[color=6ecff6][center][h1]The Bard[/h1][/center][/color]
[@Holy Soldier]

It was an excellent night for song.

The tavern was full of patrons, and the ale was flowing like water. Why wouldn't it be? The festival was starting soon, and every young Marked romantic in the world was journeying to the city with stars in their eyes, eagerly awaiting their beloved. Of course, Ciara's mind was far more occupied with her coinpurse than her wrist - the Festival was a business opportunity, the best she'd get any time soon, and love songs would be at a premium. 

Not tonight, however. Tonight was a night for freedom songs - loud and lively and toe-tapping. Ciara took her seat with the other bards, her lute already strung. Her reputation preceded her: she didn't even know this band of players, yet as soon as Ciara Keogh had walked into the room they'd been dying to play her songs for her, provided she show them the sheet music. Now if only you could eat a reputation. The inn continued to bustle, men attending to their ale and their conversation. Nobody was looking at her, but that would shortly change. 

Ciara took a deep breath and felt a grin rise to her face.  The quiet girl faded, replaced by the bubbly performer. She reached up and pulled her black hair out of its bun, letting it fall around her pale neck, a broad smile fixed on her face. She shifted in her seat, pulled the front of her dress down ever so slightly, and began to play, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAERLgZVRc]a loud and jaunty melody.[/url]

[color=6ecff6]"Well, I went into the chandler's shop some candles there to buy,
I looked around the chandler's shop but no one could I spy.
Well I was disappointed so some angry words I said,
Then I heard the sound of a (knock,knock,knock) right above me head."[/color]

She sang loud and proud, her airy voice cutting across the noise of the tavern, stomping hard on the floor for the onomatopoeia of the knocking. This was as bawdy a tavern song as any she knew, and she rose from her seat as she continued, her hands still strumming the music automatically. A faint memory entered her head just then, of her mother being very angry with her father for teaching her this one, but she forced it away.

[color=6ecff6]"Well I was slick and I was quick, and up the stairs I sped,
And much to my surprise I found the chandler's wife in bed;
And with her was another man of most gigantic size,
And they were having a (knock,knock,knock) right before me eyes."[/color]

Now she was walking across the inn, deftly jumping onto a table and making sure the taverngoers got a good look at her legs. In truth she didn't really care for the hungry gazes she was starting to get, but she knew that lustful men were always freer with their coin - she knew that very well. And if seeing a pretty girl singing about 'knocking' made them want to tip her generously... that was more than fine by her. And so Ciara flashed her smile and rolled her eyes at the men, giggling girlishly as the bawdy lyrics continued.

[color=6ecff6]"When the fun was over and done and the lady raised her head,
And quite surprised was she to see me standing by the bed.
"If you will be discreet, my dear, if you would be so kind,
I'll let you come up for some (knock,knock,knock) whenever you feel inclined."
[/color]

That sent up a massive roar from the audience. Already a few of the patrons were leading giggling barmaids in an awkward dance across the inn, and coins were clinking into Ciara's bucket. Toes were tapping, men were smiling, ale was being swilled, and Ciara smiled honestly this time. She loved that music could do this. 

She was just drawing breath to finish the song when the mood changed suddenly. Some confrontation had turned violent, and it was only a brief matter of time before some huge man was knocking a drunkard on his ass. The bar exploded after that, all spilled drinks and smashed chairs and frenzied punches, and Ciara paused for a moment, her mouth hanging open, her fingers stopped, her mind near overcome with frustration. She hadn't made nearly enough to pay for lodging tonight - with all her money spent traveling, she had needed tonight to be a payday. Now...

Behind her, the other musicians were still playing, the song waiting for its mistress to finish it. Ciara shrugged - may as well salvage the night as best she could, she reckoned. And so she played, and stood on her perch atop the table, and sang in that same clear voice as the music mingled with the chaos below her,

[color=6ecff6]"So, all you married men take heed, if ever you come to town,
If you should leave your woman alone, be sure to tie her down.
Or, if you would be kind to her, just sit her right there on the floor,
And give her so much of that (knock,knock,knock) she doesn't want any more!"[/color]