1 Soul Bound
1.2 Taking Control
1.2.1 An Icy Welcome
1.2.1.14 Hellooo torello
They dismounted the horses in Mercato, just before the Triumphal Arch into Centrum.
Wellington: {I’ve received notifications that there’s Womble code needing reviewing, so I’m going to leave you with my Vessel now. I’ve set System to brief him. Good luck with the singing.}
She thanked Herberto Landi and his men for their escort, and promised to reserve some gelato for them. The monks surrounded her and Nicolo, not in the least out of breath, despite having covered the distance the long way on foot.
{Sys, look at my event queue, and light me a path to where we need to go.}
A row of glinting blue stars led off to the left, by a stage constructed near Eastern edge of the Plaza of the Public just north of the Bridge leading to Libri. The bridge was lined with students, and stewards wearing red-gold sashes protected a wide path leading to the stage.
She stealth sang Protection Against Fear targeting herself and Nicolo as they approached the stage.
Kafana: “Nicolo, want a last minute refresher on the song, mind to mind?”
He looked as disdainful as only an 8 year old can. “I spent years being beaten if I got a note or word wrong. We sang it three times. I won’t let you down. Trust me, we’re going to knock more than their socks off.”
Hachiko: “Right now, I think you could sing Twinkle twinkle little star, out of tune, and they’d still love you. Today you can do no wrong. Enjoy it, for such things never last. So when it comes to your speech, don’t worry about the words, just speak from the heart. It will turn out fine. Everyone today is here because they stand with you.”
He left them as they walked up onto the stage, to move to the spot reserved for him by CrimsonMoon as having a good view for streaming from.
Kafana: “Take your cues from me. I’ll say hello, we’ll sing the first song, I’ll say a quick few meaningless words, then depending on how things go we’ll do the second song before we go.” He nodded and she took a moment to modify the amplification spell before stepping onto the spot in front of it that was marked with a discrete cross.
[Skill “Sonic Magic” has reached level 2.]
{Minion, Sys - I’m in performance mode. Mute everyone, no interruptions, aura to max please.}
She ought to test the system, make sure she wasn’t going to kill everyone with too high a volume. She visualised a brief two-tone sound like before a train announcement, and sent it to the amplifier: *dee* *dah*
“Hellooo Torello!”
She looked around the audience, seeing she had everybody’s attention and nobody seemed to be in pain. Good! It looked like there was the best part of 50,000 people out there. Some sitting in the amphitheatre, waiting for the volleyball tournament, some parading along the wide double row of stalls spreading North of the amphitheatre towards the Speckled Dove, but more than half gathered near her stage, watching her. Group of yellow-clad priests were casting Detect Disease so any still infected could be sent to the new treatment station in Basso. A team of mages wearing black-and-purple striped hats gave her a thumbs up, and a moving illusion of her and Nicolo appeared near the back of the stage, 20 meters tall. Nicolo looked more than cute in the outfit Alderney had made for him. His long eyelashes and wide clear eyes sparkling with vitality were as breath-taking as a painting.
“I’m Kafana and this is Nicolo. Together we’re going to sing a song for you.”
She concentrated, and started the music going, first a guitar and then bringing in a flute. Nicolo's part in Here On This Night started before Kafana's, but his voice launched into it exactly on the cue, and kept going as it swapped between solos and passages where they sang together. He didn't stumble on the lyrics either, even on the word "Ireland", left untranslated by the game, that Nicolo had been forced to learn syllable by syllable.
They carried on for the rest of the song, and Nicolo did more than avoid wrong notes or forgotten lyrics. He acted it, he poured emotion into his words; she responded, slipping into her role, believing for a while everything she sang, showing it with her face, her arm movements, willing the audience to get caught up in the moment too.
When they finished they bowed to the audience, and got back enthusiastic applause. She stepped back to the amplifier and held out her arm to indicate Nicolo.
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Kafana: “He’s good, isn’t he?”
More cheers, and Nicolo took a quick second bow, delight on his face.
Kafana: “Would you believe this city values him so little that for years he has been left freezing in worn out clothes, half starved and is now about to be thrown out onto the streets with no shelter, no future, no hope?”
Silence.
Kafana: “It’s true. Nicolo is just one of the orphans of Basso, whose only protection has been one poorly funded orphanage run out of charity by some of Cov’s priests. And even that is due to close. They’ve been told that Basso’s children are Basso’s problem, and they are not allowed to give any further money.” She poured scorn into her voice at this last bit.
Kafana: “Basso, the poorest district. Basso, that’s borne the brunt of the attack upon Torello by outside forces who were using magic to spread disease. The very attack that has left so many of Basso’s children without parents or other relatives.”
Kafana: “Is that what the deities expect from you? That you abandon those who have acted as your shield? That you leave children open to abuse? That you break the implicit agreement to protect them and pave their roads in return for the taxes they pay. Is that the hospitality that Torello shows to Covadan?”
There were growls, now, from some of the audience. A few of the nobles watching retreated with their guards, but others were paying attention. She focused, trying to find the sweet spot, the words that would resonate with them. Give them a carrot. A way out.
Kafana: “I say no. Three days ago I announced that, in gratitude for the welcome Torello has offered to the Questing Spirits sent to help you by Cov, we would provide an entertainment for you all today. There’s a new sport called ‘volleyball’ that we’re going to show you. It’s fun, it’s healthy and maybe it could even be used as a way of settling minor disputes of honour that’s more peaceful than duelling. There’s a bit of singing, plenty of stalls and other things for you to look at or try. But I want to draw your attention to one attraction in particular. It is a tasty new food product called ‘gelato’ being produced by the efforts of none other than Basso’s orphans themselves, under the exacting supervision of the Speckled Dove’s own high master chef, Columbina.”
Kafana nodded her head, as though agreeing with someone in the audience.
Kafana: “Yes, that’s right. They haven’t whined, begged or sat around waiting for others to give them a hand. They’ve worked hard, just as they’ve always done to provide fresh flowers for courting couples down at the Stadia. Today they’re giving away samples of several flavours for free, to launch their product; but it will continue to be available in future days, so if you’re going to be hosting a truly fashionable party during this coming season, bear in mind that if you place your order in advance, our creative team will work with you to match your party’s theme and display your taste and originality to the best advantage.”
She laughed.
Kafana: “Enough talking from me. I’m holding up the volleyball. One final song, and then let the games begin!”
She stood facing Nicolo, their clasped hands forming two arches, one holding her purple gem of mind healing, and the other holding her emerald of harmony. She’d rehearsed the Flower Duet so many times in preparation for singing it at Glyndebourne. She closed her eyes, remembered back to that and started the music. She couldn’t manage each individual instrument, but she could pull the overall sound from her memory, and hoped it would do. Please deities, make this work. The orphanage needs it!
[...]
Nicolo gently brought her back to herself with a squeeze of his hands upon hers and she opened her eyes, as their voices faded away in the final bars, giving the impression of the singer travelling far far away.
There was silence. Deep deep silence. Not even the birds were making a noise. She didn’t feel like breaking it, so she gently tugged Nicolo with her, and they silently walked off the stage together.
Kafana: {Sys, performance mode over, turn off the aura please and unmute people.}
[Skill “A Way With Words” acquired]
Kafana: {ooc-Alderney, time to come login I think. The volleyball’s about to start.}
ooc-Alderney: [Have you any idea how many people just watched you and Nicolo performing that live?]
Kafana: {ooc-Alderney, about 30,000? Or I guess a few more, if anyone was watching through Hachiko’s eyes. Opera isn’t usually popular. How was it? I couldn’t do the full orchestra properly.}
The monks formed up around her. She could hear a few people stomping their feet. Good, she was afraid she’d cast magic over them, like back when she’d said farewell at Villa Landi. She looked around for Hachiko.
Alderney spoke gently: [Rather more than 30,000. Let me put it this way: half the additional revenue from our picked streamers is going to The Burrow, and half of that is going to you. You’re going to be able to afford more staff to help out at your kafana. You and Nicolo did beautifully, Kafana, and the day’s not over yet. You’re right, I need to flip in now. Have fun with your gelato, we’ll handle everything else.]
The stomping was getting louder now. Everybody seemed to be doing it. Hachiko was running towards her and the monks let him through, but she couldn’t hear a word he was saying. Bulgaria strode past her up the stairs, flashing her a grin of triumph on the way, and took over the stage. She put her gems away in storage, and kept a tight hold of Nicolo as the monks and stewards managed to get her out of the crush and North along the river bank to where the Dove had set up its gelato serving area near the event staff pavilion.
She gave Hachiko a hug as he handed her over to Omobono and whispered some advice into Omobono’s ear before departing back to the stage area.
[Skill “Performance” has reached level 20. Upgrades are available.]
[Skill “Group Performance” has reached level 17.]