The Language of Music

Cari was a dancer. She had always loved to dance, loved to move to any beat or rhythm that played. She belonged to a traveling troop of performers who went from town to town on their way to the bigger palace cities. They had begun to travel along the coast of the country of Edraria. Having passed its borders, the night before. Cari had never been into Edraria before. It was a small country, more of a peninsula jutting off one corner of the continent. Nearly every town they would pass through would be a coastal town. Only the capital and palace resided inland. Cari had heard from the others that it was an attempt to keep the palace safe should the late summer storms get bad enough. There had been stories of large waves of water coming many miles inland and destroying everything in their path, but the capital was situated far enough inland that the waves would not reach it. Having only ever heard stories, Cari had a hard time imagining such a thing would be possible. But then they entered Edraria and she saw the ocean for the first time. As she had stared out over the vast open sea, she suddenly could start to believe that those horrible storms might be possible. While the air was warm and pleasant, the wide-open ocean looked so cold and Cari – as excited as she was to see the ocean – felt a mild sense of unease about it too.

Cari had plenty of time to admire and study the ocean. As it turned out, where they had entered the country was at least a week’s worth of travel before they would reach the first town. She had little to do as they traveled except daydream and draw when the roads were smooth enough. When they stopped for the night, she practiced her routines and allowed herself to be immersed in the sound of the waves crashing along the shoreline as she lost herself to the dance. Finally, though, their long journey had an end in sight and she could see the town just a few miles ahead. Already, even from a distance, Cari could tell that this town was like none she had ever seen before. Most they had traveled through had been small, dusty and muddy, and just…felt poor. Well, usually they were quite poor. It was rare they came across a town or village that had much to it. It was the larger cities that had all the money and even that was limited to a few wealthy households. This town though? It was small, but it was so…pristine.

Cari looked around wide-eyed as they entered the town. Once they had reached the town borders, the roads had turned from dirt and sand to a smooth white stone. In fact, everything seemed to be made of that smooth white stone. All of the buildings, the houses, and the marketplace, all were built sturdily with stone. The roofs were flat and she saw a mixture of small gardens on top and what looked like patios. The windows and doors and any roofs that were at an angle were painted in bright colors. Mostly hues of blue, green, and coral. The people seemed lively and Cari could hear music coming from what must have been the town center. She felt her energy and curiosity rise, a large smile gracing her lips. She turned her attention to her travel companion – an older woman who had taken her in as a child – and noticed her smiling. Cari called her Oma, actually the whole troop did. Oma was a grandmotherly figure and the matron of their group. She was in charge of everything and ensuring that they could perform legally and in peace within the towns they visited.

“Are all of the towns here like this?” Cari asked with wonder. Oma laughed quietly and nodded.

“Most are, yes. They do quite well for themselves living along the coast here. The weather is warm most year-round and perfect for growing crops, not to mention the trade they have established with neighboring countries across the ocean. Most of the towns here having fishing trade and ships that come to dock for trade.” Oma explained. Cari’s dark golden eyes widened even more.

“When were you here last?” She asked. Oma looked to her, an eyebrow raised, but then she smiled again.

“Just before we found you. We were on our way back from this place.” She explained. Cari looked to her a moment, and then nodded, turning her attention back to the town her caravan passed through. Most people stopped to watch them. Most were smiling and seemed intrigued and excited for whatever the caravan meant. Some seemed a little wary, but Cari knew that was to be expected. A lot of performers traveled in caravans like hers, but sometimes robbers would too as a disguise, and she knew some caravans contained awful people. But most were just nomads making a living off the gifts they had to share. Oma guided them to the center of the town to where whoever was in power would be. She insisted they get permission to perform. Not everyone did this, but she said it helped them to garner favor with the town and make them more welcomed to return in the future.

***

Once they had received permission from the mayor of the town, they were guided to the outskirts where festivals were usually held and told they could set up there. Cari helped with the setup as usual, eager to finish so she could go explore. They would rest tonight and perform the next day, and she was eager to go see more of the town.

It was getting into late evening by the time they finished, but there was still a little daylight left. Cari took off before anyone could find something else for her to do, and made a beeline for the town. Even as the hour grew late, the town was just as lively as it had been when they first arrived. Cari looked around in awe, trying to take in every little detail of the beautiful town that she was so unaccustomed to. The people were friendly to her as she passed by the shops in the marketplace, most offering her a nod of greeting and smiles. She had noticed many spoke more than one language, but not all spoke the same language she did. When she had asked Oma about it, the older woman explained that as a trade town, it was helpful for everyone to know a variety of languages. She did notice a singular language most of the townspeople used amongst themselves though and she was entranced by it. It was unlike any language she had heard before, having an almost musical quality to it.

Cari found herself pulled towards the docks of the town first, wanting to see the ocean once more. As the sunset over the clear blue water, its shades of red, orange, and pink reflected almost perfectly. A lighthouse up on a small rise came to life and the faint light shone out over the water, preparing for the coming darkness. Cari’s gaze slowly moved along the horizon, she was still amazed by how vast and open the ocean was. Then her gaze was caught by a small shape almost straight ahead. She squinted her eyes and leaned forward a little as though that would allow her to get a better view. After a few moments, she realized it was a ship sitting out over the horizon.

“They’re scheduled to come in tomorrow. A merchant ship from an island…or so papa says.” A voice came from behind Cari. She startled and turned to see a girl about her age. She spoke Cari’s language, but her accent still held that beautiful musical quality to it. She grinned at seeing Cari’s surprise. “Sorry to scare you. I am Avra, my papa is the mayor, he thought you and your troop might want an interpreter, so my husband and I volunteered.” She explained. “He said I should meet you all tomorrow, but when I saw you coming out here, I thought I should introduce myself, we seem about the same age.” She explained, grinning even more. Cari returned the grin and bowed her head a little in greeting.

“It is nice to meet you Avra, I am Cari.” She returned the greeting. She gestured to the ship. “How far away are they if they won’t be here until tomorrow?” She asked curiously.

“Oh, many, many miles out.” She said.

“But…I can see them…?” Cari’s confusion and amazement was evident and Avra laughed quietly.

“The ocean is so flat you can see much further out than you can on land.” She explained. Cari smiled in wonder as she looked to the ship. Then her attention was pulled away again as she once more heard music. She turned towards the town. Music was like a beacon to her and she started forward.

“Do you always have music playing?” She asked Avra. The other girl nodded.

“Quite often at least. Come on. The lanterns should be lit by now.” Avra said as she took Cari’s hand and pulled her back towards the town. Cari hadn’t realized how quickly it had already started to get dark and she was grateful for the other girl’s assistance. As they reached the center of the town, Cari saw that torches and lanterns had been lit around the perimeter of the town and at one edge were three men playing instruments. A few children ran around, playing, some people stood around talking, some danced, some wandered about as a few shops remained open.

“Is every night like this?” She asked, her wonder never leaving her voice. Avra grinned and nodded.

“Yes. Well, I suppose it depends? When we are harvesting crops not as much, but during the heavy trade seasons, since travelers come at all times, the town is often awake even late into the night.” She explained. Cari grinned more and made her way closer to the band. She felt herself swaying in time to the music and before too long, her feet began moving, her body responding to the music as she began to dance. Music was her language, she always liked it because it was a language everyone seemed to understand, it was something that seemed to draw everyone together.

Cari looked back to Avra who seemed entertained, but remained on the edges of the town square where Cari had left her. Others had begun to dance and Cari noticed a few of the townspeople taking up what had to have been a more traditional dance. Or at least one unique to the area. She watched for a few moments, itching to join it, then she turned back to Avra and ran over to her. She took Avra’s hand and pulled her to where the townspeople – and a few of her own people – had started dancing as a group.

“Come, dance with us, I need someone to teach me the steps.” Cari said with a friendly smile. In truth, she could have picked up on it easily, but she wanted Avra, who seemed shy about joining, to join in on the fun. Avra smiled and nodded, showing Cari and Cari’s troop the steps to the dance traditional to the town. Cari closed her eyes, just letting the music carrying her graceful movements. She took in the sounds of the people around her, the children laughing, the smell of the ocean, of baked goods being made even now. She noticed each individual instrument, noticed the sounds and smells of the town, and internalized all of it. It would be a memory for her to keep for a long time. She hoped every town of Edraria was as lively and friendly as this one.