“Are you seriously telling me you’ve never played a piano before today?” Selena demanded, staring at her.
“I…I have never even seen this kind of instrument before today,” Allara promised. “Are you displeased?”
“Try this. It’s called The Moonlight Sonata,” Selena said, without answering her question.
Putting her fingers on the piano again, she began playing once more—an even more elaborate song. This one started slowly and softly, building layers of sensation, and making Allara bite back a gasp of pure pleasure. Then it grew, both in volume and in longing, until she could feel the music pulling at her, demanding something she didn’t know how to give.
But as wonderful as the sensations were, Allara forced herself to be still and concentrate on the movements of her new teacher’s hands and the sounds she drew from the grand piano.
At last, after playing for about five minutes, the song ended and Selena looked up.
“Can you copy that?” she asked Allara.
“I will try to make all the notes true,” Allara promised. Putting her hands on the piano again, she began to play exactly what the teacher had just moments before. She was aware of Selena sitting there on the bench beside her, watching her with huge eyes, but she was concentrating fiercely on getting the music right.
At last, she finished and turned to the other woman.
“Were the notes true?” she asked, knowing that they had been.
“This is amazing.” Selena shook her head, her dark hair flying. “I’ve never encountered anything like this before. Look, try this one.”
She placed her hands on the piano and began to play again. This time, the music was fast and furious, humming around Allara’s head like a bunch of busy honey-buzzers. The feelings it caused made her dizzy, her mind whirling as she tried to pay attention to the other woman’s whizzing fingers.
The music wasn’t very long, but when it was done, Allara felt as though she’d just been blown around by a whirlwind.
“Gods of All Creation,” she murmured, putting a hand to her still-spinning head. “That was…intense.”
“Yes, but can you play it?” Selena demanded. “That’s Flight of the Bumblebee. It took me ages to learn to play it properly.”
“I can only try,” Allara said humbly. Placing her hands on the piano, she did her very best to replicate the music faithfully, making sure that every tone sounded true as it rang out, singing the piano’s Song.
“Amazing,” Selena said, when she finished. “Just…stunning.”
“Have I done well for a first lesson?” Allara asked anxiously. “I know I did not learn to read the dots you asked me to.”
Before her teacher could answer, there was a brief knock on the door and Brand stuck his head in.
“Hello, ladies—I hope I’m not interrupting,” he rumbled.
Upon seeing the big Kindred again, Allara was instantly flooded with feelings as intense and immediate as the ones the music caused in her. She felt delighted to see him again—a deep urge to run to him and kiss him—and at the same time, a steely shame that she should have such powerful urges for one who was the enemy of her people.
The feelings were so conflicting, she hardly knew what to say.
“Husband,” she said, “Hello.”
His golden eyes crinkled at the corners in a warm, sleepy smile.
“Hello, sweetheart. Did you enjoy your first lesson?”
“It was wonderful,” Allara said honestly. “Selena is an excellent teacher—she taught me the Song of the grand piano.”
“I didn’t teach you anything—I didn’t have to!” the other woman protested. “Come in here.” She waved at Brand, beckoning him in. “There’s something I want you to see—and hear.”
“Is everything okay?” Looking concerned, he came to stand by the piano.
“More than okay,” Selena assured him. She looked at Allara. “Play Fur Elise.”
Dutifully, Allara did as she was told because one did not dispute with a teacher. After the first piece, Selena had her repeat both the second piece and then the third. As she played, she noticed that the big Kindred’s golden eyes were getting wider and wider. When she was finished, he shook his head and looked at Selena.
“How?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Unless she has some kind of innate musical ability—maybe it has to do with her people.” She looked at Allara. “Do people just pick up instruments like that and start playing them on your planet?”
“Women don’t,” Allara said quickly. “For we are not allowed to touch instruments of music. But men do.”
“So…they never need lessons?” Brand asked.
Allara shook her head.
“The music of the instruments is in their blood—especially those of the Seven Great Houses,” she added proudly. “I am of the Seventh House, myself.”
“It must have to do with her cultural heritage—and a great deal of natural talent,” Selena remarked. “I’ve heard of prodigies who just started playing the first time they sat down to a piano, but I’ve never seen one until now. Commander Brand,” she told him. “Your wife is phenomenal and I don’t say that lightly.”
“Does this mean you are pleased with me, then?” Allara asked her hopefully. “Can I come for more lessons and learn more music? Will you play more that I can copy?”
Selena laughed.
“Sure, I’ll be happy to. But I’m afraid we’ll run through my piano repertoire pretty quickly. Like I said—it’s not my first choice.”
“Oh—the vio-lin!” Allara clapped a hand to her mouth. “I forgot you were going to teach its Song to me! Do you have time to teach me now?” she asked hopefully. She looked at Brand. “Please, husband, can Selena teach me just one more instrument before we go?”
Brand still looked rather stunned.
“Sure, baby,” he murmured. “Unless Selena has somewhere she needs to be.”
The music teacher shook her head.
“No, of course not. Let’s see what else she can learn.”
Eighteen
The rest of the morning and early afternoon were sheer delight to Allara. Selena produced another adjustable mouthpiece and she was able to try all the brass instruments and all the stringed instruments as well. The only difficulty she found was with the vio-lin. It sometimes made awful, screeching noises at first—scraping her skin like a saw with sharp teeth and making her gasp and nearly drop the instrument.
“Take it easy,” Selena advised her. “You just don’t quite have the right technique yet. You have to know how to hold the bow.”
“I think it will take me more than one lesson,” Allara said frowning in disappointment as she laid the instrument down carefully. She had wanted to make the vio-lin’s Song her own so badly!
“Don’t worry, you can come back for a second lesson before you play Carnegie Hall,” Selena said dryly. “Considering you played every other instrument like you’ve been doing it for years, I’d say you’re doing all right.”