Chapter 1 - Escape from Aurea-1

2025 Words
Escape from AureaA figure broke from the shadows as Mina passed through the palace gates and into the city streets. Catching a movement at the edge of her vision, she considered turning back to the safety of the palace. But she had just survived an attack from something so terrible every part of her still crawled with fear. She couldn’t go back. She would have to hasten to her destination and hope it was safe there. If only she could remember the way. Fearing Uberto would pursue her, she hurried through empty streets chilled by night, senses alert. Footsteps echoed on the cobbles behind her. She looked back. A cloaked figure some distance behind stopped still. She tried to call out a challenge, but coldness rose from her stomach, seizing her by the throat, and her voice was gone. Turning, she hurried along the street again. By now she was quite a distance from the palace gates. Far enough to be unable to call to the royal sentries for help. Had she been foolish to dismiss the idea of danger on the road, too eager to find her brother? She knew female story tellers avoided travel where possible, basing themselves in big cities, but after months of looking for clues to her brother’s whereabouts she couldn’t bear the thought of delays. Dario had told her Paolo lived in the town of Pedon, and her sole thought was to get there as quickly as possible. What could be worse than the danger she had already faced back at the palace, within her own troupe of travelling players? Uberto, her mentor, her guide to Tarya, her guardian, had just tried to kill her, drawing her into the otherworld of Tarya and nearly suffocating her. Disbelief still had a strong hold, but her body knew better, cold with sweat and trembling. The road was as safe a place as any, it would seem. Mina quickened her pace once more, trying desperately to remember a path she had travelled only twice before. Had it really been only three days since she feasted with Gianni and his family at their home? After what had happened onstage just now, and after Dario’s terrible betrayal, she felt three years older than before the artisans’ competition. Her day in the city had been marked by frivolity and feasting, without a hint of the looming shadows that even now made her breath catch. Or did her fear rise from the quickening of the footsteps following her? She had to get off the street, and fast. If Uberto caught her again it would be the end. In all of Aurea, Gianni and his family were the only people who were not complete strangers to her, since they had welcomed her and Dario with a feast during the Festival of Lights. Was she presuming too much asking them for help now? Had their warmth and hospitality been due only to the conventions of the festival? She would soon find out. Where was Gianni’s home? She whipped her head around, trying to catch something familiar. Last time she had been led there by his family and her senses, heightened by the Visionnaire drug, had not taken in mundane things like direction. Glancing at the tiled walls nearby, she realised with relief she recognised them. Though the street lanterns reached only so far into the pools of night, it was enough. Even in the pre-dawn darkness their scant light revealed mosaics of gleaming white statues backed by emerald topiaries. Almost running now, Mina stumbled and caught her breath with a half gasp. She still wanted to turn and face her pursuer. Before today she would have, but now her sense of personal safety had evaporated. There was no other soul around to help her so bravery didn’t seem the wisest course. Yet if she was lost, she would rather see her downfall face to face. Hadn’t she just saved herself from an attack using the powers of Tarya? Perhaps she could call on those powers now to confuse her pursuer enough to escape. Her thoughts spinning in endless circles, Mina froze and a movement ahead caught her eye. A player’s mask hovered in mid-air, slipping in and out of a pool of light. Fear truly gripped her now. Uberto had found her. Then the mask moved once more and she saw it was painted on a tavern sign, alongside a wooden flute. Gold lettering beneath both declared ‘The Masque and Music’ with a flourish. Mina drew a deep, shuddering breath. She remembered this tavern. Gianni’s house was just around the corner. Sienna, his sister, had commented on the inn’s name, marking it in Mina’s memory despite her drugged perceptions. Mina strode forward again, already feeling the golden embrace of safety. She could sense dawn approaching, and her shoulders released their tension. Only a few more paces. ‘Wait,’ said a deep voice, and her arm was caught in a steely grip. ~ ‘Gone.’ Isabella gave a decidedly unfeminine shriek. Dario found himself taking an involuntary step back as her voice filled the room. ‘How can Mina be gone? We’ve just won the competition. We’re the royal troupe. We can live in the palace, in luxury, grow rich, marry well … Be famous. She can’t walk out now. We’ve worked so hard. They’ll take it away from us. I’ve wanted this for …’ Mama Tina smacked Isabella on the cheek. ‘Ow!’ ‘Enough of the hysteria,’ Uberto said calmly. Only Dario noticed his shaking hands. ‘This is not a disaster, Isabella. You will still have your place in the royal troupe.’ ‘You bet I will,’ she declared. One hand to her cheek, she flounced from the small room, which suddenly seemed much larger. ‘Seriously, Uberto, what does this mean?’ Jal broke their startled silence, his handsome face marred by a scowl. ‘Mina couldn’t handle the pressure, that’s what,’ Roberto said. ‘A girl from a small village, and you put her in what’s basically a starring role in front of royalty.’ ‘Mina was the best thing about our performance,’ Ciro said softly. The scar that created a permanent sneer on his face appeared deeper than yesterday, his eyes older. Since the dreadful incident that had brought about Aldo’s death, the years had crept into his face. On that occasion he had attacked Mina, but he defended her now, which was less of a surprise than it might have been not long before. Ciro had changed a great deal since Aldo’s death. Recent events had diminished him both physically and psychically, but they had also taken away his predatory air. ‘She has a good reason, I think, for the leaving,’ Lisette added. Dario stayed silent. He was the only one Mina had revealed her plans to before she left. He still found it hard to believe Uberto had tried to kill her because of what Dario had told him, but if that was true he would not betray her again. Mina had discovered that every time the players broke a golden thread, severing dreamers from their bodies to acquire a character for the stage, part of the dreamer remained, despairing and trapped, in the depths of Tarya. Worse still, someone was breaking those threads deliberately to harm others. Dario had trusted Uberto, had believed the Master Player should know what was going on so he could fix it. Recent events now pointed clearly to Uberto as the perpetrator. Mina had told Dario she nearly died during her confrontation with the Master Player. Dario watched the leader of the troupe, the only father he had really known, not aware fear and confusion showed clearly on his face. He didn’t want to believe Mina could be right. How could Uberto possibly be a killer? Yet everything Dario knew of Mina told him she would not lie. Yes, his perception might be clouded by his love for her, but in all their time together, travelling the length of Litonya, he had only ever seen her act with integrity and bravery. His heart knotted to think she was gone, and worse, that she believed he had betrayed her. ‘I will speak to the king and the Council of Muses today,’ Uberto said, ‘to see where we stand. I think we are all aware that Mina’s unusual gifts of story telling were key to our winning the competition. Without her, I hate to say it, but Isabella may be right. We may lose our place as the Royal Players.’ Shaking his head, Uberto too left the room. ‘Well that was reassuring.’ Vincenzo, lounging in the corner on a pile of cushions, stood slowly, his tall frame unfolding until he loomed over the others. ‘It would be a sad day if the Andreini troupe were restored as royal troupe after finally being defeated. Just when a life of glamour is within my reach. Still, Uberto can convince an audience to laugh in the face of tragedy and cry in the midst of farce. I’m sure he can convince the Council of Muses we are worthy of the faith they placed in us, regardless of whether Mina has gone for good. And we don’t know that she has. She never struck me as the flighty type. Dario tells us she’s gone, but he doesn’t know why, do you petal?’ Roberto gave a dry laugh. ‘I don’t know if Uberto can live up to your faith in him, Vincenzo. He doesn’t look well to me. And Dario, your loyalty to your lover is touching, but she betrayed us all. If you have any loyalty to the troupe, you need to tell us what you know.’ Dario shook his head, opening his mouth uselessly. Lisette spoke for him. ‘Do not make to badger him. Dario’s heart, it must be broken. It is not his fault Mina leaves us.’ Roberto spun round toward her, creating a breeze with the swift, elaborate movement. ‘Yet it will be his fault if we don’t find her.’ He continued his spin until he faced Dario. ‘This troupe took you in when you were a small child. Will you betray us now too?’ Dario looked at each of them in turn. They gazed back at him silently. A palpable pressure descended onto his shoulders. ~ A tall, cloaked figure stepped in front of Mina, still gripping her arm. Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth. ‘It’s okay, Mina. You know me.’ She struggled, trying to bite the hand, trying to back away from the looming figure. ‘Ssh, listen. Listen. We’ve met before. I’m not going to hurt you. Calm down. Please listen.’ Mina quieted for a moment, wary, waiting for an opportunity to escape. The cloaked figure slowly removed the hand from her mouth. ‘Who are you?’ Even as she asked, Mina nearly had the answer. Something about the deep voice was familiar, but fear made her thoughts sluggish. She caught a glimpse of colour and realised her assailant’s cloak was lined in diamond-shaped patches, almost to the hem. It was the cloak of an experienced story teller. This was the story teller who had ridden on their wagon toward Aurea, before the festival. She relaxed a little, but remained wary, ready to run. This man had once approached Uberto about her, wanting to speak with her, and she still didn’t know why. ‘What do you want with me?’ Dario had been so sure this story teller was interested in Mina as a potential lover he had been spurred to reveal his own feelings for her. She shook the thought away bitterly. ‘We have a lot in common, you and I,’ the story teller said, his voice soothing. One long-fingered hand pulled his hood away from his face. The faintest whisper of dawn light barely coloured the darkness, but they had reached a well-lit part of the city. Mina stared, shocked. ‘You’re … you’re a …’ ‘A woman. Yes.’ ‘But women story tellers don’t travel. It’s not safe.’ The teller nodded. Her hair was cut in tight curls close to her head, a man’s style, but there was no denying her beauty. She must have been about the same age as Olivia, Mina’s mother, but without worry etched into her face it held a youthful light, though her skin was darker than Mina had ever seen before. Wisdom added great depth to her deep brown eyes. Something in her presence instantly reassured. ‘You scared me,’ Mina blurted. ‘I’m sorry. It’s the last thing I wanted. I know what it’s like to be a woman alone, thinking someone’s following you. Story tellers may be revered in Litonya, but there are always those, particularly on the roads … well, you don’t need to hear about that. I was lucky. Being tall, I can pass for a man. I’m truly sorry I scared you.’
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