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Tam sighs and shakes his head. "Five minutes when we get home..." he says to no one, which puzzles the priest to no end and send Kerobian off his stool in a fit of laughter.

She picks him up once more and helps him regain his seat. "Please, Kerobian, take care. You don't want to break a leg now do you?"

"How wonderfully you play!" exclaims the priest with delight. Just about this time a boy runs in, completely out of breath and shoves something into Tam's hands, a small wood carrying case. Tam gives the lad another coin and nods to Kerobian. "Shall we?" he asks opening up the lid and pulling out his wooden harp. To Keroban's surprise, it is already strung, with silvery wires instead of tears. Tam smiles and ruffles his fur. "I've no need of the cry for now, Kero... and we've an audience ready made. Back me up ok?"

Moving to a stool near the fire and removing his hat, placing it on the ground near his feet completely out of habit, he begins with a sweet quick jig.

The next piece Tam plays is a love song he himself has composed to one who hair was the color of the rainswept skies. This time Kerobian sits the song out, fearful of interjecting anything less than the pure emotion the song drags forth.

When he finishes, Tam looks around and grins weakly. "Sorry folks, kind of got carried away. Tell you what. Pick a song and I'll do it, ok? Make it a challenge... and iffin I don't know it, I'll try to make something up about the subject ye chose... it's something we like to call Stump the Bard."

Tam laughs and urges the cub to join him by the fire. "Seems they don't want to hear me, kiddo... yer up. What shall we perform, hmmm... so what shall we play... "the Lusty Minstrel", "Talesian's Ride" or "Scarborough Fair"? The entire room bursts into laughter, including the priest as they all know Tam would never sing such music in mixed company and he was only suggesting the latter for Kerobian to sing.

Tam laughs good naturedly and ruffles the cub's fur. "Fiddlesticks, you have a beautiful voice, Kero, and if we are going to be stuck here all night... an it appears we might... I will need to save my voice. Come sing for us." His eyes are warm and gentle on the cat, urging him to join him in song.

Tam gives him a wink of encouragement and Kero is surprised by the applause that his small tune brings forth. If night dark cat's could blush, he would, and Tam seeing this soon turns him free. His next song is the one he wrote about Kero, that he had sung for the first time at Kerobian's birthday party.

Seeing this, Tam quickly puts away his harp, much to the dismay of the inn's patrons. "Sorry people, Kero here is still not fully recovered and we've a long walk back home. But we'll be back, don't you worry... where else can I find such a devoted audience?" Then he picks the cub up and bids farewell to their friends and carries him home.

"You look tired enough to sleep on your feet." laughs Tam as he hugs the cub close.