Busking went well; Master Nirlyn had found us a good spot with a lot of traffic near the market square and even dividing the take between the five of us and Selice, who danced for us, we managed to make some good coin. I ended up playing my lute since it was the instrument that I needed the most practice with. Master Nirlyn had me do most of the singing as well, mostly because she wanted me to get used to the range of my new voice and learn to make the most of it.

I spent most of the afternoon playing and singing alongside my fellow Bards. By the time the sun neared the horizon, and it was time to return to camp, I was a very happy musician. This was where I belonged, traveling with my troupe, making music with the other Bards, and improving my skills with my instruments. I was even eager to get back to my dance lessons with Selice so that I could someday master the Tien’jin, though she assured me on the way back to camp that we would return to those lessons tomorrow night. Tonight, we would celebrate Vesha and me becoming adults.

We returned to camp as the sun was setting, but aside from Hagen and Mara standing guard and the children playing, there was not a person to be seen. From the wisps of smoke and wonderful scents emerging from the majority of the wagons, I had my suspicions as to why so few of the troupe were currently outside. “It seems like the evening’s feast is almost ready,” Daivin said with a smile as he confirmed my suspicions.

“Aye, they’ve likely been a’ work since no’ long after we left t’ go buskin’,” Master Nirlyn agreed. “Let’s get these instruments pu’ away so we can ‘elp gettin’ things set up. No’ you girls though, this is yer day so ya can relax ‘til we call ya. On the morrow, you’ll be ‘ard at work on yer lessons again.”

The last was directed at Vesha and me, and the look on our Master’s face made it clear that we were to enjoy the time and just relax while we had the chance. We returned to our wagon and after I made sure to feed Zaiya and spend a little time with her, Vesha and I spent the rest of our time snuggled together on my cot. It was nice to lay there as she held me in her arms, occasionally kissing and caressing one another as we enjoyed one another’s company.

We were contentedly snuggled there, kissing and letting our hands roam beneath the other’s clothes when there was a knock on our wagon door. One of Vesha’s hands was cupping and caressing my breast through my bodice and the other was beneath my skirts teasingly running along my thigh. The stimulation was enticing and had me moaning into her lips and breathing heavily as we kissed. Thus, it was with some reluctance that I allowed my lips to part from hers and we broke apart to stand up and straighten our clothing.

Vesha was not quite as aroused as I seemed to be, so as soon as her clothes were mostly righted, she went to answer the door, giving me a precious moment or two to collect myself. “Mama… is everything ready then?”

“Aye, daughter dear,” I heard Master Nirlyn’s voice reply in an amused tone. “So, you an’ Kaelyn can stop tunin’ each other’s instruments an’ make yerselves presentable.”

My face turned bright red even as Vesha sputtered, “What?! Mama… I… I mean we…”

“Yer tunic is ridin’ up, dear,” her mother interrupted with a laugh. “An’ I assume Kaelyn is straightenin’ ‘erself up? It’s nothin’ t’ be hidin’, lass, we all see the way the pair o’ ye look at one another an’ stick close. Some o’ us ‘ave been takin’ bets on when the two o’ ya would stop lookin’ an’ start showin’ yer interest right an’ proper. I guess this means Tanna wins. Ne’er bet against a Seer.”

“Mama!” Vesha sputtered again.

“Relax, an’ both o’ ya get presentable an’ come join the party while the food is still ‘ot,” the Master Bard managed to get out before Vesha practically slammed the door on her.

The Salamander’s face was probably as red as I imagined mine to be, and she quickly looked down at herself and pulled her tunic back down to its proper position. “Sorry about that, Kaelyn. Mama probably won’t tease us for long, but the rest of the troupe will probably know by the time we get out there. There’s nothing like a good bit of gossip to entertain the troupe, but they probably won’t be too hard on us since you’re still trying to get used to all of this.”

I nodded as I made sure that none of my clothes were as out of place as Vesha’s had been. “Aye, I guess a little teasing is to be expected. I have seen other members of the troupe get teased, but I have not seen anyone be mean about it yet. It always seems more playful?”

“Yep, playful is a good word for it. It’s just part of being a Voyager and the way that we interact with one another, and there is usually no harm intended. Now we should get out there, the longer we take the dirtier their minds are going to get,” the beautiful Salamander explained with a smile that practically lit up the entire wagon.

I took a deep breath to steady myself and tried to look as casual as I could as Vesha opened the door and led me out of the wagon. The moment we had stepped out, Master Nirlyn slipped past us to enter the wagon. She was not in there long though since she caught up with us before we even got to the large bonfire that the entire troupe was gathered around. When she caught us up, she was carrying a pair of cloth-wrapped bundles under one arm and a small satchel in the other hand that sounded like there were coins inside.

Master Nirlyn guided us both to an empty spot where someone had placed two chairs from one of the wagons. Everyone else was sitting on the logs or rocks that we had used during the morning meal. Once we were seated, as she had instructed, she placed the large bundles carefully on the ground. “Tanna won our little wager, everyone,” she announced as she tossed the satchel to Tanna before taking a seat beside the bundles she had placed on the ground.

Our Master’s announcement was met with a chorus of groans from the other adults of the troupe as Tanna snatched the flying satchel out of the air with a satisfied smile. Glimma did not seem convinced, at least not for a moment. “Are you sure, Nirlyn? I don’t… ooooh, look at how they’re both blushing! Caught in the act I’d wager.”

“You’d best not, lest you end up owing me more coin,” Tanna told the Owl-keeper with a grin.

The teasing went on for a while, most of it directed at Vesha and me, as we ate. Nobody was mean about it though and it was an overall happy atmosphere. Things became more relaxed, and the teasing tapered off as Aldus and a few other artisans whom I had met in town earlier in the day came to join the festivities.

There were so many foods to choose from; salads made from fresh greens, hot stew, delicately spiced brook trout fillets, seasoned boar meat and pan-fried potatoes in a thick gravy, and roast quails stuffed with mushrooms, ground boar meat, and spicy diced pahra bulbs. Someone had even made some sort of flaky pastries too, stuffed with wild berries and with a sweet glaze on top made from honey and ground sweetroot. I had never been to such a celebration in my life, let alone as one of the guests of honor, and it was a wonderful way to end an almost perfect day.

Once everyone had eaten their fill and the evening air began to fill with contented post-meal conversation, my grandfather stood up and cleared his throat, calling for the attention of those gathered. Only once he had that attention, and silence overtook the camp, did he finally speak. “Troupemates and honored guests. We are gathered here tonight in celebration. Two younglings from our troupe were given tasks to perform in Hespira’s name, to prove themselves ready to become adults.”

“They are younglings no more,” my grandmother continued as she stood by Grandpa’s side. “They faced peril and horrors beyond what anyone should have to face, and they returned to us whole and triumphant, bearing the proof of their deeds. They returned to us as adults. Vesha, please stand tall before us and hold out your hands.”

Vesha stood up and approached my grandparents as calmly as if she were playing an instrument. She did not say a word and I could not be sure if that was due to tradition or just the solemnness of the occasion. I suddenly felt woefully unprepared for when it would be my turn to stand in her place. The Salamander presented both hands to my grandparents as she beamed proudly.

Grandma placed a simple silver ring that gleamed in the firelight on the forefinger of her left hand. It was engraved with sigils that looked Fae to me. At the same time, Grandpa placed a matching one on the forefinger of her right hand as well. As the rings were slipped onto Vesha’s fingers, my grandmother solemnly said, “These rings are a symbol. They represent all that you have overcome and show the world that you have put your childhood behind you and are ready to embrace the role of an adult of your troupe.”

“With that role comes both privileges and responsibilities,” my grandfather continued. “Do you, Vesha, vow to contribute to your troupe in hard times and prosperity, protect your troupe from harm should the need arise, avenge those you cannot protect, and set an example for the children who come after you?”

Vesha took a deep breath and then repeated, “I vow to contribute to my troupe in hard times and prosperity, protect my troupe from harm should the need arise, avenge those I cannot protect, and set an example for the children who come after me.”

Grandma nodded solemnly, though I could see her faint smile as she said, “Then before Hespira and your troupe, I name you Vesha Firemantle, Bard of Sparrowsong Troupe. You have earned that name by Voyager traditions. Carry it well and do your troupe proud.”

I was in shock as I heard the name of our troupe spoken for the first time. My mother’s earned name had been Kalara Sparrowsong and I did not think the name of the troupe was a coincidence. I was barely aware of Vesha returning to her seat beside me and had to make myself focus on the solemn task at hand, as my grandfather called to me, “Kaelyn, please stand tall before us and hold out your hands.”

I stood up on suddenly shaking legs and attempted to emulate the calm that Vesha had shown when doing so only moments earlier. My throat was tight, and I did not think that I could speak a word if I tried. I was sure that everyone could see my hands trembling as I held them out to my grandparents. -Worry not, Kaelyn, you have already done the hard part, or you would not be here now,- Sharai told me in a reassuring tone.

My grandmother placed a silver ring, much like the one that she had placed on Vesha earlier, on the forefinger of my left hand. It too was engraved with symbols that looked Fae to me, though they looked slightly different from the runes on Vesha’s. My grandfather slid the matching one on the forefinger of my right hand in unison. -It is Fae script,- Sharai explained. -They seem to bear the name that you have earned. It is interesting to see how the Voyagers differ from the traditions of old and yet still honor them. Fae wear the rings on the same fingers when they are considered adults, though ours bear no script, and one must be fifty years of age.-

I was barely hearing Sharai as I attempted to focus on the moment. The rings were cool as they were slid onto my fingers, and they seemed to have weight to them. “These rings are a symbol,” my grandmother solemnly stated. “They represent all that you have overcome and show the world that you have put your childhood behind you and are ready to embrace the role of an adult of your troupe.”

“With that role comes both privileges and responsibilities,” Grandpa added. “Do you, Kaelyn, vow to contribute to your troupe in hard times and prosperity, protect your troupe from harm should the need arise, avenge those you cannot protect, and set an example for the children who come after you?”

I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat. Despite the peppermint tea that I had drank with dinner, I felt suddenly parched. Still, I took a deep breath to calm myself and then answered, “I vow to contribute to my troupe in hard times and prosperity, protect my troupe from harm should the need arise, avenge those I cannot protect, and set an example for the children who come after me.”

Grandma was really trying to keep up the appearance of being solemn, but a smile cracked that stony exterior as she announced, “Then before Hespira and your troupe, I name you Kaelyn Darkbane, Bard and Bladebearer of Sparrowsong Troupe. You have earned that name by Voyager traditions. Carry it well and do your troupe proud.”

The name was a surprise. I had been hoping for something musical, like my mother’s earned name, but the names were earned through the task we had been set to prove that we were ready to become adults. We had both fought many Tainted, but each of us had also done something pivotal as well during our time in those ruins. Vesha had found out what she truly was and mastered the fire within her when doing so; she made it a part of her. With Sharai’s help, I had fought a Darkling and purified her, setting her free and gaining her armor. After that, claiming Fal’hevar had been easy by comparison.

I quietly thanked them both and did not bother trying to hide the tears in my eyes as I sat down beside Vesha once again. “I… didn’t know the name of our troupe until today,” I said in a hushed tone.

“When we decided t’ break off from the larger troupe an’ form our own, ‘twas yer mother that kept us all together. She was important to all of us in some way, we all wanted t’ find ‘er an’ you. Our love fer her inspired us all; it only made sense t’ name the new troupe after her,” Master Nirlyn said as she reached over to gently squeeze my hand.

We continued to celebrate late into the night. Once our guests had left to return to their homes in Loden and the children were abed, I was ready to go get some sleep myself. I was about to excuse myself to go do so when my grandfather reappeared beside the fire hefting a small cask and called out, “It is tradition that we have a toast to the new adults, so I’m breaking out the good brandy that I got last time we were in Derevik!”

When the cheers following that announcement subsided, my grandmother added, “Nirlyn, if you haven’t given them their gifts yet, now is the time,” as she emerged from behind her husband bearing a large tray of clay mugs.

While my grandparents started filling mugs and passing them around, Master Nirlyn wasted no time in shoving a cloth-wrapped package into Vesha’s hands and then another into mine. “It’s traditional fer the troupe t’ present the new adult, with a gift t’ help them in their new life,” she quickly explained. “You first, Vesha.”

The Salamander did as she was bid and unwrapped the cloth, which turned out to be a beautiful crimson cloak made from kirgen wool, with a fleece-lined hood. Inside was a folded star-spider silk gown that had been dyed a bright gold to contrast her scales and hair and a lute case. Vesha just stared for a moment, completely at a loss for words.

I was at a similar loss for words when I opened my bundle to find a similar cloak and gown, though the latter was dyed a pale lavender and the former was midnight black, contrasting the white of the fleece that lined the hood. Inside was a fiddle case. “Glimma and Sivelle helped me to get the cloaks and the gowns finished before the two of you got back,” Zenna explained. “We thought that you could both use something nice to wear in case you get asked to play for merchants or nobles.”

“Everyone chipped in t’ buy the instruments when we were last in Derevik,” Niryln added. “We knew tha’ Vesha was going t’ be an adult soon an’ I thought it was about time tha’ she ‘ad an instrument of ‘er own instead o’ usin’ mine all o’ the time. The fiddle was t’ be a gift fer yer mother, if we found ‘er, Kaelyn. Hers needed replacin’ even afore she decided t’ settle down an’ have a family with yer Da. It’s only right tha’ it goes t’ you. An’ it’s sumthin’ ya already know how t’ play too.”

Where my favorite instrument was undeniably the harp, my mother had loved both the harp and the fiddle equally. I was well aware that her fiddle in particular had been well worn even before she taught me to play. She said that it had been her first instrument and I always had to be extremely careful whenever I played it. By the time that I fled southward with Sharai only half the strings remained, the neck was warping, and the bow needed replacing.

I did not think that my mother would have ever bought a new one for herself though, if she were still alive today. She had loved that instrument and had always been very sentimental about it. It was actually the last instrument that she started teaching me to play since she wanted to be sure that I wouldn’t damage it. Tears filled my eyes as I opened the case in my lap and gazed at the instrument within.

Both the fiddle and the bow were simple and well-made. The body and neck were delightfully smooth to the touch and the wood was stained a deep mahogany color. It was beautiful in its simplicity and as I took it in my hands and ran the bow experimentally over the strings, the world around me faded away as I reveled in the rich sound that it provided. Certainly, it needed to be tuned, and this was not an instrument to impress others, but it was mine. It was an instrument lovingly crafted to make music, and I was eager to do that.

Not tonight though, I would have time to get to know my new companion tomorrow. I gingerly placed it back in its case and wrapped the cloak around both it and the gown once again. Then, I looked at those gathered around, my family, with teary eyes as I said, “Thank you.”

Hugs were exchanged all around and then a mug with a very potent-smelling liquid was shoved into my hands. Vesha already had one in hand, and I looked at the brandy a little uncertainly since I had never had alcohol before. I did not have much time to mull over those thoughts though, as Uncle Bryden raised his mug and said, “To Vesha and Kaelyn, may you both realize your dreams, succeed in all your endeavors, and always make your troupe as proud of you as we are today.”

Mugs were raised as the toast was heartily repeated and I drank deeply from the mug in my hands. The coughing fit that followed my first taste of the very strong alcohol, proved this to be a mistake. I finished my drink at a more sedate pace after that, enjoying the warmth that the drink instilled in me, and the companionship of the other adults of my troupe. The first mug was followed by another, and then another. Everything became a blur after that, and I awoke the next morning half-naked on my cot wrapped up cozily in Vesha’s arms.