[Road to Najmi]

[mr_gaeta]

Once they're out on a road not pockmarked with stones and potholes -- or, at least, dotted with fewer of them -- the constant jostle of the cart settles into an easy, rolling rock from side to side.

Given his usual lack of sleep the night before, it isn't terribly surprising that that's enough for Gaeta to slip into a light doze, leaning against the back wall with his bag bunched up like a pillow.

Comments

[road2najmi_npcs]

Me mother said, me father said, "what is this foolish thing?
To walk a mile in beggar shoes, to crown yourself a king?"

Azimar's voice goes high and querulous on the second line, then deepens and slows portentously for the third:

"A travelin' life is hard, m'boy," I heard my father say...

A pause, and he grins and picks up the jaunty rhythm again on the final line:

So I kissed him once upon the cheek and went my merry way.

Back to the chorus, and he's still grinning.

[mr_gaeta]

Catching the spirit that the song embodies...well, it's a little difficult, if Gaeta's being honest. Years of wandering against your will tends to sour you even on travel done for the joy of traveling.

But the way Azimar sings it makes it far easier than he expected -- and this time, Gaeta joins in on the chorus, flashing a quick grin to match the bard's.

[road2najmi_npcs]

The rhythm slows for the next verse, and Azimar's expression goes plaintive and soulful. Exaggeratedly so.

I met a lovely maiden, o, a lady fair was she
And I asked her for her hand, down upon my bended knee
The lady swore she loved me not, her heart I could not sway....

A mournful sigh -- and then the grin's back.

So I kissed her once upon the cheek and went my merry way.

[mr_gaeta]

The laughter's a hell of a lot closer to a snort this time.

(Gaeta's also taken to humming along, in the same cautious and half-silent way, to the verses now as well.)

[road2najmi_npcs]

Now many a road my feet have known, full many a street and lane
So many people I have known, their pleasure and their pain
And when I reach my journey's end, to take my final rest ...
I'll know of all the lives to live, a travelin' life was best.

He slows again on the last line, with a faint reminiscent smile.

So if the road is calling you, your spirit on the wing ...
Then walk a mile in beggar shoes and crown yourself a king!
And if the ladies speak you fair, and steal your heart away --
Well, kiss 'em once for me, old boy, and wend your merry way!

He plays the last chorus twice, his voice climbing to finish on a high note, punctuated by one final triumphant chord.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta tips his head in a nod and breaks into dutiful applause, offering up another quick grin to go with it.

"Very nice," he intones.

[no_thief]

Kaya's applauding too -- the first noise or movement she's made in quite some time.

Azimar turns to look at her, faintly startled, but grinning. "Milady awakes!" he says cheerfully, with a mock bow.

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta looks her way, too, brightening somewhat as he does.

(And hoping, as realization strikes, that she had dozed off and not heard about the recovery from his amputation.)

"What do you think, could I pull that off?" he asks her as he indicates Azimar with another tilt of his head.

[no_thief]

"You could learn it," she says, judiciously. "You already learned the chorus."

[mr_gaeta]

"Oh, yes."

Deadpan, and not serious in any way.

"That took weeks of memorization and hard study."

[road2najmi_npcs]

"And I fancy you could learn even faster, were the song more to your taste."

He grins crookedly, settling the instrument across his knees.

[mr_gaeta]

"What -- "

Frak. He wasn't that obvious about it, was he?

"No, I do like it." He spreads his hands. "It's a good song."

[road2najmi_npcs]

"But not, I perceive in my profound shrewdness and sagacity, one that speaks to you," Azimar says, flourishing the words.

(Kaya giggles at his tone, just a little.)

"It may interest you to know, friend Felix, that I was once informed by Minnowmead that he had long since wearied of the traveling life, and wished nothing more dearly than to find a place to settle."

[mr_gaeta]

Gaeta's small smile is just as crooked as Azimar's previous one. "Happens to the best of us," he says, settling back a little more.

A beat.

"Could I hear it again?"

[road2najmi_npcs]

A long beat ... and Azimar smiles again, small and pleased (and maybe, absurdly, a little touched).

"Certainly," he says, and settles his fingers on the strings.