured he obeyed her command to stop instantly. Ahead, the stage wagon continued on, receding into the distance.

The door of the coach was flung open with a metallic clang and a young man strode over to Mina. It was her fearful reaction, rather than anything in the young man’s manner, which made Paolo start a threatening coo. She easily recognised the man who had kidnapped Isabella in Clusone.

‘What do you want, Rico?’ Mina demanded.

Rico’s shocked expression did nothing to calm her nerves. ‘You? You’re the one who heals people? You’re the girl …’

‘You spat on. Yes.’

He looked down, a wave of scarlet sweeping across his face. ‘I’m sorry.’

He seemed to almost choke on the words. When he looked up, Mina recognised the fanaticism in his eyes.

‘You have to help me.’

‘Or you’ll take me somewhere and tie me up?’ Mina spat back. ‘I don’t think so.’

She picked up the reins and was about to flick them when Paolo’s hand on her arm stopped her. He nodded to the door of Rico’s coach, where a young woman peered out, her shadowed eyes showing no curiosity, only familiar despair.

Rico turned to see what they were looking at and sorrow flickered across his face, wiping away the hardness. Still looking at his wife, he spoke to Mina.

‘I shouldn’t have taken the other girl. I was just so angry. Ever since Katriela got sick, I’ve wanted to make someone pay. She got sick after she went to see players perform. I was sure …’

‘Is that supposed to make me want to help you?’ Mina asked.

Paolo’s grip on her arm tightened.

‘I don’t know what you think I can do,’ she continued, her tone softer, ‘but I don’t have time. We have to …’

She stopped as a new thought came to her.

‘How did you find me? Have you been following me ever since Clusone?’

‘No,’ Lisette said from behind Mina. ‘His brother came to me in Aurea and I told him where you were going.’

Mina looked at the open road ahead and asked, almost to herself, ‘Does everyone know where I am?’

A silent voice, unbidden, answered her. She wasn’t sure whether it was her own or not.

Nowhere to hide. Nowhere …

Chapter 5