An audience had gathered outside the makeshift tent at the edge of Eastchapel. It was only a few dozen people, far short of the thousands that took their lives to the settlement, but it did not really matter. Whether the audience was hundreds of people or only one, Redansia's Troupe would perform wholeheartedly.
How should I feel about this…?
Coriel was a pragmatic, practical person. She knew she shouldn't focus on things that were detrimental to her present task.
But she couldn't stop thinking about Caramine.
She stood before her mother, gazing soulfully to the side as she reviewed her daughter's makeup. She had a pale-white face, with light red spots underneath her eyelids, long black stripes stretching over her eyes, tapering off at a point below. Her hair had been tied up behind her head, and she wore a short red cap painting with various colours.
"You're going to do wonderfully, dear." Coriel's mother reached out a hand, brushing a stray hair from her face.
Her mother had felt weary in recent times, mostly settling herself in the storage carriage, of which she was told she didn't have to stay. The performer's carriage certainly had enough room for her, and was far more warm and comfortable, but she didn't want to be bothersome. So, she had been resting their, kept company by Caramine when she had the time.
It wasn't as if the Fortune Teller had to prepare for the performance. Her act was much more personable. She would set up a table beside the makeshift stage, which was also carried alongside the other carriages, and read the fortunes of all those who had the mind to pay.
In that, she was the most important member of the troupe. While they often received gifts and funding from those who came to view the acts of Redansia's Troupe, it wasn't a prerequisite. One could see their performance for free, in an act to try not to deny children, the poor, and the weary from simple enjoyment. Redansia thought the world would burn without access to joy, and while it was a heartfelt sentiment, they could not live without money.
So, he had allowed Caramine to sell her fortune, as it was her choice as a solo performer. And this was the kind of act that many people sought out, not just as a matter of entertainment, but serious inquiry. It wasn't just laymen, housewives, and dock workers that wished to see whether or not their future held fortune. It was also wealthy businessmen, wives of tycoons, and also nobles that sought her and others like her out.
There was no short supply of those who wanted their cards read, and so Caramine was nearly the sole-breadwinner of the troupe.
Soon, the performers stood behind Redansia on stage, the red-coated leader standing up straight as he looked out towards the crowd.
"Welcome, dwellers of Eastchapel. Although, perhaps in saying that, I act too at-home. Maybe it is all of you who have welcomed us, but no matter which way the hospitality leans, it is a pleasure to stand before you tonight. We've spread the word very slightly, so it is wonderful to see so many faces here."
He took a step forward, extending his hands outward. Lantern light which had been directed with specially-angled sheathes pointed beams of orange onto the stage, casting the performers standing behind him in a brilliant glow.
"In recent days, we've all faced many hardships. But for tonight, just for a moment, I hope you can leave your stresses at the edge of this town, exiting its threshold and joining us in this moment. We hope you enjoy, we hope you forget, we pray for your smile."
His words were laced with a warmness that one would find in a father, in an older brother, in a close friend. Redansia was speaking towards the audience as if he had known them all since the moment they were born, and so their eyes were filled with a glimmer when he bowed his head, smiling genially.
"Enjoy the show, my dearest guests."
Small bouts of applause sounded out throughout the crowd as a low, light droning sounded out.
Coriel glanced behind her, spotting the Bard sitting casually on a box at the back of the stage, his legs crossed as he dragged his bow over one of his violin strings.
Just how many instruments does this Bard know…?
To be honest, this wasn't really something Coriel wanted an answer to. She would rather think the lazy Bard incompetent, otherwise she would feel worse about him in general. At the very least, she could blame his laziness on his inadequacy to complete certain tasks…
At the same time as the show had started, Morrent had set up to the side of the stage, entertaining the children who couldn't become so enamored by large spectacles. He controlled his puppets by long strings held high above, voicing out each character as the children watched in awe, laughing at every silly bit of humour, or every funny accent he put on.
Seeing this, Coriel thought she finally understood the depth of Redansia's tenant regarding his troupe.
It really was all about the joy.
Graham was the first to perform, standing afront the audience as he introduced himself as the Magician of the troupe. He wore a black coat and a top hat, carrying a thin black wand in his hand.
The others had already adjourned to the shadows of the sidestage, waiting for their turn.
But as a Clown, Coriel was exempt of this.
"Did you know that Graham is afraid of spiders?" The Jester, Thomas, crooned. He leaned his head over Coriel's shoulder, holding up his hand to her. In his palm, a large black spider stared up at her with its glowing red pupils.
"Is that so?" She replied sheepishly, accepting the spider from Thomas.
Ah, I see… the Jester is gifting me an opportunity. Or maybe I'm being used for another's deeds again… either way, can't I create laughter this way?
Coriel steeled her heart as she stepped out of the shadows, cupping her hands together in order to conceal the spider. She tried to ignore the audience, the multitudes of eyes staring at her. She had dove into the heart of war, bathed in blood, been torn apart, rendered by steel.
She could not be terrified by an audience of all things!
They followed her with their eyes as she emerged, curious as to what the painted woman could be up to.
Graham stood in the center of the stage, the orange lamplight enveloping him as he raised his magician's wand, tapping it against his hat, which sat softly atop a wooden stool.
And he too caught notice of her.
Graham watched as Coriel walked over to her, momentarily pausing his trick as his eyebrow raised inquisitively. Coriel looked at the audience with a calm, blank expression, and then up at Graham. She gestured with her cupped hands, drawing the audience's attention.
Then, uncupping her hands, she revealed the spider to the audience. Of course, it was quite small, and so from the sidelines, Thomas called out, "she has a spider!"
If it weren't obvious enough, the expression on Graham's face served the purpose. His eyebrow twitched excessively, and his exuberant smile had subsided.
And in a single swift motion, she placed the spider on Graham's shoulder. It quickly crawled up to his neck, nestling against the edges of his hair. He let out a shrill shout, shaking the spider off of him.
The audience cheered and clapped, laughter echoing through the edge of Eastchapel.
Coriel bowed, having caught the spider, before whisking up Graham's magician's hat, placing the spider gently at the bottom. She grabbed the wand, tapping twice on its rim before looking back towards the audience. She smiled slightly, pointing towards Graham.
"We- we will now make it disappear!" He announced sheepishly, glancing suspiciously at Coriel. This was how the performers played along with the Clown. His entire visage had grown nervous, almost entirely fearful of the silent Clown. Coriel held out the hat towards Graham as she approached, and he reached out to grab it.
However, at the last moment, she dashed behind him, turning the hat over before placing it on his head. He felt something wriggle in his hair, his entire face growing pale.
"It's- it's still in there!" He shrieked, throwing the hat off of him as he began to bat at his hair.
Coriel stepped backwards, gesturing with both hands towards the dancing Magician.
The audience had begun to roar with laughter. She could see the viewers in the front row that could barely contain themselves, even children that had been watching Morrent's puppet show walking over to see what had gotten their parents into such an uproar. They too, began to giggle and point at Graham.
Coriel watched this scene with awe.
They were all smiling.
Was this the scene she would always see as a Clown?
This world that she wanted to create?