King Ritmo and the Realm of Ta

By Crystal Hosea and Jessie James

"That which was in the beginning
shall also be found in the end..."

The underground realm of Ta has remained unaffected by the Great Dissonance, but it holds a secret within its chambers. With the help of the takadimis can Hannah decode the markings on the tunnel walls before it is too late?

The second novella in the book series from Legends of the Staff of Musique, King Ritmo and the Realm of Ta continues a young girl's journey through a magical world on a quest to defeat the Great Dissonance. With the help of friends she encounters along the way, she realizes her purpose as she discovers the music within.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781678145392

Book preview

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Text Copyright © 2021 Crystal Hosea

Edited by Marjorie Lang 2021

Illustrations Copyright © 2022 Jessie James

Cover Art Copyright © 2021 Jessie James

Published by Legends of the Staff of Musique 2021

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher.  For information regarding permission, write to [e-mail].

ISBN-13: 978-1-6781-4539-2

Dedication

To Monti for opening my eyes to the beautiful communication that exists in the world of rhythm. Ashe.

A mi Tiaguito querido.  Ojalá que siempre explorarás los mundos magicales entre las paginas de libros, incluso cuando los personajes no tienen tu nombre precioso. Te quiero un monton, mijo.

-C.H.

For my children and all the children with spoken and unspoken songs in their hearts.  Gratitude to my ancestors for the magical connections and greatest gifts of legacy.  For the creativity of sisterhood and the visions we bring to life.

-J.J.

Prologue

Hannah stared at the page of the poetry book on her desk as she absentmindedly chewed on the end of her pencil.  She was supposed to be working on the copywork her mother had assigned her, but her mind was adrift with images of verdant green fields, cabins nestled in a wooded mountaintop, and the lush, beautiful garden that surrounded a quaint little blue house.  It had been six months since she had gazed upon the kingdom of Solfeggio, and it was all beginning to feel like a distant dream.  As suddenly as she had found herself in that magical world, she had been whisked right back to this one. 

The glow and the music of the Staff of Musique was burned into Hannah’s memory, but to her disappointment, the entire fence line to all of the pastures remained made of only metal or wood.  None of the panels of any of the corrals had illuminated again like that enchanted day earlier in the spring.  Everything was painfully normal.  Even though she knew she must carry out everyday life like nothing was out of the ordinary, Hannah was finding it difficult to keep her mind from wandering to those vibrant images of a faraway land.  Every now and again she could still feel the suppressive force of the Great Dissonance she had encountered in the kingdom weighing on her shoulders.  An unspeakable darkness that sometimes dominated her dreams in such a way that she would wake in the middle of the night breathless and sweating.  If she ever doubted her experience of that other world, those dreams always served as a reminder of how real it had actually been.

A knock at her bedroom door startled Hannah out of her daydream.

"Campanita, called Hannah’s mother as she gently pushed the cracked door open, have you finished your copywork yet?  Papi has finished trimming those trees along the south pasture and could use your help clearing the branches." 

Just about, Mama, replied Hannah.  She took the pencil from her mouth and carefully transcribed the last few words of the poem before closing her poetry book and placing it into the drawer of her desk.  Hannah grabbed her coveralls from the back of her chair and slipped them on over her house clothes, buttoning the straps as she passed her mother in the doorway who smiled and tickled Hannah’s shoulder as she brushed past.  Work never stopped on the Salva family ranch.  Daydreaming about a magical world would have to wait until some other time.

Chapter 1 • With a Knick Knack Paddywack

Clink-clink, clink-clink

Hannah was transfixed by the rhythmic clinking of Professor Issimo’s spoon as he stirred honey into his tea, completely forgetting her manners as she unblinkingly stared in his direction.

Clink-clink, clink-clink

Round and round it went, clinking as it met the sides of the teacup. 

Clink-clink, clink-clink

Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of clinking, Professor Issimo took the spoon from the cup and gently placed it on the teacup’s saucer.  He lifted the cup, closed his eyes, and slowly drew in a breath, taking in the floral aroma of the tea. 

Tap-tap, tap-tap.

The clinking of Professor Issimo’s spoon had given way to the new rhythm of Hannah’s foot tapping the floor impatiently.  Professor Issimo paid no mind to the tapping as he continued to breathe in the tea’s fragrance with his eyes closed.  His shoulders rose and fell with each breath, and the corners of his mouth curled into a slight smile.  Hannah sighed deeply as she leaned back in the couch, foot still tapping impatiently.  Professor Issimo opened one eye and glanced in Hannah’s direction.  Hannah sheepishly ceased the tapping and held her foot still.  Finally, Professor Issimo drew the teacup to his lips and slowly sipped the tea. 

Ah… sighed Professor Issimo, Truly one of my favorites.  I adore butterfly pea flower tea.  The flavor is divine, and the bright blue color so unique!  Did you know, Hannah, that if you add citrus to this tea, it causes it to turn purple?  He held out his teacup and motioned in the direction of a bowl of lemon wedges in the center of the coffee table.  Would you be a dear and fetch that bowl for me?

Hannah stood and brought the bowl of lemon wedges and a pair of tongs from the coffee table over to Professor Issimo.  He plucked a lemon wedge from the bowl with the tongs and placed the wedge on his teacup saucer, thanking Hannah as he handed the tongs back to her.  He then proceeded to squeeze a few drops of juice into his tea.  Professor Issimo’s amber eyes sparkled as he beckoned for Hannah to come see.  She trudged to Professor Issimo’s side as he held his teacup eagerly up so Hannah could get a closer look.

Just as Professor Issimo had predicted, the tea in his cup had indeed changed from a vibrant cobalt blue to a deep lavender color.  Hannah feigned amazement and promptly returned to her spot on the couch where she plopped down with a groan.  At that moment, Hannah’s mother poked her head into the sitting room from the adjacent kitchen and raised her eyebrows at Hannah.  Hannah sat up quickly and gave her mother a guilty grin.  Her mother smiled and shook her head as she disappeared back into the kitchen where she was preparing a Sunday brunch. 

Hannah slumped back into the couch and tapped her fingers on the armrest.  Six months.  Six months Professor Issimo had been visiting them on Sundays.  Six months he had enjoyed brunch with Hannah’s family followed by a casual stroll around the ranch where he would stop to greet each and every one of the horses.  Thirty-two horses roamed freely in pastures on Hannah’s family ranch, and he would stop to pat the noses of every single one. 

Every. Single. One. 

Hannah would often walk beside Professor Issimo as her older sister and brother ran on ahead, hoping for meaningful stories or conversation.  He would comment on this tree and that flower and the hummingbird over yonder, but never after any of those brunches, during all those walks, had he ever even mentioned the subject Hannah most wanted to discuss. 

Hannah tenderly touched the clear quartz pendant hanging around her neck that seemed to grow heavier with each passing day.  She was beginning to think she had been mistaken about Professor Issimo.  Maybe he really was just a composer in residence at the conservatory where her mother taught voice lessons.  Maybe he truly was lonely like her mother said because he was new to their town and that’s why he always visited them on Sundays.  Hannah frowned and crossed her arms across her chest.  She didn’t want any of that to be true.  But after six whole months of nothing more than casual Sunday brunches and lengthy uneventful strolls, she was beginning to believe that this jolly old man with a familiar name had no ties whatsoever to Hannah’s magical experience the spring prior.

Professor Issimo glanced at Hannah, then set down his teacup and leaned back in his chair, twirling the curled ends of his silver moustache in thought.  Hannah, he said, I would like it very much if you would be a help to me after brunch.  I was hoping to give some apples to the new foals, and I could use some help carrying the apple basket.  He tapped the round handle of his walking cane that was resting against the armchair in which he was sitting.  Until this hip of mine heals, it seems this old man is only allowed one free hand to play knick knack paddywack on anything at all!  He chuckled and winked good-naturedly, seeming quite amused with his own joke.

Before she could answer, Hannah’s mother poked her head around the doorway again.  Little Bell, could you please help me set the table? 

Yes, Mama. said Hannah as she stood up, Please excuse me, Professor Issimo.  May I take your teacup?

Professor Issimo shook his head. No, thank you, Hannah.  I am still enjoying this tea. He took the teacup from the coffee table and raised it with a twinkling smile.  He then brought it to his face,