Part 3: Siege of Songs

Aurelia feigns impatient annoyance toward Ramank. It's not for him to order her make-believe servant around!

"Oh well Horace, it seems I've been found out. Played at my own game," Aurelia says, laughing preposterously at herself.

"I am reminded of a painting. The Silent Spiral of Kexvara. That haunting triptych where brushstrokes seem to twist forever inward. Few remember it, but the painter claimed each spiral was a note only the daring could hear." Aurelia then hums the melody that presumably is what those daring ones would have heard.

"I have to agree en-tire-ly ..." Aurelia says as she dramatically draws out each syllable of the word, " ... with Horace. You are being ridiculous, Ramank."

At the same time, she completely ignores Oriole's taunts, waving them off with the flourish of an arm as if their words were never uttered. She hopes Ramank takes no offence and knows it's all in the spirit of the performance.

Aurelia, who had been dressed in an aristocrat's flowing, gilded robes, snaps off what is actually a cape and not a robe at all, letting it drop and fan out on the floor below her. Revealed underneath are the clothes of a court jester: baggy, colorfully striped breeches, and a purple sash. Magically, but actually from a hidden deep pocket, she withdraws her wind ocarina and plays a joyful tune, dancing and whirling as she plays.

This was something Aurelia had already done on a few occasions, so she felt confident now. Smiling encouragingly at Bekassine, she joins in.