The Vineyard Tavern

[Ealasaide]

Rochadan listened to Andhun's songs with a look of delight on his face. He had always loved music, but between the two of them, his wife Tristana had been the musical one. He remembered the way she used sing like a nightengale as she did the chores around their little cottage in the brief time they had been together. She had had a vast treasure trove of songs at her disposal that he had never bothered himself to learn. When she died, her songs died with her. Now, when Rochadan needed to sing to Sallie, he found himself having to construct songs from whole cloth off the top of his head. Unfortunately, they usually ended up fairly repetitive, nonsensical, and liberally sprinkled with hey-nonnies and ah-di-dahs. He was much better at stories.

As Andhun finshed his song, if only I had my Sally-o, where wild birds sing on the mountain, Sallie squealed with delight and clapped her hands. "Sally-o, Sally-o," she trilled, trying to sing the song herself, but getting the tune completely wrong. She reached out and clutched at Andhun's hand. "Again? Sing it again?"

Rochadan's smiled broadened as, this time, Andhun obliged the little girl and sang it again. With a twinkle in his eye, the stablemaster looked over at the eavesdropper, who had turned out to be a very bubbly and jolly young woman. Speaking softly, so as not to disturb the singing, he said, "What a way you have with children! But, knowing your love of music, I have to ask - will you be favoring us with a song of your own?"