Maul lifted his lightsaber, resting the blade gently on the strings of the violin. He began to play, first a long gentle note that rapidly increased in volume, then he sawed it across the strings, producing discordant notes that vibrated through the room. His invisible audience clutched their ears to drown out the screeching, but he played on, grinning at their suffering. His nose filled with the smell of smoke, ebony strings burned by the blade of his saber. Maul blazed through the final strokes each one ringing loudly throughout the auditorium. With one final stroke the strings snapped, producing a harsh twang. He let the violin drop, watching as it fell to the floor, smashing against the polished surface of the stage. He took a bow and departed, the shattered pieces of the violin left lying abandoned behind him.