After the Music

My name is Eris Calder and I don’t understand why everyone keeps saying we’re lucky. They say the city survived. They say it could have been worse. They say the terrorists are being hunted now and that the danger left with them.

The Wayfarer's Guild is everywhere now. I see their cloaks near the square, near the docks, near places I’m not supposed to go anymore. They talk to grown-ups in low voices and write things down while nodding a lot. Sometimes they ask people their names. Sometimes they ask where they were that night. When they’re done, they tell everyone it’s going to be okay. Some of them help lift boards or pass out water. One of them tied a bandage on my neighbor’s hand and told him not to be stupid about it. Everyone seems glad they’re here, even when they don’t look sure.

But Lord Varos is dead now. That doesn't feel like luck at all. I saw him just a few days ago, from far away, during The Glimmering Revel . He stood on the balcony and spoke about Blale like it was something he cared about. About keeping us safe. About tomorrow. About progress. People clapped until their hands hurt. I clapped too. My aunt cried afterward and said maybe things would finally settle down. Now the balcony is burned, and no one lets you stand near it. They don’t call it a battle when they talk about that night. They call it an attack. They call the people who did it monsters. They say the rebuilding is because of what they destroyed, not because of what was already broken. I don't really know what's true. The night the music stopped everything changed and I feel like something important stopped with it.

I've never heard such amazing sounds and music. I felt so inspired that night and so amazed. I couldn't sleep. I had to tell her just how amazing I thought she was and how amazing all of them were. When I get old enough to travel, I want to follow Echochime everywhere they go. I had to write her a letter as quickly as possible and then forced myself to sleep. I would wake up at first light and get there first so I can give her my letter.

That chance never happened.

Now all I see is the remains of buildings and families that are worse off than me. People getting medical attention and everyone seems so angry and upset. I'm almost afraid to walk around the plaza by myself, but then I hear him. A stern and strong voice. A man with a pointed hat that reminds me about a wizard I read in a story years ago. He stands near the scaffolds, talking to builders and Wayfarers at the same time. When he points with his cane, people move where he points. When he smiles, people stop arguing. It’s like he knows where everything is supposed to go. I almost walk past. Then I think of the letter. Then of the songs. Then of Lord Varos promising us tomorrow.

“Excuse me,” I say. He turns and it feels like he was already listening. “I’m trying to find Aritay,” I tell him. “I wrote her a letter! I just want her to know the music helped...after...”, my voice trails off just thinking about everything that's happened.

He looks at me for a moment, then nods. “You know,” he says. “I think she’d really like to hear that.” My eyes light up as he speaks. She's still here! She must be helping everyone and then he speaks again, cutting off my thoughts, "But alas, she left before everything happened, but she won't forget Blale. In fact, I have it on good authority that once everything settles down here, she'll be back to perform again and lift everyone's spirits." He kneels down to my level, getting eye to eye with me and leans in. "Trust me kid, it's going to be epic. In fact," I watch his eyes shift around as he digs into his pocket and pulls something out and hands it to me. "I need you to keep this a secret. I'm sure she'll come back for it." He handed me an aquamarine piece of fabric. Wait. This was one of the streamers she was wearing. "We happened to find a few things in the dressing rooms backstage and I can't think of anyone better to hold onto it for her." I immediately stuff it into my pocket as he stands back up and laughs. "So... what happens now?" I ask.

"We make it better and safer so nothing like this happens again," he says, "I've got people in Adheath that are coming down soon and hopefully can start making materials fast to get this place back running again. We'll have this place wrapped up like a hairnet so nothing else falls out of place again. You can't stop progress..."

I smile. Hearing the confidence in his voice makes me feel enthusiastic like the speeches Lord Varos used to give and all of the good change that brought so many amazing things here, like Aritay. I just turn and run away and can barely hear him finishing what he was saying, "...in her name." I don't even go back home. I head down to the docks to start helping again, humming a song to myself, at least the parts that I can remember."