“Thank you, Lord,” Orpheus said, tears in his eyes as he held the gift. “I don’t know what to say…I…”
“Say nothing,” Apollo said. “Learn to play this, and you shall be well-armed for all that this life presents you. Let it be your light in the dark, and a light for all others.”
In that moment, Calliope felt an unfamiliar chill in her body, but Apollo’s eyes turned their starry stare upon her, willing her to be silent just then.
“Play for us, Orpheus,” Erato said, holding her own small lyre in her hands.
Orpheus sat upon a stone, and positioned himself with the lyre upon the right side of his lap. He slid the hand-strap over his left hand, and the fingers of his right hand hovered in anticipation over the seven golden strings.
He then plucked the strings.
It was gentle at first, hesit
