The Tales of Tarya, Books 1-3

Chapter 12 - Stage Fright-4

She reached for the handle of the door.

Uberto placed his hand over hers. ‘Mina.’ For once his mercurial eyes were still, but she was unable, as always, to read them. ‘Please.’

The otherworldliness that always hovered around Uberto vanished like smoke, and she saw a thin, worn man on the verge of being old.

‘I’ll try,’ Mina said, but she didn’t know what Uberto was almost asking, so she didn’t know what she was almost promising.

~

At dawn the second day of the competition began. Act followed act, although the energy in the hall seemed more subdued than the previous day. Some of the excitement seemed to have dissipated. Lunch was a sumptuous picnic that made Mina homesick for plainer fare, perhaps her mother’s pasta with fresh picked creamy mushrooms. In the late afternoon the royal players took to the stage. Their costumes were exquisite, their improvisations masterful and their transformations faultless. Uberto’s troupe cast covert glances at each other throughout, watching their chance to become the royal troupe slip away.

There was something familiar about the incredibly charming, loquacious Inamorato under his white face and lusciously painted lips. Jal was the first to recognise Isabella’s suitor of last night. Clutching two hands to his heart, he exclaimed softly in falsetto.

‘That Inamorato, he’s a catch!’

His eyelashes fluttered like an insane butterfly. Dario took up the joke. He too did a wonderful impression of a woman’s voice.

‘So handsome and so … noble.’

Slowly, Isabella’s body leaned forward, intent on the performance. She sat like that for the rest of the lazzi, the comic turn onstage. When the Inamorato left the stage and the story moved on, she sat back, as slowly as she had leaned forward. She even spoke slowly.

‘Oh, Creator!’

Mina was surprised. She’d almost expected an explosion when Isabella realised the lord she’d found was no such creature. Stranger still, Isabella now had the tiniest smile curling the corners of her lips.

This second day seemed longer, although, in the end, there were fewer acts. Perhaps time stretched with the anticipation of the impending judging. Artisans who hadn’t performed began glancing nervously at the curtained windows, realised time was running out.

Finally, after a group of cirquers finished their tumbling, the king signalled for the day to end. He invited all the performers to the evening’s masquerade ball, then left with the queen and their retinue. The noblemen and women left as quickly, and with as little ceremony.

Mama Tina rushed the players back to their room. Mina caught snatches of sad or angry conversation as the handful of artisans who had missed their chance commiserated with each other. It occurred to her as she entered the familiar, crowded sleeping quarters that their own wagons were more luxurious than their royal lodgings.

A surprise awaited the players. In the centre of their chamber sat an open chest full of fabric shining like treasure. Four dresses draped across its lid.

‘What’s this?’ Mina and Luka asked together.

‘A good sign,’ Ciro responded in his dry voice.

‘Better than you could imagine,’ added Uberto, and held up a sheet of paper. ‘This is our invitation to the masquerade ball tonight, and the king has added to it in his own hand. His own hand, Tina!’

Uberto handed the paper to Mama Tina, who read it with a growing smile on her face. Roberto, Jal, Isabella, and Dario clamoured around her like anxious children. It was Vincenzo, however, leaning back against the wall, with his calmness, who broke through Mama’s teasing refusal to share the letter’s contents.

‘Well?’ he asked, raising one eyebrow.

‘“We are most pleased with your skilful illusions and offer you this garb as a gift for your excellent work. It would please us if you were to wear it for tonight’s frivolities.’”

Isabella whooped. ‘A new dress!’ She descended on the chest and swiftly snatched up a silky dress in scarlet. ‘We can keep them, right?’

‘That is how it appears,’ Uberto said wryly.

Jal and Roberto reached into the chest and began pulling out other articles of clothing, shirts and vests and stockings, commenting as they did so. Isabella held her dress against her and swung around the room. Lisette and Mina shyly approached the rich fabric, fingers stroking velvet tentatively. One dress was larger than the others and they held it out to Mama Tina.

‘Even me?’ she asked, her voice girlish.

‘Does this mean we’ve won?’ Luka said quietly, and his voice stilled the room.

All heads turned to Uberto, who waited, ever one to milk a moment.

‘Not necessarily, but as Ciro said, it is a good sign.’

It was Vincenzo who filled in the picture for them. ‘The royal tailors always make too much clothing. Who can know what the queen and her ladies may take a fancy to? This is a useful way for them to dispose of the excess and display their largesse. No doubt there’ll be others tonight in new outfits, and some who miss out. But we made a favourable impression. How favourable, we must wait and see.’

A discreet cough made them all turn to see a steward standing in the doorway. He hurried the players to the baths, which were more crowded than the last time. After bathing, the women found their clothes laid out for them once again. They donned chemises and thick petticoats, then Isabella demanded they lace her into her scarlet dress. The fabric was so silky it slipped away from their fingers. Black and gold embroidery on the front of the bodice was echoed in black detached sleeves with gold stitching. Mina watched as Lisette tied on a sleeve for Isabella, then copied her, attaching the upper arm section to the dress itself, then tying the lower arm piece to the upper sleeve with red silk ribbons.

They dressed Lisette next, in an antique gold dress, with a pale blue inset in the bodice, traced with beaded flowers. The blue sleeves were edged in gold and tied with dark blue ribbons. Mama Tina’s sleeves were the same plum colour as her dress and sparsely embroidered in silver. Isabella pouted briefly when she looked closely at Mina’s dress. Its plush green velvet was soft to the touch and decorated with brocade stitched with satiny flowers.

‘Ah, but red is so much more noticeable,’ Isabella announced, cheering herself up.

Once dressed, the women hurried back to their sleeping quarters. Here, Mama Tina piled their hair up in loops and whorls. As a final surprise, she pulled a small tin out of the bottom of the chest. Inside were strings of stones that she draped across the girls’ elaborate hair-dos. Deep, blood-coloured garnets for Isabella, pearls with the slightest blue sheen to them for Lisette, and a garland of many coloured gemstones for Mina. There was a stern note in the box indicating these were to be returned, but that didn’t mar everyone’s pleasure in wearing them.

‘Do we wait here for the men?’ Mina asked, once they stood ready.

‘Oh no.’ Isabella laughed her frivolous laugh. ‘We must make an entrance.’

In the distance the bells of evening chimes rang out.

‘The men will be there already,’ Mama Tina said. ‘Now, whatever happens, no big scenes! Remember tonight we’re at a royal ball. If we’re not chosen, I know you’ll show due dignity. What concerns me …’ and Mama Tina looked directly at Isabella, ‘is if we’re named Royal Troupe of Players. Those among us of vaulting ambition and excessive vocal projection may find it difficult to contain their excitement.’

Isabella shrugged, grinning. ‘Do you think we have a chance?’ she asked.

‘I do,’ said Mina, and the others looked at her in surprise. ‘I know you’ve all been here before, and know more about how it works, but I’ve been thinking if the king and queen want to be entertained they will be looking for something a bit different. And we showed them we were, or, well, you did, when you made my costume.’

Mama Tina nodded. ‘I think we have a good chance too, for exactly this reason. But Isabella, you must contain yourself if it happens.’

Isabella straightened her shoulders. ‘I’m not as frivolous and attention-seeking as all that, Mama. You may be surprised at what may come. I want a place in the palace, so I’ll show I’m the soul of discretion. Although later they’ll be pleased to learn I’m also the soul of fun! Now, have I reassured you, Mama?’

‘Mmm,’ Mama Tina said, not sounding completely convinced.

‘Wonderful! Then let’s go to the party!’ Isabella was out the door before Mama Tina could protest.

‘Mina,’ Mama Tina spoke. ‘You need to know … I don’t want you to be surprised. If we do win, we’ll have to perform again … tonight.’

Mina was less surprised than she might have been. In the world of playing, one had to think quickly and be always ready to perform. Strangely, the thought of playing without notice no longer scared her. Yet her heart began to pound anyway. She hurried through the guild hall with Lisette and Mama Tina, knowing her comfortable familiarity with player life was about to change, one way or another.

Chapter 13