Private Tales Differences Big And Small

"You cannot be musicing beasts!" Ruka protested against the dwarf's story.

The argument had drawn a small but respectably sized crowd in the Forum of Gild; curious onlookers pondering the substance of the question, citizens merely enjoying a spot of entertainment from the amusing idea, some just enthralled by the dwarf's passion and Ruka's antics. The dwarf, quite the seasoned flute player as it were, testified that music—well-enough played—could soothe the rage of even the most savage beast, and that he had done this personally.

"Ohhhhh, but I say it is so!" cried the dwarf, grinning gaily. "Now, now, you might be thinkin', what is this, some ungodly magic? Ohhhhh, no, not in the slightest! Only skill, and the recognition of skill, and beauty, and the recognition of beauty, ohhhhh, that's what it is and no mistake! A man or a dwarf or an ogre can hear a sweet performance and know it, and I grant you, it's more difficult for beasts, beasts that they are, but it's true. Not once I say, but twice—twice!—did I tame a ferocious beast, right in the heat of its attack!"

"But I am not seeing how you doing this. Beasts have mighty fury, like wild bear! How can you stopping a bear with only music? Big muscles needed!"

Back and forth they went, and, as it so happened, the dwarf's recounting of tales went from two such serenadings, to three, to four, and to five by the end of the argument. One could forgive him, perhaps, on account of his elderly age, or one might well think he invented a few, if not all, of those stories. Yet the argument ended with no true conclusion, and the crowd dispersed, and the old dwarf went on his way.

But a man came forth to Ruka at the end and offered to her: "Salt and silver, friend! Hey, I thought you might like to know, there's actually a bard, an ajam man, here in the city. Maybe—"

Ruka caught on to what he was suggesting, and bellowed, "—he could be musicing a beast!? If dwarf folk can do it, bard-man can do it! Truth there!"

And she hurried off! Or, rather, got a few big thunderous steps away before turning back to the helpful man and asking where the ajam bard had last been, and getting his answer. Then she hurried off!

Down the streets of Gild she went. Passersby looked at her and wondered what all the haste was about, for her excitement did indeed make her hurry as though something more dire was afoot. The description she had been given was a bit vague, other than that the bard was short (not so helpful, Ruka was tall, and found many people short!), but it did make mention of the lyre, certainly a distinguishing feature.

And there! A lyre! Ruka came on approach to Ispir not so long after he had dusted himself off and began to wander.

Directly in front of him did she stop, smiling widely, and she said quite loudly in her excitement, "Salt and silver, Bard-man! I can asking you something?"

Ispir Sione

Ruka quite nearly forgot what it was that she wanted to ask him, and why she was here, such was the distraction now presented to her.

"Ohhh, I like flowers!" she said, and very carefully accepted them. Flowers were very delicate things! And small! They needed great taking care of, and such was the way of Big Man Threshkuul and Big Man Regel, that the strong should take care of the weak. She smelled them and smiled gaily and then told Ispir her name when asked.

And when he came to ask her about what she wanted, she looked a little confused. "I, uh...oh...what thinking before flowers...what thinking before flowers...?"

She thought for a moment, smelled the flowers again as though their scent could help her remember, and, apparently, they did help, as she did remember right after.

"Ah! Ispir! You are good at musicing, yes?"

Ispir Sione