The Last Rose

By Meghann McVey

To become a bard in an elite, chauvinist school, a young woman seeks a famous bard's lost instrument in a haunted ruin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meghann McVey
• Release date: Apr 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476288406

Meghann McVey

Meghann McVey grew up in Hawaii and currently lives in New Orleans. With her Master of Arts in English and work in commercial nuclear power since 2008, she is proof that degrees needn't dictate one's jobs. Among her many muses are Ray Bradbury, Walt Disney, and Japanese animation.

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Meghann McVey

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012

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The Last Rose

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Sabanus crossed the courtyard from sunlight to shade, mentally reviewing the songs he had chosen for his flute test. He had played the notes correctly, but they were so stiff, lacking the tenderness they’d had in practice. Sabanus sighed. He knew what had happened, what always happened. The depth of feeling in his music had fled with his nerves.

Beneath a sprawling oak tree, countless boys sat atop moss, grass, and dirt; some swung their legs from the winding roots and low-hanging branches. All were undergoing this week of tests to attain the privilege of studying at Asudar Isior, the esteemed bardic hall. If they failed, and most would, an entire year would pass before they could try again. Each day, Sabanus joined them under this tree to discuss the day’s tests. Usually their discussions began objectively and escalated into frantic worry as each boy attempted to predict his fate.

But not today, Sabanus muttered. I promised myself and Essonine that I wouldn’t torture myself about it.

Just then, a bird trilled. Its unencumbered emotion reminded Sabanus of everything his prior playing had lacked, severing his optimism, and so he joined the other boys under the tree to discuss the day’s musical ordeals.

Tomorrow we face the most difficult task of all, someone declared as Sabanus sat down.

The boys fell silent, remembering how Leroc, the head of Asudar Isior, had stressed the countless doors which opened for a bard with a distinct, enthralling