“You wanna say that again?” The sailor had both arms protectively around his son, but his whole body was tensed like he was ready for a fight. Pinned in place, my heart began to race.

“Ah, the piano. I didn’t mean...” This arm was so heavy. I couldn’t breathe. “I just...”

I swallowed against the rising panic. Where was Rosie?

“I think the young lady meant to say tremendous, but got her words confused. Isn’t that right?” the beast behind me rumbled. It took a moment for the words to make sense through the rising fog in my mind. Was he trying to help me out?

Use your words, Si.

“Th- that’s right young sir.” I addressed the boy with as much life saving sincerity as I could muster. “S-sometimes I get my words messed up. I’m sorry.” Please tell your daddy and his friend that I can live.

The boy nodded solemnly to my words.

“No chwubble, no chwubble.” He said, stepping forward and reaching out to pat my limp hand. “I get me words all mixed up too, but mama’s learnin’ me ta be better.”

The sailor was still glaring at me, but his body seemed to relax a little at his son’s words. What else could I do?

“Maybe she could help me learn some things too.” I offered.

“She’s real good, ain’t she da?”

The sailor’s eyes finally broke away from mine as he addressed his son, his face softening.

“Yeah lad, mama’s always teachin’ me new things too.”

The boy tugged on his father’s hand. “Mama says when someone tells you they’re sorry, you hafta shake hands. Do you know it, da?”

The man looked at me warily, then sighed and ruffled the boy’s hair.

“Ah yeah, I know it.” He reached out a hand to me. “Lad’s right. You said yer sorry.”

The arm around me withdrew and I dragged in the first breath of my redeemed life. The boy looked up at me expectantly.

“Did your mama teach you ‘bout shakin’ hands?”

Not with a sailor...

“Oh definitely.” I slipped my hand cautiously into the sailor’s wiry grasp. “Your mother knows a lot about manners.”

The boy puffed his chest out and nodded, reaching out his own hand for a shake of forgiveness.

“Maybe she could help Sierra to remember her manners next time.” Rosie’s voice finally piped up from close behind me. I spun around, ready to throw myself into the safety of his grandmotherly arms, only to find them crossed on his chest. Oh and…what brawny arms they were too…

He met my gaze with the look my governess used to give before a scolding.

“Interrupting music is rude you know.” I gaped as the deep voice came from Rosie’s mouth.

I could only nod as my brain struggled to process the alter ego.

“Lovely!” He clapped his hands and bubbly Rosie returned. “Now, who needs some tea? I think I’ll make us all a nice cup!”

He pounded his way happily behind the bar and began fussing with cups and teapots.

My conscience prodded me until I turned back to the sailor and his boy.

“I am very sorry for behaving so rudely towards you.” I met the sailor’s eyes with sincerity. “Thank you for accepting my apology.”

The sailor dragged a hand through his sun-bleached hair and rested the other on his son’s shoulder.

“Pay it no further mind, Miss. Shook on it din’ we?” He gave a smile that turned down at the corners as he looked at the piano. “Know I ain’t any good, but the lad here says he wants ta play one day for all ‘em fancy folk what come to the Balls. Don’t wanna let ‘im down when he’s got a dream y’know?”

An ache I was used to repressing rose to the surface as I looked at the suddenly bashful father just trying his best to make his son happy. The boy had told him what he dreamed of being, and this man had listened and accepted him without a second thought. I swallowed the lump in my throat and dragged my mind away from the memories it was creeping towards.

“Maybe I could help.” I offered. “As a way of apologising properly, I mean.”

“Help?”

“I…ah...know how to play that song. I can teach you if you’d like?”

The boy began bouncing as he gripped his father’s hands.

“Oh, daddy pleeeeeeeeease? Then we can show mama too!”

“That’d be real nice of ya, Miss.” The sailor grinned at me, his son’s enthusiasm helping my cause.

Permission granted, the boy began tugging me towards the piano.

“Name’s Oggin by the way, ‘n the lad’s Teek.”

“Sierra.” I said, running my fingers lightly across the keys and pushing aside the sadness that welled in me. Now was not the time.

I dragged the stool closer and sat down, my body recalling the position that had been drilled into me throughout my youth.

“It’s been a while since I did this,” I advised my small audience. “So let’s check that I remember it.”

And for the first time in years, I made music.

Twin Moons is a simple piece. Most children learn to sing it, and most instruments use it as a beginner’s tune. The beauty of music however, is that it yearns to evolve, so even simple melodies can grow into masterpieces if you listen to where it wants to take you. The notes call to each other, seeking harmony in myriad intricate patterns. Almost like Rune patterns harmonising in a spell…

Not too deep, Si.

Teek’s wide eyes never left my fingers as they flew across the keys. I reined in my improvisation and pulled the melody back to its simplest form, going over it twice more to try and stick the proper tune in his mind. Lifting my hands after the final note, I flexed my fingers and turned to the stunned duo.

Actually, I had the attention of the other three patrons randomly scattered at tables as well. Even Rosie had stopped pouring tea.

“Ah, so that’s –“

“Amazing!” Teek shouted, jumping and clapping at the same time. He then dragged a stool over next to mine, the harsh sound of the legs scraping against the floorboards enough to jolt people from whatever trance they were all in. “Show me! Show me!

“Alright, alright.” I laughed. It was so easy to be swept up in his excitement. “We’re just going to learn these seven notes first.”

I played them and he scrunched up his face in concentration, Oggin peering over the top of his head with equal curiosity.

“Now, start with your fingers here…not that one…this finger needs to go here first. Because you have little fingers you’ll need to…”

By the time Rosie forced a halt with cups of tea, the duo had practised enough to make it through the entire verse. They made a good team, as one always seemed to remember the part where the other tended to falter.

“That was beautiful, dearie.” Rosie said, placing his teapot on a nearby table. “Hated to interrupt, but it’s getting on into the afternoon.” He smiled at the pair. “Doesn’t it just warm your heart to hear music so joyously played?”

It used to.

I sighed and took a sip of tea, captured by the animated discussion between Oggin and Teek about the song they’d just learnt. A pang of envy ran through me even as I took pride in their small success.

“I suppose it does.”

“Anything the matter, love?”

“Oh, nothing.” I pushed my feelings aside and focused on my reason for coming to the Guild. Knowledge and power, as fast as possible. That was all that mattered. If I had those things, then I would be free to be the Sierra I wanted to be. That’s when things like warm hearts and joyful music would mean something again.

“Hmm,” Rosie placed a gentle, if ginormous, hand on my shoulder and peered into my eyes. “Well, if you’re sure, hun.”

I threw out a smile. Eyes back on the prize, Si.

“Of co-“

“But!” he carried on firmly, “I want you to know that if you ever need someone to talk to, about anything,” he squeezed my shoulder, “then Ol’ Rosie’ll be here, alright?”

I nodded slowly, confused by how easily this man offered such support to a stranger. Was he genuine, or was I missing something important?

“Good.” He released me. “Do you play any other instruments?”

Violin.

“Like I said, I haven’t played in years.”

“So that’s a yes.” He clapped his hands. “Which ones? I have a collection, you see. Music should be everywhere, for everyone. Too much violence and hatred around for my liking.”

He confiscated my teacup and beckoned me over to a door under the stairs.

“Rosie, I really should get back to work.” I said, following him anyway.

“Nonsense! Where is Aggy, huh? He should be helping you.” He nudged me through the dark doorway, reached inside after me to charge the Lightstone in the wall sconce, and suddenly I was surrounded by instruments of all shapes and sizes. The madman had even shoved a full size harp in the cupboard under the stairs.

“Don’t you think the world would be a better place if people just made music instead of fighting each other all the time?” Something in his voice made me turn to him in concern, a shadow flitting over his features. He shook it off at my glance and the warm smile returned as he gestured to the storage room. “That’s why I have so many. Hard for common folk to afford instruments, so thought it’d be nice if there was a place they could come to try. Might be it makes a difference in this world.”

He reached past me and ran a loving hand down the side of a heavily scuffed lute. “Room’s always open for anyone. Come and play what makes you happy. Anytime.”

There’s no time for happiness.

The protest died on my lips as my eyes glimpsed the violin. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out. My thumb ran over the strings. Out of tune, but that could be fixed. Before I knew it I was back at the piano, tapping keys and twisting pegs as I adjusted the tightness of each string. I had just lifted the bow, when a shout sounded behind me.

“Mama!” I twisted on the stool as Teek hurled himself at a short woman with sandy blonde hair and green eyes that matched his own. “Sierra teached me ‘n daddy how to play! Come on, come on!”

I was efficiently shuffled off the stool as Teek arranged his parents to his satisfaction at the piano, before taking a seat next to his father. Oggin was a bright shade of red as he tried to explain the situation before being shushed by his son.

“Mama, listen.”

“Oh yes, my heart.” Her eyes sparkled as she obeyed her child’s commands, then widened as he began to play. The tempo was sporadic, but the notes were either true or quickly corrected by one of the pair, and they made it through two rounds with growing confidence. One the third round, Teek’s mother added a deep, rich voice to the music, and the boy practically exploded with happiness.

Twin moons shining up above. 

Can’t you tell that they’re in love?

Dancing together from dusk til dawn,

When they touch, new stars are born.

Twin moons shining up above.

Can’t you tell that they’re in love?

“Yay mama! Daddy you too, you too.”

“But I’m playin’ with you!”

“I can do it. You sing to mama.”

I watched as Oggin laughed and stood to take the woman’s hand.

“Can’t disobey the cap’n’s orders now can I?”

She kissed his cheek. “Not on your life!”

I pressed back into the wall, the scene making me wonder if many families out there were as happy to be together as these three seemed to be. Teek’s parents were still holding hands as the boy reached the last line and looped back again. Oggin cleared his throat.

Twin moons shining up above.

Can ye see that I’m in love?

His voice was rough. His eyes never left his wife’s.

Yearning for her with all me heart,

Knowing no rest when we’re apart.

She lifted his hand to her lips, with what almost looked like sadness in her eyes, and I suddenly felt like I was intruding on something precious.

Twin moons shining up above.

I didn’t belong here. Not with this family who so openly loved and cherished one another.

Can you see that I’m in love?

I fled.

Back in the room, I realised I had brought the violin with me. I shoved it under the pillow on the bed, scolding myself for such foolishness. My family were on their way to the Guild.

I couldn’t be sure how much longer I had left here. I didn’t have time for this weakness.

Remember the plan.

Knowledge. Power.

No more distractions.

I needed to devote myself harder than ever to enhancing my abilities. I had to seize every opportunity to discover a skill that could break the shackles of my family. There was no other way.

With so many unknown Runes, the engravers were one possibility, but there was no guarantee I could access the information I needed, to know what each one did. So I would take every drop of advanced work that I could squeeze out of Agate. Every piece of knowledge mattered.

Knowledge. Power. Focus.

I sat at the desk and picked up a ruby. Time to pay my price.