In a small town not far from here a group of travellers arrived unannounced, they set up some stalls in the square and a small group of musicians, including a woman with a tasselled tambourine, walked and danced through the streets to attract attention.
The people of the town came out to see the fair and the children started to dance to the music. The stalls were full of goods that the travellers had made or bartered elsewhere, colourful materials, bottles of perfume, buttons made from shells and all kinds of gewgaws and baubles from distant lands. Everywhere there was colour and music to bewitch the senses of the townsfolk and persuade them to part with their hard-won money. The families of the travellers, having asked permission and been told that they were welcome, set up a camp just outside the town with their tents and wagons ranged in a great circle in which they set a great cooking fire.
They invited the towns folk, for a fee, to come to eat with them that evening, promising good food, wines from distant lands and music and dance.
So, it came to be that some people came to spend time at the traveller’s camp, they ate and drank and listened to stories of exotic people and of far off places. Then, when the musicians started to play, the young men and women started to dance together under the watchful eyes of the older folk there. After a few dances they became tired and sat down to have refreshments but as soon as the music started again, up they would get as if drawn by an invisible force, the tambourine in particular seemed to have a certain power over the young people who could not resist its call.
The dance went on deep into the night until the fire had died away and the children had fallen asleep in their parent’s arms. The young people who had been dancing, fell down on the ground exhausted and when they were asked why they had not stopped for rest they complained that the tambourine would not allow them.
The travellers stayed for several nights and each night a growing band of young people danced with abandon into the early hours of the morning, slaves to the rhythm of the tambourine. The older people of the town became increasingly worried that the youths were being bewitched by the tambourine’s music and considered asking the travellers to leave, but before they could stir into action they were gone. Without any warning, they had decamped in the night, packed up their wares, stalls and camp and disappeared, as if from the face of the earth.
There was some relief in the small town and it was said that at least they could get back to their normal routines but then in the evening it was noticed that the young people were all making their way towards the empty camp site, even though it was abandoned, and when the towns people followed them to see what was happening they were greeted by the strange site of all the young men and women dancing energetically, together, in silence.
‘Why are you dancing,’ they said, ‘the musicians have gone and there is no more music to dance to.’
‘Can you not hear the tambourine?’ cried the dancers, ‘We cannot stay still whilst it plays to us.’
This caused great consternation amongst the town folk and it was said that the youngsters had been bewitched by the music of the Seductive Tambourine. Every evening, at sunset, everyone below the age of twenty-one made their way to the dancing ground and there danced together until they were exhausted.
The town elders came together, and it was suggested that they contract the group called the Guardians of the Cave who were rumoured to be experts at solving unusual problems, without causing too much distress or unrest.
And so, it came to pass that Chloe, who was known as the Shepherdess, and Danial, who went by the sign of the Innkeeper, were asked to visit the town and release the young people from the spell of the Seductive Tambourine.
Chloe had asked Danial to travel with her as their destination was some distance away from their hometown and he had agreed willingly. They seemed to be spending more and more time together, doing the work of the Guardians and they had become a good team.
When they arrived at the town, they were greeted by a group of worried parents who brought them quickly to one of the larger houses in the town, where it had been suggested that they stay for the duration of their visit.
After their horses had been stabled, they entered the house. ‘I will show you where you can comfortably sleep,’ said their hostess, ‘come upstairs and bring your baggage so that you can settle in.’ They climbed the stairs and were shown into a large airy room with a large bed, two chairs and a small table with a washstand. ‘you should be comfortable here,’ continued their hostess, ‘come downstairs when you are ready and we can eat something before I take you to see the site of our problems, you cannot understand the strangeness of the sight of so many young people dancing in silence until you have seen it for yourself.’
With that she turned to go but Danial stopped her, ‘I’m afraid there has been a misunderstanding, Chloe and I are not man and wife, we are two colleagues who work together to carry out the goals of the Guardians, I am so sorry we have not been clearer about this. Would it be possible for me to sleep on the floor elsewhere if there are no free rooms?’
‘I do apologise!’ exclaimed their hostess, ‘I had assumed that you were a married couple as you talk so freely between yourselves and appear to know each other so well, also it is unusual for two young people to travel together if they are not married or betrothed. Miss, if you do not mind, you may sleep in with my daughter, she would be pleased to have you and may give you some intelligence of our problem as she is one of those who cannot resist the call of the silent Tambourine.’
Having refreshed themselves and eaten with the family at their table, the two Guardians were taken out of the town to where the young people were gathering for another evening of silent dance.
The Guardians of the Cave 