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I started really listening to the words when she moved on to what I thought was the chorus. And as soon as I did, I felt a great yearning to understand fully what she meant. The same feeling was reflected in the other patrons. My magic spread across the room without intention, and I felt the whole crowd feeling hope amidst despair. I just couldn’t tell what this was all about.
The gods have always favored her sins,
Why take it up on them if nothing’s dim
She plots her fight
And brings us plight
She twists and kills away
Sound and sight
She might not have found who she is;
Must pave the way to let her find her wings
For us, she’ll fight,
And take her right
She’ll heal and bring upon
Sound and sight
Kieran turned toward me. I could see the confused look on his face as the inn door opened wide, and two soldiers wearing the queen’s sigil entered.
My pulse raced.
They were not focused on us, but any moment now, their attention could be diverted from the minstrel.
The minstrel’s gaze darted toward the soldiers as she played her instrument without singing. The soldiers stood by the door and watched. A few patrons turned toward the soldiers with fearful gazes; the innkeeper went behind the counter and whispered something into the tapster’s ear. They both seemed worried.
The minstrel straightened in her seat. Her green eyes were full of defiance. She kept her gaze on the soldiers as she went on. Her first words caused immediate havoc inside the inn, but before the soldiers could move and reach her, she finished the verse.
Under the ruling of the Queen of Light;
We all perish every day for it’s not bright.
The end of our suffering is all too near,
With the one from unity, we need not fear
“Stay where you are,” Dearen said to all of us as the soldiers reached the minstrel. The song abruptly stopped as the girl was pulled off the stage.
Her lyre dropped to the floor, and one of the soldiers kicked it off as they twisted her arms. They did not offer the rest of us an explanation as they started pulling the girl away.
“Fear not!” The girl shouted, and before one of the soldiers could cover her mouth, she added. “The Queen will fall! Our real ruler will come to save us!”
The soldier with thick hands covered her mouth. She struggled against him until the other punched the side of her face, turning her limp.
No one said anything. Kieran started to get up beside me, but I put my hand on his leg to make him stop. He turned to me and gave me an incredulous look.
“We can’t help her,” I whispered as the soldiers took the girl out of the inn. The patrons were all mumbling to each other now, so my voice was buried in that noise. “There will be other soldiers.”
“And these are conjurers,” Dearen noted, leaning against the table to speak quietly. “There is more outside.”
Kieran looked toward the window on our right. I followed his gaze. Although it was night, the street was full of light. This much light in the middle of the night was a sign of many soldiers carrying torches.
