"Why the lonesome tunes, minstrel?" Kestrel asked, cheerfully. "Last time you were out here you were all sunshine and happiness."
Loopi grinned back at the barmaid, fingering the same soulful notes with different inflections, like a musical image caught in a carnival house of mirrors. "To be honest, I hadn't noticed, but you're right, these aren't the songs I usually play. I'm not sure why they ended up on the guitar today, I just follow where my fingers take me." He looked down at his open guitar case, strewn with coins, and chuckled. "Maybe that's why I'm not doing so well today. My absentmindedness is affecting my music."
Kestrel looked at him thoughtfully, cocking her head. "No, to be honest, I think you've gotten even better since last time, and a lot better than when I first met you." She grinned at him. "Don't worry about it, Loopi. Crowds are fickle, remember? And anyway, it's a bad hour for it, the dinner crowd has gone and the late drinking crowd hasn't shown up yet."
Loopi let his music die down as she spoke, watching her with an intrigued smile. "Did you always cock your head like that, or just since you met me?"
The girl giggled. "I'm found out! Dad absolutely hated it that I started taking after you after the very first time I met you. I wish you'd come out here more often, because he gets all stiff and funny-acting the next few days."
Loopi watched her with an odd smile, but said nothing.
"Cat got your tongue, minstrel? What's the matter, you were free with your flattery every other time you've been here, and that was as good an opening as I could have given you. What, did I suddenly turn ugly? Or did you fall in love while you were traveling?"
The bard chuckled and looked to the door. "Fall in love? That's a new line of thought. Alas for me, regular love must suffice, so I make up for it by loving everyone and everything I can." He grinned and winked at her.
She sighed contentedly. "At least I'm loved."
There was a moment of silence, then Loopi began putting away his things. "I'll come back later for the late drinkers and sing something more cheerful, but I think I need to take a walk."
Kestrel watched him for a moment, then cleared her throat, turning slightly pink. "Loopi, um. Why haven't you, you know, um, tried to seduce me yet?"
Loopi paused, still bent over his guitar case, and looked up over his shoulder smiling gently. "Why haven't you invited me to your bed?"
She turned bright red. "Um." She paused. "I guess I'm scared, that's all," she finally said, bluntly.
He nodded, and sat up, holding her gaze in his. "And that's why. You see, I like helping a woman do something she wants to do, but that's a bit difficult when the woman doesn't know if she wants to do it." His eyes flicked for a moment to the entryway to the kitchen, then returned to Kestrel's face, which was looking at her feet. "Don't be too much in a hurry," he added with a cheerful grin. "This is one of those things that's worth doing right the first time."
She nodded, mutely, then started gathering up mugs. "I should take these back to the kitchen. I'll see you later tonight."
Loopi nodded, then finished gathering up his things.
---
Outside, he was stopped by a light cough. He turned to see the innkeeper. "I'd like a word with you, sir, if I could," the innkeeper said. Loopi nodded and smiled at the man patiently.
"I hope you don't mind, I overheard the end of your conversation with my daughter, and I just wanted to say thank you," the innkeeper said uncomfortably.
Loopi smiled cheerfully. "Standing by the edge of the kitchen entrance, just hidden behind the wall is a great way to overhear ends of conversations, though your heavy work boots give you away if you're not careful. But I'm not sure why you're thanking me, since I didn't really do anything."
The innkeeper looked uncomfortable. "Yes, well, that's the reason why I'm thanking you. You've got a reputation, you know, and she's my only daughter, and don't think I don't know that she's had a crush on you since she met you. Mind, you, don't take this to mean that I approve of you, because I don't, but I can acknowledge that you at least ain't such a bad guy that I thought you was, and you ain't out to use her or hurt her."
Loopi gave the man a pleasant, slightly puzzled smile. "Thank you. I think."
The innkeeper fidgeted. "And I should say, that if you haven't been coming around here so often because of me, well, you should know I don't have anything against you coming and playing. Besides, you're good for business. When the patrons are singing along with you, they buy more drinks."
Loopi nodded genially and bowed. "I'll keep that in mind, and as I told your daughter, I'll be happy to boost your business a little bit tonight. But if that was all, I was feeling a little restless..." He let the sentence drift off.
"Oh, don't let me keep you, then," answered the innkeeper hastily. "I said what I wanted to say, and thank you for listening."
Loopi nodded and waved, and headed towards the city gates.
---
Did I fall in love while I was traveling? Loopi mused, as he walked, taking in the cool evening air. I don't feel or act the way the songs describe it, though I know better than to take songs at face value. I don't act the way any of my friends in love have acted.
He stopped to sit against a tree. A lone bird chirped at him from somewhere in its branches. "Hey, it's a public tree; I've got as much a right to be here as you do," Loopi called up cheerfully. Already, in the solitude of the grove, he was starting to feel more like himself. I normally love crowds. I even had a pretty girl to chat with. So why did I feel so lonely?
The bird chirped again. Loopi chirped back and then stood up.
Funny how I feel less lonely now that I'm alone.
Copyright © 2004-2005 by Zed Pobre. All rights reserved. This text is NOT available under a Creative Commons license.
