Completed Melodies in Ravok

[Ireth Telemnar]

Summer 18, 513 AV

As huge, soft clouds made their way slowly through the sky, the early morning sunlight shone in beams. The light danced gaily on the lake waters beneath a large, old bridge in Ravok. The people of the floating city were just beginning to hustle on their way to jobs, to market, to school.

The swish of the reflection of a black cloak interrupts the flighty suns on the water. A girl of 18 years lays the cloak on the ground beside the edge of the wooden bridge. Careful not to sit in the way of the people rushing by, she sits herself down and places a little blue bowl before her. Perhaps, she thinks, I might make a bit of money today.

This is Ireth. With the people going about their business, she retrieves a wooden flute from her pack. The flute was made of carved driftwood, almost silver from polish and use. It had six finger holes, and a larger hole for the air to blow through. Blocking about half of the larger hole was a totem, carved from the same wood, in the shape of a pigeon, with small green flecks of stone for eyes. The totem is attached to the flute's body with a soft leather cord.

Ireth closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Putting her lips to the flutes mouth, she pipes a short tune, more of a beginning than an actual tune. But you could tell, from the flow of the crowd, that something had changed. The folk grew calmer, thoughtful. Ireth piped on, not looking into the people or speaking a word.

[Tallis Ishtari]

From out of nowhere music assailed his ears. It was not unusual to hear music playing within the city but this street musician was pretty decent. It was a bit of a surprise to him though that he had not heard this person play before. Having lived in Ravok his entire lifetime he had not anything like it. Where had this person been hiding themselves?

Other than rush in headlong and destroy the peace this person generated Tallis thought it best to sit and watch for a while. As a pickpocket it was an easy task to sit and look for potential prey. This time it would be different as he had no intention of lifting anyone’s money, well at least not the street musicians. Times were bad enough for him but for street musicians in Ravok times where even tougher, or he supposed.

After sitting through half a song he decided it was enough. It was time to go to work. The music provided enough of a distraction that it allowed him to move through the crowd. After “accidentally” bumping into a two people he finally was able to pinch a purse. I was so easy that even the musician had no idea he was busy at work while she played. Now all he had to do was disappear into the city and then home.

[Ireth Telemnar]

The songs that swam from Ireth's flute flowed into each other, much like the lake waters beneath her. Folk that passed might pick out a common ballad, a child's lullaby, or a tune coursing with melancholy. The sun rose up, high in the sky, and still the musician played on. Some people dropped coin into her bowl, but not many.

Around midday, a group of seven small children broke through the crowd and gathered around Ireth. One, a lithe girl-child, clutched a basket.

"Here Ireth," she placed the bundle alongside the flutist on the cloak,"Daddy, sent me with food for you!" This was Taikame, Ireth's niece.

"Thank you Taikee! You've gotten so big, now old enough to run errands alone! Well," Ireth winked at Taikame's friends, "sort of alone."

The children giggled. Taikame took Ireth's hand. "Ireth, will you play us a dancing song? Please please please?"

The kids clutched their little hands and pleaded, one boy going so far as to get down on his knees. Ireth doubled over in laughter.

"But of course!"

Taking her flute between her lips again, Ireth began to pipe, slow and quiet before building in beat and volume. Folk passing over the bridge caringly made way for the frenetically dancing children. The kids clapped and danced, swung and jumped.

[Tallis Ishtari]

It was so easy and his haul turned out better than expected, five coins! Having been out of sight to discover how much his bounty was he tossed the purse into the canal. No evidence was a wonderful thing. As he slipped the coins into his own purse he the music start again. Normally he would have walked away but the street musician did help him pick a pocket.

As he looked around the corner he noticed that the crowd had not totally dispersed from the square. Ravokians did love their culture. He necessarily did not but that started to change since he had met Marx. She had him looking at life from another pair of eyes.

Meandering his way slowly back down toward the street musician he cautiously looked to make sure the person whom he had stolen the coins from was not in the crowd. They were not. He paused in front of the girl and took out a coin. “Thanks…” He said quickly as he scratched the stubble on his chin. She probably had no idea why he had said thanks, but it did not matter. He tossed the coin into the blue bowl.

[Ireth Telemnar]

Even with the noise of the crowd over the tunes she emitted from her flute, Ireth heard the clink of the coin and the thanks of the man. Looking up with a smile on her lips, taking in the stranger's hazel eyes and hesitant face. The children's song was finished, but before the kids distracted her, she motioned for the stranger to wait.

Taikame and her friends were breathless, the excitement of the dance still glowing in their eyes. They thanked her profusely and she sent them on their way.

Ireth leaned back against the wall, taking in the day and the people. She opened the basket at her feet, sent by her brother perhaps, but prepared and packed by his wife. Warm bread and cheese, with a small fruit. She placed her beloved flute in her lap, then looked up for the stranger.

[Tallis Ishtari]

He stood awkwardly not being used to standing around waited after a heist. Feeling uncomfortable was and understatement. He managed though to keep his eyes from darting around by taking lazy looks out into the crowd. If it was not for the street musician he probably could have picked at least one more pocket. Normally he did not like to strike twice in the same area in the day, but there were so many loose purses it was hard to stop from thinking about it. Tourists were such easy prey.

When his eyes finally returned to the girl he noticed the basket. It obviously held food. It was easy to tell because of the size and shape of the basket. His stomach rumbled. “It’s no time for food Tallis. See what the girl wants and get out of here before the guards show up.” He said as he chided himself. He knew better than to return to the scene of the crime, but here he was standing in front of a sitting street musician.

“I couldn’t help but notice how well you play.” He cast a look at the blue bowl. “It’s too bad people aren’t as appreciative of fine music.” In his mind he flashed back to many occasions where he had been in taverns listening to good music and dancing with pretty girls. Then is mind flashed to the last dance he had with Marx. It was a disaster.

His eyes scanned the girls face. A bad habit of his, but it was something he did as a thief. The one thing that stood out to him was the girl’s eyes. They seemed to sparkle to the point where they gave her the look as if she were smiling all of the time. “How come you’re not playing in a tavern somewhere on the docks? You would probably make better money than waiting for tourists to fill your bowl.”

[Ireth Telemnar]

Ireth chuckled. "The goal isn't really to make money, but to make music. I play in the Docks sometimes, but not in the taverns." She gazed at the man, taking in his clothes, his stare, his pose. She didn't try to pretend she didn't see him eyeing her basket of food. Taking out the bread, she tore it in half.

"Please, eat. Ever since I moved out on my own, my family believes me to be starving. Would you like some cheese too?"

The day had become warm, the walks of Ravok filled with people. "I'm glad to hear that you like my music. These folk, they may appreciate it. I'm told it soothes tempers and calms nerves, my music that is. My name is Ireth..." She couldn't figure why the man looked so uncomfortable, so edgy. "Is there something the matter?"

[Tallis Ishtari]

There was no hesitation when the bread was offered and eagerly took it. He had not eaten since the night before. It was not because he did not have any food in the apartment but he simple woke up late and needed to start working the crowds of tourists for daily earnings before it got too late in the day. If he was smarter he would put in an honest day’s work at his parents jewelry shop. He was a fair gem cutter and probably be as good as his father if just would make the commitment to do so. Being an honest gem cutter and jewelry stone setter, like his mother, required every do work. The lifestyle of sitting at a bench did not appeal to him. He was still young and the world beckoned to him to go on at least one large adventure before he settled down.

“Yes, a bit of cheese would be nice.” Tallis said warmly before biting into the bread. The bread was good and reminded him of his mother’s own cooking. It melted in his mouth. He gave his practiced smile at her next question though. Was something the matter? He smiled inwardly knowing this girl was clueless to what he had been doing to her impromptu concert for the masses. She had a thief standing in front of her and she did not even realize it.

“It’s nice to meet you Ireth, and I’m fine. It’s just…” Tallis took a look over his shoulder and spotted what he dreaded, the city guards. They had not spotted him yet. Not that he was on any of Ravoks most wanted list, but he was always a subject of conversation when tourists reported that they were robbed. He turned his attention back on the Ireth. “…it’s just that I’m looking for someone.” It was as close to the true as he wanted to get. “But hey, it is nice that you really enjoy playing for people. It’s amazing that I haven’t seen you around the docks before. I’m always out and about in that area. Are you a resident of Ravok?”

[Ireth Telemnar]

Ireth handed over a hunk of the cheese, thinking. "Yes, I've lived in Ravok all my life. I haven't played much in public though, my mother thought it to be dangerous. But I'm on my own now, and playing in the streets. It makes me happy." Ireth stood and packed up her belongings, her flute in her pack and the food items in the basket.

Walking down and off of the bridge, Ireth contemplated the stranger beside her. He'd yet to offer a name, and he still seems off, but he was pleasant enough. "And yourself? I believe I've seen you, in the market maybe?"

[Tallis Ishtari]

Walking off of the bridge was a huge relief. He could relax now that he was not so visibly seen by the guards. He munched on the cheese as they walked. “You might have seen me there. Mostly I stay in and around the docks since my apartment isn’t far from it. My parents own a jewelry store near the eat docks, and sometimes you might have seen me there. My name’s Tallis, Tallis Ishtar. That might help you remember if you’ve ever passed by my parents shop.”

If Ireth was not from a family that was well off she probably had not seen it. His parents normally catered to the wealthy of Ravok but not exclusively. They still made some fine jewelry that was priced nicely for others in the city and even imported fine lockets and necklaces. His parents had built the business from the ground up starting with a one room shop to a larger one with a workshop in the back.

He placed the last bit of cheese in his mouth and chewed quickly. A glance over at the girl told him that she looked to about his sister’s age and Marx’s age. Ireth would not have known his Kelvic bondmate but she might know his younger sister. “Maybe you know my sister Talia. She kinda looks like me but much prettier than me.” He said with a chuckle. “You’re about the same height but she has very long black hair and hazel eyes like mine.”