Money in a Case

Tonight was like every other night. I go to the market, find an open area, unlock my case, tune my strings, assemble my brass and woodwinds and play a song or two. Once done, I bow to the kind and loving audience as they toss a gold piece or two. Then after an hour or two I pack up my belongings and count the money I made. Today's pay was 35 gold pieces and 70 silver pieces. Enough for a room and a meal at an inn. As I try to find a local inn, I walk through a trading market. There were merchants to my left, right, rear, and front. “Come one, come all,” they said to potential customers, hooking them into buying their “valuable” merchandise. As I stroll down I asked a cartographer and wrote Do you know where the inns are? He replied, “The closest one is just at the end of the market, take a right. You can’t miss it.” Thanks, and how much for a map of the land of Mageía? The one I have is outdated. “That would be 5 silver pieces young man,” said the cartographer. I said thanks again and continued walking to the inn. Before I was at the end of the market, a serpent charmer’s king cobra escaped its basket, and both the customers and merchants in the market started to panic. The panicked crowd was screaming “Runaway” and “Save the merchandise” Although some brave enough were trying to do the one following. Try to lure the cobra into a new basket. Try to remove the cobra’s fangs. Find an object, make it a weapon to attack, and or kill the cobra. But I try something different. I reach for my flute case, assemble the instrument, and play a melody for the cobra. I carefully try to figure out what to lure the cobra into and what tune stroke its fancy? Should I play a slow and calming melody, or a score that invokes the characteristics of authority? I got it, the song of the armored monk should do the trick. But I need to decelerate the tempo for it to have an effect on the snake. As I begin to play the intro, I try to mimic an animal call to its kin. I articulate my movement similar to a snake as to try to make some sort of connection to the creature. The beast catches on and then starts to dance in tempo and tone of the melody. As we moved along the street with all merchants and townspeople in awe, I struggled to find a new residence for the scaled performer. Then to my rear, there was a basketry stand with a vacant container. The perfect size and a new home for the snake. As the cobra harked to the hypnotic melody, the crowd of panicked merchants and customers paused in astonishment. Watching as the serpent and I do a calm and peaceful duet. Once we reached the basket the serpent willingly slithered into it. Although as it did, the serpent gave what looked to be somewhat of a smile to me. It was like he was thanking me for either the dance, the basket, or the melody. It was all of them I suppose. So I wrote to the king cobra, Have a splendid afternoon good snake. In the crowd, the king cobra’s owner came to retrieve his pet. “Thank you, kind sir and I apologize for the commotion I made,” No harm no foul. After we shook hands as a means of mend, the snake charmer gave me one of his flutes as an apology and as a sign of gratitude for my act of bravery. “Take this, I believe that you will use it better than any snake charmer,” Thank you very much. I shall take good care of the flute. After giving my thanks I continued walking down the market to find a local inn to rest tonight. Dawn Till Dusk Inn was the first one I saw. As I walked through the door the in keeper greeted me saying, “Welcome to the Dawn Till Dusk Inn. My name is Emily. How may I assist you tonight?” I would like a single bedroom for the night. She responded, “All right. Anything else?” Do you have breakfast in the morning? “Yes, we do.” Thank you for your help madam. “Anytime. That will be 20 gold pieces.” As I paid she said in a happy and somewhat thankful tone, “Your room is room number 117, and here is your key. Enjoy your stay with us, and have a good night Mr ...” My apologies. The name is Paul. David Paul, and thanks again. As I was walking towards my room and opened the door then shut it, I jumped onto my bed. Ahh, I needed this after the shenanigans I dealt with. Then again it was fun to make some friends. Even though one of them was a venomous serpent. On top of that, I have a new instrument to add to my inventory. But the finger holes are not carved in a perfect circle. The sound will sound like crap. Well, I have something to do before bed. Now, where is my knife? Ah, here it is. As I swivel the blade three-sixty and fixed the disproportionate holes, I decided to polish the wood on the flute. Another new to my collection, I thought to myself, but I also wondered why the charmer would use such a tool. Why would a charmer buy such a horribly made instrument? The woodwork appears to be rushed which explains the appearance of finger holes. The crown isn’t smoothly sanded out and the barrel is misshaped. Whoever made this didn’t know how to craft an elegant piece of equipment, and probably didn’t care about the sorry sap who purchased the deformed tool. Nevertheless, I find comfort in improving on it. Similar to a cleric mending the wonder in a party, I shall do the same for all my instruments, for they are the only members I have. There we go, good as new. Now as a wish man once said, “That’s enough for today.” As I closed the curtains and blew off the candle light, I settled myself in the bed for a well deserved rest. This bed is a bit rough and sturdy, but comfortable enough to get some shut eyes. As I seal my eyes shut and breathe at a steady beat, my heart and soul drift into a deep slumber and travel to a world of dreams, the truest type of fantasy. I rarely remember my dreams now, but recently one dream has been appearing more often than not. I am in the center of a forest clocked in the blanket of the long night. At the woods center, I come across a lake and instantly notice the pale silver moon reflecting on its obsidian waters. I also hear music, both orchestral and lyrical, but its tune eludes me. I look around, then notice the melodies coming from above me. I see only the moon, and light emitting from it in a series of sounds. A pleasant but ominous dream. Perhaps it is a mystical recreation of that night, or an unconscious interpretation of the deal I made those many moons ago. Who knows?