WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Irene

 

 Caught in the act by a rival?

Irene pulled her Odeergin outfit from the laundry bag and hung it in itsusual place on the rack, stowing the headgear in one of the cloak’s roomypockets. She shifted the other clothes so the cloak was mostly hidden behindtheir folds.

She turned from the task. Valentina stood right behind her,her eyes narrowed.

“Sweet prophets! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Irenegrabbed the clothing rack for support, her knees turning to jelly at thesurprise.

“Oh, it’s you. I wondered who was lurking back here.”Valentina’s gaze shifted momentarily to the clothes where Irene had hung thecloak. “Giving up on singing? Tired of coming in second to me, so you’ll becomea laundress?”

“I was helping Mrs. Hoffman. Nice people do that, you know.What are you doing here so early?”

Valentina waved her hand as if shooing off a fly and turnedaway. “Fausto and I wish to change some of the blocking in the third scene ofthe second act. He keeps stepping on my dress. Come out when you finish playingin the clothes; see how professionals work.”

Irene scowled but remained silent as Valentina swayed offtoward the stage. Her heart was still pounding, her gut ice-cold.

Had Valentina seen her hiding the Odeergin disguise? Howlong had she stood behind Irene?

Releasing  June 23.