“What is wrong?” asked Mel.

Eibhlin didn’t answer but remained staring at the items sitting on the table. Could it be… it seemed a bit farfetched, but it was also the only connection. But if it was as she guessed, her situation was hopeless! There was no way she could find a place that sold something with those qualities open for business, not on Holy Day. And even if there was, there was no way she could afford it. She couldn’t- wait! There was! There was one thing!

Shoveling the trinkets back into her bag, Eibhlin said, “Master Innkeeper, I need to go. If I come back, I’ll play whatever you want. If I don’t, don’t bother waiting for me.”

The innkeeper could only give a confused nod as Eibhlin gulped down her drink, shouldered her bag and the kithara, grabbed the bread from her plate, and took a bite as she raced out the door. Before they had turned the first corner, Mel asked, “What quickens your steps, Milady? Where are we going?”

“The bell tower! I think I figured it out. I know what Vi wants,” said Eibhlin.

“Really, Milady? And you say to the tower. Then you already possess the worthy item?”

“I hope so,” Eibhlin said. She looked up at the early afternoon sky. “I hope so, because I don’t think I’ll get any more chances.”

When they reached the tower, the sun had already reached the halfway point of its descent. After catching her breath, Eibhlin began up the stairs, pushing down the now familiar, though still disquieting, feeling welling up inside her. She reached the top with her chest burning, and her legs gave out, causing her to slump against the wall.

“Milady! Are you well?”

Ignoring the kithara, Eibhlin forced herself back up, shuffled over to the bell rope, and yanked it down before collapsing again. The bell boomed through the room and out into the air.

Vi showed no resemblance to Eibhlin’s hurry as he climbed down the rope, headfirst like a lizard. He said, “Sunstrands is early. Early is good. Has Sunstrands found something better?”

“No,” said Eibhlin. While the instrument on her back gave several exclamations in dissonant notes, she continued, “At least, not in the way I was thinking before. Instead, I found what you wanted.”

Eibhlin reached into her bag, digging to the bottom, and pulled out her knife. Removing it from its sheath, she held it out so that the blade formed a thin wall between her and the fae creature.

“Does Sunstrands wish to battle Vi?” the creature asked. “Is that why Sunstrands holds knife at Vi?”

“No. It’s what I’m offering you, the ‘better’ item.”

The smoky shadow, slightly transparent in the sunlight, said, “Knife? Why does Vi need knife? Knife is for killing and cutting. Vi does not need to cut, doesn’t need knife to kill. Why should Vi want knife?”

“Because it’s exactly what you want,” she replied. “You always know what you want, and when you have it, you stick with it. No one comes to ring the bells here anymore, but you refuse to go live in the other bell tower. Why? Because you don’t want just any bells but these bells, the ‘better’ bells. The question, then, is why do you want these bells. The answer is the same for why you want this knife. This bronze knife was given to me as a present from my father, the first thing he gave me after my mother died. He isn’t that good at making blades, but he made it so that I could protect myself if I was ever alone and in danger. My father is a blacksmith of well-known skill. He’s no legend, but merchants are always willing to pay a good deal when he has things to sell. What’s more, he has a kind heart that loves what he does, and he always acts with the good of others in mind. This knife was made by my father, a skilled and experienced blacksmith, with my protection in mind. Better hands. Better heart. That’s what you want, isn’t it? Well, here it is.”

Vi shifted on the rope. “Better hands. Better heart.”

Eibhlin nodded. “This blade is pretty strong, too. It won’t break anytime soon.”

The creature twitched out a hand-like shadow and snatched the knife away. Vi scrambled up the rope. He struck the bell. It rang. The note was sharp and sweet. It didn’t match the sound of the key, wasn’t even close, but before the warm sound had vanished, Vi struck again, tittering as he exclaimed, “Pretty! Pretty! Pretty bells!”

Eibhlin called up, “So, Vi, do we have a trade?”

The creature stopped. “One more thing.”

The color fled from Eibhlin’s face before returning with gusto. To think she had trusted—

Before Eibhlin could respond, Melaioni vibrated against her back. “What is your request, Child of Moon and Stars?”

“Sunstrands rings bell.”

The tone, the calmness of the voice, made Eibhlin catch her breath, and sadness gathered, unbidden, in her heart. “That’s all?” she asked.

Vi answered, “Sunstrands will leave after Vi gives you key, just like Baldtops. Ring bell. Just one time. Vi wants to hear big bell one more time.”

Without a word, Eibhlin took the rope. The sound of the bell rang out across the quiet streets, strong and clear and alone.

When Eibhlin and Mel left the tower, the second key shone upon her chain.