Phyolea beamed at Niall. Her mood was considerably greater, especially as he spoke of the sea. "You should visit my home someday! It is filled with marvelous architecture and everyone is nice and my family will feed you and you can ride our seahorse and you can come with us to get some of the gilded kelp which is the best ever and there is someone with the best sweet reeds ever! He is stingy though. Sometimes I have to sneak them. And we have so much music! And..." Phyolea's smile faded rapidly. A memory came to her mind. She became silent as she remembered the Massive Djed Storm of 512... the reason why she came to Zeltiva. Phyolea shook her head as she pushed aside her memories and clung to the happy ones.
Phyolea drank from the flagon. It seemed to help her think of better memories, when things were peaceful and happy. Her smile returned. "Phyolea, what are you doing? It's your turn. Get back on stage!" the innkeeper shouted from across the room. Phyolea looked around, but could not spot her. The stage, however, was empty.
Phyolea looked at Niall apologetically. "I'm sorry... I must repay your kindness after I am finished singing!" Phyolea scrambled back to the stage and prepared herself. Where had the time gone? At least now she was in a much better mood to perform. She beamed with genuine joy as she began to sing.
When you feel like you can’t make it and the world crushes your dream
Be the captain of your fate and know that life is one big stream
When the tides of fate engulf you and you feel that you will drown
Hold your head up as a royal and accept Laviku’s crown
Rise, waters, rise,
You must never sleep
The sea–king flies
To lift you from the deep
Sweep, winds, sweep
For you shall not prevail
For Laviku will keep
His children from travail
Phyolea continued to sing more verses, becoming more and more uplifted as she continued.
