(no subject)

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta did, reluctantly, leave Harris a note before slipping out to get Teja.

She brings him through into the wood shed, hoping they can get out without being seen by anyone.

Comments

[fiery_ring]

"Maybe he's hiding in plain sight, or thinks he did nothing wrong."

[ostro_goth]

"Well, it is his own risk," Teja says. "How far is it to the place where you meet him?"

[fiery_ring]

"Half a mile or so." Carlotta says. "My father rarely visits the village cafe, and uncle Michael's phone number looked local, so I don't think he actually moved far."

[ostro_goth]

"Before we get there," Teja says, "I would have you wait out of sight while I walk inside and order tea for myself; then, you follow about three minutes after me, so we do not arrive together. I need not be able to eavesdrop; if you need me to interfere, just say 'orange' loud enough that I would hear it, and I shall create a distraction as seems right at that moment."

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta giggles.

"All right." she says. "Do you need money?"

[ostro_goth]

"I had the bar give me some," Teja says, "along with these clothes."

He peers down the lane they are following.

"Where is a good point for you to wait?" he says.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta looks up, then jumps up into the nearest tree.

"This'll do."

[ostro_goth]

Teja wanders on, and does as he has said.

He walks into the village, walks into the café, orders tea, and sits down with a newspaper called 'Times'.

From behind it, he can see the door, the counter, and most of the tables without even turning his head.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta follows a few minutes later, looks around, and goes over to a man who bears a passing resemblance to her father.

He looks up and grins cheekily.

"No need to ask who you are." he says. "You look just like your mum. It's good to see you."

Carlotta sits down.

"It's nice to meet you too. You look a lot like my father."

Michael snorts, amused.

"Ask your questions lass, I know this isn't easy."

"Um, okay. Well... how come I'd not heard about you until recently?"

"Because you're father's an unforgiving sort." Shrug. "How much do you already know?"

Carlotta tells him what she knows so far about her parents. He nods.

"That's pretty much accurate. With a couple of fibs in."

[ostro_goth]

From where he is sitting, Teja can actually hear what they are saying.

He does not look at them, after the first moment or so; he reads his paper, or seems so.

He is, in fact, only looking at the face of an ugly politician that looks like a very ugly dog.

[fiery_ring]

"What fibs?" Carlotta asks.

"Harris has to protect himself, and his job." Michael says, ordering them some drinks. "No doubt your father forbade him from telling you who helped your mother escape, but Harris sent you to the right conclusion nonetheless. On the night you were born, I helped your mother mount a horse, and she disappeared into the night. Harris was with your grandma and father, but he knew. So did your father, it was the reason I was asked to leave the family home."

[ostro_goth]

Teja turns a page. There is a smiling woman now, with some dish in her hands, grinning from the paper.

He listens. This way, Carlotta will not need to tell him.

[fiery_ring]

"Why did you help my mother escape? What made her leave?"

For the first time, Michael looks uncomfortable.

"Carlotta, before I tell you this, I want you to realise that... well, we were just kids when this happened really. Or not long since kids. I'm not proud of my involvement."

"I understand. I'll try not to judge you."

"Good kid. Thing is, when your father ran away, I had to fill his shoes, work hard and be a good businessman. But the thing was, once I actually tried at it, I was damn good at it. I started setting my sights on being the favourite so that one day I'd be in charge of the whole thing.
I met my wife-to-be Bridget about six months after your father got married. She wasn't living in the house of course, but I was fairly sure she was the one. But with my brother having a baby on the way, most likely the last two percent would go to him, since he'd have the eldest heir. Nothing like a divorce disgrace to ruin that.

Now you gotta understand, that your mother was pretty misterable to start with - I couldn't have put such an idea in her head without that. But I did talk her round to the idea that it was okay to do something terrible for the sake of her kid, and that you'd probably be packed off to some ghastly public boarding school from the age of seven. It was all true, but I probably shouldn't have egged her on, given her the courage to do it."

He looks genuinely ashamed.

"It wasn't just selfish reasons on my part, but, well, it was convenient. I'll understand if you never want to speak to me again either."

Carlotta processes this for a moment.

[ostro_goth]

Teja is glad that Carlotta does not try to strangle her uncle there or then: - his greed for the controlling part of that inheritance had, after all, been a factor in her mother's death.

Perhaps, Teja disapproves of the man more strongly than Carlotta does. He despises traitors that act out of greed more than those that act out of fierce, misplaced conviction.

[fiery_ring]

Michael watches his niece anxiously, then adds.

"My wife and I had two daughters, your cousins. The eldest is a little younger than you, but if you ever wanted some younger relatives to meet with... I'd understand if you don't want to see me but I thought you should know."

Carlotta looks up at him. She understands the story now. Her mother could never have got rid of the pull back to the circus, the pull that Carlotta feels every day. Michael's encouragement enabled her to escape, however selfishly intended it was.

"I forgive you." she says quietly, just like that. "Mum died in childbirth, I would have lost her either way. You meant to hurt Father, but you gave my mother the last thing she wanted and me the upbringing that I would never have gone without. I'm lucky; I've had the best of both worlds, the circus and an education. It angers me that you caused such pain to my father, but it sounds like you've been punished for that for sixteen years.
I'd like to meet my cousins, but you have to make peace with my father. I'm done sneaking around."

"I should hope so." says a man who just entered the cafe and has come up to the pair. Teja may recognise him as Carlotta's father.

[ostro_goth]

Which is why Teja retreats even further behind his newspaper.

And gets ready to pounce, if necessary, if the brothers get into a physical brawl.

[fiery_ring]

"Carlotta, go home." her father says. "Michael, outside."

They all go outside. Carlotta hesitates, and when her father isn't looking, ducks behind the cafe wall and climbs up the drainpipe. She peeps out from over the roof in time to see her father punch her uncle in the face.

[ostro_goth]

Teja waits for the barest moment, then walks outside as well.

Carlotta is out of sight, and the brothers are fighting.

He steps back into the doorway, so the brawling men cannot see him, and looks around for Carlotta.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta doesn't think about what she does next, but finds herself running across the roof, leaping off with a somersault and landing between the brothers.

"Stop it!" she shouts. "The past is past, you have to let go, you have to forgive! You're brothers, you're family, and no matter how different you are family is precious. I can forgive him, why can't you?"

Her father looks speechless, her uncle gets up.

[ostro_goth]

Teja waits in the doorway, watching, not interfering and not meaning to, unless the uncle lays hand on Carlotta.

[fiery_ring]

The uncle stays away from Carlotta, but her father grabs her arm.

"Home, now!" he says, his voice calm but dangerous. "I won't hit him again."

Carlotta this time goes, and the brothers talk. Then they turn and go in opposite directions.

[ostro_goth]

Teja follows Carlotta and her father at a safe distance, hoping that he will not lock her up -- otherwise, getting home would be difficult.

He has his cuff, but still, Charlie and the cats might miss him.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta suddenly pops out of a bush next to Teja.

"Quickly!" she says, grabbing his arm and running across the fields.

[ostro_goth]

"Where do you come from?" Teja asks, surprised. "I thought your father had you with him?"

[fiery_ring]

"Ran on ahead, he didn't follow for a few minutes." Carlotta calls behind. "You have to get back before he gets home."

She leaps the fence at the end of her garden, hoping Teja can get over it.

[ostro_goth]

Of course he can.

He follows her closely.

"Shall you be in great trouble?"

[fiery_ring]

"If I am, I deserve it." Carlotta says. "I'm just hoping this means Harris isn't sacked."

[ostro_goth]

"So do I," Teja says. "He has been watching over you faithfully, and you are safer with him around."

Pause.

"There is no way that I can help you deal with your father; but if you need anything from me, it is yours!"

[fiery_ring]

"Thank you." Carlotta hugs him quickly.

"Quick, through the wood shed, and I'll let you know what happens."

[ostro_goth]

"Yes; thank you!" Teja says, following her into the woodshed.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta lets him through, then runs back into the house.

[ostro_goth]

Teja steps into the bar, worried.-