Script of the Heart

by Robin D. Owens

  Eating at this particular time with Lily Fescue, who thought the whole get-together beneath her, would have him missing both sets of his friends. Just as well. He didn't mind being seen with Lily, but felt sensitive enough about his brand-new relationship with Giniana Filix that he didn't want a lot of gossip floating around. He'd keep the meeting as business-like as possible.

  Chapter 9

  Johns met Lily Fescue at the Thespian Club. He was a little late and waved to friends and admirers as the maître d' led him to a table in the center of the room that Lily reserved.

  She arrived later still and made an entrance, though she didn't appear to like the smattering of applause. Maybe she expected a roar of acclaim.

  Trying his patience, she picked through the menu, ordered expensive items with a flourish of rolling tones, and he said to the waiter, "My usual, please."

  After the man took their orders, she wiggled her butt on the chair cushion and began to look around. "Oh, there's Guy Balsam, he's showing his age, isn't he? He'll be taking older character parts, soon. And Morifa Daisy, who invited her? She's saying terrible things about Raz, since he dumped her at that party the other night. Oooh! The Marigolds are here!" Lily sat straight and waved her softleaf at the nobles as they walked through the dining room toward the door.

  Johns saw the big bodyguard, T'Marigold, angle his body away as if protecting his lady. Johns snorted, turned that into a cough, and lifted his cup of caff to swallow. As soon as he let liquid slide down his throat, he said, "You wanted to talk about Amberose's play?" Lily was the only one who'd actually read it that he knew.

  She glanced around and lowered her voice. "Though Amberose's agent said not to, I made a copy."

  "Great! Can I see it?"

  Pouting, she responded, "The copy didn't last more than a half septhour, and I hadn't thought to write things down." She coughed discreetly behind her softleaf. "And the original papyrus tinted slightly gray and the print lightened and I didn't think it would be good to try and copy it again."

  Johns brows rose. "That's some good security on the script."

  "I know! And I was told it was the only copy, and I was the first to see it because Amberose wanted me in the part particularly." Lily preened.

  "And you lost it."

  "It was stolen! Along with other minor items during that burglary we had at the theater. I lost the most." Her pout returned.

  "You said the new play had roles for you and me, and Raz and another actress—"

  "Yes, but the papyrus wasn't in Raz's dressing room, but mine, and someone stole it all the same."

  "Tell me about the story."

  Her eyes lit. "It has a fabulous part for me, except slightly less lines and stage time than the male lead." She flashed Johns a false and scintillating smile. "But we can have a little agreement about that, adding more to my part, if I tell you everything I know about it, right? You can request a better part for me from Amberose, right?"

  Why did everyone think they could play him for a fool? "Like hell." He pushed back from the table and stood.

  "Oh, you!" Lily huffed. Johns watched her from half-lidded eyes. The thing about Lily, she wanted to show off, be the one in the know. And she always figured that if she couldn't get what she wished one way, she'd be able to manipulate you into giving her what she wanted some other way in the future.

  So, as he thought, she broke as he took a pace away.

  I will let you read the notes I made of the script, she sent him mentally on a private channel.

  Johns let his lips curl in a sardonic smile. Lily might get some of the passages right for her role, but he wouldn't bet on anyone else's. Still, it might be enough to give him an idea of how good his part might be…whether he should hold out for a production of it, if that appeared to be likely. Another unknown, who might produce it and how quickly they would cast.

  Sitting back down, he jutted his chin. "Let's see those notes."

  With a frown, she replied telepathically, I haven't finished them yet. I will send them to your scry cache.

  Waste of time meeting her this morning then. Except for a better breakfast than he'd pull out of the no-time at home, and Lily would be paying. Johns stifled more thoughts of the lack of gilt coming up and pursued the nice idea of starring in an Amberose play that would send his career soaring …

  The waiter delivered their food. Lily applied herself to the meal with gusto.

  Good breakfast.

  "You did manage to get the general plot of the story down, didn't you?" he asked, between bites.

  "Yes, of course." She peeked at him from under her lashes. "It's a wonderful story. Fabulous characters and parts."

  Johns grunted, "Too bad it's gone."

  "We could look for the script," she said. "If the thieves don't know what they have, they might have just dumped it on someone or sold it to someone for minor gilt …"

  "Who'd want it?" But Johns would.

  "I would," Lily said.

  "Yeah. Raz would like it, too." And other actresses who might like the secondary female role. But, face it, not many actors had a lot of gilt to spend on an iffy stolen script.

  Lily sipped her caff, gave him a sideways glance, "You could scry Amberose and ask for another copy of the script."

  "You're the one who knows Amberose's agent well," Johns shot back.

  Lily's lips thinned. "He's not returning my scries. In fact, I've asked around and no one's seen him lately."

  "Huh." As she opened her mouth again, Johns said, "Or you could contact Amberose. She sent the script to you, first."

  "I think Blakely arranged that for me, and I don't want to bother her."

  "Don't want to tell her the script has been stolen if she doesn't know? Admit someone took it from your dressing room?" he pressed.

  "Johns!" she sniffled, picked up her softleaf from her lap to dab at her eyes, and a small piece of porcine strip fell from the thick folds.

  And was caught in the open mouth of a male fox that zoomed toward them.

  Lily screeched, "Go away, go away, you filthy animal!"

  The gray fox sat on his haunches, lifted his muzzle, replied loudly enough that whoever in the chamber had a minor amount of Flair could hear him, I am NOT dirty. I am a very clean FoxFam.

  Must be the mottled pattern of his fur that made him look dirty, then. Johns glanced around, most people smiled at the scene. He didn't care for animals, or for this FoxFam, but didn't react so poorly to them as Lily.

  She jumped up, knocking down her chair, and Johns caught it before it hit the floor and tipped it back up in place, pushed back his own chair and stood.

  Meanwhile, Lily, now the focus of the room as she liked, pointed at the fox and shrieked, "An animal should not be here with human food." Then she did worse, she threw herself on Johns’s chest, yelling, "Get him out!"

  "I don't—" Johns began.

  This is my third day here! Wonderful with peoples and smells and tastes! I am welcome here— insisted the FamFox at the same time, rising to his paws and arrogantly coming over to sniff at Lily and Johns.

  "Save me!" Lily slumped in a fake faint against Johns.

  Growling under his breath, Johns did the right thing and picked her up, carried her across the large dining room to the nods and smiles of his peers, opened the door with Flair, and set her outside on the threshold.

  He turned back, and received a modicum of applause. That didn't stop his scowl at the sight of the FoxFam on their table, eating their food, the meal Johns had barely touched. The furrabeast steak and eggs his mouth yet watered for.

  And Lily had stuck him with the bill. Ungracious to tell the grinning manager, in front of everyone, to put the meal on her account. Swallowing saliva bittering in his mouth, Johns pulled a couple of large gilt coins and tossed them with Flair to land on the table, turned on his heel and made a good exit.

  Gazes on him burned, sending the heat of irritation and embarrassment between his shoulder blades.

  N
o use for it, after this scene, he'd have to come here again, and soon, to make the place comfortable for him and to prove to everyone that this little drama hadn't bothered him, even though it had.

  A Fam ruined his breakfast, cost him time and good gilt.

  These were his people, his clan, he would not let himself be separated from them, even by one of them herself.

  A thought struck him. Giniana's parents would have brought her here, but he'd have bet his own old estate that she hadn't returned in years.

  He stopped in the entryway and trod back to the threshold of the dining room. Fully formal with linens and long rows of flatware, it was a teaching situation and practice set as much as anything else. Babble rose cheerfully, people already over Lily's scene, and the fox mooched around at the tables.

  Giniana would like this place, wouldn't she? Maybe there wouldn't be very many terrible memories of her parents here. Johns had started his career as a pre-teen, and had come with groups to the social club since. He never recalled seeing her mother.

  People would welcome Giniana. Not simply because she was her parents' daughter, but because she was a Healer.

  Turning aside, he went to the Thespian Club's small office. At the open door, he looked in to see Ovata Forsythia and knocked on the jamb.

  The woman stood, tall and statuesque. "Can I help you?" she asked, and her expression folded into bland curiosity.

  Since she not only held the Presidency of the Thespian Club, but also the office of a Theatrical Guild Representative for actors, Johns realized she expected him to whine or something about Firewalker closing. As if he would voice dissatisfaction anywhere except in his own mind.

  He gave her his rough-and-ready smile. "Yes, just checking on a membership here in the Thespian Club. Giniana Filix? Did her parents sign her up for a lifetime membership?"

  Ovata's smile hit him with charm and sincerity and a splash of feminine charisma. "Ah. She works for the Spindles. I'd heard that you helped Raz Cherry in a fight at T'Spindle Residence, good job."

  "Thanks." He dipped his head at the compliment, deciding to be absolutely honest with this woman, a MasterLevel actor of great repute. She'd see through any false manner.

  Her glance went up and down him in simple scrutiny. "I know the Spindles employ Giniana Filix as their staff Healer, you were injured?"

  Johns jerked a shoulder. "Nothing to speak of, Raz was, too. Giniana Healed us up quick and fine."

  "I understand." Ovata waved and a holographic data globe sprang into existence. She stared at it, frowned, considered Johns again as if she parsed all his emotions, his feelings for Giniana from his stance, his manner, his expression. Maybe Ovata's particular Flair included some sort of empathy.

  A tiny catch of her breath. "Yes, her parents paid a first installment on a lifetime membership, but, ah, neither her father or mother kept up the minimum payments."

  Johns grunted.

  Without looking at him, Ovata snapped her fingers, grinned in satisfaction as she dismissed the data sphere and glanced at him. "I completed FirstLevel Healer Giniana Filix's lifetime membership with Thespian Club general funds."

  "She will never be an actress."

  Ovata's visage became austere. "The Filixes have been actors for five generations." She winked at Johns. "We'll see if any of her children might want to follow that career."

  The notion of Giniana having children, then Ovata's implication that Giniana might have his children, a woman with whom he'd only had one date, shocked Johns. Unpleasantly. He had so much to do for his own career.

  "And it's always good to have members of other professions in the Club, and Healers are always welcome with us."

  "Uh-huh. Well, good talking with you. Thanks for the membership, I'll let her know, maybe will be able to talk her into coming here."

  Ovata inclined her head. "Give her my best regards. Merry meet."

  "And merry part," he responded.

  "And merry meet again."

  Johns left the building. He'd turned the corner and reached the alley when he heard it.

  Meeeewwwwwww, a mental cry.

  "Mewwwww."

  No. He would not investigate. No.

  Is anyone there? Pleease? came a tiny voice in his mind, as if a mist of sound had condensed around his head and sunk into his brain.

  No. Someone else would come along soon.

  Me. Hurt.

  Hell.

  Hurt. Help! Heellpp! Whimpering.

  No. He couldn't ignore that.

  Huffing a breath, he strode down the alley, past the back of the squat and solid corner store, and stopped next to the narrow passageway between two other buildings, more like a crack than a space a person could actually walk through.

  "All right, cat, where are you?"

  A savior! Here! Here! HERE! came the telepathic cry, then a physical screech.

  Narrowing his eyes to see better in the always-dim alley, he caught a motion from under a plank leaning against the brick wall—large furrily-feathered ears twitching. Large for a kitten.

  Yep, small, young cat. No use for it, he had to help the thing.

  There he is! A WONDERFUL, BIG MAN! Hooray!

  Johns squatted and a wave of cat piss odor wafted out as the thing wriggled. Oh. No.

  He had no spell to coat his hands from touching nasty things. Giniana might. Maybe such a thing as a keep-skin-sterile spell. Sucking in a breath, a mistake, he reached in and tugged gently. Nothing happened except a teeny tongue spread drool on his thumb.

  Me STUCK.

  "I got that." He set the kitten down, reached around and found long, matted fur, couldn't even get his fingers through the strands. Carefully he found the point where one of the hair clumps tangled with splintered wood and rough brick. Kitten might have bled on that, too, making it worse.

  Nope, absolutely couldn't leave a creature, even a cat, in this much distress. Feeling around, his fingers touched something squishy and stench of rotting dead thing rose.

  Me found dead mousie to eat! Me got stuck!

  The cat sounded thrilled, which meant it hadn't been eating well, either.

  Johns withdrew his arm from the depth of the crack. With his other hand, he took a softleaf out of his pocket and initiated a cleanse spell as he wiped filthy fingers.

  He flipped out a pocket knife, snicked it open. He figured he should explain to minimize any more bad cat experiences so streamed steady, calm words. He also took the precaution of blanketing the area with as much soothing emotion as he could. "I'm going to use both my hands to free you. I'll hold you in one hand and free you with my other."

  Good! Me FREE soon!

  "Sure." Slowly, he reached in again, slid his left hand along gritty, slimy ground, touched a warm and damp fur covered body, cradled the too-light beastie in his hand. It even fit, not overflowing at all. Felt bony.

  He scraped the knuckles of his right hand along brick, leading with his knife, thrust through a mass of soft density, stopped. This he could do.

  A few gruff spellwords later, he'd freed the kitten, translocated his knife back home to the high intensity cleanser.

  When he brought the little animal into the dim light, he could only see more dirt and grime. No telling what color the creature actually was.

  But its stench was amazing.

  THANKYOU, THANKYOU, THANKYOU!

  It looked completely gross. Johns couldn't imagine how he'd start cleaning up the thing. And among the stink of it rose the odor of fresh blood.

  "You hurt, kitten?"

  Put Me down and Me will go Me way. Me said 'Thankyou' three times, that's enough. Me is Cat. Me can take care of Meself!

  Johns grunted. He'd like to believe that, just put it down and let it go on its way, but he thought the kitten lied. He did have to get rid of it soon before he bonded with a Fam. Unlike most folk, he didn't want a Fam now. Didn't trust them. Hell, one of them screwed him out of breakfast this morning.

  Couldn't let the creature go, though, t
oo small. Couldn't have a life on his conscience. "Okay, you're a cat and can fend for yourself, but what's the most hurt?"

  It held up a tiny paw covered in blood and looking a little mangled.

  Lord and Lady dammit! No use for it, he'd have to take the Fam to be Healed by FirstFamily GreatLady Danith D'Ash, the main Animal Healer. And he'd have to pay for that.

  Then, the idea sparked. Person who liked cats. Woman who Healed. She should be able to help such a small being, right?

  A woman with whom he desired to spend more time.

  He could take the tiny creature to D'Ash, give the cat to her for her Fam adoption rooms. Someone might like it.

  Or he could take it to Giniana Filix.

  He stared down at the kitten and a slight chill slid down his spine. not due to its state, but another cold thought. Both Giniana and Thrisca believed the time procedure would cure the old FamCat. But what if it didn't? Giniana would be crushed.

  She should have the kitten. Absolutely. Yes.

  Chapter 10

  So Johns smiled down at the little being, his acting skills would outmatch this kitten anytime and always. "You know," he said in his softest, silkiest tones. "I think you should have a companion."

  The thing gasped, ears rotating. Me? You get Me a pet?

  It would be the other way around. Giniana would adopt another FamCat. This one Giniana’s own since kittenhood, maybe less bossy to a FamWoman than Thrisca.

  Giniana. Since their evening together last night, their sense-suffusing kisses and the emotions that tore between them, their bond had instinctively become stronger. He checked their link, yes, it expanded and formed emotional hooks caught deeply into him. And, as he experienced the connection between himself and Giniana, he realized that he now linked with the FamCat Thrisca, too.

  Not something he wanted. But Giniana loved the cat and Johns was fascinated by the woman. He'd also spent too much time with the damn FamCat, enough to weave that strand.

  But, at this moment, having that extra tie would help.

  He stared dubiously down at the kitten who, despite its request, had fallen asleep in his hand. Not prepossessing at all. But looking desperately in need of help. Worse came to worst, maybe Giniana could tell him how to help the mite himself.