Page 14 of The Searching Songbird

The jig turned into a ballad, the ballad into another tavern song, until a full half-hour had passed. Seeing the hat was now full to the brim with coins, Lily decided it was time to satisfy her rumbling stomach. The old man started counting out the coins, splitting them into two piles, but she stopped him with a gentle hand on his wrist.

“I just need enough for two pork skewers. You keep the rest.”

“Ya sure? We had a deal, after all, an' let's face it. Yer the only reason that hat's seen any love.”

“Sure, I'm sure. I had fun, and now I can fill my stomach. What else could I need?” She reached out to take his hand, giving it a firm shake. “I'm Lily, by the way. Thanks for letting me join you.”

“Name's Willie, and yer welcome. Ya ever pass through here agin, ya'd best come and find me so we can play. Ain't never played for someone with a set of pipes like yers before. It was a right honor.”

She waved his praise away with a smile, then held up her handful of drams. “I'd better get in line for those skewers before the shops all close up and my ship leaves without me. Thanks, again, Willie!” She wove her way through the crowd, making her way toward Kenny, who'd gotten back in line. Several people stopped to compliment her on the performance. A few of them even recognized her as one of The Four Flowers. She smiled and chatted politely, all the while stealing glances at Kenny, who was getting close to the front of the line.

She made it to him just as he was ready to order, and she slapped the coins down on the counter with a satisfied grin. “Two pork skewers, please.”

The seller ignored the coins, giving her a wide grin as he handed her two fresh, hot skewers of meat. “Keep 'em. After the pleasure of listening to your voice for the last half hour, I'd say these are on the house.”

“Thank you!” Lily passed Kenny one of the skewers before sliding the coins back into her pocket. They worked their way back through the crowd until they found a quiet spot off to the side where they could enjoy their food.

“Oh, man, this is amazing,” Kenny said around a mouthful of pork, his face blissful as he savored the tender meat. “Thanks for treatin'.”

“But I didn't treat you – they were free,” Lily protested, sinking her teeth into her own skewer and letting out a contented sigh.

“Still, the intent was there. So thanks. And you were right – these were definitely worth the wait.”

“Right? The best meat skewers in Eldour.” She took another bite, chewing happily. “And believe me, I've tried them all, so I know.”

“An expert skewer sampler, huh?”

“Pretty much.”

“Not to mention, a talented performer.” He looked sideways at her as he leaned back against a large, stone building. “I'd heard you were a singer, of course, but I had no idea just how good you were. That was seriously amazing.”

She shrugged, her cheeks warming with the praise. “Thanks. I have fun with it, anyway.”

“Well, I had a lot of fun listenin', too. That's one of the best things about workin' under Captain Melbrooke.”

“What? Listening to street singers?”

He laughed. “In this case, yes, but what I meant was he always has such interestin' passengers. Singers, business moguls, nobility. And that's just this trip. On our last trip back from Flores, we brought the actress Consuela Vernice with us all the way to Tallis.” He whistled, looking off in the distance. “Talk about a beautiful woman. She was somethin' else.”

“Sounds like someone had a crush,” Lily teased, waving her empty skewer at him.

He coughed, turning his face away, but Lily could see the tips of his ears grow pink. “She was nice to look at, and all, but I'm pretty sure she was the cap'n's lady. Sides, she musta been at least thirty. A bit old for my tastes.”

“Just a bit,” Lily agreed, laughing. “What are you, fifteen?”

“Almost sixteen,” he replied, pulling himself up to his full height and puffing out his chest. “Practically a man.”

“Aw, my little boy's all grown up,” she teased, pretending to wipe a tear from her eye. He shot her a look of mock annoyance.

“You talk like you're so much older, but you can't be more'n sixteen, yourself.”

She gave him a lopsided smile. “You, too, Kenny? Do I really have that much of a baby face, or is it just my lack of height that throws everyone off?”

“Why? How old are ya?”

“I turned twenty this past winter.”

“Twenty?!” he sputtered. “No way. You're pullin' my leg. Twenty? Really?”