After he sang that line, she sang her response. She took a deep breath, turning so that a wide swath of the audience could appreciate the taut material of her blouse. "Oh, no John, no John, no John, no!"
The song continued, as the suitor offered her jewels and dresses, only to be turned down. Then he got smart, and rephrased his question.
If I may not be your lover, Madame will you let me go?
This time the children laughed as she sang the refrain, refusing to let him go. And so, in the song, the suitor won the hand and heart of the maiden, by making her required words become an acceptance. At the conclusion she drew him gently in again and kissed him, this time more thoroughly. She reveled in the power the stage gave her; she had become by definition a lovely and compelling woman.
Now there was substantial applause. She had made it work, not by her singing but by her presence and appearance. They had of course observed how she managed Bright throughout, and made him perform.
After that they continued, doing the songs she knew, and the villagers seemed quite satisfied. It almost seemed that they had forgotten the minstrel's sudden exit. Opaline was exhilarated. She was rising to the occasion, making it work.
Then she spied Havoc in the audience. He had returned! Suddenly all the tension she had suppressed sprang forth. "Oh!"
"Continue," Havoc said. "You are doing well without me."
But now, not surprisingly, Bright got nervous. "What am I doing here?"
How to manage men. Opaline took it a step further. "Minstrel Hayseed, come join us. We will conclude with a round."
Havoc nodded. He joined them, and sang:
As he started the second line, Opaline put her arm around his waist and sang the first line. As she started the second, she put her other arm around Bright's waist, squeezing him encouragingly, and he sang the first line, having just heard it. Actually, he surely knew the song; it was popular with children anywhere. It was shyness, rather than ignorance, that restrained him, and in her encouraging presence and the constant prodding of the lines that shyness was at bay. They did the round, and Bright finished with the final hee-haws.
The audience burst into strong applause. Opaline turned and kissed Bright, then turned the other way and kissed Havoc. It was a successful finish.
They were immediately mobbed by the younger villagers. Two pretty girls and a handsome boy, evidently by spot conspiracy, linked with the boy in the center and faced them. "No fault?" they asked together.
"My brother and I wish to retire, for we have a long walk tomorrow," Opaline said quickly. "But I think Bright accepts his offer." She glanced at Bright, who was hesitating, embarrassed. Obviously he was not accustomed to such offers from pretty girls. "She is courting you for your beauty of song," Opaline told him. "Can you tell her no John?"
"Negation," the girl said, stepping in to kiss him. There was general laughter as she hauled him away, managing him exactly as Opaline had.
Soon Opaline and Havoc were alone in the house. Now at last she could relax. She collapsed breathlessly on the bed.
Havoc sat beside her, massaging her tight shoulders. "Compliment: You were wonderful," he said.
"Candor: I was desperate. You prepared me, but when you left, I feared I would collapse. But then I saw that Bright was as nervous as I was, and I had to support him. He's a nice man."
"You applied what I taught you."
"Swim or sink. The tight blouse helped. When I breathed, he lost sight of all else."
"Pride in you."
She sat up and hugged him, overcome. "Oh Havoc, thank you!" Then she remembered. "Did you accomplish your mission?"
"Mostly. I abolished the threat, but did not discover who was behind it."
"Question?"
"It was a swarm of hornets. They would have stung you to death despite my efforts. I was angry, and blasted them with fire. I should have saved a few to question."
"Angry?"
He put his arms around her. "I love you, Opaline, no fault. You are a worthy girl. The thought of such an end to you made me lose my temper."
"Oh, Havoc!" She was overcome with emotion.
In the morning they bid parting to the villagers, including Bright and the girl, who had evidently had a fair night of it. "We are in your debt," the Elder said. "You came upon us randomly, gave us rare entertainment, and demonstrated how we can in future better entertain ourselves." She glanced at Bright. "You, especially, Opaline, made a demonstration we respect. Is there any return favor we can do you?"
Opaline was about to protest, as she did not feel she had done anything special for them, but caught Havoc's warning glance. It was better to accept the credit. Still, there was something. "Hesitancy," she said.
"Speak."
"I have never been in Air before. It's so pretty! Would you—could I see what it is like without the illusion?"
"One moment only," the Elder said, frowning.
Then the loveliness faded and was replaced by a completely dull and generally unesthetic collection of shacks squatting amidst weeds. Bright and the girl were both gawky youths, and her hair was a mess. Only the Elder herself remained prim. It seemed that the Air Chroma folk saw little need to shore up reality when illusion was so much easier.
In a moment the illusion returned. All was lovely again. "Appreciation," Opaline said. "I am impressed."
She did not clarify that her impression was not entirely positive.
They walked back to the nonChroma path, which was now safe. "We all put forth our best face," Havoc remarked. "You and I included. Many folk's minds are much as the Air Chroma reality, being invisible to all except telepaths."
"I'm sure mine is suitably weedy," Opaline agreed ruefully, knowing he could read it.
"Negation. Yours is attractive. You are honest with yourself, and seek only good for others. Your body is only a body, similar to most others, but your mind is naturally pretty."
"It is my mind that attracts your fancy!" she exclaimed, catching on. "Because I will never subsequently be as innocent and positive as I am now."
"Acquiescence," he agreed. "The minds of experienced women are far less idealistic. Apart from Gale and Monochrome, few really turn me on."
Opaline knew she shouldn't feel flattered, but she couldn't help it. She liked being pretty for him.
He paused, brought her in to him, and kissed her. Nothing needed to be said.
Opaline saw the scorched section where Havoc had bombed the hornets, and shuddered. She had done her part, with the songs, but he had done his part too, saving her life. "We approach our destination," he said.
"Remember: the mission is secret. Do not tell anyone, not even Oak. But do keep him developing his ability."
"Intention," she agreed. "One month."
"Deal remains. Come to me when you decide."
She intended to. She would give it her all, for that month, then assess her true mind.
He gave her bottom one squeeze, hinting at the passion he suppressed. She hoped she would not be less appealing, mentally, after that month of what was bound to be sexual and emotional experience.
"One other thing," he said. "I have shown you that you need not fear the male member. It is a tool for a purpose, not fearsome in itself."
"I have no fear of yours," she agreed. "I love holding it, while you are holding me."
"But when having sex with a man who is not knowledgeable, you must take control."