Page 90 of A Rose Among Snakes

“Good. Then we need the rest of you to secure a cart for us. Do whatever it takes.”

“Won’t I stick out too much in this dress if I go with them? Maybe I should go with Velian,” I said.

“No, he can’t have any distractions,” Enverro pointed to our entwined hands, “and you are obviously a big one. You’ll come with me. A distraction is exactly what I’ll need to get everything.” He clapped his hands, and everyone dispersed, but not before Velian passed me the pouch of coins and whispered for me to leave the shop owner with a fair amount.

Chapter Fifty-One

Mihrra

Nobody paid us any mind as Enverro and I made our way through the streets. We stopped in front of a music shop, where inside, an older man walked around the store and fiddled with the displayed instruments.

“Here’s the plan, Mihrra. I need you to go in first and keep him distracted. Should be easy enough with that dress.”

I did not appreciate the implication. “What does that mean?”

He raised a sardonic eyebrow. “You knew exactly what you were doing with that gown.” His eyes dipped to the swell of my bosom over the satin neckline.

Self-conscious, I cleared my throat and gave a fruitless upward tug on the dress. It wasn’t my fault the dress wasn’t made to my measurements.

“Anyway,” he continued, unfazed, “I will sneak into the back and start grabbing some instruments.”

“Enverro, we don’t actually have to play the instruments, do we?”

“Not if Velian does his part well. We only need to look like a troupe of musicians to get in the doors.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

Enverro smiled wryly and gave me a gentle shove across the street. I stumbled, recovered, and entered the store with the little remaining dignity I possessed. The air was stuffy and warm, smelling of rosin and paper. Instruments covered every available surface, and hundreds of books lined the shelf in the corner. Out of my element, I bit my lower lip before deciding to take advantage of my ignorance.

The owner stood behind a counter, squinting under his bushy brows. Seeing me, his eyes widened and a grin broke out on his face.

“Welcome, Miss. How can I help you today?” His voice was feeble, giving me the impression he was older than I’d thought.

“I’ve been wanting to learn how to play an instrument. Do you think you can help me with that?”

“Certainly, Miss. Do you have a specific one in mind?”

“I’m afraid I don’t. Maybe you can tell me what you think would be best?”

The poor, unsuspecting man nodded his head as he stepped out from behind the counter and led me over to a stringed instrument with a wooden frame in a triangular-like shape. He plucked a few strings and a beautiful, melodious sound swelled into the air.

He turned to me and said, “Have a go.”

I brought a tentative hand forward, then paused. He smiled encouragingly, and I plucked a couple of strings. It sounded pretty, but not as neat as the shopkeeper’s presentation.

“Well done! How did that feel?”

Movement flashed out of the corner of my eye as Enverro snuck in. I plucked at the strings again, louder that time, to keep the old man’s attention.

“Good, but I wonder what else you might have?”

His cloudy eyes lit up as he hobbled over to another stringed instrument with a wide body and long neck. He picked it up and cradled it in his lap as he sat on a stool, his fingers moving quickly over the strings to play a soothing melody.

“What is this one called?” I wasn’t playing a part. I was curious and with all my inner turmoil of the past few days, the music filled me with a welcome sense of peace.

He continued playing for me as he said, “It’s a lute. One of my favorites.” I let myself get caught up in the music, my hips swaying in time as the melody soothed the guilt needling the back of my mind.

“Mihrra, dear.” Startled, I turned to find Enverro poking his head in the front door. “It’s time to go.”

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