Lord Vivec once cut a reed from a riverbed and fashioned it into a simple flute. He played it as he wandered through the sweet lands and the hollow lands, but although the tune he played was lively, the sound of the reed flute was always mournful.
In frustration, Vivec said to the flute, "Obstinate thing, why do you persist in this wailing?"
The reed flute replied, "I cry out for the riverbed from which you took me, and my brothers and sisters who remain there. Anyone parted from one he loves will understand this. Anyone pulled from his home longs to return, even a reed."
Vivec understood. He said, "Then cherish your grief, little reed, but guard it jealously, like a miser with a great treasure. When you sing at a gathering of friends, mingle with the laughter instead of crying alone. Few will understand the secret hidden within the notes, but that secret is the beginning of grace."