~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ Part Five ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
When I had seen to our horses and procured rooms – curse that there were many more than two available – I deposited my gear in what would be my room before taking my lute and walking back into the hall. It was still very crowded, despite the time. Drawing my hat down over my eyes, I walked to the bar to retrieve a glass of water.
“Your friend left something here for you,” said the bartender as I paid for our lodging. He pulled out a scroll of parchment, tightly rolled so that it was no wider than my thumbnail and no longer than my hand. There was silver thread wound around it, and I thanked the man at the counter and took my drink and my note outside. Finding a quiet place near the base of a tree, I unfolded the note and read through it as I sipped my water.
~~*~~
Songbird –
I will be busy this evening.
Amuse yourself with these lyrics if you like, they require both melody and harmony.
We leave come the dawn.
~~*~~
There was no signature, but that was to be expected. The print was tiny, very fitting to the scroll it had been written on. I pulled my lute over my shoulder and began to strum a few chords experimentally. It needed a steady rhythm, maybe something with drums as well. I did my best as I quietly tried the new song:
“Mary, oh, Mary, why did you try to fly away?
Mary, oh, Mary, this is where you should stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, though the world is wide, aye, and vast,
Mary, oh, Mary, I'll still catch you though eagles are fast.
She loves the trees...
She loves the caves...
You'd never know,
How she behaves!
She wants to be caught,
But then she runs away,
Mary, oh, Mary, why ever did you stray?
Mary, oh, Mary, why did you try to fly away?
Mary, oh, Mary, this is where you should stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, though the world is wide, aye, and vast,
Mary, oh, Mary, I'll still catch you though eagles are fast.
She loves the food...
She loves the wine...
All the time,
I thought everything was fine!
Then I heard her thought,
And she flew away,
Mary, oh, Mary, why ever did you stray?
Mary, oh, Mary, why did you try to fly away?
Mary, oh, Mary, this is where you should stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, though the world is wide, aye, and vast,
Mary, oh, Mary, I'll still catch you though eagles are fast.”
I was wondering what eagles had to do with anything. The song was just as peculiar as they one about the squirrels, and I wondered if this one was based on some local gossip as well.
I had attracted quite an audience by now, and through my musings had continued to play. Though it was late, I was still a bit hurt by the Swan’s earlier comment of protégé, and played louder now to those who would listen:
"Mary, oh, Mary, why did you try to fly away?
Mary, oh, Mary, this is where you should stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, though the world is wide, aye, and vast,
Mary, oh, Mary, I'll still catch you though eagles are fast.
She loves the tales...
She loves the songs...
And from now on,
This is where she belongs!
She only had to be taught
Not to run away
Mary, oh, Mary, now she is here to stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, why did you try to fly away?
Mary, oh, Mary, this is where you should stay.
Mary, oh, Mary, though the world is wide, aye, and vast,
Mary, oh, Mary, I'll still catch you though eagles are fast.”
I smiled at the applause and grinned at the words of praise, but as soon as everyone had gone, I leaned against the tree and sighed, looking up at the windows of the inn. As practiced as I was at playing, it just wasn’t the same without the Swan.
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Canary, The by Zhie