Raymond Skalter was in the music shop, perusing their selection of fiddles. He was examining a fine instrument when the proprietress approached. "Do you see anything you like?" Raymond turned his head and glanced her over before replying, "Yes, two beautiful instruments." She brought a hand to her mouth and blushed. He reached for a bow and asked, "May I?" She nodded and he played out a short but beautiful tune. 

"I can see you are quite skilled. Are you a famous musician?"
"No, not famous. Infamous, perhaps."
She took a step closer. "Infamous for what, exactly?"
"Getting too close to women I shouldn't." [i]That, and murder.[/i] He thought.

It didn't take much 'bargaining' after that to get the considerable price of the fiddle cut in half, though calling it a fiddle was like calling a 50 year old scotch 'booze.' It was a Lendrian viola, an instrument from his home island. A very fine piece of artistry, and in the hands of a professional, which Ray was, produced a fine mellow tune. A bit higher pitched that his one back home, but he'd hardly been able to take everything in his mad scramble to escape....

...It was late that night, maybe 2 or 3 in the morning when the guards burst into the sleazy dockside tavern to arrest Raymond Skalter for the murder of Daniel Setn. Raymond was besotted, having given up all hope of escape. His family had given up on him, the Setns were crying for his blood, and [i]she[/i] was gonna get away with it all. The guards were making their arrest proclamations when Ray said "I was framed, you daft barstards." Ray couldn't remember much of what happened immediately afterwards, but he gathered he had 'that cute girl with the eyepatch who ordered a water in a tavern' to thank for his escape. She had dragged him onto her ship after fighting off the guards. She asked him weather or not he was really framed. And he told her the whole story, about Daniel, and the bitch who got him killed and Ray framed for it....

Ray shook his head, dispelling the thoughts of that night, and the growing scowl on his features. It wouldn't do well to dwell on the past, even if it was only a week-and-a-half ago. [i]Hopefully we move on soon. The more distance between me and Lendria Island, the better.[/i] 

"Guh, I need a drink." he muttered, and headed towards the tavern.