Key to Liberty by Piers Anthony

Author:Piers Anthony [Anthony, Piers]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction; American, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, General
ISBN: 9781594263811
Google: pkiCGAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1594263825
Publisher: Mundania Press
Published: 2007-04-01T06:21:47+00:00

* * *

"Interruption."

"Welcome, Havoc. Am I becoming dull?"

"Negation. I saw the bones in your hair, and thought them a mere style. I like them, barbarian that I am. You truly can play?"

"Yes. I value music for its effect on mood, others and my own."

"Request."

This, too, was intriguing. Normally it was sex a man desired; he would pretend interest in the finer arts mainly as an avenue to gratification. Since she had already offered him that, this other interest had to be genuine.

"Honored."

She unbound her white hair, freeing the two pieces, and fitted them together. Then she played an ancient tune,

"Drink To Me Only," simple but lovely, well suited to the instrument. It was always a pleasure to exercise her fingers and evoke the familiar melody. She studied his face as she played, curious about his reaction.

And Havoc, amazingly, joined in, singing. "Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine. Or leave a kiss within the cup and I'll not ask for wine."

She almost stopped playing. He had surprised her again. It wasn't just that his voice was good; it was. It wasn't merely that he knew the song; the Colony of Charm derived from Earth culturally as well as linguistically. It was that he did it at all. He liked music, and was proficient. Perhaps she should have anticipated this, considering the remarkable musical ability of his daughter Weft. She had assumed that that was the mother's influence.

They finished the song. Then Havoc opened his shirt at the belt level and drew out a blue panel. It was roughly oval, slightly curved, and glossy. He produced a blue stick and ran it along the side of the panel. Notes sounded. In tune. The tune of the song. It was a musical instrument!

"Amazement!" she said, in the Colony style of speech. "I don't recognize the instrument."

"Dragon scale, from my oath friend the Blue Dragon. It is magic, making it sound better. I can't make the music Weft does with her hammer dulcimer, but it will do."

"I had no idea you were even interested in music."

"Well, I'm a minstrel."

"Before you were king?"

"I was a martial artist before I was king. I learned minstreling after. I am eager to retire and spend my life traveling and entertaining villagers."

She laughed. "I wish I could do the same! We could travel together."

He paused, gazing at her. "Observation: you are beautiful with your hair loose."

"It's all wild. I didn't comb it out after untying the recorder."

"Agreement. Like a barbarian girl."

And he claimed to be a barbarian. "Havoc, are you sure you aren't trying to seduce me?"

"Negation. I thought you were trying to seduce me."

"Negation," she echoed. That Colony manner of summary was contagious.

"But I fear we are doing it to each other regardless. We are discovering common interests. This may be mischief."

"Agreement. Return to your history."

That did seem best.

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