A minstrel whose music is corrupted by heretical magic. A tavern full of people who just wanted an ale, dinner, and a little music.

Piper and Lessa are an up and coming musical duo, with problems. Piper hears constant, unseen music, that weaves its way into what he plays, affecting his audience, manipulating their emotions. To make matters worse, Lessa seems to have soured on both their musical and personal relationships; her displeasure and his ensuing anguish stoke the emotional magic raging inside him.

Playing at a prestigious tavern, everything comes to a head. The magic, set to sizzling by Lessa's anger and Piper's fear, serves up a gig that no one in the audience will ever forget.

And unfortunately, it all smells like heresy, and there happens to be a priest there, watching. Can it get worse? Oh yes....

The Eternal Muse: Passion and Fear, is a prequel short story to the trilogy.