I felt a surge of pride at my skill being recognized and it did seem to help with the melancholy I had felt all day. The even brighter side was that I would be able to enjoy quite a nice meal within Rutherford's home. Though with their main chef out with a new baby I wasn’t too sure on the quality that we would be receiving. The family asked that while we waited I regale them with a song or two with either the flute or my lute. Deciding to be a good example of a teacher I asked the older of the two children to come and stand with me and I would teach him the basic scales of a flute.
The instrument was large in his small hands. The signs of being a diminutive man when he was going into adulthood were there. Dainty fingers, small feet for his age, and a little short while being overly lean. Still he was excited to stand with me as I slowly adjusted how he was holding the flute and how he would bring it to his mouth to properly breathe life into the instrument and its music.
Mrs. Rutherford was eyeing me like a hawk watching an intruder upon its nest. A sense of a predatory nature burned deep within her. Though I was unsure if it was because I was helping her children or just her usual self. I knew though that I wouldn’t get the best of chances in finding out what kind of people these hosts were as they did plan to leave for the capital rather soon. I hoped though that they would send word ahead of time and maybe some rumors of my skill. That would help me further in the plans to become part of the court.
Soon the squeaking of an unsure flutist filled the room. I made sure that I was as supportive as possible and gently moved the position of his flute to his lips and the sound began to even out. I whispered encouragement into the young man’s ear. Helping him even out his breathing and the squeak turned into a long note. I could feel his heartbeat quicken through his skin as I kept him steady. His father’s eyes lit up when the note was properly hit and he looked at his son fondly.
“Alright now this is the first step in your scale. You press this and close the air from this hole in the flute.” I maneuvered his finger gently and each step and breath we went through the most basic scale. First ascending, then descending. I watched as the young man fought off a smile when it was complete. An attempt to be humble and controlled. I pat his back gently. “Again, this time I won’t guide you as much. One more time and then I’ll play something for your family.”
I watched as he was suddenly unsure but I rubbed in between his shoulders. Soon he took a deep breath and started to go through the scale slowly. Every few notes a squeak would come loose and he would flinch each time. I whispered encouragement each time and told him everything was alright. As he came back down I could see the signs of lightheadedness from improper breathing and I ended it early taking it from his hands before he finished. He breathed heavily and I started a light clapping. His family joined in the polite applause and the boy beamed with pride.
As he went back to his mother and whispered a question, “Did you see that mother? Mr. Talespinner said I did well.”
She smiled warmly and pat him on the head with a gentle hand. “You did well. We will see how good you get by the time your father and I get home.”
I wiped the instrument down properly and exchanged it for the other so I wouldn’t be handling his mouth piece right after he finished. I stood up and started a warm song that reminded me of a warm hearth while grandchildren sat around a matron’s feet. I fought off the urge to weave the music with magic so that they would imagine what I was thinking of. The tapestry that they would have to make themselves just by listening to my work. Something a true bard could manage.
My fingers danced along the fine instrument and I closed my eyes slowly as I sank lower into the song. Losing myself in the melody of it all. A dozen lifetimes of peace flitted through my mind. Raising a young man on a farm. Being a matron of a family as I dreaded the coming of the end of the false life. The heartbreak of living longer than all of them. Turning into the beginning and ending of a bloodline that never thrived inside the world. I felt for a long time that the gods only tolerated me creating a family for as long as I was inside it. Every family I had ever been part of ended in tragedy when my false life would have to end. I was so tired of it that even the warmest of memories would hurt deep down.
I fought off the tears that were forming at the edge of my eyes as the song turned to a more mournful song to reflect the emotions I was feeling as it faded and ended. My senses returned back to the moment and I could hear the sniffling of the children as I opened my eyes and kept the tears at bay. The children were weeping quietly and Mrs. Rutherford dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
“That felt very emotional, young Talespinner,” Said Mr. Rutherford as he cleared his throat looking at his children and wife. “If you can get my children to be able to play even half that well I would be honored. I know it is a very short time for you to teach them. I'm willing to part with a gold coin for your work. I think that would be more than fair, don't you agree, my wife?”
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She nodded and didn’t bring herself to speak. She instead cleared her throat a few times and one of the servants brought her a cup of water for her to drink from. After a few gulps of water and another clearing of her throat she spoke up, “That was very well done. I knew you were talented when we heard you from upstairs but that seemed to be quite different. I think if you can get our children to play a few songs we could part with a gold for it.”
I bowed at the waist and spoke up my voice steady and controlled, “I would be beyond grateful for such a large payment. That is more than generous. I’ll make sure to get your children beyond the basics and have them play you a song upon their return.” Once the flute was wiped down I placed it back in the case and closed it. Their maintenance was going to be one of the lessons I would teach the children. The proper care for an instrument was just as important as learning the notes to a song.
Sitting with them they began chatting as the younger child sneakily walked around the table and sat next to me as my hosting couple spoke with one another on coming plans to discuss and their impending trip.
“Sir?” Came the soft youthful voice of the youngest.
“You can just call me Dolan. I am no Sir.” I turned my eyes and shoulders to address him directly.
“Dolan. How long did it take you to learn to play like that? It was almost magical.” His eyes were wide like saucers. Full of hope and interest.
“I was trained for several grueling years to learn all the instruments I know how to play. My master would have me play all day every day until I could perform as well as he wanted. He would berate and torment me for every squeak and squawk that I would make. My master was very very harsh and I don’t like to teach like that.” It wasn’t too much of a lie. When I eventually wanted to become a traveling bard and play music when people were uninterested in tales I did enlist with a master. He was quite a bastard, often drinking in the day and yelling at every little mistake. I was a quick learner and quickly passed all his lessons. However he pressed against the wrong noble’s son and berated the young man until he broke down. I fled when he was jailed for instilling such harsh things that drove the noble son to become a recluse.
“That sounds painful.” The soft voice of the boy came as my mind refocused on the present. “And you won’t do that to us?” He was full of hope that I would be a kinder teacher than my own.
I nodded and smiled as warmly as I could, “Yes I won’t be treating you both like that. I will make sure that you enjoy my lessons and feel like you’ve accomplished something important to yourselves. I know that quite a few noble ladies look for the more talented of suitors when it is time.”
The young boy scoffed lightly, “I just want mother to be proud of us and maybe spend more time with us. I’m sure my brother is the one that is thinking more about who he could court.”
I readdressed the Rutherfords after a few minutes of lapsed silence between me and the children. “Oh I found something so curious the other night.”
They both looked at me with curiosity. Mr. Rutherford spoke up first. “Oh do tell.”
“I was walking through the streets the other night coming back from doing my songs and tales at a tavern and I didn’t spot any of the law men on the streets. I was wondering if you all ever heard anything about that.” I sipped at the last of my cold tea as my hosts looked at one another.
Mrs. Rutherford spoke first. “You know some of the gals in my tea group have been talking about how many times that they’ve been spoken to by some of the more responsible Lawmen in town. Some of the rumors are that there has been major cuts in pay amongst them and they have been soliciting some of the more affluent families for some sort of patronage. I wonder what is happening to all that coinage that the nobles have been funneling into people of the law. I’d be mighty curious if I was in charge.”
“As long as you all keep it in the tea group and won’t be spreading everything that you think about to more public places.” Chided Mr. Rutherford. “It wouldn’t do our family any good if we get on the bad sides of the law that is here in town. Most of my connections to those that trained the soldiers have gone off to war. Don’t bring trouble into this house.”
“Why I never bring trouble home to this house husband!” Her tone was harsh suddenly and with a sharp tongue she continued, “I have the best connections amongst the tea group and know just who and what to talk about, don't you worry.
Mr. Rutherford shook his head lightly, “Alright dear. Let us not get into this too much.” As his wife huffed he looked at me. “If you want to know more you could talk to the noble in charge of our wonderful town. Word is he might become a Duke soon. Be granted some governage over the greater lands around us. Though it would cut some land away from the Ursal’s. But that family is in the hands of a very young man and he might need some of it taken off his hands.”
Discussions ended as a line of servants with trays and tableware came into the room. Bowls of lemon water were placed before us and we each dipped our hands in it politely and wiped our hands clean. A large roasted bird was placed at the center of the table. Several trays piled with fruit and vegetables cleaned and steaming from heat were there as well. I couldn’t smell any hints of seasonings placed upon it but my stomach rumbled quietly.
I waited for the hosts to dish themselves up and their children were served by the staff of the house before I pulled off some meat and sides onto my own plate and sat down to eat politely. I was well versed in the manners it took to eat with the more affluent members of society. The food was indeed bland and the bird was a little dry to the mouth. I sipped water with each bite to moisten in upon my palette. The fruits were unnecessarily cooked and the vegetables were a little soft for my test.
Conversations turned more political as the night went on and everyone ate their fill of food. Mr. Rutherford looked at me, “Would you be staying for a night cap?”
“I must get back to my room. I don’t want to be out too late and risk being accosted by the less friendly members of the town. Especially with the lack of lawmen. When should I come and start the lessons? It will be quite noisy so I don’t want to disturb your days.”
“You can start as early as tomorrow. We will be headed out the day after tomorrow for the capital. We will be gone for a week and when we come back we expect a minor concert. Then you’ll get your payment.”
We bid each other goodnight and I walked out the door with my lute upon my back. I traced my steps back through the town and headed to Featherdown for the night.