I glanced through a crack in the curtains. Peeking out into the dark theatre to scan the crowd like I always did before a performance. It was a force of habit. The wrong person on the wrong night might guess what (or worse, who) I was and inform any number of people that they’d found a stray in neutral Hunagi, the human city where I’d finally made my home these last three years since fleeing my Aunt and Uncle. I would have rather made a living any other way – as a housekeeper, or sales clerk – except no matter what I did I would draw attention to myself in a city full of humans and I would rather deliberately draw attention to myself as an actress and performer than unconsciously as something else.
See, it was ok if you dazzled people on the stage with your strangeness… the otherworldliness that seemed to cling to me no matter how many Cloaking spells I draped over myself. It was not ok if you were just a nobody… the girl you bought soap from, or the girl who cleaned houses for that rich person across town. Then people wondered, especially in a city like Hunagi where people like me were frowned upon and treated with suspicion.
The Minache wars had ripped great rifts into the lives of my people (the Minaë), the Naché, and the humans. Before the wars, you could (almost) say that our lands and cities flowed seamlessly together. True, there were the border cities where one race far outnumbered the others and it was a bad idea to draw attention to yourself if you belonged to a minority but for the most part we tolerated each other. You were unlikely to find a free Naché or Minaë in the Minache cities but that was beside the point.
After the war most of the cities segregated, becoming dominated by humans or Naché or Minaë. Hunagi was one such city. Once upon a time the population would have been evenly split between the three races. Now humans almost exclusively lived here with the rare exception like me who had something to hide.
I started as Niwot tapped my shoulder. "You gonna go on tonight?" he asked quietly. Niwot was the owner of the theatre and he was well aware of the details of my situation. He was one of the few I'd trusted with the truth and that was only because he and his Companion, Tianne, had been good friends of Minna and Ryu.
I turned to him. The theatre owner and manager was stout and swarthy with a shock of dark hair. He was looking at me with concern, probably because I'd sent my understudy on for me for the past week. "I haven't performed in a week," I pointed out to him.
He shrugged. "Never really mattered to me," he said. I snorted. "Ok," he relented, "It mighta mattered two years ago but honestly Wren I'd like to say we were friends by now. And I don't want to lose you."
I smiled. "Ah," I teased, "We get to the heart of the matter. You don't want me kidnapped or killed because then you'd lose out on valuable profits."
He sighed. "No Wren. The truth is I could probably manage without you now. Trish is gettin' good enough to be the lead actress without your help and you've done wonders gettin' the rest o' the crew ship shape. Heck I've even got a competent stage manager thanks to you."
I smiled at his blunt honesty a bit tearily. The two of us hadn't always gotten along. The idea of employing an Unbound Minaë had led to some raised voices initially but he'd promised Minna he'd look after me before... My breath caught for a moment as my thoughts traveled down paths best forgotten. With an effort I took a deep breath and let it out.
"Thanks Niwot," I whispered. I peeked through the curtains again to survey the auditorium. No one was triggering my sixth sense today so I sighed and glanced back at Niwot again. He was watching me carefully, ready to pull me if I had even the slightest hint of a risk to my safety.
"I'll perform today," I said and let the curtain fall back into place. Niwot face broke into a grin
"Yes!" he said, breaking into a small happy dance. I laughed at the ridiculous sight and headed backstage to the change rooms.
Niwot watched as Aeirin disappeared backstage to change for the performance. As she went she went people stopped her several times to exchange a few words. Just before she disappeared from sight, he saw her stop to hug Tammy and together they disappeared into the change rooms. He shook his head affectionately. Tammy and Aeirin had become inseparable shortly after Aeirin had arrived as a thin waif three years ago.
He could still remember Aeirin's face when he'd swung open the door that first time. The timid knock and the wide eyes that seemed too large for her face. Her hand had extended toward him holding a sealed piece of parchment and trembling.
"Mr. Niwot Jenks?" she'd said clearly. Her voice hadn't wavered even slightly although he knew she'd been terrified.
"Yes?" His response was brusque and angry for being disturbed.
"I have a message from Minna and Ryu."
He'd sighed, taken the parchment and broken the seal to read the missive.
Niwot,
Our time here is drawing to a close. There are forces at work in the Minaë Court that conspire against Ryu and I. Ryu has worked out a way to help us survive but it may not work and Aeirin will need protection from her Aunt and Uncle either way.
I ask - no beg - you to take her in. You need not treat her like your own child. She does not expect that from anyone. She just needs a chance to survive. She can tell you more, I expect for I have little enough time or parchment to write this short message to you.
If my plea does not sway you, perhaps the favour you owe Ryu and I will. Niwot, please take Aeirin in for our sakes and yours. She is a shining star in the blackness the Terror caused three hundred years ago. If anyone will reunite our people it will be she.
Sincerely,
Minna
Aeirin had filled in since then. Her thin, scrawny form had developed curves and a certain plumpness good food and nutrition provided. She was an excellent actress and he was lucky to have her despite the risk she ran every time.
He sighed and turned back to the auditorium, drawing the curtain open a crack so he too could survey the crowd. A relieved breath caught in Niwot's throat as a young man slipped in and stood in the back row staring straight at Niwot. He wore the fine clothing favoured by the city's gentry. A burgundy silk cloak was swept tastefully over a matching waistcoat and cream tunic. The dark-haired man wore black pants with shiny black tall boots. Niwot's blood ran cold as he recognized the intelligent grey eyes and he quickly slipped through the curtain and down the stage steps toward the man.
"Don't you have responsibilities elsewhere, Jason?" Niwot asked coldly as he approached, "Shouldn't you be in Niena?"
Jason snorted. "Niwot," he acknowledged the other Naché with a slight tilt of his head, "Is that any way to greet your future ruler?" His voice was rich and cool and his eyes scanned over Niwot appraising him. There was an air of authority about him that was hard for Niwot to ignore, especially because he knew exactly who this young man was and why he was here.
Niwot blanched. "I don't live under your jurisdiction anymore Jason," he said coldly, "There's a reason for that."
"Yet you never revoked your oath of fealty," Jason replied smoothly.
Niwot didn't respond. He couldn't say anything to that because it was true. The swarthy theatre owner glared at the young man under bushy brows. "I could still if I wanted to," Niwot said finally.
"But you won't," Jason said arrogantly. Niwot felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise as he heard the veiled threat in the words.
"What do you want?" Niwot asked bluntly.
"The Minaë you took under your wing three years ago," Jason said easily.
Niwot's gut clenched. Aeirin... "What if I said she was gone."
Jason laughed. "I wouldn't believe you," he said.
"She's not ready for this," Niwot protested desperately.
"When are we ever?" Jason said softly. Niwot took a hard look at the young man. There was an uncertainty about him hidden behind his confidence.
"Why are you here then?" Niwot asked, dreading the answer.
"Her Aunt and Uncle called a Hunt... They want the throne's Power."
"No..." Niwot whispered, "The Hunts were banned..." He took a step backward.
"There is no authority to ban them anymore," Jason hissed, "And stay where you are." His face was pale but determined. Niwot stalled and waited with a raise eyebrow.
"I forbid you to warn her," Jason snapped. 848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K5sWXmlRR
Niwot's shoulders slumped. "I have to at least tell her she can't perform tonight," he whispered.
Jason shook her head. "She decided to perform and I won't insult you by forcing you to give her location away if I am able to follow her home."
"This isn't what she wants," Niwot said hopelessly, "This isn't what she deserves."
"What does she deserve then?" Jason asked.
"A choice," Niwot said immediately, "Even this wasn't a choice for her. I forced her to act for me as payment for protecting her."
"But that has provided some measure of happiness for her too. She is content here now isn't she?" Jason asked.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL8qfeDoIy
Niwot shrugged. "Sometimes. But she'd prefer to do something else. She doesn't like the risk associated with acting and performing even though I provide some measure of protection against most of our audience members."848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwKJoXT5Vc
Jason nodded. His face was solemn. "I'm sorry," he said.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD9Fk1ax1g
Niwot nodded. "Why her? If it were anyone else, I'd say they wouldn't be able to take her... She's more powerful than any Minaë I've met. I think I'd have a hard time binding her."848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLERgrPVm7
"You know why," Jason said softly.
Niwot nodded again. Jason had wanted to mend the rift between the Minache since he was a small boy. "It's your game," he said finally, "Just consider..." He trailed off as Jason fixed him with a sharp glance.
"A choice," Jason murmured. With a nod he dismissed Niwot and turned to face the stage
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