Angus, Trevor, and Veronica followed the happily chatting crowd to an enormous dining room. A clear, vaulting dome soared over the airy space. The glistening dance floor ringed a sizable center stage, and this, in turn, was surrounded by hundreds of dining tables. Beautiful glass sculptures reflected the flickering light of a thousand candles. Crisp linen and fresh flowers adorned each table, and an army of chefs bustled about, assembling a mountainous buffet.
"Hey, look," said Trevor, "that's Freddie Valance from The Giant Furballs!"
"And over there, it’s Hazey G.!" gasped Veronica, trying unsuccessfully to maintain a nonchalant demeanor.
"Who's Hazey G. or The Giant Furballs?" asked Angus.
"They're from really, and I mean REALLY famous bands." said Trevor, "You weren't kidding about not being allowed to listen to music."
The three passed near a table where Zach and his friends sat with the Sage of Dissonance, Dionis. It was good that Zach didn't notice them, as Angus wasn't prepared for a confrontation.
Angus, Trevor, and Veronica joined a table with two kids of similar age they recognized from the Allegro.
"Wait a sec," said Angus as he pulled out his magnet and waved it above the seats. "All clear."
"You’re, like, very super-weird, Angus," Veronica scoffed as she sat down, "My weird meter is maxing out." She pretended to hold a device in her hands and made some beeping sound effects with her mouth.
Angus didn’t know if she was being friendly or insulting. He wondered what other things he did that weren’t normal. He’d assumed everyone checked for iron filings before they sat down.
"Hi there, my name is Hamish, Hamish Henry, and this is my friend Adora Plowman." Hamish was a tall, powerfully built young fellow in a cowboy hat, his hair tied in a single dark braid that fell to his waist. Adora was short and plump with a dazzling, confident smile.
"I'm Angus, and this is Veronica and Trevor,"
"Hello," chimed Veronica and Trevor.
"Pretty impressive, all that footwork today on the boat," said Adora.
"Um, thanks," mumbled Angus, not knowing how to take a compliment.
"Boxing is all about footwork," Veronica playfully socked Angus in the arm, "Just wait until I show you how to throw some punches."
Angus winced in anticipation of the pain, but it didn't hurt.
"So, are you a composer?" Adora asked Angus.
"Not at all," said Angus, "I've never done anything musical, especially writing music. Why would you think that?"
"Well, those pirate guys were after you," explained Adora, "and Clavis said they were kidnapping composers. I just figured you're a composer."
"Well, maybe he’ll become one," said Trevor, "You never know."
"I think I'll have to learn an instrument first." Angus’s fingers started tapping, and he tucked his hands in his lap.
"Did any of you get found by an Instrument yet?" asked Adora.
"Don't you mean chose our instrument?" said Angus. "It's weird how Tika said that backward too."
"Oh no," Adora shook her head. "I didn't say it backward. Instruments find you. Your mentor didn't explain how it works yet? Mine, this woman named Wilma, told me that they are alive and that they will choose you."
"Instruments are alive?" Angus repeated. The other four looked surprised.
"Yup, at least that's what Wilma claims," said Adora. "She says they talk to you with telepathy or something."
"Speaking of mentors, that is so crazy you got Clavis," said Trevor to Angus, "Like, you got the top official of this place. Have you had a chance to talk to him yet?"
"Not really," said Angus, "he said we'd meet after dinner, but he sure seems like a busy man."
"Yes, dinner," said Veronica. "I am totally starving. When are we allowed to go to the buffet?"
"I think she might know," said Hamish, pointing his chin at Concordia, Sage of Harmony, who was limping up to the microphone.
"Welcome to the Grand Dome! For the benefit of first-timers, I’ll introduce myself again and say a few words. As you heard in the pairing session, my name is Concordia, and I am the Sage of Harmony."
"You are in one of my favorite places, or just above it, as the kitchen is below us. You see, I am passionate about cooking. It’s fascinating how all the ingredients combine to make something completely new and unrecognizable. I love big kitchens where everyone works efficiently together to prepare the components of a magnificent meal."
"I don’t like the taste of salt on its own, and uncooked flour is inedible. While some of you might like raw eggs, mixing all three makes a much tastier treat, pasta. When it comes to people, I do not favor soloists, divas, or those who compete for glory at the group's expense. I reward cooperation, relationships, and the team. Not the rockstar."
Dionis laughed derisively from his table; he clearly disagreed.
Concordia ignored the interruption. "With all of this talk about food. I believe it's time to eat! The buffet is open."
The quintet of newly met friends nearly sprinted to get in line. A fragrantly steaming hot table offered golden turkey and roast beef with all the trimmings, lasagnas, curries, soups, noodles, and loaded cheesy pizza. Close by, a bed of crushed ice cradled sushi and colorful salads. There were also loaves of bread, cheeses, various appetizers, and several utterly unfamiliar items.
“She sounds like she’s going to be a bit of a bummer,” Veronica groused about Concordia as they waited in line. “She’s all about rules and stuff... although she oversees the Guardians, which makes her kinda cool. I bet you Valora could beat her in a fight. Maybe they already did fight, and Valora used her battle ax to chop off Concordia’s leg!”
The other four cringed with embarrassment at her insensitivity.
Angus returned to the table with his heaping meal. He double-checked to ensure there was no trace of carrots, then positioned a square of tin foil under his plate and received puzzled looks.
“Weird!” mouthed Veronica, miming her detector again and making quiet beeping sounds.
Angus was getting used to Veronica’s personal jabs. He started seeing them as valuable. At least she’ll let me know if I’m doing something unusual, he thought.
Angus was pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted. Uncle Benjamin was not known for his cooking.
Having finished the main course, a return trip to the buffet presented a plethora of desserts. The five kids dug into their sweets with renewed gusto. Hamish started shaking his head.
"What? Who said that?" said Hamish.
"No one said anything," replied Trevor through a sticky mouthful of hot fudge.
"In my hand? You're in my hand? Who said that?" Hamish looked concerned by this point. "Help you find your partner. The other spoon?"
Trevor slowly smiled and then started laughing.
"Hamish," said Trevor, "I think I know what's happening. An instrument has found you. Well, half of one has. Apparently, you play the spoons now."
Hamish looked at the spoon in his hand, smiled, and said, "Where? Your partner? You don't know? How do we find it?"
Hamish left the table with determination and asked diners if he could touch their spoons individually. He reached for Hazey G.'s spoon just as he was about to eat a mouthful of ice cream. Hamish was so focused that he didn't realize whose cutlery he’d grabbed. While there were some annoyed and confused faces, no one protested, probably due to Hamish's intimidating size.
"Well, I never thought I'd see that," Trevor turned back to the rest of the group.
The four of them giggled at the sight.
"Hey, did any of you guys hear about the Caverns?" asked Veronica.
"Nope," replied Angus as the other three shook their heads.
"Well, my mentor, Pascal, was telling me all about them." said Veronica, "Apparently, under and around the city, there’s a whole network of caves. It's where all the fancy jewels people wear come from."
"Oh yes, I've seen tons of them around." said Adora, "I'd like one for myself."
Angus thought of the ring hanging from his neck. He wondered if it bore one of the crystals Veronica mentioned but decided to keep it under his shirt for now.
"Are we allowed in the caves?" asked Trevor.
"It’s always rules with you,” Veronica sniffed, “but if you must know, Pascal didn't say either way. He is almost a hundred years old and seems to leave out details like that.”
"FOUND IT!" Hamish bellowed triumphantly from the other side of the room and ran back to the group.
"Oh, my," Concordia said from nearby. "I always love watching people get chosen by their first Instrument." She approached the kids' table and joined the small crowd around them.
"Now Hamish," instructed Concordia, "hold the spoons in your hand and think to them, sleep."
Hamish complied. The spoons dissolved into a fine mist, then condensed to form a small purple stone on the table before him.
"Great! Now think, awake."
The stone evaporated and projected into his hand, reforming into the spoons. The crowd cheered.
Hamish made the spoons turn back into a purple stone.
"Perfect, Hamish, and congratulations," said Concordia. "Now, when you finish here, go to the jeweler and ask him to make you a setting. For obvious reasons, he always stays open late on a newcomer day."
The crowd dispersed, and Hamish sat down. The five kids finished off their desserts and continued to chat.
"That is so cool how your instrument found you," said Trevor, "I had no idea they turned into crystals. That must be why people have all that fancy jewelry. Do you mind if we tag along? I'm curious how it works."
"Sure thing," said Hamish, "I'd love the company."
Angus, Veronica, and Trevor followed Hamish and Adora down a winding path to the jeweler. They couldn't stop talking about Hamish's new instrument.
"So, crystals come from the Caverns," said Veronica, "and now we know that Instruments turn into crystals… maybe we should go to the Caverns and look for crystals. Maybe that's how we can find our Instruments. I want to find a viola that turns into a battle-ax like Velora’s."
Veronica sliced with her arm like she was chopping with an ax. “Then I’ll chop off Concordia's other leg.”
"Don't forget, the Instruments find you," said Trevor.
"Yeah, whatever," Veronica hmphed.
"Well, maybe it’ll give Instruments a bigger chance of finding us," said Angus.
"I don't think it works that way," Trevor shook his head.
They quickly located the jeweler’s workshop. It was a small, low-ceilinged hut, and everyone had to bend to fit in. Jewelry hung from every square inch of the walls and covered every surface.
"Hello?" called Veronica. "I can't believe there's no one here with all this stuff out in the open. Where I come from, it would be looted in thirty seconds."
A short, hunched-over man turned to face them, every conceivable part of him adorned with sparkling treasure.
"Either you think I'm nobody," he cackled, "you're blind, or my new ornamental camouflage jacket is working perfectly!"
He doffed the jacket and tossed it aside with a loud, jangly sound.
"Thing only works here. It's quite the opposite of stealth gear when I wear it anywhere else."
He stuck his hand out.
"The name's Krampis." said the man, "Krampis Goldbliss."
Hamish shook his hand and replied, "Hamish Henry."
"So, Mr. Henry," said Krampis. "What brings you to my shiny workplace?"
"Well, I found, or I should say, my Instrument found me, and Ms. Concordia said to come here and get it set."
"Oh yes, yes," Krampis nodded. "That is what I do. Just choose one of these pieces, and I'll get right on it."
"How much will it cost?" asked Hamish. "I only have a couple of dollars on me."
Krampis giggled. "My friend, you are not buying this jewelry. It’s a long-term loan. When you get bored and want something new, just bring it back. Please remember this jewelry’s purpose is to house our most valued companions, our Instruments. There will be no charge."
Hamish scanned the shop. "There's so much to choose from. I don't know where to start. Do you have any suggestions?"
"When I have my battle-ax viola, I’ll get it put on a labrette." Veronica shoved her thumb into her nose to pinch the nostril, gauging its thickness.
"Don’t you need a piercing first?" asked Angus.
"I'll just pierce it myself," said Veronica, "I'm not afraid of a little blood."
Adora rushed to Hamish with something in her hand.
"How about this?" grinned Adora, presenting a heavy belt buckle.
"I think your friend knows you better than you do," said Krampis.
"I think you're right," Hamish grinned, "I'll take it."