Chapter 32: Casting
"We have to talk about casting," Coralina said.
This caused an eruption of groans from the princesses. They seldom enjoyed the parts given to them for her theatricals, especially since Coralina kept the best roles for herself. But the plays were popular, brought in money, and gave the princesses a way to connect with the people of Runa. Not that it seemed to help much.
"I'm playing the Fair Maiden." Coralina read from a long sheet of parchment. She sat in her cushioned chair with her knees up and the paper propped against them. She had tied back her black curls with a violet ribbon and they bulged over the back of her chair.
"Of course you are." Heidel said in her seat by the bookcase. She had already resumed her summer habit of carrying a fan wherever she went, and used it now to cool her face. Maelyn didn't think the library felt warm, just crowded, with all nine princesses lounging on chairs and footstools.
"And I'm the bad one, right? You always make me the bad one," Heidel said.
"Yes. You're the gypsy," Coralina said. "You're the one who traps me in the tower."
Heidel smirked as if she liked that idea.
"Coco, can we do this later?" Maelyn asked. "We're supposed to be reading."
She had assembled her sisters for the Royal Reading Hour which had been neglected for two nights. Among many things decaying since the loss of—well, everyone—was the refinement of her sisters' minds. They needed to keep reading, keep learning, keep growing. They needed to stop finding ways to interrupt this hour.
"This will only take a minute," Coralina said with a petulant look. "Now... I have Jaedis and Shulay as the monsters in the tower."
"Oh please, I hate being the monsters!" Jaedis cried. "I want to be human this time!"
"Can't," Coralina said unsympathetically. "No other roles but the three knights. I have Kerrick down for First Knight, Gord for Third Knight, and unknown for Second Knight. I might ask Sir Brunner."
"I'll be Second Knight!" Jaedis said.
Coralina rolled her eyes. "I want a man."
"Story of her life," Heidel mumbled.
Coralina shot a murderous glare and continued. "Briette, you like stage work, right?"
Briette nodded.
"As usual, costumes are Lace, and Ivy does set design. Can you paint a burnt forest, Ivy?"
Ivy smiled. "I certainly can.
"We need Ari to let the audience in, and... Maelyn does nothing." Coralina faked a smile at her eldest sister. "You just watch."
"I'll be watching Uncle Jarrod," Maelyn said dryly. Four-and-a-half weeks until his visit. Much too soon. "Are you sure he'll like this, Coco? It seems a bit silly to me."
"Excuse me?" Coralina arched an eyebrow.
"It just does! I'm sorry. I think Uncle Jarrod would like something serious."
"Nobody likes a serous play," Coralina said as if speaking to a child. "People watch them to have fun, not to be depressed. Uncle Jarrod will love this, trust me."
Maelyn trusted Coralina like she trusted the Book Miser. That said, she usually put on a good show that seemed to please the audience. The peasants, in particular, loved her plays and showed up in droves to watch them.
Doom! Doom! Doom!
Arialain sighed loudly and rose from her chair. Barely a minute later, she returned.
"Willow, Maelyn, he wants you." Arialain flopped back into her chair.
Maelyn almost sprang to her feet, but managed to get up decorously. She composed her face as she walked to the entry hall, where Arialain had left the door open.
"Good evening, Willow." Maelyn smiled. He stood just outside in the waning light, his horse nuzzling the grass turf. But her heart sank when she saw his hands. He still held The Carnivorous Carriage.
"The miser didn't want it," Maelyn said. It wasn't a question. Even if Willow had hidden the book, his humbled posture would have told her.
"I'm sorry, my lady." Willow's face drooped with disappointment. "I failed you again."
Maelyn suddenly felt tired. She sat on the doorstep and rested her forehead on her fingertips. After a moment, Willow sat beside her. He laid the book between them and stretched out his legs, digging his boot heels into the dirt.
The low sun hung just behind the treetops. Maelyn inhaled the cooling air and caught the scent of larkspurs in Lumen Forest, which covered most of Castle Hill, leaving a round clearing on top for the castle and their gardens.
"I really thought he would take it," Willow said. "He said he didn't know the story and flipped through the pages a long time. But then he said it looked unpleasant."
"It is." Maelyn sighed. "That's why I thought he would like it."
Willow gave a slight smile. "Is it a scary story?"
"Very! It's about an enchanted carriage that draws itself without horses. It can take you anywhere in the world. But there is a risk."
Willow raised his eyebrows. "Well?"
Maelyn smiled and shook her head. "The carriage draws its energy from human flesh. Every so often, it must consume one of its travelers to keep going."
"Holy Toes!" Willow said.
"No one knows when or how often the carriage feeds. So when you step inside, you take a gamble. You may arrive safely at your destination. Or... you might be the carriage's next meal."
"How does it eat them?" Willow asked eagerly.
Maelyn laughed. "I don't know! But when the carriage arrives, all that's left is a skeleton. Fully clothed, still seated. And the walls and ceiling inside the carriage are spattered with fresh blood." She shuddered, remembering how she'd slept with all the candles burning for almost a month. And began traveling everywhere on foot.
"May I borrow this book?" Willow asked. Maelyn laughed again. "Please, keep it! I never want to read it again."
"Thank you, my lady!" Willow tucked the book under his elbow. "If I may ask, what do you like to read?"
Maelyn watched the sun sink further into the trees. "Stories that take me to wonderful places. Where everything is magical and unexpected. That make me forget where I am... and who I am."
Willow watched her quietly. When Maelyn looked over, his eyes held concern. "What's troubling you, my lady?"
Maelyn stood up. She had spoken too much. "Thank you, Willow. Return tomorrow and I'll give you another book to trade with the miser. I wish you a good evening."
Willow stood up with her but made no move to leave. "I have a question."
Maelyn looked at him, one hand on the door latch.
"Uh...." Willow looked as if he didn't know how to begin gracefully. "Rumor has it... you are giving a play?"
"Yes. Well, Coralina is. She does it twice a year. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you could use some help."
Maelyn felt nothing but astonishment. "You want to be in the play?"
"Might be fun. Do you have a role for a male?"
Maelyn knew they did. Coralina had not cast the Second Knight. But she didn't want Willow in Coralina's play. She didn't want Willow meeting Coralina.
"Also thought... I could be of service with the bandits?" Willow said. "I could ask questions. Find out where they work. Inform you of any new attacks."
"None of that is your responsibility," Maelyn said. He was looking for excuses to stay in Runa. She could see that. Why? Was he spying for Uncle Jarrod, as Arialain said? Or was it for innocent motives? "Won't King Jarrod need you to carry messages?"
"I plan to inform King Jarrod of my intentions," Willow said. "I'd only be here about four weeks, anyway. If he desperately needs to get a message to you, he'll find a way."
This only made Maelyn more suspicious. She wanted to decline but had no valid reason. "Where are you staying?"
"The Old Ogre Inn, in Creaklee. Much cheaper than the Inn of Good Wigston—and less refined—but a fellow like me has to count his coins." Willow smiled.
The Old Ogre Inn. Maelyn would pass this information to Valina. If King Jarrod had sent Willow to spy on her, she would play the same game. She could not forbid Willow to stay in Runa.
"I will ask Coralina if she could use you in her play." Maelyn knew Coralina would agree the moment she saw Willow. She sometimes despised Coralina for being so attractive. Many girls were pretty, but Coralina had an extravagant beauty that stopped men in their tracks.
Willow bowed. "Thank you, my lady. And I'm very sorry about the book."
Maelyn shrugged and pushed on the door. "Oh... I beg your pardon, Willow. Has your mother written back to me?"
Willow looked surprised. "No! I forgot about that. And she was grateful for your letter."
Grateful but didn't reply. Maelyn bid him goodnight and finally got inside the castle. A woman like Lady Aspen would have considered it discourteous not to write back immediately to a princess. Either she held Maelyn in contempt as other noblewomen did, or she didn't want to answer Maelyn's questions about Willow. Even a vague letter would have been helpful.
Yet for all that, Maelyn felt shamefully happy that Willow would now be staying in Runa Realm.
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