Chapter 5

Robin

The healing from all the damage she had taken while destroying the headquarters of the Bards was slow. What had been learned from the records showed the bards had been slowly taking over parts of the thieves. To say the Daymaster was less than pleased was an understatement. He had been running things since Brena and Andrew had fled the hunters in the city. The hunters had all vanished a day after Bloodrend had escaped the vault in such a spectacular fashion. Gareth was still repairing the lobby, and the vault was wrecked. Whatever the need was, the sword didn’t waste any time returning to Andrew. Word had come in from various towns and villages that a screaming streak of red had flown across the sky. The boom that had followed had shattered any glass windows under its path.

Robin was working with the Thieves to study the Bard’s activities. The damage done to the east was deliberate. It turned out the attempted coup that Aco had interrupted had been planned and financed by the Bards. ‘So much to do, so little time,’ Robin thought. Bards had been returning to the Cove and causing trouble. Most were arrested by the Guard. Some, the Thieves handled. It was when the Brotherhood got involved that things got ugly. One set of notes and plans showed the bards were nearly ready to take out the Assassins Guild. Robin had not been surprised at the level of stupidity the Leadership of the Bards had shown. To piss off the Judge of Souls was usually a death sentence. This time, it had been. There were rumors that some had escaped through the tunnels. They would be found and dealt with in due time.

Robin climbed slowly out of bed. Her body still hurt where the bolts had hit her. Aco had done her best to get Robin back to the Broken Sword as fast as possible. There, she was treated and told to take it easy for a few weeks. The night she had gone out to help Brena and Andrew’s escape had nearly killed her. She would continue resting. None of the ancient healing devices were working. It had been discovered that power made the machines work. It was the missing medicines inside that did the actual healing. No knowledge of what these were or how they could be made remained. Robin looked out her window to the streets below. She wanted to be down there with the people. Robin spotted something that made her smile, giving her an idea. She could see someone dancing up the street while playing what must have been a simple recorder. Children were following and dancing down the street away from the inn.

“That settles it,” Robin said. “I need to get out and play.” She stood and stretched, then began collecting all her old stage instruments. A flute, drum, cymbals, and her mother’s Lute. Robin set everything so that she could play as she walked. Once on stage, she could play three at a time. Her feet handled the Drum and cymbals while playing one of the others. If she used the Lute, she would sing along with the music. She felt the need to sing today. All the training she had gotten before discovering the betrayals had improved her voice and control. Rather than a hat, she brought a small basket to collect coins. When Robin exited the Lift, Gareth spotted her. “And where do you think you are going?” He asked. Gareth knew Robin was still healing from her battle with the Bards.

Robin smiled, “I need to play and sing, old man. That will help me more than anything else. I am bored out of my skull sitting alone all day.” Gareth smiled and nodded. His daughter meant a lot to him, but he also understood she needed to do what she was raised to do: entertain. “Well then, you be careful, Robin Songbird.” He waved to her to go, and she smiled, heading towards the newly repaired doors. Bloodrend and made a serious mess when he had blown his way out of the building.

Robin turned left as she exited and headed towards the most extensive market square with a stage. She pulled out her Lute and began to play and sing as she walked. She started with an old song about how dangerous roads can be if you don’t watch your feet. You may end up somewhere you never expected. She played and sang several bright and cheerful, commonly known songs as she walked along. She would nod and smile, and people would pause to listen. She stopped now and then, playing a song. Others would stop to listen while she paused. Robin waved and bowed when she finished the song, then continued to the stage she planned to play on.

Before she reached the market, Robin was feeling better than she had in weeks. This is what she was missing in her life. The stage was empty, but a few other players were sitting down in front of it, playing. Robin went around the back and climbed the steps to the stage. She pulled an old, rickety stool to the front and sat down. Robin set up her foot instruments and thought about what would be best. She had been singing the entire walk, so she went with her flute to give the voice a rest. She played a spritely toon, which tended to make folks move along at a good pace, the music cheering them.

The group below the stage heard her and stopped. They stood and looked up at her. Robin saw that none bore a feather. She gestured for them to join her on stage. They all gathered their gear, and in a few minutes, a band of a dozen players set up on the stage with her. Robin stopped plying and conferred with her fellow players. The group leader was trim and well-muscled. His dark skin set off his short black hair, and a bushy black mustache completed the picture. When he sang, Robin was impressed by his range and control.

The Lute player stood out in her eyes. He was thin and tall, with dark hair that stood out. It stood tall and was frizzy going down his back. His Lute was of a type she wasn’t familiar with. It had a longer neck and was painted a vibrant red. They decided that an ancient tune from the lost history would be first. Some thought it was brought with those that first came to Gardallen. The song they started with almost seemed to be made for him. He handled the crowd, playing them like an instrument.

It was an odd song as it had no reprise. It was a story of a poor boy who killed a man and was condemned for his crime. They worked out the arrangement and began. Robin and two other players started, and the rest of the band joined. By the time they finished, the crowd had gathered around the stage to listen to this old song. When they finished, dozens of coins landed in the hats and bowls placed along the front of the stage. Another quick conference followed, and several other players took up the vocals for the rest of the afternoon. They played until the market began to wind down for the day.

As they all packed, they split the coins. Several of the merchants came out and thanked them. It had been one of the best sales days they had had in months. As word spread that Robin Songbird had an entire band with her, the crowd made the central square impassable so folks would move around the edge in front of the stores. This had folks stopping to look at the wares. Many would continue walking, but more than average would step in and make purchases.

As the group finished preparing to depart, Robin asked them if they could get together again sometime to do this kind of show again. Robin was disappointed to learn this traveling show was preparing to head east to Terin’s Crossing, then to Planes Guard.

“You all be careful. I would recommend staying with a caravan the entire way. It will be safer,” Robin advised. The man who was the apparent leader of the troop said, “We tried, but none would have us as followers.” Robin frowned, “Did you offer to be part of the support company?”

Now it was his turn to frown, “No, never even thought of that route. Cooking and animal care would work. We are all skilled in one way or another in those jobs.”

Robin said, “A friend and I made most of the trip here doing that. I would play some nights so the drivers could relax and party a little.”

“We will look into that then. Thank you.” He stopped and asked, “I don’t even know your name, young lady.” Robin smiled and answered, “Robin Songbird, at your service, good sir.” His face had a look of shock and amazement. He knew the name. She was the woman who broke the Bards Guild.

“The honor is ours, fair lady. We must be on our way to join the outbound team.” The troop bowed to Robin and took off at a fast walk. The drummer was beating a steady tattoo, and they were gone. Robin gathered her gear and secured her earned coins. She left the stage as the last of the daylight began to fade. Robin knew that she needed to be off the streets before too long. The high road was out with all the instruments she had on her. Glancing around a few times, she noted figures in the shadows. No one came after her, so Robin returned to the Broken Sword without incident.