Sabe was the first one to practice the next day, waiting patiently underneath the Steel Castle to speak with a Great One. The morning air, cold and lined in frost, surrounded her bare arms with a chill. The rest of the guard would start warming up soon. They were still sipping hot teas and rewrapping their flags. While rubbing her chilled skin, she noticed a figure moving close to her. Squinting in the dim morning, she wondered who it was. A bright whistle gave him away. "Good morning," Quad happily greeted. His early smile faded at seeing her disturbed expression.
"When do the Great Ones come down?" Sabe demanded, not sternly but matching the morning air. Quad shrugged, spinning a stick on his hand and glancing upwards towards the stairs.
"I was going to ask them where the spare carriers were. You know, just in case." Sabe flashed her eyes back to him. Why did everyone love this idiot, she thought. He's too happy and ignorant. Doesn't he see past these stupid Great Ones? She rolled her eyes and stormed back to the group. She couldn't be there with him. Quad yawned and leaned against the strong pillars, waiting for movement. The faint warm-up of the trumpets and low brass could be heard through the dawn.
Reid listened as the Trumpets made their way up the concert E-flat scale. Cornett walked through the traditional triangle formation, looking underneath his lowered cap at each of the Trumpets' eyes. "We're not ready," he yelled over the shaky notes. A few upperclassmen played louder in response. He passed across a hole. It was a sharp pain to his confidence, but he kept walking.
Jazz walked over to Reid, steam flowing as breath from him and from the top of the jug he carried. It wasn't out of Jazz's character to do random acts of kindness, as well as easily fired rages. Jazz pulled a cup from his satchel, filled it, and placed it in Reid's gloved hand. "Where's Cornett?" Reid pointed to inside of the wedge.
"Thanks," Reid mumbled after taking a sip of the warm broth. "What time is it?"
"Ten minutes before," Jazz said, watching the sun. "How long have they been here?"
"Since thirty. I think Cornett's pushing them to far…even the Horns are just getting here." On cue, Hunter and Mellody's spurs chimed with each of their steps. They seemed tired, but most of all riddled with concern.
"Day Three," Hunter announced, listening as the Trumpets began the concert B-flat exercise. "By the end of this week, the first part of the show will be done."
"Learned," Jazz corrected. "Far from done." Jazz produced two more bowls for the Horns. "Cooked fresh this morning. I promise you, you'll never sound better." Mellody and Hunter both smiled and thanked him.
"Where is the low brass?" Hunter inquired, looking about the clearing fog. "Shouldn't they be here by now?" Cornet had now joined them in a drink.
"I think there was a bit of frost their way," he said, keeping an eye on the two other leaders who continued to instruct. "They'll be here soon."
"Reid! Reid!" They turned to see Liggy, who was running ecstatically toward them. As soon as she saw that Reid wasn't alone, she blushed and slowed. "Reid," she started again. "Come quick! The Flutelings have a surprise…you won't believe it!" Each of the youths looked to each other before following her to the other side of the field.
"What could this be," Hunter sarcastically thought aloud.