The Blue Sword

ACT 6

Ebony checked the placement of items on the silver tray one last time. In one hand was a slip of paper containing a list of instructions Violet had written out for her. The other hand Ebony used as a pointer, slowly going down her checklist. The young lady leaned closer to the kitchen table and kept looking back and forth between the paper and tray. For Violet's sake, she had to make sure everything was perfect.

"Mrs. Gardener, you better be grateful that I care about you so much." Ebony huffed.

She recalled how Violet justified writing out these instructions by questioning Ebony's memory. The look of distrust was written all over her face. "I'm sorry, Hun, but I don't trust a lick of your memory when it comes to doing stuff for someone you don't like, especially your Uncle Phineas." That's what she had said. Now, if this had been for any other person and occasion, the young lady's pride would've been hurt by the erroneous assumption of the older woman. But due to it being on this day and for that man, Ebony didn't bat an eye at Violet's needless persistence for perfection and control. She knew that, for Violet, this day was important, because it was the only way for her to express gratitude to the estranged Ibre son.

"Uncle Phineas, even when you're not here, you stir up trouble." Ebony shook her head with a sigh and made her way to a plain, narrow door.

"I wonder...," Ebony thought aloud, "if ever given the chance, how would I explain Uncle Phineas to someone?.. Or at least, his "status" within our family?"

Arriving at the narrow door, Ebony opened it revealing a small pantry. As she made her way inside the room, the image of a certain young pianist came to mind as her imaginary "someone", and who she began pretending was right beside her. However, she didn't allow her imagination to create an exact image of the young man. Just an obscure, handsome replica taller in stature that closely walked behind her.

"Phineas Ibre, the eldest son to the late James and Eliza Ibre; my grandparents." Ebony's eyes moved about the shelves and floor of the room slowly, searching for something, as she talked to her imaginary guest.

Each side of the room had open shelving that was decorated with clear glass jars filled with various items. Some were spices and herbs; a few were dried fruit and vegetables; others were jams, spreads, and oils, while the majority were fermented vegetables. But below the shelves was where Ebony's eyes were primarily drawn to. Down here was where the barrels of grain, baskets of root veggies, and large kitchen tools lived. And somewhere, in a section far back, was a trolley cart.

"The relationship between Father, my uncle, and grandfather is a complex one." Ebony explained. "I was never told the full details of their relationship, but I do know that it's complicated. Though, to what extent, I have yet to know."

"So, basically, your family has secrets that you don't even know about." The obscure, handsome replica reasoned.

"Mmm..? I wouldn't phrase it like that, necessarily. It's more like, I know there are secrets, but I don't know the truth behind them."

"Oh!"

"Yeah. But I am aware that my grandfather deemed Uncle Phineas unworthy of Hedge Manor, her secrets, and all that it protected."

"Wait, so even your house has secrets?"

"Shush! Don't interrupt." Ebony quickly turned around to give the universal sign of "be quiet" to the imaginary man, who in turn replied by rolling his eyes.

"Hence why the environment around my uncle is so tense." Ebony went on. "He's been disinherited."

"Okay, but your uncle being disinherited is between him and your grandfather. Not everyone else, and if there really is tension, why is your uncle here tonight?"