On This Unworthy Scaffold by Heidi Heilig (best pdf reader for ebooks TXT) 📕

eyes. “Why do you tell me things that aren’t true?”

“There is truth in my stories,” the soul said. “Not about who I was, but about who we all wish to be.”

The Keeper saw the truth of her words. The story was nothing of her life, but all of her soul.

So the Keeper let the liar continue, and three days later, she was still spinning a story as she faded toward her next life. When the last whispers grew too faint for the Keeper to hear, they were stricken with loss. Never before had they not known how a story ended.

So the Keeper plucked up the pieces of the story and scattered them like seeds among the souls nearby. And the Keeper watched eagerly as each soul brought life to this new type of knowledge. The stories changed and grew, creating theories and fantasies and myths and shadow plays, each with a hundred different beginnings, and at least as many endings, and the soul of truth in all of them.

Act 1,Scene 7

In the kitchen of Le Livre—a dim room warm with wood and clay. But the usually tidy space has descended into disarray. The smell of spices and bread is overshadowed with the cloying scent of old rhum. Cups line the sideboard, most of them dirty, and the trash pail is overflowing by the sink.

ELLISIA pulls some dishcloths from a basket, sniffing them delicately before passing them out one by one as the rebels drip water on the kitchen floor. Then she turns back to LEO with a fond look.

ELLISIA: I would hug you, but you smell like river water. Dry off while I fetch you a mop.

LEO (smiling): It’s good to see you too, Ellisia. But where’s Siris?

ELLISIA: Back in the Lion Lands. He left the minute he saw the deportation decree. He could always read the writing on the wall.

TIA: Did he leave anyone behind, by any chance? Maybe his oldest daughter?

ELLISIA: I wish he had. When I agreed to look out for the inn, I had no idea how much cleaning there’d be. I only used to rent a room here occasionally. Siris never mentioned that men don’t pay half so well for clean rooms as for dirty talk. But he said he’d be back as soon as it was safe.

AKRA snorts as he runs the dishcloth over his hair, damp from the rain.

AKRA: That might be some time.

LEO: Sorry, Tia.

She puts on a brave face.

TIA: It’s good that she’s safe. Besides, I’ve gotten good at pining.

She turns to CHEEKY, bracing herself for a joke, but the showgirl has a thoughtful look on her face.

CHEEKY: Your name is Ellisia?

She cocks her head, remembering.

You knew Leo’s maman.

ELLISIA: So many did, in one way or another. Though she and I met through Leo’s father, the old dog. She was always his favorite. I think of her whenever I hear a good chanteuse.

Her sly smile turns sad. She turns back to LEO, gesturing to the violin on his back.

I suppose now isn’t the time for a concert, but if you’re in town for a while, I hope you’ll come and play some of her old songs for me. Perhaps after the Prix de Guerre goes, and the rooms are empty again.

CAMREON: The Prix de Guerre is actually what brought us here. We want to stop the deportation.

ELLISIA laughs brightly.

ELLISIA: You and all the Aquitans in town. Good luck getting Raik to listen.

CAMREON raises an eyebrow at her tone.

CAMREON: Raik?

ELLISIA: The Boy King.

CAMREON: I know who he is. I’m just surprised to hear you call him by his first name.

ELLISIA folds her arms, her sly smile returning.

ELLISIA: Raik is a long-standing client. We met here at Le Livre, in fact. Quite often.

CAMREON: I see. And have you . . . entertained him since he returned from Le Verdu?

ELLISIA: A lady never tells.

LEO gives her a crooked smile.

LEO: Good thing you’re no lady.

ELLISIA laughs, the sound surprisingly raucous.

ELLISIA: Indeed. My girls and I are the only people who’ve been granted an audience in recent weeks. Raik doesn’t even leave the palace anymore. It’s driving the Aquitans mad. They’re planning a protest in response. Can you imagine? They think that if they gather in the square and shout at the king, he’ll listen, but it just makes them easier to shoot.

AKRA: I hope you got them to pay for their rooms in advance.

ELLISIA: Of course I did.

CAMREON: Do you think he plans to respond with force?

ELLISIA: You’re asking a lot of questions for a man who’s neither paid nor introduced himself.

CAM looks at LEO, who nods once.

CAMREON: I’m Camreon Alendra. Raik is my brother.

ELLISIA’s smile freezes.

ELLISIA: I see. I’ve heard . . . so much about you.

CAMREON: From Raik? What has he said?

ELLISIA: Surely the man who styles himself the rightful king can pay for information.

CAMREON: Alas, I left my treasury in my other pocket.

ELLISIA gives him an arch look.

ELLISIA: Just like a man. Unfortunately, your sour-faced soldier has the right thought.

She jerks a thumb at AKRA, then holds out her hand.

Payment is always in advance.

AKRA glares back at her, but CHEEKY turns to ELLISIA.

CHEEKY: Professional courtesy?

ELLISIA: I let you in, didn’t I?

TIA gestures to the tiny diamonds in her ears.

TIA: How about earrings?

ELLISIA tucks her own hair behind her ears, where larger diamonds sparkle.

ELLISIA: I’m not in the market.

LEO: What about that concert?

ELLISIA turns to him, a look of surprise on her face. Then she chuckles again, more quietly this time.

ELLISIA: It’s a deal. But if I ask you to play me “The Lights of Lephare” until your fingers cramp, you better not complain.

LEO: Not a word. Only music.

ELLISIA: But not tonight. It’s almost dawn. For now, go three blocks over to the Royal Opera House. It’s shuttered by royal decree. You should be safe there. I’ll come by tomorrow.

CAMREON: Can you give us any information before we go?

ELLISIA: I just did.

She opens the door, ushering them out through it and closing it firmly behind them.