Look at Idelt. And she noted how his eyes never left his daughter. Cara sensed more than the unchanging expression let on. Subtle clues. She sighed as Violetta’s notes drifted around her, filling the silent land with something precious.

“If only it had accompaniment. A piano or…”

“A what?”

The [Blacksmith] eyed Cara. The [Singer] glanced at him. Pianos were invented…when? It was certainly too complicated for here.

“Do you have other instruments you play with Violetta?”

“We have flutes. Horns. Drums…a few violins, but they mostly go to town for sale. And we can only spare one village musician, normally. On special occasions we play together. Even sing. You’re a [Singer], aren’t you, Miss Cara? You mentioned as much.”

She nodded.

“That’s right. I could sing. I don’t know many cello-vocal songs. But perhaps…”

The young woman’s hand twitched towards her pocket. Something still had a charge, however waning.

And an impulse seized her, however misguided or dangerous. This village had let her in unstintingly. She looked at Violetta.

“My music’s a bit different. But I could play a song. Or—put on a performance. I’m an [Actor], after all.”

Idelt looked at Cara and saw her eyes gleam. After all—she might be in another world, but she had been born to stand on the stage.

——

It was midday when Violetta paused for a drink of water. One of the boys brought it to her, in a cup. She gulped the water gratefully, despite the fact that little light, let alone a searing sun, had given her cause to sweat.

But still, she was playing alone since everyone needed to work the fields. Violetta looked up, holding the larger version of her namesake, as she saw Cara waving at her and approaching.

“Violetta. I heard you playing. You’re very good!”

The [Singer]’s compliment made Violetta blush slightly with pride.

“My mother was far better. I know you said you’re a [Singer]…is that a casual class or…?”

Her hopeful look was met with a broad smile. Cara bowed.

“If you don’t mind—I could put on a performance. I’m an [Actor]. That’s my main class. But I could…do a show. A play. And maybe some songs?”

“A play?”

The girl listened as Cara tried to explain it. Something like a [Bard]’s performance? The girl’s eyes lit up, and the [Cellist] moved out of the way. She had asked for a song. But Cara was first a…a thespian.

Performer second. She tentatively agreed, but she had no reference for what was coming next.

“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen!”

Across the village of Landsmecht, people turned at the sudden burst of sound, of energy. Violetta actually flinched as Cara strutted into a cleared field. Amid the stalks of wheat, the [Actress] stood there, in the silence.