On This Unworthy Scaffold, Heidi Heilig [best books to read for success .txt] 📗

back to CHEEKY.

TIA: Where’s Leo?

AKRA: He’s caught up in the cordon with the rest of the Aquitans.

TIA: You left him behind?

CAMREON: He wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place!

CAMREON stalks down the aisle as CHEEKY glares at his back.

CHEEKY: He needed to find Xavier.

AKRA: We found him, all right.

AKRA pushes off the door, wincing, then follows CAMREON to the stage.

Can I borrow your knife? I have to get this bullet out.

CAMREON hands over the blade, and AKRA climbs the steps toward the stage. CHEEKY’s expression shifts from frustration to worry.

CHEEKY: Do you need help?

AKRA: I can take care of it. There’s a needle and thread in the costume shop.

He vanishes into the shadows in the wings. Meanwhile, CAMREON starts to pace. TIA glances from him to CHEEKY, wide-eyed.

TIA: What happened out there?

CAMREON: My brother isn’t dead.

ELLISIA: You sound surprised.

CAMREON grits his teeth.

CAMREON: I thought he’d been brought back to life by Le Trépas. But it turns out he’s in the grip of something worse.

TIA: What?

CAMREON: Jealousy.

He sits on his heels, running a hand over his face.

ELLISIA: Well, I could have told you that.

Looking up, CAMREON glares.

CAMREON: I’m all ears.

ELLISIA: What about my concert?

CHEEKY stands, incensed.

CHEEKY: They have Leo! Anything you know could help us get him back!

ELLISIA: My livelihood is made selling what I have. Leo would respect that. So should you.

TIA: What about collateral, then?

She reaches for the violin case, but CHEEKY snatches it away, glaring at ELLISIA.

Cheeky.

CHEEKY holds the violin close for another moment, but ELLISIA raises an eyebrow.

ELLISIA: You’re Cheeky? Raik has plenty to say about you, as well.

CHEEKY wavers, then looks at CAM.

CHEEKY: You better be ready with the treasury the minute you’re on that throne.

At his nod, CHEEKY slides the violin case across the floor, and ELLISIA stops it with her hand. Then she sighs, patting the leather of the case.

ELLISIA: In all honesty, I don’t think Raik realized what life was like outside of Nokhor Khat—or even outside the palace. Before he left to join the rebellion, he was so sure of himself. But when he saw the rest of his country—the work and the sacrifice of everyday life—he felt out of place. Then, of course, you both betrayed him.

CHEEKY: I never—

ELLISIA: His words, not mine. You were the girl he couldn’t have.

She gestures at CAMREON.

And you were the leader he couldn’t be. But if he can’t be loved, Le Trépas can make him feared.

CAMREON: He told you all of this?

ELLISIA: There are lots of ways to make someone feel good. Listening is one of them.

CAMREON: I see.

The Tiger folds his arms, frowning at ELLISIA as he considers his next move.

How often does Raik send for you?

ELLISIA: Almost every night—like I said, he’s a long-standing client. Not that I always come when called.

TIA snorts.

The inn keeps me busier than I’d like, and to be honest, the palace is . . . not what it was.

CAMREON: How so?

ELLISIA: The servants are gone. The whole place is empty. And it stinks. Most of the time I send some of my girls to take care of business. Before you ask, we’re not going to poison him for you. Even if you could afford it. I won’t take the risk.

CAMREON: I wasn’t going to ask. I don’t want him dead.

From the shadows backstage, AKRA reappears, his wound bandaged. There is a bitter smile on his face.

AKRA: Because he’s your brother?

CAMREON: Because I should have known.

He sits on his heels, rubbing his forehead.

I thought he just needed time to adjust. That seeing life outside the capital would help him be a better king.

TIA: Maybe he didn’t want to be a better king.

CHEEKY: I don’t think he wanted to be a king at all.

She chews her lip as she turns to CAMREON.

When you left him in charge of the rebels, he was more worried about how to get champagne shipped to the jungle than about how to get the armée out of Nokhor Khat.

AKRA only shakes his head, looking at CAMREON.

AKRA: The Tiger would kill him for aligning himself with Le Trépas.

CAMREON: I’m not the Tiger anymore, remember? I’m the rightful king. What will Chakrana see in me if I start my reign with my brother’s blood on my hands?

ELLISIA: They’ll see Le Trépas, and La Victoire, when your own parents were killed.

CAMREON swallows. The memory is a very old wound, but that only makes the pain more surprising.

CAMREON: Yes.

AKRA: Do you really think you can convince him to step aside? Let you take over?

The Tiger hesitates, sharing a look with CHEEKY.

CAMREON: It depends on who asks.

AKRA’s mocking smile falls away.

AKRA: Not Cheeky.

CHEEKY: Yes Cheeky. He said he wanted me alive.

AKRA: So he could kill you himself.

CHEEKY: Not if I play my cards right. What are we offering?

CAMREON: A life of luxury, funded by the treasury. No responsibilities. And you.

CHEEKY: Also funded by the treasury, I presume.

AKRA: Cheeky!

At his cry, she turns to him, but the anguish on his face gives her pause; it is much worse than the pain he’d shown over the bullet. She goes to him, gathering his bloody hands in her own.

CHEEKY: Akra . . . it’s just a job. My livelihood, like Ellisia said—

AKRA: I know. But I’m . . .

He hesitates, glancing at the others, then lowering his voice to a whisper.

Afraid.

CHEEKY: So you can face danger, but I can’t?

AKRA: Yes, exactly.

CHEEKY laughs, but TIA comes to her side, reassuring.

TIA: I’ll go with her and keep her safe.

AKRA: I thought you were a lover, not a fighter.

TIA: It’s wartime. There’s rationing. We all have to make do.

CAMREON: I’m coming too.

AKRA: After your performance on the palace steps? I doubt you’ll get past the door.

CAMREON: I’ll be in disguise.

AKRA: They’re bound to check for weapons.

CAMREON: Anything can be a weapon, if I need one. You heard Tia. We’ll make do.

Outnumbered, AKRA turns back to CHEEKY.

AKRA: Even if they can keep you safe, I’m supposed to just let you go?

CHEEKY: I won’t be gone long. Raik only wants me because I rejected him. If I come crawling back, he’ll be bored of me