The Farewell Performance

Writers: Estelle, Heather, Suzee
Date Posted: 24th October 2024

Characters: Tasni, Arippa, Reven, Renette, Pippa
Description: The harpers put on a concert, hoping to lure in the arsonists
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 8, day 24 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: T'ner
This follows "Setting a Trap" and finishes up the harper investigation at Green Valley - sorry for the backdating!

Arippa

Reven

The dining hall of Green Valley Hold was full on the harpers' last
evening there, word of the concert having spread. Tasni glanced up
surreptitiously from tuning her gitar, searching the crowd for
unfamiliar faces. There was no sign of the men Tavella had described,
but she did notice that some of the guards were nowhere to be seen
either. They must have concealed themselves, or taken up positions outside.

She tried to tell herself that the arsonists were probably long gone,
and the worst that could happen this evening was that Master Engad would
scowl at her for playing a wrong chord. Even so, she couldn't help hoping.

Renette was busy tuning her violin, but she occasionally glanced at
the Head Table where Reven, Arippa, and Pippa sat. They all looked
pleased to be having the concert, but she knew that her brother was
also scanning and watching the crowd for signs of their arsonists.

"Are you excited to hear the harpers play?" Reven asked his daughter,
leaning down to speak into her ear.

"Yeah!" Pippa climbed into her father's lap. "Look, there's Aunt
Renette," she pointed toward the stage.

"That's right," Arippa shifted in her chair and smiled at Pippa. She
loved her little girl more than she could even acknowledge to herself
and as her hand stroked over her belly she wondered how she could
possibly have enough love for another child.

Tasni took a last look around the hall and, seeing nothing untoward, she
glanced at Renette and Engad. They were both ready, so she strummed a
few chords, waiting for the chatter in the audience to subside before
launching into a rousing instrumental piece that was traditional in that
area of Emerald Falls. It was one she knew well, so she could keep an
eye on the crowd while the others carried the melody.

Engad, despite looking like a dried up leathery piece of fruit, was
actually still quite nimble with the pipes. His lips expertly moved to
change pitches as his instrument soared along, taking the main melody
line as Renette and Tasni provided him accompaniment.

Renette's mind wandered as her arms moved rhythmically. Her eyes
roamed the crowd gathered. Many of the faces were familiar and had
been at Green Valley for Turns. But towards the back, two unknown
faces caught her attention.

Catching Tasni's eye, Renette winked surreptitiously at her.

Tasni followed her fellow harper's gaze to the back of the hall and felt
her pulse begin to race. Although she'd not been at Green Valley long
enough to pick out a strange face as easily as Renette, the two men
stood out to her for a different reason. Unlike those around them, their
expressions were sour; the older one was positively scowling. Could it
be the sight of female harpers that offended them?

As the piece came to an end and the holders applauded, she remembered
what she'd learned at the tavern. According to Farnes and his friends,
there had been three troublemakers. Those could be two of them, but
where was the third?

She glanced back at the head table, seeing the little girl sitting
innocently in the Holder's lap, and hoped that the guards were paying
attention. Fortunately, they'd already planned how to raise the alarm.
She murmured a few words to her fellow musicians, then launched into a
ballad of fighting Thread - the piece they'd chosen to alert Reven and
Arippa if they noticed anything unusual.

Arippa stiffened and put her hand on Reven's arm. Her eyes scanned
from left to right but she didn't turn her head to see behind her.
"Do you see anyone unfamiliar" she asked softly.

Reven casually scanned the room, but he recognized each and every face.
The two men at the back were visiting beastcrafters that had been
working with the stablemaster. He tapped a finger to his nose, letting
Renette and Tasni know that everything was fine.

Renette felt a mixture of disappointment and relief. Disappointment,
because it had felt a little exciting to be a part of a secret trap, but
relieved that they were among friends, it seemed.

Tasni nodded, as if in time to the music. Unless the arsonists were
lying in wait until the end of the concert, it didn't look as though
they were going to make an appearance, so they might as well enjoy the
rest of the evening. Once the ballad was finished, she began a popular
song about a mischievous firelizard outwitting various characters; a
miserly steward, a vain Lady and an hot-tempered cook. It was a favorite
with children, and made the most of Master Engad's pipes in imitation of
the creature's voice.

Reven took Arippa's in his and squeezed it reassuringly. The rest of
the performance was enjoyed without the tension of looking for
potential arsonists. Personally, Reven found himself feeling a great
deal of pride as he watched his sister perform on stage. He remembered
when she had decided she wanted to apprentice. There were still plenty
of people in Green Valley who frowned on female crafters, but she had
been determined and she'd stuck to her dream, and now here she was.

This rumination brought Reven to the realization of how differently he
and his siblings had all approached life. He was the holder of Green
Valley, something he had never aspired to, Coran was nearly a Master
Healer, Renette was a Journeywoman Harper, and T'ner rode a blue
dragon for Barrier Lake Weyr.

He glanced at his daughter, sitting in her mother's lap, and he
wondered where her life would take her. He hoped she followed her
dreams.

Last updated on the November 4th 2024

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The Farewell Performance