A boy and his music

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Shayna stepped forward and offered her hand to Rian's mother. "Hello, my name is Shayna. If I may say so, your boy is very talented. He didn't loose it, as he says, I'm afraid I startled him rather badly." She bowed her head in an apology but raised it quickly back up again.

Holding her other hand out to the side she took a moment to smile warmly at the distraught boy. "I am also a bard, part of the guild and while traversing the streets today I heard the beautiful music your son was playing and I would like to take him on as an apprentice, if you do not mine, of course."

[hisdivineshadow]

The woman stared in surprise for a few moments, then took Shayna's hand and shook it almost absent-mindedly, ignoring the basket in Rian's hand. "A . . . bard? You mean, you could get him into the guild? Oh, Rian!" She looked down at her son with wide eyes. "Isn't that exciting?" He mumbled an indistinct response.

"Oh, where are my manners. Please, come in, Shayna. My name is Anna. Oh, my, I'll go put a pot on." Turning, she bustled off into the kitchen and soon the sounds of clanging dishware could be heard.

Rian stood in silence for a few moments, then started down the narrow hallway. "You can sit down in here," he said as he walked into a tiny living room dominated by a disproportionately large fireplace.

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Following him into the small living room, she looked around briefly and then sat herself down on a chair and crossed her legs, staring down at her hands in her lap. Listening to his mother making a clatter in the kitchen brought a small smiled to her face which she quickly wiped away.

"Rian...," she began and motioned for him to sit down in front of her, "I want you to try something." Rustling in a bag she pulled out a wonderfully carved stringed instrument and handed it to him. "Do you think you could play something like this?"

[hisdivineshadow]

"I . . . well," he said, taking the instrument and the bow that she handed him with it. "It . . . uh, it looks like the fiddle my uncle had. I mean . . . it's been a while, but I think I can." Tucking the end under his chin, he closed his eyes and placed the bow against the strings. He pulled it across once, twice experimentally, then began playing a slow, simple tune.

Rian's mother came to the doorway and stopped, carrying two steaming cups of tea, her face beaming with pride as she watched her boy play.

Reaching the end of the piece, Rian lowered the violin and opened his eyes. "That was just a practice piece he taught me," he commented almost apologetically to Shayna, then looked up to see his mother in the hall and blushed.

"Oh, don't mind me," she insisted with a smile. "You keep right on playing. Oh, here's your tea, dear." She handed a cup to Shayna and sat down in the only other chair in the room, leaning toward Shayna. "So, what do you think? Isn't he fantastic?"

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Shayna sipped at her tea, smiled and closed her eyes. Soon she nodded and set the cup down, turning to look at the boys mother. "So, what do you say, Mrs. Anna? Do you mind if I take your boy as apprentice? He would be traveling about with me, but I can keep him safe and well fed, that I can assure you."

She patted her bag and then gestured to the violin that Rian was holding. "I will teach him many different kinds of instruments, and teach him to be not so shy..."

[hisdivineshadow]

Anna seemed about to answer, but hesitated when she saw the look of near-terror creeping into Rian's expression. "Well . . . the truth is," she sighed, "this is Rian's decision. But it also affects the rest of our family, as well." She gave Shayna a meaningful look, smiled apologetically, and said, "I'm sorry, but I can't rightly answer you yet. We'll have to talk it over, as a family."

Rian felt a wave of relief pass through him, as his mother's careful response took away much of the pressure he'd been feeling. He looked at Shayna and said, "I'm sorry . . . I just, it's such a big thing. I want to go, really I do!" He nodded vigorously to emphasize that point, then added more quietly, "But I don't know if I'm ready."

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Shayna nodded and stood up. "I understand. I will be staying at an Inn called Dragons Skye, whenever you come to an answer, please, don't hesitate to come tell me, or send a message. I'll be remaining here for several more weeks, I think, so there is no hurry for an immediate answer."

Shaking hands with Anna again and stopping to pat Rian on the head, she took her leave of the house, smiling.

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((ENDED))