After Zephyr leaves, Emerald looks around wondering what to do next.  She walks over to the stone benches under the old oak; sitting down she looks around again at the Town Square.  She notices a few light portals appearing and people of different races stepping out.   A few seem to be going to the road to the south towards the Land of Dreams and others are heading for the Tavern.

      Emerald thinks, then decides to go to the Tavern.  She gets up and walks up to the big rustic building.  She can smell the scent of spilt Ale and beer as she walks through the open door.  The room she has entered is well lit with torches on the wall and a chandelier hangs in the center on the ceiling.  The floor seems to be made of well-worn wooden planks.  On the left of the door is an Open stairway with a railing going up made out of willow branches.  Just in front of the Stairs is a bar with a highly polished wood top and carved panel base.  There are about 10 high wooden stools at the bar.

      Towards the far wall there is a long table that appears to be able to seat about eight people on long wooden benches.  On the walls mounted are the heads of wild game such as wild boar, deer and moose.  Scattered around the large room are several wooden tables with four wooden chairs in various conditions, some appear to have been in crude repair.

       To the right of the door there stands a very large stuffed bear that is standing upright looking menacingly at the crowd in the tavern, it stands about 8 feet tall.  Along the right side of the tavern there is a series of tables set so one end of the table is against the wall and there is two chairs on each side of the tables.

      The Tavern has a few people in it. Most seem to be congregating around one table the group is mainly made up of humans with a few elves and dwarfs mixed in. They seem to be in a convivial mood.

       At the bar sits a medium height gray elf sitting alone.  He is very handsome and has long golden hair and alabaster skin, like herself.  The handsome gray elf is dressed in back.  He wore a hooded cape is black with a red satin lining.  He eyes are the color of sapphires.  He glances at the group of people every now and then looking a bit dejected drinking his ale.

      Emerald gracefully walks to the bar and sits down.  The bartender a very large human with a leather jerkin, heavy olive green pants and what was once white but now stained ivory colored apron around his waist.   Looks at her and smiles broad.  The bartender inquires, “My name is Lother, I’m the owner of this establishment.  What will you have my beautiful maiden?”

    Emerald gives a smile back and blushes,  “A white wine please,” she says.

     Lother reaches under the bar and looks at several different bottles of wine, choosing one he uncorks it and pours Emerald a glass and sets the glass in front of her.  “Here you go I hope you enjoy.  Need anything just ask,” he says?

     Emerald takes the glass and sips it.  The wine is excellent; she sets the glass down and looks over at the group sitting at the table.  It is made up of mainly males.  In the center of the group there seems to be a pretty raven-haired human female.  She sits as if a queen holding court.  The woman is wearing all black.  She has crimson red leather bracers on her fore arms.  A tightly laced leather shirt and leather pants.  On her feet are high leather boots.   Her skin, rich tan that as a glow about it, as if she has been in the sun a lot.  The raven-haired woman is quite tall and is fairly well muscled very athletic looking.  Several of the men seem to be buying for her attention, with little luck.  Her main focus seems to be on her self she is telling one the men to pour her ale from the bar and he hurries off to get it.

     Except for the talking at the table the tavern is quite.  Emerald reaches in your cape pocket and retrievers her flute.  She looks over her shoulder at Lother, for approval.  Smiling at the beautiful gray elf, he nods.  She puts her flute to her lips and starts to play, softly at first not to disturb anyone.

     The Gray elf at the bar turns his attention away from the group at the table and looks over at Emerald.  Taking from his belt a interesting flute of his own (it is wood with crystal embedded in it).  He puts the flute to his lips and starts to play harmony to her song.  The room goes hush as the two play their instruments.

      Emerald looks over at the other Gray elf and smiles as she starts to play a little louder picking up-tempo as she does.  The Gray elf smiles back and seem to be right in sink with her music.  As they play, she begins to hear what sounds like a orchestra on the wind accompanying them.  Emerald starts to feel the music flow into her as she plays as if she and the music are one.  She watches the Gray elf with interest as he reaches into a pouch and tosses some sparkling dust into the air it starts to whirl and move with the music.  As her song slowly comes to a end the celestial orchestral fades into the distances and the dust settles to the floor.  Emerald and the Gray elf finish playing and as if the same string tied their hands together, they lower their flutes and smile at each other.

     The Raven hair beauty claps her hands and declares to all in the bar. That she has never been so entertain before.  Causing their attention to be turned back to the woman.  The woman dictates to the two musicians that they will be her royal bard. “I Queen Martla has declare that you two will be my official musician,” she informs them.

    Again as if connected by a invisible wire, the two musicians turn their head in the direction on Queen Martla and bow in union.  Queen Martially looks at the Gray elf and inquires, “Tholin, is this a pupil of yours?”

    Tholin, replies, “No my Queen she is not.”  Her Royal Highness nods, turning her attention back to her admires seeming to dismiss the two musicians.

     The Gray elf elves look at each other then at the queen. Together they bow to their audience.

     The Gray elf bows slowly to Emerald and declares cheerful, “I have never heard any one play so beautifully.”

      Emerald blushes slightly and smiles at him and says, “Thank you, your playing is amazing.  Was it me or did you hear an orchestra?”

     Putting his flute away the gray elf replies, “no, it wasn’t just you.  It is my flute. It is magical.”  Looks at the charming Gray elf with fascination. Emerald to puts her flute away.  “My name is Tholin T’equenduis, I’m the founder of the bards guild here in Fantasy Realm,” the Gray elf tells Emerald.

     Offering her hand she reply, “I’m pleased to meet your Tholin.  My name is Emerald.  I’m new to this land.  Tell me more about your flute, please.”

     Gently taking her hand, he smiles at her and kisses it. “Very well,” he says.
Taking his flute from his waistband again he starts to tell her about how he got it and some of its magical propriety.

     “When I was young my father wanted me to be a great warrior like himself, but because I was small in stature I had trouble welding a sword.  My father grew very frustrated with me.  My mother was trying to protect me from my father’s irritation.  She use to send me out to get her herbs and such from the forest, there I met an old bard named Portobelo.  He became a good friend and started to teach me to play the flute.  My father was very annoyed at the fact that his son was becoming a musician instead of a swordsman, he banded Portobelo from our land and forbid me to play again,” he relates.

     “My mother sensing that I had talent, she would let me practice when my father was out.  She would sit in the garden and listen to me play.  I know longer had a teacher so I had to teach myself.  At night I would hear this beautiful music at night through my window and would sneaks out to try and find the origin of the music.  With no success I may add,” he adds.

     “In the mornings after my father would leave, I would try and play the sounds I heard then night before.  My mother was astonish with what she hear asked me where I had learned to play such music.  I had told her that I heard it at night as if the breeze in the trees were playing it,” Tholin tells.

     “About a week later my mother came to me and asked me to come with her.  We went to the elven forest and there the Royal court of the wood elves was with the King.  He requested that I play for them.  My mother instructed me to play the wind music.  So I did, I was very nervous.  I play my very best for the court and when I was through the King stood and applauded me.  He said he had never heard the wind music played so well and gave this flute to me,” Tholin T’equenduis tells Emerald.

     “The flute can detect magic and summon the elements,” Tholin tells Emerald.  He hands the flute to Emerald to inspect.  Emerald takes the flute gingerly and examines it.  The flute was made of olivewood.  It had bright crystals embedded in it and some strange carving into the smooth straight cylinder.  The beautiful gray elf looks admiringly at the exquisite flute. She hands it back to Tholin, smiling she says, “thank you.  It is the most beautiful flute I have ever heard or seen.”

     Tholin T’equenduis, takes the flute back and replaces it into his waistband.  “My I ask to see your instrument milady?” he inquires.

     Emerald takes her flute and hands the shiny silver instrument to the handsome gray elf.  He takes it and looks at the oriental engravings and read, “To my loving talented daughter Emerald, may this be one of many of your fines performances.  Your loyal fan, Dad.”  Tholin smiles then hands the instrument back to Emerald.

     Taking back the Flute she puts it back in to her cape pocket.  Emerald takes a sip of her wine and watches the group around Queen Mortla.  She smiles to herself thinking that it reminded her of a bee hive as the men move to get close to the Queen.

     Speaking softly she whispers to Tholin T’equenduis, “is she the Queen of Fantasy realm?”

    Tholin whispers in reply, “no, she is the Queen of the Black Breech.”

    Emerald whispers, “Black Breech?”

    Tholin nods, “they are one of the most powerful guild in Fantasy Realm.”  Slowly looking over at the Queen she gets a knot in her stomach realizing she was playing for someone so important.

     The handsome gray elf moves closer to Emerald.  Speaking in such away that the group at the table wouldn’t hear, “you must be new here.”

    Emerald nods and smiles at Tholin. “Just arrived today,” she tells him.  “Are you in the Black Breeches?” she asks.

     Tholin answers in a hush, “no, but would like to be.”  Emerald nods slowly.

     Feeling a sudden pain in her arm, Emerald feels like she is being pulled through time and space again. Instead of falling she feels like unseen hands are lifting her up.  She opens her mouth to scream put no sound is imitated into the void.