Waxing Musical

Waxing Musical

as told by Journeyman Bard Alexander diLegno

The hat in front of Alexander clinked again as a passerby dropped a copper coin in it. Lex smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, trying not to miss a note on his battered lute. He winced as he hit a sour note, again cursing the quality of his instrument. Instantly he recanted, speaking soothingly to the lute and stroking it like a beloved pet.

Poor though it may be, it was his prize possession. His only truly personal possession, truth be told. His father was a poor carpenter and had traded a woodworked toy to an instrument-seller two years ago so that each could gift their only child on Sunrise,

One of the tuning pegs was loose and wouldn't hold tension for even a respectable 5-song set. Lex scowled as he retuned the lute yet again. As he was doing so, a lithe man in a dusky red cape stepped up to him, "Loose peg?"

Glancing up, Lex recognized the insignia of the Mask and Scroll and instantly began pulling on his forelock, "Yes Journeyman." It wasn't often that a Journeyman-level Bard took notice of a street performer, and Lex had aspirations of becoming a Bard himself.

Chuckling, the man squatted down. "I started out busking on the street myself. Perhaps I can help. May I?" He gestured at the lute.

"Of course, Journeyman! I am honored; any suggestions you might have would be most appreciated."

The man plucked the lute a couple times, knocked on the back, and examined the pegs. Lex started to protest when the man pulled the offending peg entirely out of the lute's neck, but he bit his tongue. The man nodded at the peg and pulled something out of his pouch, rubbing it hard on the peg.

"You hope to become a Bard?" Lex merely nodded, peering at what the man was doing to his lute. "Simple candle wax," he said, handing the stub to Lex and pushing the peg back into the lute. "It creates a bit more friction, helping keep the peg in place longer. It won't solve the problem; you'll need a new peg for that, but it will let you get through a modest performance without retuning and the average ear won't notice the difference. Go ahead and tune up." He handed the lute back.

Lex could feel the added tightness in the peg as he adjusted it. As he plucked the string, he noticed the Bard had his eyes closed in concentration. "Two points tighter," he murmured. Not knowing how far a "point" was, Lex gave the peg a slight twist. The Bard smiled and opened his eyes; "A little more." Lex made the adjustment and the Bard nodded. "Good enough."

Standing up, he continued, "I suggest volunteering a few hours a week at one of the smaller chapels in town, sweeping up and the like. The priest will probably let you have one of the used candle stubs periodically and if you're good enough, you might be allowed to play out front between services. People donate more at church. Plus, it never hurts to have a priest sponsor you at the auditions; the Voice of Harmony DOES have a say in who is accepted as a new Apprentice."

"Thank you, Journeyman! ORB's light upon you!"

The man waved absently as he walked on into the crowd. Smiling, Lex went back to playing and had his most profitable day in weeks, thanks largely to being able to play more consistently.

The next day, he put the kind Bard's advice to work, volunteering at the Chapel of Hope near the edge of Luminaux. The arrangement worked out better than he had dared to dream. Not only did Lex receive an occasional candle stub and the right to perform outside the chapel, but the priest taught him to read and write. A few months later, with the priest's sponsorship, Lex was accepted as a new Apprentice at the audition of Maliceana. It was the happiest day of his life.