Disclaimer: My name is not Tamora Pierce. She made up most of the characters, places and magic. I borrowed and improvised.
A/N: This chapter includes a musical instrument. The citole, which is a forerunner of the Cittern, is a small stringed instrument rather like a mandolin. It was ideal for carrying horseback as it weighed only 2 pounds. I got the idea that Onua was a musician from a comment made in WM, when she mentions that Tahoi can't sing (as if she can). So my version of Onua might be a bit more talented than Tamora Pierce's. I have also decided that musical ability belongs to Numair, Sarge and probably Thayet. It is because of descriptions of their voices. I teach music on the side and have since I was 16. So I feel confident in saying that those voices would usually belong to the people that can sing well. Numair should be an upper baritone, by the way. I see a lot of stories refer to him as a tenor. However, in normal male voices (excluding eunuchs) they are basso profundo (lowest), bass, baritone, tenor, mezzo tenor). Literally baritone is mid-range. Onua is probably an alto (chesty laugh), Sarge is likely a bass or basso profundo and Thayet is likely a soprano. Numair's height alone should make him baritone or bass. I have three brothers all 6'4" or taller and they all sing low. Anyway, I don't know how many will be interested in these tidbits, but I just thought I would explain.
The songs are copyrighted. That's why you had to wait a week before I started this story. I wrote the songs, but I sent them right in to the copyright office. I did write them for this story but I liked them an awful lot. I've written songs since I was 12 and music since I was 6. Despite the fact that I can't put notation on this site, I do have melodies. At this point in my life they come automatically together..
And now….
Chapter 6 – Songs and Sorrows
Onua, Buri, Daine and Cearl had made good time that day. They had put Cearl on one of the replacement ponies and the four of them spent a pretty enjoyable day chatting about all kinds of things. Alanna had left them mid morning to meet the Kings Own Squad she had been sent for.
Onua found she very much liked Cearl. He loved horses and magic. He was friendly and had a warm laugh. He was a bit older than she, but not enough to fuss over. She thought she might have a little bit of a crush and it had been a long time since she really longed for the company of a man.
When they stopped to make camp, enough of his gift had recharged to build a nice fire for them. It was good because the wood around the area was fairly wet from melted snow. Buri took her turn at cooking and Daine checked the ponies over. After dinner Buri convinced Onua to pull out her Citole and they sat around the fire singing old songs and telling stories.
Cearl watched Onua play with admiring eyes. "I've never learned to play an instrument, though I have often wanted to. How long have you played?" he asked.
"Several years now," she answered.
"She's self-taught," Buri added with a little pride in her voice for her friend.
"And she writes music too," Daine added.
"Impressive. Can I hear some of your compositions?" Cearl looked completely intrigued.
"Well I only write the music. I can play a few tunes for you. I had our favorite word-smith write some lyrics for me. But it took him over two years to get around to actually showing them to me. I could play a couple of those, but they're really new and a little rough yet."
"Who wrote the lyrics?" Buri asked confused.
"Numair," Onua answered. Both Buri and Daine looked surprised. "When he traveled with myself and Daine back when I first hired Daine, I asked him to write some poems. I told him I wanted some love songs and such. I guess he worked on it all this time, but he didn't bother to tell me until that letter after his death."
"What?" Cearl looked confused. "I thought Numair Salmalin was alive."
"Well, he is. The short of it is he gave his life to save a child and the Goddess brought him back. But we had all opened his last letters to us and he mentioned this black book of song lyrics that he had been too self-conscious to give me. I told him that now that I knew it existed I wanted to see it, so he gave it to me. I had pictured a small, half filled book. Wait until you see." Onua stood and walked to her pack and pulled out a large book with a black leather cover. "There are only two blank pages but more than 150 completed songs. Some are funny songs about different friends. Some are love songs like I asked. A few are just pictures made of words. I knew he was a little poetic but they are really very good. It's hard to get him to sing, but he has a nice voice. Overall, I think he could have made a living as a musician."
Onua sat back by the fire with her Citole. She took a moment to retune the strings. "I've only been able to work on a couple of the songs to put music to them. I did look over them all. They are really nice. But I liked the lyrics to these two enough that I had intended to fix them up for our Midwinter party. One is meant for a man to sing, unless I change some words. But I thought it might be nice to convince either Numair or Sarge to sing it."
Daine seemed compelled to stare at the notebook. "Can I – can I look through your songs?"
"Of course, Daine. I do need the book right now though. I haven't learned all the lyrics by heart yet. And my melody might be a little clumsy yet. Hopefully you'll forgive me that." There was a murmured unanimous agreement. "But I'll play these two for you and then you can look through the whole thing, okay?" Daine nodded.
Cearl moved a little closer to Onua as she propped the book on a rock in front of her. She began to play a slightly mischievous tune to a song she had called, "Mixed up and Confused". Then, she began to sing:
Whenever I see you
Whenever I hear you
I long to be near you
Tell me
If we're friends why does it seem
You grace each of my dreams
What does it all mean
Tell me
You've got me mixed up and confused
Yes, you do
I've never been so fool hearted
I'm half of me when we're parted
I don't know when this madness started
And I just don't know what to do
Was it caused by the water
Or some kind of fever
Should I go to a healer
Tell me/ If I pretend not to see it
Or run, can I beat it
Should I just bow, defeated
Tell me
You've got me mixed up and confused
Yes, you do
I've never been so fool hearted
I'm half of me when we're parted
I don't know when this madness started
And I just don't know what to do
You leave me so distracted
I'm awfully attracted
Please forget how I've acted if I'm too befuddled
But I find myself staring
Thinking and daring
To wonder if you're sharing this crazy muddle
You've got me mixed up and confused
Yes, you do
I've never been so fool hearted
I'm half of me when we're parted
I don't know when this madness started
And I just don't know what to do
You've got me mixed up and confused
Her small audience clapped enthusiastically. "That's very wonderful," Cearl said beaming. "The words suit you well too. I like the melody you put with it. It fits the tone."
Onua blushed a bit at the praise. She felt like Cearl might be a good critic because he seemed to have a basic understanding of music, even if he didn't play anything. "This other one is the one for a male singer. I'll have to sing it that way so you understand the way it should sound." She began to play a beautiful but sad introduction to a song she had called, "She's Everything to Me."
She's got a smile like sunshine
It warms me when I'm feeling down
She's got a laugh like music
I feel joy when I just hear the sound
She's rough but filled brilliance
A mix of worldy innocence
And she's just as lovely as can be
She's just another girl to you
But she's everything to me
She's got a heart of gold
She'd be the last to ever let you down
So strong and so courageous
Yet her feet are planted on the ground
She sees the best around her
And so the best surround her
She knows the truth but she's naïve
She's just another girl to you
But she's everything to me
She's got a soaring spirit
Only a fool would try to hold her down
When she's mad I swear the heavens thunder
And you're best to head for higher ground
She's polished and she's skillful
Sometimes she's brisk and willful
But I hope she doesn't ever change a thing
She's just another girl to you
Oh, but she's everything to me
She's everything I want
She's everything I need
And everything that cannot be
I know I'll never hold her
But she's everything to me
Again the three listeners clapped for her, making the ponies whuffle curiously. "That is beautiful," Buri said. She looked a little more misty than Onua had ever seen her.
Onua picked up the book and gave it to Daine. "I was thinking that when Lindhall, Harailt and Numair get here, we could work on getting Numair to sing it. I'm sure you could convince him, Daine."
Daine seemed to swallow hard. "I'm not sure I'm speaking to Numair, Onua."
Onua looked surprised. "What?"
"Does this have something to do with your argument with Alanna?" Buri asked pointedly.
"Yes," Daine said simply. Onua could tell by her tone that she didn't want to discuss it any further than that. Cearl also seemed to know when it was best to keep silent.
Daine scratched the back of her neck uncomfortably and stared into the fire. Buri observed her and said, "You know, you do that same motion nearly every night. Do you have an insect bite or something back there?"
"I think it's the clasp on my chain. There are moments it really bugs me. But I don't want to disturb it. The clasp stopped floating forward recently and I don't know why but I don't wanna' change it."
"Well it can't hurt to look, right?" Onua asked. Both Buri and Onua stood and walked behind Daine, who lifted her hair so they could see better."
"My, that's an unusual clasp," Buri said.
"I don't think this is a normal part of the clasp," Onua answered. "You would put a jewel in front, not the back."
"What?" Daine asked incredulously.
"There's a ruby on the clasp," Onua answered.
That was all she needed to hear. Daine removed the chain and stared at the ruby. "I've seen this stone before."
Onua tried to think if she had seen a ruby cut in that odd shape anywhere. "Numair has a pair of rings like that doesn't he? Maybe he can tell you where it comes from."
Daine looked extremely angry. "Of course he can tell me. I'm fair certain he used to have a pair of rings like this. I've only seen one lately. Where do you think the other went?" She nearly spat the last sentence.
Buri looked impressed and Onua didn't know what to think of the expression on Daine's face.
Cearl spoke at last, "This is a protective stone. It is what you use against poison. Have you been in threat of poisoning recently?"
"Carthak," all three women answered at once.
"Could I have been wearing this without knowing since Carthak?" Daine asked.
"Why would he do that without telling you?" Buri asked.
"Because he's an over-protective dolt who thinks I'm too childish to understand danger." She looked livid.
"Calm down, Daine. I'm sure he had his reasons. He would never intentionally hurt you."
"No, there's always a reason." Daine growled. "Except I am smart enough to understand and there's no reason for him to keep things like this from me."
Onua thought to herself, So much for meditation tonight. But a sound behind her drew her attention to the tree-line. Alanna came tripping through looking pale and sick. And Onua noticed that Darkmoon was gone.
"What ever has happened?" Onua cried.
"They were all dead, horses too. Something knocked me out and when I woke I went looking. They were just a short distance away and all slaughtered. I don't know where Darkmoon went. He might have run so I wouldn't be spotted."
She looked terribly cold and Daine, Buri and Onua began to scurry to bring blankets and tea to warm her. "Did you talk to Jon?" Onua asked.
"Yes. And I spoke to Numair too. They were riding hard out of the City of the Gods. We will probably meet up around dark tomorrow. I'm going to stick with you to warn the riders and talk to them about anything they've seen. Then I need to get back to Corus as quickly as possible."
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more questions than answers I know. Please review anyway.