Narrator:
It is late afternoon, and Blackbird is sitting in her wagon. She's practiced all she can stand, and there's absolutely nothing left to keep the voices at bay.
Blackbird: [unspoken]
(So the whole thing was a lark to Luther. And you're a complete fool.)
Do you have to put it that way?
(Yes.)
I over-reacted?
(Yes.)
Luther could have been hurt.
(Yes.)
It was really, really stupid of me to hit Hesketh's horse.
(Yes.)
He was acting like a jerk.
(Yes.)
So was I
(Yes.)
And so, to hear tell, was Luther.
(Yes.)
It bothers me when you're this agreeable.
(I know.)
So who was right?
(Nobody was right. It was a bad situation.)
Should have kept my hands to myself, huh?
(Yes.)
Was Richard right?
(About what?)
About everything he said.
(Well, you were childish. That was right. You can't afford to go around acting like Evaine anymore. That was right. You owe him your life and your current freedom. That was right.)
Hold it right there. He did what he thought was best. He always does. And he acted to protect me. It wasn't what I would have done or approved of, but when have we ever agreed?
(Keep thinking like that and you're not going to need me anymore. He was right about the guildmaster, too.)
Don't remind me. I'll deal with Szent -- and Osborne -- when I have to. A lot can happen between now and then. I may be dead, or I may have made up for it.
(I hope so. Back to Richard.)
Yes. Back to Richard. Just because he did what he thought was right, doesn't make it OK.
(But what are you going to do about it?)
I...
(Never speak to him again? That will solve a lot.)
No...
(You're angered by the arrogance and pig-headedness of a bunch of knights)
Yes. That and the injustice I see in the way they treat commoners.
(Do you suppose depriving them of your wonderful company will persuade them to change their ways?)
No...
(That's right.)
I know what you're getting at. Just like with Hesketh. To get what I want, I'm going to have to be nice, aren't I?
(You said it, not me.)
That just feels dishonest, somehow. I'm angry at them, how can I pretend to be friendly?
(You're a duplicitous, bitch, remember? And a damn good actress. And I think you'll find that it's not hard at all once you start. Besides, it's not dishonest; it is wise and it is setting a good example. If you continue to be just as pig-headed as they are, nothing will get done. Somebody has to move beyond that, and it is obviously not going to be Hesketh or Richard.)
I'm still probably never going to get either of them to admit they were anything but justified in their actions.
(Perhaps not, that would be gravy. But you may be able to influence how they behave in future incidents.)
Do you really think so?
(Well, it pays to think positively. Of course, first, you've got to get them to be able to look at you without having a sudden desire to see if Anchors sink)
You do wonders for my confidence.
[stands]
Well, I suppose I better make the first small peace offering right away.
Narrator:
She unhooks a small pin from the netting on the wall. It is a solid gold cat rearing up on its hind legs. Richard will recognize it.
She goes outside and walks in the direction of Richard's tent. About halfway there, she spies a boy about 10 playing by himself on a rope swing somebody has hung from a tree limb. She walks up to him.
Blackbird: [friendly]
Hi.
Boy: [cautiously]
Hi. You're the Anchor, aren't you?
Blackbird:
Yes. How nice of you to recognize me. Have you seen Baron Richard d'Arundel's tent?
Boy: [pointing]
Yeah, 's over there.
Blackbird:
Good! Since you know where it is, do you think you might help me by taking a little message there for me?
Boy: [hesitant]
I don't know...
Blackbird: [smiling]
If you do, I'll help you get that thing out of your ear.
Boy: [hands going to ears]
What? There's nothing in my ears!
Blackbird: [brow furrowing]
I'm sure I see something shining way in there.
[reaches an empty hand to his ear. pulls out a copper coin. the boy looks suitably impressed.]
There!
[handing the coin to the boy]
Now, I think there's another one stuck in there. If you can help me out with that message, I'll be more than happy to get it out for you.
Boy:
OK!
Blackbird: [pulls another coin out of the boy's ear]
There! Does that feel better?
[boy grins and nods: glad to go along with the game]
Now, all you have to do is take this
[fumbles around a minute]
... now where did it go? Oh!
[pulls the pin out of the boy's ear]
I must have dropped it when I was getting the coins! My apologies!
Now, all you have to do is take this pin to Baron d'Arundel -- don't give it to anybody else -- and tell him this: "Thank you for giving me my life, I will try to use it more wisely."
Can you remember that? Repeat it to me.
Narrator:
She makes him repeat it several more times, until both she and he are satisfied he won't stumble over it when the time comes, then sends him off and goes back to her cabin to finish readying for dinner.