Free Mercury Mind (The Downfall Saga Book 1) by Chris Mccready

carefully set down the case, and pulled out a small harp. Sitting down on the chair, with the harp on his lap, he began to strum the individual strings.
    “Not him again,” said Aine, setting down the mug of cider. “His music’s even squeakier than his voice.” Putting a fake smile onto her face, she headed over to see if the musician needed anything.
    Donovan sat there for ten minutes listening to him trying to tune his harp. Finally, when his ears couldn’t take any more, he got up to introduce himself to the musician.
    “Hi, I’m Donovan,” he said, stretching out his hand.
    “Kotori,” said the musician, still focused on the harp. “The guild always gives me the worst instruments. The Bard himself couldn’t play a tune on this harp.”
    “May I?”
    “Knock yourself out,” said Kotori with a smile.
    Donovan pulled up a chair and sat down with the harp on his lap. Closing his eyes, he let his fingers dance along the strings, continuously tightening and loosening the knobs at the top of the harp as he strummed. Finally satisfied, he played a quick glissandos on the harp before he handed it back to Kotori and got up to head back to his table.
    “Wait,” said Kotori. “Do you want to play a few songs?”
    “No,” said Donovan, “I just hate it when someone defiles my ears.”
    Back at his table, he stared at his cider, trying to empty his mind of all thoughts, when Aine set down a folded piece of paper beside him.
    “I almost forgot about this,” she said. “Eamon said he forgot to give it to you and asked me to send it to you at Haven in a few days. But seeing as you’re here now, you might as well have it.”
    Taking a sip of cider to steady himself, he slowly unfolded the note. It was written in the same intricate, flowing script that Cleary had said was spoken by the Shem. He glanced up to see Aine still standing there. As soon as they made eye contact, she hurried off, leaving him alone to read the letter.
    Donovan, I pray that you get this letter. As you are one of the few, perhaps only, people in many leagues who can read this, I feel that it’s worth the risk sending it to you. I fear that it could cause mistrust and hardship if found in your possession so please dispose of it swiftly after reading. By now your classes should be starting, and I hope that they find you well. Though it breaks my heart, I will not be able to visit you for many months, if ever.
    There is a shop in Kendra called Jaslynns. It won’t be hard to find if you ask around. I have a parcel that I’m going to try to send to you there. It won’t arrive until at least the winter solstice, if at all.
    Know that I love you, and regret everything that has befallen you, even though I understand the necessity of it all.
    Eamon
    Donovan wiped a tear from his eye, and reread the letter. He caught Aine’s attention the next time she was walking past. “Do you know where a place called Jaslynns is located?” he asked.
    “Doesn’t ring a bell,” she said, continuing into the kitchen.
    “My apologies,” said Kotori. “I didn’t mean to overhear, but you were asking about Jaslynns?” Donovan nodded and he continued. “It’s a small music shop on the other side of the river, near the center of town.” He proceeded to give Donovan instructions on where to find it.
    “Thank you,” said Donovan.
    “Don’t mention it,” said Kotori. “Now that you fixed the harp, I may actually make some money tonight.”
    Donovan wandered over to the bar. “Is there some place quiet around here where I can rest until Osmont comes back?” he whispered to Aine.
    With a knowing smile, she showed him to a small room upstairs. “As long as you don’t make a mess, and nobody needs it, you can stay here until he comes back,” she said.
    The room was barely large enough to hold a bed and a small table. Laying down on top of the covers, Donovan bunched up his newly purchased cloak to use as a pillow, and lay there staring at the ceiling,