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"You can do the things you say you can, can't you little maul?" When all the others had cleared out, Iraj and Yalda had stayed behind for tea.
"Yes Iraj, I really can. And I suggest you stick around for the ending." Taylor sipped tea and fiddled with his latest project: an inscription version of the electric guitar. "The final act was your idea, after all." His fingers worked through scales, learning the new instrument. It was a beauty, with a lapis lazuli finish that showed off the inlaid silver inscriptions. Pickups, knobs for tone and distortion, power modulation, and more were all intricately inscribed. It felt good in his hands and the notes were all right. The fretting was the most exacting part of the build: they had to be perfectly spaced and perfectly finished, or else the notes would be at the wrong intervals or the strings would fray and break. He'd learned a lot by studying the amazing instrument gifted by Lavradio's king. But he couldn't exactly play that one, since it was a magical grimoire. Anything he did on that instrument was likely to become a new song of power.
"Is that an ancient device?" Yalda narrowed her eyes at the guitar.
Instead of explaining anything to her, Taylor handed it over. She took it gingerly in her hands, scrutinized the engravings, and handed it back to him. "If this is not an ancient art, where did you get it?"
And just like that, you've told me you can discern an ancient device from something else that's similar. Thank you, Yalda.
"I made it." He enjoyed her reaction, as she spun the implications in her head.
Iraj seemed less impressed. "It's pretty. But, what use is an instrument that doesn't make sound?"
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"It just needs a little spirit, Iraj." Taylor charged the circuits and laid down some blues, the very oldest style of music he knew, from the very first world he could remember. Back then, music and the clothes on his back were literally the only things he had. He ran the streets with no shoes on and a ratty old guitar, and played for loose change on busy corners. Any money he made went right into his belly or to buy new strings. If he got pinched for loitering, it was a good day: the jail might feed him better than he was eating on the street.
When he was finished with his song, he put the instrument aside. It was good enough for what he had in mind. "You didn't stick around for the music. What's on your mind?"
"Time, my friend. You're short on time. The first summer storm will be here any day."
"That's fine. I only need a few days, anyway. I know I said two weeks, but …"
Yalda interrupted. "There is also an issue with Dagono. They want to offer you khartang like the other gardens, but your doyenne has refused to meet with them."
"As I understand it, khartang isn't just an honor. The garden hopes they can turn to their defender when they need help in the future. Or do I have that wrong?"
"No, you're not wrong." Yalda looked like she knew exactly what was coming.
"So it's a relationship, not just a momentary honor. Perhaps you can explain why I should tie myself to a garden whose circle used me and then refused to keep their word."
"I don't believe they realized at the time how powerful you would become."
"I see." Taylor glanced at Anisca and received an arched eyebrow in return. She could tell exactly how he felt and saw no reason to hold back. "They thought they could lie and cheat and get away with it because we weren't powerful enough to do anything in response. That doesn't make it any better. That makes them exactly the kind of people we should avoid.
"So, no. I won't be advancing Dagono any more goodwill. I'm not looking to hurt them or get some petty revenge, I just want nothing to do with that circle. If they want ties to Nexus, they'll have to earn back what they squandered."
"I told you," Iraj said smugly, "same as Amadis told Uzan. It's not just her; they're in this together. Dagono's sleeping in the mischus now and good luck getting back into the house."