The band hall resembled a grave yard's coliseum. Its wide ceiling and dark walls lined with portraits of past Great Ones frightened the frosh until the heavy draperies where pulled away from the windows. Light filled the dank room, spilling over a cracked step and broken chairs. Treff comically dusted off a chair with three legs and tried to sit on it. The others laughed and followed his example. Ette organized things orderly, what she was born to do, and soon everyone had an upright chair and working music stand. The complaints were unavoidable. "Come on now, guys," Ette shouted over the outrage, standing on the step centered in the front. "Get out your music. We're going to see if we can run through the whole bit."
"Wait up, Ette," Sal called, having just walked in. The three followed close behind. While Cornett and Reid took their seats at first chair, Sal and Lute stopped at the female. "We just got done meeting the Shadow Drum Majors." Ette shivered.
"Why? Why even talk to those killers."
"Now, they're just like us," Lute lied. "They just prefer to run their own show."
"A band without Great Ones is no band. A band that can't work under order is no band." With that, Ette turned and proceeded to direct the first segment.
The sunset sooner than expected. By the time the Bandopians stepped out of the aired out hall, the Shadows were gone. The field was littered with various papers and articles of clothing. Reid scoffed as a scarf rolled by. "Looks like they really have their act together." Liggy smiled, hanging back with him. The Clarinets always liked to leave last, making sure everything was taking care of for the next day. The Saxes were already loading their cart and donkey to head home along with the low brass; it was a longer walk for them. Tap and Q liked to talk with Sal about how the music was going. It had been a hard, rough practice. The Great Ones were busy figuring out show details and how to conduct the war. Everyone was tired and ready for the night.
"Uncle Reid!" Reid turned, seeing Clare had seperated from the younger Clarinets. She frowned, seeing he had picked up the old wrap. "Is that from the Shadows?" Reid nodded, tossing it down.
"They can't even keep their…" Quad interuppted, jumping to a stop and grabbing Reid by the shoulders.
"Sorry to bother, Reid, but Sal wants to talk to you about something." Reid nodded tiredly, leaving Quad with Clare. As he turned, he lifted the quiver-style satchel holding his clarinet on his back. Clare had one to match. She smiled nervously, never meeting him before. "Hello, there, I don't think I've seen you before."
"My name's Clare," she introduced, withholding her last title. "I'm Reid's niece." Quad laughed, shaking his head in agreement.
"I can see it, I can. I'm Quad, it's a pleasure to meet you. Any kin of Reid's is a friend of mine."
Hunter and Mellody were silent while mounting their horses. The other horns were already on the mountain trail. Mellody couldn't hold it in any longer. "Who do they think they are, naming the Trumpets as the most promising section! Don't they realize that it's the horns that are bred to be the best?" Hunter scowled, yanking the reins of his stallion up abruptly.
"I just want to get home. If those Shadow dogs think they can break into our camp again, they'll have an angry section leader to get through first."
"Here, here," Mellody echoed, bitterness dripping from her tone. They thundered by as Cornett adjusted his cap for the last time. He seemed the most tired; the trumpet solo seemed harder and higher each time be played it. Letting out a depressed sigh, he watched the dimming road home and wished he had a horse instead of walking.
"Hey, Cornett," Liggy said quietly, working up the courage to greet him. "Your solo sounded good, I mean, since you were just reading it and all." He turned to meet the younger Clarinet with a bashful grin.
"Thanks. It's harder than I expected, but I think I'll be able to handle it."
"If anyone can, it'd be you." They both smiled again, looking at the ground. The darkness had taken over, and only moonlight lit the field. "I…I don't want to keep you," Liggy stammered.
"You wouldn't, but you're right," Cornett replied. "I should get going. See you tomarrow."
"Yes, tomarrow." She watched him go. Surely the fate of the band rests upon his shoulders, she thought, but how proud she felt knowing that he was their best and no other. She beamed brighter thinking of how afraid the Shadows should be. "He's fantastic," she whispered. "Utterly fantastic."