Silence shivers
By the time Lannahi reached the door of the ballroom, all else was forgotten. She pushed the door open.
In the chamber were two landshapers. The singer was a dark-haired man with bushy eyebrows. He faced a woman in a green dress who was playing the lyre. Both were engrossed in the music and didn’t notice her presence.
A path between trees
A rift in the sky
Snow swirls
Silence shivers
It seemed that these were the only words of the song, but it did not matter. The emotion in the man’s voice and the melody as well as that the singer often stretched the syllables made each repetition seem different, deeper. Instead of focusing on the lyrics, which usually told a larger story, one focused only on a single image—the image of a winter forest—and the impression it evoked, and that made the whole experience particularly intense.
She was flooded by recent memories. A path among massive trunks and boulders and uncertainty of what was behind them. Branches obscuring the sky and a sense of being at the bottom of a chasm. Angst and excitement, coldness and beauty and deep silence…
Speechless and filled with emotions, Lannahi took the abrupt end of the song with as much surprise as the fact that she was the cause of it. It took a long moment before she remembered how she should react.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” she said, struggling to collect her thoughts and summoning a mask of politeness. “I was just curious. I’ve been here for a week, but this is the first time I’ve seen anyone use this room. I thought there were no musicians currently living in the palace.”
After the musicians quickly glanced at one another, the lyrist stood up and they both made a slight bow.
“We weren’t sure if we were needed here,” the man said with some hesitation. “Your Highness.”
Lannahi smiled, masking her sudden irritation. At this moment, being a queen was the last thing she wanted.
“Since you know who I am, you should also know that I appreciate the art of music. Why am I only now meeting you both?”
“We were in Rubycrest,” the lyrist said. “Your predecessor did not possess much interest in music and only required us when receiving a guest. In the times between, we travel.”
Earlier, Lannahi felt like she was waking up from a dream, but now she felt like she’d been doused with cold water. Rubycrest. The city ruled by Mahhir, Lizaar’s brother.
Now she understood why the landshapers standing before her didn’t show overt hostility like the other citizens of Goldfrost. They were spies, and to carry out their mission, they needed the approval of the new queen.
Lannahi forced a smile again. “May I ask your names?”
“My name is Nazarr,” the man introduced himself. “And this is my wife, Eder. We heard rumors about your performance at the last Sabbath and regret that we weren’t present, but we hope that if we share our music with you, you will honor us with yours.”
Surely that’s all this is about, Lannahi thought ironically.
“King Mahhir won’t be upset that you have deprived him of your talents?” Her tone was sweet, but the look she gave them suggested that she guessed their real purpose.
Nazarr didn’t lose his confidence. “There are many musicians in Rubycrest,” he said with a meaningful smile. “Silence isn’t a threat to the king, and we need it from time to time.”
Lannahi didn’t miss the fact that the answer was evasive, but despite herself, she was curious. “Are you looking for a quiet place to create new songs?”
Nazarr’s smile widened. He nodded.
“That song… Such songs are popular here or was it your idea?” she asked.
“It’s a whirlsong,” Eder explained eagerly. “A song that has no beginning or end. This piece is ours, but these kinds of songs are popular in the South.”
“We can teach you a few,” Nazarr added shamelessly.
Their desire to stay was so obvious that it almost verged on desperation, but their attitude had nothing to do with asking.
Yes, we are spies, their gazes seemed to say.And we know that you know. Do you want to play anyway?
