Most bards were content to bring their instruments with them wherever they went. After a time, it had become their signature thing, something that marked them. Some villagers would view down the road and point out, remarking, "Oh there goes that Dannis Arden with that there flute of his! And a right good fellow he be! HEY DANNIS!" And if the bard was humble enough or knew the sociable villager or would simply deign to do so, he would wave back or whistle a few notes for them. Thank the gods that Taladan was not like most bards and almost never used an instrument during his performances. Not that he could not pluck a few good notes on a guitar or mandolin if the notion contented him, but he was noted for his vocal exultations most of all and that was his primary instrument. Which was most helpful since he often awoke in strange places and was bound to lose an item or two; such was how he ended up here after all.
"Thank you, sir," he said, taking the pint of beer and drinking it, allowing it to lubricate his vocal cords after a few sips. "Sounds wonderful. As soon as the song's over I'll go and meet up with the band. Oh, look here, that's my cue. I'll speak to you later. It was good to meet you Mr. Scarsly. And you, Captain, enjoy yourself!"
With that, Taladan found his way toward the stairs upon the stage where the band was playing. As the song had come to an end, and the dancers were switching up or taking a rest, he met with the lead guitarist and spoke a few words to him. "I'm Taladan Ewing."
"Ah! I knew you'd be coming. Floor's all yours, Mr. Ewing. Er, what shall we play?"
"How about a good upbeat classic. Tell the Tale Tomorrow,eh? Keep it low and don't be afraid to go on without me." As soon as he spoke, each member nodded to one another as they murmured the song and prepared it with a start. The drums behind him made him jump, but he kept pace and spoke to everyone gathering on the floor: "All right, my friends, gather round and remember to kick your heels up high! No tripping and feel free to trade partners once in a while!"
The crowd howled up in anticipation as the music begin in earnest and they all started to clap their hands and he started with the first verse, feeling the rhythm of the music all through him.
"I once threw a maiden down Olsen's Well,
Deep in the heart of the Draconi swell.
She did not cry and she did not die
An old broken witch with an itch for a switch
"Her dignity I have taken with me
And an oath I have sworn not to tell
The tale of her demise between her thighs
As she was thrown down into Olsen's Well!"
Taladan's voice was somber until the beat started to pick up and the wind instruments went wild.
"But now that it's tomorrow
And I feel no more sorrow.
Oh what a wild tale I have to tell,
Though I'm sure someday,
When my breath's gone away,
And I've given my tale's tell,
I'll see her in hell.
"But until then she'll wait,
And I'll enjoy my fate.
And I'll ride the wind,
In a chorus of sins.
Wailing on high, the tale of her demise
And I'll rise and I'll fall until death's due us all!"
It was such a bawdy song, but the crowd danced to it fervently, giving great cheer every time he entered into a new verse, as if electrified more with the force of his voice than with the content of the song. The band too played as if with new energy, as if they'd once been too tired to go on but now could play well into the morning of the next day. Taladan relished in that energy, relished in that glow, basking in it until the final words danced from his tongue like vociferous gold. Thus was a reminder as to why he'd become a bard at all, living for the feel as the song came to an end, when all the dancers put their last efforts into riding the waves of the melodial sea. As the last verse reared its truly ugly head, Taladan gave a sigh and bowed deeply as the dancers came to a rest. They clapped feverishly and he gave multiple bows after that, his eyes scanning the crowd for a familiar face, any face. Then his eyes rested on Evadne and he smiled.
