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Having Scelties in the audience ouldn’t tolerate children e experience Not that there wasto be nipped by a Sceltie than cuffed by an adult
Hurt more, too
He entered the shop and nodded to the Shaladoran couple who had been hired to run the shop and teach ht Shalador flute and the fiddle He had been one of Yairen’s students—one of the last to learn from the Tradition Keeper before the old ood Jade had a lovely voice and ran two classes to teach the traditional Shalador songs Mostly, though, Jade ran the business end of the shop
And Lizzie, the Sceltie who had claimed the music shop asher place, ran everyone
“There you are, grandson,” Yairen said “Laithan has given me some of his time to hear the drum that came from the Isle of Scelt Now it is your turn so I can hear the metal flute”
“I don’t think our traditional songs sound right on the Scelt whistle,” Laithan said, “but Dena Nehele folk songs suit the instrue Jade has sorted outthat ritten specifically for these whistles”
Ranon picked up a whistle It was shorter and half the circuer holes were the saers, he blew a note
A different sound than the wooden flute A sharper sound But pleasing all the sa and then a folk song fros sounded better than the music of Shalador
“Here,” Laithan said, returning with several sheets of music “Try one of these”
Ranon looked over the uessed One had a lively pace; the other was slower He chose the slower piece—and he understood why the Shalador people round with the music of Scelt
Bright and yet bittersweet A sound that slipped past the mind and spoke to the heart
“It’s good,” he said a fewthe whistle on the counter
“A gift,” Laithan said, “along with this music”
“Laithan”
“In exchange for you cohed “Don’t make such a face, Ranon You won’t have to perform alone I’ve kept one of these whistles for myself because I want to becoht of Shalador ht of Scelt to teach and entertain our people through the winter months” He held out his hand “Deal?”
Ranon shook hands “Deal” Then he vanished whistle and randfather “Would you like to—”