One Foot Before The Other

[Ruby]

Part Two - The Middle

“No, no, just no!” roared Ruby Winchester.

The rehearsal came to a screeching, undulating halt. Onto the stage, resplendent in red as ever, stormed the matriarch of the Tantalum troupe.

“What in the blazes was that?” Her eyes smouldered. Inner fire burnt. She glared, with contempt that could kill gods, at the supposed leading man.

Duffy dropped his blade to his sword, no more than a shaft of wood painted silver, and shrugged. As far as he was concerned. As far as he was always, without fail, concerned…his acting was flawless.

“I’m. Still. Sober,” she quoted.

Several orphans clambered out of the large paper and oak framework of the dragon. They looked half-dazed, half confused. They watched the standoff between Ruby and Duffy for a few seconds, and promptly ran away whilst they could. It would be some time before their puppetry was needed again. Arden, on the fringes, watched with more focussed attentions. He tucked his own prop blade into his belt and folded his arms across his chest.

“What? You said ad-lib,” Duffy protested.

Scara Brae, in the grip of an overcast, but intolerably humid afternoon hummed, a radix of power oblivious to the battles ongoing at its heart. Behind Duffy, jagged towers and stained glass, the Prima Vista stood lifeless and uninviting.

“I said ad-lib the actions, not spurt out whatever diatribe comes to mind.”

Ruby checked the script, confirmed Duffy was talking out his arse, and then looked to Arden.

“Repeat all the last page. Now!”