The [Blacksmith] was beaming at the honor. Cara’s arms were folded. The two turned to her and paused.

“Miss Cara? What’s wrong? I thought you’d be honored? Lord Lantal’s offered to hire you to perform!

And he’ll pay! Maybe even find your horse?”

Now, wouldn’t that be a miracle? Cara’s lips twisted. She looked at the two, trying to figure out how to break the news to them. She decided there was no use beating around the bush.

“I don’t like the nobility, Violetta. Idelt. I don’t like sodding [Kings] and [Queens]. Where I come from, the monarchy doesn’t rule us—”

She hesitated.

“—like it used to, with boots on our necks. I hate the idea of aristocracy. You don’t need a man with a crown to lead you!”

Violetta and Idelt’s jaws dropped. The villagers stared at Cara in horror. The [Singer] hesitated. It occurred to her that this wasn’t the crowd to give a proper ‘power to the people’ speech to. She eyed the harvesting scythe the old woman held. The people of Landsmecht looked at each other. Violetta’s brow darkened.

It was Idelt who sighed and scrubbed at his face with one hand. He said one word as the others rolled their eyes and turned away.

“Izrilians.”

——

The eventful arrival of Lord Lantal and the destruction of the undead horde had occurred before Cara had left the house. She’d half-wanted to see the combat after hearing it in the distance, but Idelt had refused to unlock the door, or even let them out of their rooms until the all-clear was given.

Which wasn’t to say they were all huddled up in terror. Cara was bleary-eyed and slow, since she’d slept only a few hours.

And her voice had been hoarse until the healing potion. But she was smiling the next day. And she wasn’t the only one.

“It was such beautiful music, Miss Cara. It did me well to hear it. And my children thought it was the best night they’d had in years. And the colors. Some appeared in our home, and I nearly put my belt knife through my husband.”

A mother greeted Cara the next day. She was more expressive than Idelt, but the dark humor made both her and her [Farmer] husband chuckle. Cara saw a pair of bashful children—both boys—peeking around at her.

“I’m delighted. It was just a whim—I’m sorry if it bothered anyone.”

She was being modest. In truth, she’d known it was good, even glorious, after people had joined in the chorus.

Songs to chase away fear. The woman, Meuna, turned to Idelt.

“It was something, wasn’t it, Mister Idelt? Songs at night. I wonder that we had not asked Violetta to play by night. Not every night, but nights like this?”