《Aris Cretu》Chapter 78: Sweet Songs in Harmony

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Aris Cretu performed a deliberately over-extravagant bow, "Sweet, of course! Wouldn't do to spoil the mood on a night like this! Skellige Winds, Amnesia, and Stay by my Side. With Into the Wild as the encore. In the old tongue of course. You know the Lyrics, I assume?"

Aflia laughed allowed and flounced an equally elaborate curtsy, "to those old chestnuts? I think I can keep up. Lead on!"

Most of the drummers had cleared the stage, leaving only the three largest drums performing a high-energy piece to finish out the set. Aris quickly led the way to the side of the stage where Lady Ussi was waiting. The Drummers wrapped up their set to thunderous applause. A quiet, expectant silence fell over the crowd. Aris took the stage and gazed out across the crowd. "Now, I know it's getting late and we've all had quite the day, so I'll not bore you all with a long speech."

Aris paused, letting the expected chuckle roll across the crowd, "I do have a short bit I want to say though, before we begin. Thank you, one and all, for everything you've done in the past few weeks. Together we have turned over stones on some old history, mended some old scars, and gotten a good start knocking some old prejudices upside the head. But enough of the political bullshit, we're here to sing a few songs, yeah?"

The answering roar of the crowd was almost deafening.

"Alright then, let's start it off with an old standby then! Skellige Winds a wild a wild, Skellege Winds..."

Little Bird and Aliwen perched on top of the convent's temple, listening to the trio of voices calling out to the night, and the massed chorus roaring along in a comfortable common harmony. Little Bird flexed a wing, "not the songs I expected to hear from Aris."

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"Oh? and what were you expecting?"

"Something older and sadder, perhaps. The Parting Glass or The Last Goodbye."

"Hrmm, is that so? Then perhaps Aris is growing up some. Growing out of the Soldier and into the Leader?"

"Little Bird clacked her beak, "no, I don't think so. Not yet, at least. But I do think he has a few new chinks in that armor of ice about his heart."

"Hrmm? How so?"

"He has something more important than a Queen he can respect and a People worth leading. He has a place to call Home, someone his own age and lifespan to live with, not just next to, and perhaps a bit more when this night is all done."

"Oh?"

"Old Druid, I'd be able to tell even if I wasn't a Cleric of Kuko. Stay by my Side, with Aflia right there and no alcohol and bad memories to get in the way?"

"Ahum, I think you are right."

"Pah, you don't need to hide it, I can tell you're blushing. Aris isn't the only one tonight, I'd lay money on it."

"No bet, young aarakocra! I wonder how many young half-bloods will be running about in a few months?"

"Not many, given the differences between silithids and humans nearly seven hundred and fifty years of racial divergence will produce."

"True. I wonder if Aris realises exactly what Lady SiDabolo is?"

"Almost certainly not, and I don't think he cares either."

Aliwen craned his head around, looking at something moving in the darkness. "It seems that I should probably make myself scarce now. Have fun with your acolyte!"

A short time later Little Bird was sitting alone on the roof with Talae calling up to her from the balcony below. She smiled as best she could with a beak and glided down to join her lover. She made sure to close the blinds before they really got going though, just in case.

The Ring: obsidian band with three carbuncle gems.

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