From: mozart@coos.dartmouth.edu (Sting) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: Cragin [inn]: A song for the heroes Message-ID: <1992Jul2.014314.2886@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> Date: 2 Jul 92 01:43:14 GMT References: lots of stuff In <1992Jul1.192116.11321@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu> mgcaa@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu writes: >Rowan is quite surprised by this display of nervous energy by Cragin. >She watches him for a moment as he seems to dismiss their conversation >and devote his attention to the lute. She sits back in her chair and >looks into her drink, swirling it around a few times in the cup. Her >thoughts are spinning round in her head, just like the liquid. >She closes her eyes and listens to the tune, trying to identify it. The tune begins softly, like the strains of a cold wind on a misty morning over the battlefield, mounting quietly to a gut-knotting tension that draws the attention of all who hear it. Even those who have not known battle can feel the edge of fear just out of reach, just outside their vision. And after a chorus of lute, he begins to sing, in a clear, bright tenor that rings on the walls and fills the inn with the music. "In the spring and summertime, when life begins anew When all the cold and furor dies that other season knew A green and living presence rises in the heartless earth To wash away, in gentle warmth, the winter with the dew In fall, when crimson paints the hills, and ice lurks in the ground And danger lurks without the doors, that moves without a sound Then may brave men guard right well the homesteads of the land Preserving them from harm and death, 'til the seasons turn around Once again, the lute-refrain fills the air, and Cragin's fingers flicker deftly across the strings with a casual ease of familiarity. The verses go on, describing the trials of brave heroes in ages past, but all who hear it know full well how it applies to those who valiantly defended the inn and the town outside during the riots, and are cheered almost magically by the tale it tells. When at last it is done, he strikes the last chord, and lets it ring into near silence, then lays the lute back down into his lap and casts his eyes about for a full mug. He avoids allowing Rowan to look directly into his eyes. -- Michael J. Fromberger Consultant, Computer Resource Center (Dartmouth College) Sting@Dartmouth.EDU / mozart@coos.dartmouth.edu / 69224f@d1 all requests granted!