Performer

The bartender shrugged off the traveler's complaint about the noise while he sloshed out drinks to other patrons. The Harper's Nail had full tables and a loud stage. The rooms upstairs were almost at capacity, and the traveler had already been to a few other places seeking lodging. He didn't have many options.   The Fish and Biscuit Rally brought people from hundreds of miles around. Some came for the fishing, but many came for the festival. The fairgrounds outside the city filled with stands and live performances. Every night the taverns of Etonia were packed not only for their ale or local mead but the intimate performances lined up for several weeks leading up to the rally.   The woman on the stage cleared her throat. The raucous room went silent. Everyone was here to hear Hania. The metal clasp on her foot tapped with the beat. Her instruments of choice were harps, but she played three at a time. Her hand plucked at the first, then a subtle incantation kept the melody going while she turned to the second. She tapped the strings on this one with four spindly hammers - two held in each hand. For this song, she kept the third harp in reserve for arpeggios at the end of the chorus.   I couldn't help but tap along on my hand drums. The song had been drilled into me during hours of practice. Muscle memory was real and magic in its own right. The rhythms and melodies rewire your brain and ripple out into the world. The stories Hania's music told were epic, honest, and bare. She had a real shot at the festival's Performer of the Year.   People were standing when the song ended. Cheers and clapping erupted around the room. She soaked in the praise. A little smile overflowed on her face as the crowd cheered on. Her eyes locked with mine, and my heart skipped a beat.   Her eyes widened, and her head nodded to the right. It was time to get to my spot on stage. Two large bowl drums were wheeled out. I brought my hand drums with me and placed them on a mount above the left bowl drum.   "Thank you everyone. Next, I have a treat for you. Welcome Peter to the stage. We've been working on a song from my new album." Her voice trailed off as she began playing.   She was an amazing mentor.