"Ah, signorina Giacomiiina!" Zancani cried out as she entered. "What a wonderful performance today. Bellissima! Bellissima!"
Coby shot a glance at Gabriel, but the actor looked as cupshot as the rest of them. What had happened here?
"Ah yes, the performance," Sandy said in a loud voice. He winked at Coby. "Yes, the ambassador was very pleased with the show, and regrets he has no time for another. Sadly we must return to the inn."
"What are you talking about?" Coby whispered as the players prepared to leave.
"I, ah, convinced them that we put on a show for the skraylings, to much applause," Sandy replied. "I thought it best if they were not to suspect anything."
"You mean you've been poking around in people's heads again."
"You make it sound so sordid. I merely got them a little… befuddled and pushed their thoughts in a happy direction."
Coby rolled her eyes at him. It probably was for the best, but that didn't mean she had to like it.
They returned to the inn with the players, where Sandy explained to Zancani that they were leaving the troupe and would not be able to perform with them after the Doge's ceremony the next day. The maestro was surprisingly unmoved by this announcement, and Coby wondered what other ideas Sandy had planted in his head before leaving the skraylings' palazzo. She made a note never to get drunk in Sandy's presence, and resolved to procure one of the protective necklaces at the earliest opportunity.
They bade farewell to Zancani and the players, though only Benetto seemed sorry to see them go, then Coby changed back into her familiar male garb. Now that it came to leaving, she felt surprisingly regretful. True, Zancani had been a dreadful lecher, and having to wear female clothes only served to confirm how much she hated being treated like a weak and useless woman, but being part of a theatrical company again had brought back so many happy memories. Even performing on stage had been less terrifying than she had imagined. She almost wished she could go back to her old job when they returned to England, but that was not very likely. With a heavy heart she joined Sandy and Gabriel in the gondola for the journey back to the embassy. Whatever happened when they left Venice, she would have to give something up.