Gavin follows the angelic voice inside.
The voice is coming from a woman so beautiful that Gavin has to take her in one feature at a time.
His eyes start with her lips; plump and full, acting as a doorway, letting the soft melody escape with perfect timing.
They fall to her bust, ample and perky, shyly peering from her peek-a-boo blouse.
His eyes find her navel, begging to be kissed.
Finally, there is her hair- thick and black brushing against her shoulders and back.
Gavin takes all of her in; her external beauty matching the beauty within, revealed via her voice.
She finishes her song and bows deeply. Gavin feels lightheaded just watching her.
Gavin takes his eyes off of her long enough to find the two full casks in the corner of the tavern. He grabs a clean empty goblet and fills it, not caring what drink the casks contain, as long as it is liquor.
“To the Watcher,” Gavin says pouring a bit of his drink out, in libation, as outlined under the new Peteran faith.
Gavin sips from his goblet.
He closes his eyes to savor his first sip as behind him, the beautiful voice begins again, this time accompanied by a lute.
Gavin quickly finishes his first goblet. He returns to the cask.
Determined to drink away his pain, Gavin fills a second goblet.
Gavin knows that he should cut down on his drinking, but his problems serve as a justification for him. How else am I supposed to get through the night? He asks himself taking a large drink.
Behind him, the beautiful voice continues singing of love found and lost.
She finishes the tune. Gavin appreciates her soft sweet songs of heartbreak, but he is ready to get past that. After finishing this second drink, he is ready to have fun.
As soon as he gets the opportunity, he approaches her. “What is your name?” He asks; his eyes on her plump lips, imagining himself tasting them.
“I am Troubadour Amelia ,” her lips part to answer in a soft sing-song voice.
“I am Troubadour Amelia ,” her lips part to answer in a soft sing-song voice.
Gavin can see that Amelia’s attention is divided, so he hurries and makes his request.
Amelia smiles at one of the other patrons, who beckon for her attention. Gavin makes it quick, “Might I request a song?” He says holding out a gold simole.
Amelia mechanically grabs the simole. “What would you like to hear?” She says automatically like someone who has said the same thing time and time again.
“Something lively with great cheer!” Gavin says, “I am ready to dance!’
Gavin and the other patrons, most of them drunk, erupt in dance.
The sounds of their uniform clapping and cheering almost drowning out the sound of the music. But by now, the music is within their souls, leaving little room – crowding out whatever un-pleasantries may rest there.
Amelia finishes her song and takes a bow.
Gavin’s eyes follow, staring at her in all of her youth and good looks. He sighs. Never again will he attempt to go after a woman so many years his junior. He could not stand another heartbreak.
He lets go the fantasy of kissing Amelia’s sweet lips and sets out for the clinic, grateful for the opportunity to escape his reality, if even for just a few hours.
Now that he is not within the confines of such a lively environment, he once again feels depressed.
He passes the spot where he gained love only to lose it again, but right now he is too numb to even feel hurt from the memories.
Approaching the clinic offers him no comfort, because even there, his only bright light – Nurse Jolene is only half present. Her usually cheerful eyes now full of fear due to her superstitious beliefs.
Slow and awkward, as if he has aged with the last few hours, Gavin pulls his covers back and crawls into bed.
