That night she moved in and won that bet, Silene decided to buy a violin. Early the next morning, she had gone to the market with her winnings and her savings from the Hungry Wolf and perused a shop selling several different kinds of instruments. She knew she could not afford a high quality instrument and until she could return home to obtain a new violin, she would have to settle for a cheaper one. She tested the stock, tuning them and plucking the strings before sliding the bow against them to listen to the tone. Most of them did not have the deep, rich tone or the resonance and projection of her personal favorite, but the rings of the spruce were tight and the varnish thin. Someday, she decided, she would find her violin. She could play her songs on a lesser instrument but it would not convey the subtle strokes or pick up the different types of vibrato with nearly as much depth.
She chose the violin she would play within the city center. The cheapest violin they had was 500 potch, the second cheapest was 1,000. She paid for the higher quality instrument, though its sound still paled in comparison to her own, valued at over 25,000 potch. She would never be able to afford to buy one like hers again.
She took her new instrument back to Varen's manor and retrieved her sheet music from her writing desk before moving into the backyard to practice. She did not want to take a brand new instrument out for a performance without familiarizing herself with it and practicing a few songs first. She was admittedly out of practice, even if she continued to compose new songs on paper. However, it was almost like she had never put the bow down and this new instrument was like a long lost friend.
Varen did not want to interrupt, but he sat outside his bedroom in the patio to listen to her as he worked. When she finished, he said, "I think you are ready."
She was hesitant, but she did value his opinion. And to play for an audience was what she wanted. She took a deep breath. "I'm going. I'll be back around sunset."
"Be confident," he reminded her.
"Could you…"
"Yes?"
"I know he's busy, but if Seed comes back early, could you tell him where I am?"
"Of course."
Varen was not surprised Seed had attracted all of the women living in the house, but it did worry him. Mostly it worried him that Senna would have her heart broken again. He could see she was growing more and more fond of him in a way that felt familiar. He doubted Seed would reject her on the same basis he had, but he thought if Seed had any intention of acting on his attraction to her, he would have by now.
As for Silene, Varen was still trying to understand the nature of their relationship. He thought, at first, she was a romantic interest for him, but their relationship did not seem any more evolved than his and Senna's. Of the three women, the one Seed seemed closest to was Christina, and yet, he was adamant they would remain only friends. It was… perplexing.
Solon Jhee was doing his usual reconnaissance around the palace, looking for old acquaintances from the Highland nobility or former military leaders. And, as usual, he came up empty handed. He was beginning to wonder if most everyone he knew had been executed or if they'd fled the country. He knew his family still resided in L'Renouille, but he had to purposefully avoid them. He thought surely by now he would have run into a familiar face, but he also knew he didn't have the patience to loiter outside the palace from dawn to dusk. It was more like a stop along his path from the inn to the bath house.
As he was crossing the city center, the sound of music caught his ear. He listened to a single violin and followed it, wondering if it could be Arden, the king's musician and one of his mistresses. She had been quite talented, but she had never performed in public. With the dissolution of the King's court, however, he thought she might have become a public performer. She would have knowledge about the King's advisors and noble families.
The woman he saw playing was not Arden, but that she could play as well as she did with a cheap fiddle did impress him. He waited until she finished her song and moved to the front of the small crowd she had gathered. "Can you play Arden's Passacaille?" he asked.
"I have never played it, but I can try," she said and opened the book of sheet music she had with her.
"Your accent, what is it?" he asked. "You are not from Highland?"
"Zexen," she said. "But I have studied Highland's music."
"Interesting." He waited, and he listened.
Silene had studied the sheet music for many of Highland's most popular songs when she moved to the city, just for instances like this. Reading and hearing it in her head was much different from playing it for the first time, but she tried. She had never actually heard the song until now.
When she finished, she bowed nervously, afraid she had butchered it, especially after a few of her listeners had left while she was playing.
Solon dropped 50 potch into her violin case. "You learned to play in Zexen? Or did you study somewhere else?" He knew there were notable musicians in Greenhill, Gregminster, and the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. He had not heard of anyone famous in Zexen, not that he knew all too much about the place.
"Vinay del Zexay," she said and turned the page on her book. She only had time for one last song. She had thought that three songs ago though. If she had finished sooner, she would have made it back to Varen's manor before dark. Instead, she played through sunset with the hopes that… Her heart leapt when she saw Seed crossing the courtyard. "Do you have another request?" she asked Solon.
"Nocturne," he said, testing her. He was curious about her, able to see through the restrictions set upon her by the instrument in her hands. It was not worthy of her talent.
She turned the pages of her book until she found Arden's Nocturne and lifted her bow to the strings.
Seed jogged over to stand in the back of the audience and noticed the tall man standing in front of her. Even from behind, dressed in casual attire, he looked like General Solon Jhee. He was tall with broad shoulders, looked to be a nobleman by the silk tunic he wore, and he had never seen anyone else style their hair in such a way. He'd always thought it resembled the cardinal's head feathers and wondered if that was Solon's intent. He carefully stepped through the crowd to stand beside Solon and looked up at him, confirming his suspicions. He wasn't all too surprised though, being brought back from the dead himself.
"Solon—" Seed started.
"Shh," Solon hushed him, holding his hand up.
"Did you just—"
"Shh," Solon said again, covering Seed's face with his hand. He recognized Seed's voice, and as eager as he was to meet a familiar face, he was not about to interrupt a beautiful performance from the front row. That uncouth peasant could wait.
He just fucking shushed me. Twice. Seed pushed Solon's hand away and waited, glaring at the side of his head, too distracted by his presence to pay attention to the music.
When Silene finished her song, she took a bow, "Thank you for listening." The crowd had actually grown during the last song, but she did not want to entertain at night when the chances of being mugged or assaulted increased.
"You need a better violin," Solon said, "Not that this one hinders you at all. But you sound like you could play in the King's court."
"I'm honored you think so."
"Solon." Seed had no more patience for being ignored.
"Seed," Solon smirked, turning to face him. "Did you enjoy the show you nearly interrupted?"
"I would have if you didn't stick your hand in my face."
"I was doing you a favor. You were going to embarrass yourself. And I didn't stick my hands over your ears."
"You haven't changed a bit," Seed said, shaking his head. "When did you get back?"
"You don't seem surprised to see me." Solon studied his face, wondering just how the war progressed and came to its end without him. Had Luca Blight executed him too? That would not surprise him at all, seeing as how Seed was every bit as confident as he was. And he had the feeling Seed wouldn't have learned from his mistakes with the fiery personality he had. "Probably the same time as you, if I had to guess."
"There's someone that you should meet. I'm sure you'll get along with him since he's that upper class type you like to associate with."
Solon cocked an eyebrow, intrigued. "I'm listening."
Silene wasn't sure if she was intruding, standing there and listening to a private conversation between them, but she didn't want to leave. "Seed?" she interjected.
Solon looked at her, shocked that she was still there but more so that she knew Seed. He looked at him like he was a womanizing scoundrel. "And you know this woman?"
"My name is Silene," she said.
"Forgive my poor manners. It's a pleasure to meet you, Silene. You play like an angel," he said, taking her hand to kiss it. "My name is Solon Jhee."
She had heard the name before. She knew the names Blight, Jhee, and Atreides as Highland royalty and influential nobility. But judging by his build, she thought he must have fought alongside Seed during the war. "The pleasure is mine," she said with a slight curtsy and looked to Seed, who stood there resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
Seed thought Solon really knew how to turn on the charm when he wanted to. "He's a former General of Highland's 4th army," Seed said. "I was a captain under his command."
"Which one of you was promoted to take my place?" Solon asked. "Culgan, I take it?"
"We both got promoted. He took your place, and I was his vice-General until Kiba defected. Then I got the 3rd army."
Solon stared at him in disbelief. "Kiba Windamier, a traitor? I don't believe it."
"There's a lot more where that came from," Seed said. If he knew how he and Culgan had betrayed Luca Blight, well… Seed had no idea what he'd think of it.
"What the hell could make a war hero like Kiba turn on his country? Did the Mad Prince kill his son?"
"No. Klaus was alive and well last I knew. Let's just say no one respected Luca Blight's methods or his madness."
"Hmph," Solon curled his lip. He sure as hell didn't.
Silene shivered and picked up her coat. "Would you gentlemen be so kind as to walk me home?"
Seed realized Solon had distracted him so much he kept Silene waiting in the cold. "Of course. Sorry, Silene." He picked up her violin case to carry it for her and looked at Solon, "You coming?"
Solon had no fear of being mugged on his way back home later that night. "Yes. I'm curious about this man you want me to meet."
Seed leaned in to whisper to Silene, "I promise I won't be late next time. I met an old friend and lost track of time. Varen told me where to find you when I got back. I wouldn't want you walking home by yourself in the dark."
She smiled back at him, "I'm glad you made it."
