Chapter 47 - The Stable Song

Wherein Rose goes questing for sanity. 

After another reality-challenging day at Bardic College, Rose was in need of some stupid truth. It was nearing the end of the afternoon and chances were that Bosra had already finished work for the day. In that case Rose would pet a dire-goat or two and go home.

Stepping foot on livery turf, she breathed in the scents of earthy ground and hay, of dung and musk. She closed her eyes and ignored the noise of tubes and carriages rolling along stone streets.

Home.  

"That’s stupid truth," her father would say about elemental common sense. "So elemental even idiots get it."

Rose missed him. The more time she spent at college, the more she disconnected from the abject reality. 

"MOVE!"

Rose opened her eyes just in time to see death coming at her in the form of a big black beast. She jumped out of the way, falling sideways onto the muddy turf.

The beast charged by. Before he could turn and try to trample her again, Bosra tugged sharply on his line to turn him around. Shot hooves barely missed Rose as she twisted away from him.

The Highlander drove the destrier to the round pen out back and locked him in. He would keep for a minute before she had to work him.

Rose got up and followed Bosra to the paddocks and pen. "He's... impressive," she said, dusting her skirt. 

"He's a menace."

"You like it." 

"I was bored." 

Rose grinned. This was right up Bosra's alley. "Can I watch?"

Bosra grumbled, secretly amused. "Stay off the rails. He'll kick." Or charge, whatever was most convenient to get a perceived threat out of his life and into Nightsoul's care. 

Rose backed off. There were two comfy – if dusty – chairs under the awning of the stables. Seated thus, she could watch through the fence railing.

It was hypnotic. Bosra drove him around and around, and whenever he would come at her, she stood her ground. With a lunge-line and a long whip, she guided him around her. After the third attempt, he no longer tried to bowl over the nearly seven foot tall Highlander. Bosra was firm with him, but never cruel.

Rose thought it a little funny that a woman weighing thirty-two stone could move a horse that weighed at least two-hundred-twenty-five.

As the horse tired and calmed, so did Rose. The noise of the street had faded into the background. She heard the stable hands cuss, and heard the beasts shift. There was a rhythm to it she had never noticed before. A song rose in her mind's eye. A song with a strong baseline; the rhythm of hooves drumming into sand. The snorting of beasts and the humming of workers formed the melody. The sweeping of brooms and brushes was the harmony. There were no defined words. Just sounds. 

As she watched and listened, the song composed itself. 

Bosra came to find Pupper after she put the breed away and made sure he was fed and watered for the night. She plunked down in the free seat.

"What’s up?"

Rose startled. She blinked rapidly and calmed when she registered it had been Bosra talking. "I was thoroughly done with college for today." 

"Are you still done?"

"Yeah..." Rose sighed. "It's just so frustrating! My violin only screeches, yet now they praise me as if Nightsoul's own hand guides my bow!" 

Bosra knew nothing about what formal education should be, but she figured she knew people. And these people were not the good guys.

"I don't want their praise for making something ugly. I want them to teach me how to make my music more beautiful!"

"Hmm. You don't need them."

Rose cocked her head. "I don't?" 

"No. Your music is good. Your wizard friend helped make it better. The old bastards made it better. Tina makes it better. School doesn't."

Rose frowned and pondered this. "But they should."

Bosra shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe they're looking for something else than musicians. Maybe they're looking for minions."

"Why would they?"

"Don't know. Don't care. Care about you, your music."

Rose teared up. She launched out of her seat, assaulting the Highlander with a hug. "Thanks Bos."

Bosra patted Rose’s back before setting her on her feet. "You hungry? I'm thinking barbecue. Let’s grab some on the way home."

Rose couldn’t wait to play around with the song. She didn’t have a name for it yet, but she knew it had to be something simple. After trying out a few bars on her alto-violin, she switched to the lute. A moment passed before she found her footing, fingering the double strings on the round-bellied instrument.

Valentina watched a grin spread on Rose’s face, apple-blossom blushes appearing on round cheeks. She curled up in her chair – the meal of barbecued meats and grilled vegetables had made her drowsy – and was purported by this new piece. Unbeknownst to herself, she started humming and tapping along, brushing her fingers over the corduroy upholstery of her fauteuil.

It was almost as if she could see Bosra work a majestic black stallion. She was there, at the livery. She felt the hubbub of activity around her. Smelled the hay, manure, and musk.

She closed her eyes and drifted into a subconscious state, carried by Rose’s wonderful music.

The tightness that had kept her chest in a vice for days now eased somewhat.

Away in the kitchen, Bosra heard scraps of melody drifting. It tugged at her. Commanded her to come and listen. To find the source and spare a moment in worship.

She shook her head. There were dishes to be done.

The bits and bobs of melody kept tugging however, and though Bosra felt she could have cast them off, she knew it must be Rose who played. Tossing the dish towel down onto the dry surface, she stomped from the kitchen.

As soon as she entered the hall, the music became clearer. She could hear two voices, one brighter than the other. Both were humming a very rhythmic tune.

Leaning against the door jamb, she watched Pupper play her lute, yet somehow – as if by magic – she couldn’t hear the string instrument at all. She heard the sounds of the barn. The clopping of hooves on dirt. The sweeping of brooms.

Unwittingly, she started tapping her foot, caught herself and tried to still.

A deep hum rose from her throat.

Now she was certain this must be magic. Rose’s magic.

Pupper didn’t need Bardic at all, and this was proof.

"You’ll earn some cash, playing this song in the right spot," Bosra said, once Rose put down the lute.

"It’s just a simple tune." Rose gently set the instrument on its stand.

"Pupper," Bosra commanded her attention, waiting for doe-brown eyes to turn her way. She said no more, just waited for the truth of her earlier words to sink in.

"I believe you," Valentina piped up, uncoiling from her chair. "I saw Bosra. I saw a horse. I smelled the stables."

Rose blushed: "You’re saying…"

"Magic, kiddo. You’re making magic."

Rose’s blush deepened from cherry blossom to beet. "I didn’t really do anything."

Bosra looked at Tina, who seemed to share her opinion, hiding a giggle behind her hand.

Rose frowned, feeling like she was being falsely modest, but unable to pinpoint why. She really hadn’t done anything that special, had she?

~

Hello Sunshine,

Thanks for sticking with me through this story so far.
If you like my writing style and can't wait to read more, the ebook and paperback are up on Amazon.
My newest novella - Bear With Me - is up for grabs on Kindle /KU.
Meanwhile I'm working on a next big project, that may or may not end up here on Arkhaven.

Love you, bye

Zanna Bear