"A Bard´s Secret-Chap. 7" by Lisa M. Harbin

Chapter Seven:

            The school was huge, immaculate.  The foyer’s ceiling was fifteen feet high, with musical instruments painted on the ceiling as a mural.  The floor was pure marble, and the walls were covered in tapestries of bards playing different instruments.  They were always in some type of grand place, usually the forest.

            Min was in awe, her eyes wide with amazement.  I smiled at her reaction, as I had a very similar one when I arrived for the first time.  There were lamps that glowed with mage lights.  Sam pushed her cloak over her shoulders, and smiled when she saw Min.

            “This place is amazing,” Min whispered, her eyes still wide.  She turned, surprised, when footsteps rang on the marble floor.

            A man stood there, his robes a deep violet.  His face was old, wrinkles making deep dents in his cheeks and around his eyes.  My heart jumped in my throat when I recognized him.  “My lord,” I whispered, Sam echoing me.  I bowed, noticing Sam curtsy as I lowered myself.  Min stood still, not bowing down, just staring in amazement.

            I felt alarmed.  No one dared insult the Master Bard in such a manner, but he just smiled.  “Rise, my children.”  He met Min’s eyes, and she took an involuntary step back.  “Welcome back, Chosen One.”

            “I know you,” Min whispered, her voice so soft I could barely hear it.

            “Min?” I asked, confused.  “Are you okay?”

            “You—you were—important to me,” Min whispered.  “Who—are you?”  He smiled and stepped forward, touching Min’s face gently.

            “Come, Chosen One.  You and I have much to discuss.”  He looked at me, his eyes sparkling blue.  “Thank you for bringing her to me, Owen.  You two may go rest.”

            “Could I…”

            “No.  Min and I need to speak alone.”  He draped an arm around her shoulders, and pulled her through a side door.  I crossed my arms, not liking the situation that much.  Sam looked puzzled too.

            “Why does he need to speak with her?  Who is she anyway?” Sam asked, looking at me.

            “She doesn’t remember her past.  She lost her memories, but I think she might have found it again, because she recognized the lord.”

            “But who is he to her?  Who is she?  Owen, did we get into something too deep for us?”

            “I don’t really care.  I don’t like the idea of Min being left on her own.  I’m going to go wait for her in his sitting room.  I’m sure he’s taking her to the study.”

            “He told us to sleep.”

            “I don’t care.  Min might need me to be there for her.  Besides, I don’t like the idea of her being alone, I already told you that.”

            “It’s wrong, Owen.  The lord told us to go sleep, you can’t disobey his orders!”

            “Why not, Sam?  I can think for myself.”

            “It doesn’t matter!  The lord thinks for us while we’re in his house.”

            “Sam, shut up!  I’m going to go to his sitting room.  Do what you like.”  I moved off towards the sitting room, knowing that Sam would listen to what the Master Bard said, and act like an obedient puppy.

            I wasn’t going to do that.  Min meant more to me than the Master Bard’s approval.  Besides, Min would need me, at least, I hoped she’d want me to be there for her.  I entered the sitting room, noticing the fine oak paneled walls, with a mural of bards and music on the ceilings.  It seemed to move, and knowing the power of the Master Bard, it probably did.  I sat down on one of the many chairs, one that was actually completely ebony material.  I looked down at my hands, hoping that Min was alright.

            Sighing, I closed my eyes and leaned back, trying to listen to the quiet music that was always playing throughout the school.  I couldn’t hear it, and I knew it was because I wasn’t in tune with this place anymore.  I hadn’t returned to the school since I had graduated three years ago.  I wanted to listen to the music, I wanted to meditate in the serenity that the music provided, but I really couldn’t concentrate on being still.

            I kept adjusting myself in the large chair, but kept finding myself unable to get comfortable.  Finally I stood, and began pacing.  The stone floor was covered in a thick carpet, and my booted feet made no sound on the floor.  I crossed my arms, uncross my arms, gripped my belt, released my belt, and then I’d start all over again.  I started tracing the oak panels with my hand, feeling the expert smoothness of the carvings, and then, sat back down.

            Groaning, I laid my head on the back of the chair, taking deep breaths and trying to ignore everything around me.  I couldn’t, and once more, I found myself pacing.  It must have been a few hours when the Master Bard exited his study.  I turned, hoping to see Min, but he looked slightly confused at seeing me there.  I bowed, knowing it was expected, but really not wanting to.

            “May I help you, my child?” he asked, touching my shoulder.  I met his eyes, confused.

            “Where is Min?” I asked, confused as to why he wouldn’t know why I was waiting.

            “I sent her home.”

            “Home?” I asked, feeling my heart drop.

            “To where she belongs.”

            “Where is that?”

            “To live with the fae, where she is supposed to be.”

            “What?!  Min isn’t fae!  She’s not supposed to be anywhere but here!  What—what were you thinking?”

            “Owen, Min is a descendant of the fae.  She has the blood in her, and if she doesn’t learn how to control it, she’ll be in trouble.  She could even kill herself.  She could kill you, could kill someone else.”

            “Yeah, sure,” I said, turning and leaving.

            “Owen,” the Master Bard started, gripping my arm, “it is for the best.  She—was not good for you.”

            I looked at him, my eyes narrowing, feeling furious anger rising inside of me.  “Min means a lot to me.  I don’t—why did she not tell me what she was going to do?  Why did she not say good-bye?”

            “She didn’t think you’d care if she left or not.  She didn’t want to bother you.  I also think, although she did not say, that the good-bye would have been to hard, and she would not have gone.”

            “She shouldn’t have gone at all.  It’s not where she belongs.”

            “And where does she belong, if not with her people?  With you?  Would you provide for her, protect her, love her?  I don’t think so, Owen.  She needs someone who will love her back.”

            “Yeah.  As long as she’s happy, why should I complain?”  I pulled away from him and left the room, heading straight to Gray.  The pony tried to bit at my fingers, and I pulled away from him, sinking along his stall ‘til I sat on the floor with the packs.

            When I looked over, the first thing I saw was Min’s flute.  She had left it behind.  I pulled the case into my lap, holding it.  I traced my fingers along the plain wood, wondering why I had allowed her to leave.

            I missed her, missed her smile, the way she always laughed.  I missed the way she argued with Sam, and the way she always adjusted her hair, even when it didn’t need to be adjusted.  “Damn all hell and hell’s bloody angels,” I whispered, covering my face with my hands.

            “What’s wrong?”  Sam asked, walking down the aisle.  I looked up, surprised to see her.

            “When did you get here?” I said, standing, still holding Min’s flute case.  I brushed off my pants, hoping that I didn’t look as lost and confused as I felt.

            “What’s wrong with you?” she asked, curious.  I wondered why she cared at all.  I tightened my grip on the case.

            “Min is gone,” I whispered.  “The Master Bard sent her to live with the fae.”  I knelt down and set the case on the ground.  “She’s never going to come back.”

            “What?” Sam asked, her mouth opening slightly.  “Why did he send her to live with the fae?”

            “Because that’s where she belongs,” I said softly.  “Min is a descendant of the fae.  She is going to learn who she is, and what she can do.”  I sighed.  “The Master Bard says that she could hurt us, and herself.  I don’t—I’m…never mind.”

            I walked past her.  “I’m going to lie down.”