Disc: March of Cambreadth isn't mine.

September 3, Fall, year 20

It's the Music festival today! I had to haul out the sheet music and practice in my spare time for the past three days—not that I had much spare time—but it ought to be worth it! I can hardly wait!

Claire was practically dancing about her chores the entire day, singing snatches of music whenever it burst from her. Everything from skipping-rope rhymes to full on opera-type music (She loved Phantom of the Opera, and watched it whenever she could), if it was music, she would sing it.

The official festival didn't start until later in the evening, but that didn't mean she could have her fun all day. So music followed where she walked, and many smiles blossomed as she passed.

It was one of the few festivals where the whole of Mineral Town and Forget-Me-Not Valley actually crammed together in the Mineral Town church to sing everything from psalms to rock and roll. (Though anything harder wasn't allowed. There were only so many heads that could take it, and they outweighed the few who loved it.)

People performed in pairs, or groups, or invited the whole church to sing along. It was always an adventure to see who would sing what. There were a few traditionally sung songs at the beginning and the end, but between them it was anything goes.

The farmer was going to leave early from the Valley so that she got the chance to rehearse with Karen and Jill before everyone else piled in and it got to hard to think, and so Honey was saddled shortly after noon and Claire headed off to Mineral Town.

Jill met her sister on the mountain path two hours later, joining in with her sister's singing as she crossed that final bit of path that brought the blonde into Mineral Town borders.

"You're going to wear yourself down," she laughed when the song was finished. "Seriously sis!"

Claire's eyes were sparkling with mirth.

"What can I say, I love to sing," she grinned. "Want a ride back squirt?"

"Yeah, I think I've managed to gather all the plants I can today. A ride would be welcome," Jill caught her sister's mood, and was grinning as well. "And then we can go kidnap Karen and do some practicing."

Skye couldn't help but wonder what was going on. There was a flood of people around today, all from the Valley, and he was willing to swear he'd seen Claire's tell-tale blond hair in the mass. Since the flood was heading for the church, he joined them after a quick change in hair color. Wigs were very useful, and if he wanted to keep thieving without being caught—for he knew his next mark would get him seen one way or the other—they would have to be used.

So for the day he would have brown hair, and be virtually invisible. And once he joined the crowd, he was just another one of them. People passed without a second glance, and he was even able to come face to face with the lovely young lady… Ah yes, Lumina, Claire's friend, without being recognized.

But why was everyone going to the church? Was there a funeral? No… the mood was too up-beat for it to be something like that.

Sitting in the last pew, at the farthest end, Skye strained to figure out what was going on. Why were Karen, Claire and Jill all up at the front? And the other girls with the instruments… was it just something music related?

His curiosity piqued, Skye remained sitting at the far end, just past Rock and Griffin actually, and waited.

It wasn't long before the head of the church, Father Stuart, called the place to order.

"Under the eyes of the Harvest King and the Harvest Goddess, let the Festival of Music begin!"

And then the music started.

It was, Skye noted, pretty good. The village girls on their flutes, ocarina, and organ—Ann, Elli, Popuri and Mary—played as though they'd done this many times before. But it wasn't til the three started singing that he actually sat up and took notice.

Karen was the melody line. Strong and certain, very straightforward, like a river running to the sea. Jill was the alto harmony, low and passionate. Very akin to the simple turning of the earth. Claire was the high soprano harmony, a breeze flitting from note to note.

And Skye found himself awed in a way that hadn't been possible since he'd forsaken his homeland for the long earthbound journey he was currently enjoying. They were not of the Moon as he was, but their ability to work together left him feeling as though he was listening to something… better. There was more to it, more depth, more strength.

He closed his sea-green eyes and let it sweep him away.

It always seemed like the festival passed too quickly. Rock had done some middling impressive rap-like rhymes, Popi and Karen had sung a sweet duet, Lumina had played the organ for them, and so one until everyone had gotten a turn to show off their skills.

Everything had to come to an end though, and soon enough it was time for one final act. Claire and Jill had chosen to sing the song, 'March of Cambreadth." The lacked pipes and drums, but the substituted an organ with Mary and flutes with Elli and Ann.

Oh, axes flash and broadsword swing,

Shining armor's piercing ring

Horses run with polished shield,

Fight those bastards til they yield

Midnight mare and blood red roan,

Fight to keep this land your own

Sound the horn and call the cry,

HOW MANY OF THEM CAN WE MAKE DIE?

The song was a favorite of both villages, for all it was a war-monger's song, and the entire village chanted back select verses, keeping the time with their hands and feet. Again, Skye was amazed that such a simple song could invoke such powerful responses among everyone, especially a song such as that.

Tired, and hoarse voiced but pleased, Claire stayed late to help clean up the church, and again avoid running people over with Honey on the way back home. She had taken note of Skye—his hair might've been different, but those eyes were a dead giveaway—and while a love-song or two might have crossed her mind, she didn't give into the urge.

She was particularly happy with 'March of Cambreadth.' There was just something about it that she liked, for all it better fit Jill's vocal range. It was one of the ones she couldn't keep from whistling as she cleaned.

"I hadn't thought someone like you capable of such a song," came Skye's amused voice. "You constantly surprise me my dear."

Claire looked up and gave him a look of feigned confusion.

"Have we met?"

He gave her a look of amused exasperation, and she laughed softly.

"The hair color doesn't suit you," she said, returning to her sweeping. "But I guess it's a sensible precaution…"

He could hear under the blandness the fact that she wanted to tell him to stop stealing. Whatever was holding her back was impressive, and he gave her his best charming smile.

"I feel like taking chances," he winked. "Care to walk with me my lady?"

"Not tonight I don't," and her tone was crisper than she'd intended, making him startled. "…Sorry… I just recently got new plants in the ground, and I really can't afford to miss any sleep until they're producing. Shouldn't be too long, Vesta's already got half of hers fruited."

"Ah well," Skye waved to her, unwilling to admit that her placement of plants before him was a little irksome, "another time perhaps?"

She leaned against the broom and gave him a speculative look.

"Sure. Maybe in a couple of weeks. Oh! Before I forget…"

She dug out a silk-wrapped bundle from her backpack and tossed it to him. Deftly catching it, he gave her a quizzical look.

"Win told me to keep it in salt-water or silk if I found another one, so I wouldn't unwrap it here," she cautioned. "I cleaned it up a little, but that's about it. And don't give me that scowl, I was careful!"

He was scowling. Risking her own life-energy just to clean up another artifact from his people wasn't exactly high on his list of things for her to do.

"How was I supposed to know what it was without cleaning it?" she asked defensively. "At least I didn't do more once I saw what it was!"

She'd actually soaked it in salt water as a precaution once she'd seen the gemwork, and once that had cleaned it up as best it could—at least the dirt was gone—had immediately transferred it to a square of silk.

Skye sighed and put it in his pocket.

"I just don't like the thought of them hurting you," he said softly. "And they can Claire."

She reached out and lightly touched his shoulder. His concern for her made her smile softly.

"I'm careful," she repeated firmly. "Trust me, okay? If I find more I'll get them to you."

He nodded, but that didn't mean he liked it. Still, there was nothing he could do about it, Claire would dig in the mines when the fancy took her, and would find more of these if she looked hard enough.

Again he waved, then left. Claire returned to her sweeping and shook her head of blonde hair a touch testily.

She didn't like the fact that he was looking into disguises now. It meant he still intended to steal from people, but this time wouldn't be recognized.

"Idiot," she muttered sourly. "Don't do anything stupid…"

Disguises now? Haa… That boy is going to be the death of me. At least I got to spend the day doing what I love the most. Good day. Very good day.