For context, Steel-Grey Saoirse is the literary heroine Amara has been writing.
© J.B. Norman — Published by Emona Literary Services™
Hugging her precious folio to herself, Amara watches intently as her players assemble on the stage.
Sir Sandford Whitehead has been graciously helping her turn her Steel-Grey Saoirse stories into stage dramas.
It’s all very daunting, but Amara is optimistic that the finished product will go down in Porthaven’s dramaturgical annals as something truly memorable.
“Gather round, everyone,” Amara calls to a mix of her various friends and associates and some professional actors brought in by Sir Sandford. “As part of the festivities for Founders’ Day, we shall be putting my Steel-Grey Saoirse story, The Beast of Bretwalda Bog—”
Kat sticks her hand up into the air. “Is that the one where she fights a dragon?”
“Doesn’t she fight a dragon in most of them?” Nolan mutters.
“That was my idea, by the way,” Kat says.
“No, Katherine,” Amara answers. “Furthermore —”
Her voice trails off when she realises the full implications of what Nolan just said.
“You read my stories, Nolan?” Amara cries. “And do you l-like them…”
Blinking in bewilderment, Nolan instinctively shrinks back from Amara. He’s not even sure what he did this time…
“Well, yeah,” he mutters. “You’re my friend, Amara. And I want to support you work. And Steel-Grey Saoirse is actually really cool.”
“Yeah,” Kat mutters, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “Friend.” She heaves a heavy sigh. “One of you needs to just hurry up and say it…”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, Katherine,” Amara says through tightly clenched teeth.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” Nolan notes.
Kat sighs again.
Amara clears her throat and opens her folio.
“Now,” she begins. “As I was saying, we shall be putting my Steel-Grey Saoirse story, The Beast of Bretwalda Bog…”
She narrows her eyes at Kat.
“…a story which does not feature a dragon on stage as part of the festivities for this years’ Founders’ Day. Now, due to being the only one present who comes anywhere close to matching Steel-Grey Saoirse’s physique, our heroine will be portrayed by Miss Falcata.”
“Do you have a lot of experience acting, Falcata?” Nolan asks.
“Oh, yes,” the towering Amazon warrior says. “All Amazon girls are classically trained for the stage.”
“Really?”
Falcata nods. “I particularly enjoyed my role as Fire-Safe Woman #3 when we put on a show about fire safety for the younger Amazons.”
“Katherine, of course, will be playing Steel-Grey Saoirse’s truest and dearest companion Carolina the Quick,” Amara continues.
Kat shrugs. “At least I don’t have to be a dude this time.”
“Places, everyone!” Amara calls, trying to get everyone into place faster by clapping her hands at them. “We will begin by rehearsing the opening scene, when the benevolent Baron Benedict, played by Nolan, is forced into exile and chased in the depths of Bretwalda Bog by the bears unleashed by the wicked Margrave Malicious. Good? Good.”
She nods to herelf.
“Very well. Bring in the bears!”
The colour drains from Nolan’s face.
“B-bears?” he whimpers. “Real bears?”
Amara rolls her eyes. “Of course, real bears, Nolan,” she says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s not like we can drape a fuzzy blanket over some stagehands.”
“Couldn’t we?” Nolan asks.
“Give the audience some credit, Nolan,” Amara insists. “Who’d believe that?”
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