Chapter 6

Chapter 6


Laughter, applause, and cheers for more stories, the standard response to a Delmarf story, were absent this night. When this story finished, only the subtle noises of the island night and the gentle weeping of Riup marked it. No one spoke, Delmarf, lost in the story looking for the happy ending, and the Riverjumpers, absorbing the unsettling news of dark times so close to their humble home.
“brreep, The poor dear, brreep,” Riup ended the awkward silence, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
“brrraup, Friend Delmarf, brrraup, so the dark ones that did this are moving away from us? brrraup”
“Yes, friend Fribble, I think so. They were heading south when they left Awktowon, but I don’t know where they were going. This is why I must talk to Lord Bok. He might be able to find these creatures and bring justice for Wemael’s village.”
“brrraup, Yes, yes, friend Delmarf, you should visit friend Lord Bok. brrraup. He will see that they don’t do more of this evil. brrraup.”
“brreep, What of friend Wemael? brreep. Friend Delmarf, what do you plan for our little friend? brreep.”
“I’m not sure. I came for your advice and for help from the Colors that I know you can provide.”
“brreep, Friend Delmarf, brreep. I’m a healer, brreep, but I saw no other wound on friend Wemael than the one you tended to already. brreep. What do you seek of the Colors? brreep
“Friend Riup, it isn’t her body that I fear for, those creatures seemed to have wounded only her shoulder. What I fear for is her mind and heart. She’s lost everything, she saw everything. She’s seen things not meant for children. No, she’s seen things that no one should ever see and they haunt her dreams. She’s such a precious child; I want you to take away what she’s seen. I know you can make her forget. She needs to forget!” Delmarf pleaded, insisted, almost ordered Riup, behavior very much out of character for him.
“brreep, I can not do this, friend Delmarf. brreep” Riup reluctantly responded
“What do you mean you can’t do it? I know you can. I saw you make the thief from Huntersvale forget the location of the entrance to Lord Bok’s secret treasury.”
“brreep, Forgive me, friend Delmarf, I’m not being clear. brreep The thief took something that did not belong to him. I simply returned that knowledge to its rightful owner. brreep What you are asking of me now is not the same thing. brreep Friend Wemael must live with those nasty memories, brreep. She needs to not forget them. brreep The pain she bears today will be the power she will need tomorrow. brreep I must not take from her what the all-Father has chosen to give her, brreep though I long to erase all pain from her memory. brreep Friend Delmarf, you are dear to me and I wish I could do this, brreep but the all-Father has His way. brreep Don’t be sad, Friend Delmarf, brreep I can help our small friend in other ways and she is very strong in the Colors. brreep “
While clearly disappointed that Riup would not do what he thought best, Delmarf relaxed and listened to what she was offering, curious as to the nature of her help and even more curious about her revelation that Wemael was blessed with the Colors.
“brreep The all-Father meant for sleep to be restful. brreep I will give back to friend Wemael the sleep that was stolen from her. brreep I‘ll chase from her dreams the dark times, brreep and she’ll dream of only the happy times of her family. brreep” Riup assured Delmarf, smiling and nodding her head excitedly.
The enthusiasm and eagerness she was brimming with easily spilled across her face, robbing Delmarf of his frustration and infecting both him and Fribble with her sense of hope and exhilaration. She started muttering things that Delmarf couldn’t quite make out. It was clear that she was focused on whatever would be required of her to fulfill her promise. When Delmarf realized that she was lost in her own designing, and his hope of hearing her explanation of Wemael and the Colors was fading, he spoke up, bringing her attention back to him and Fribble.
“Friend Riup, friend Wemael is strong in the Colors?”
“brreep Oh, yes, friend Delmarf, brreep Didn’t you know? brreep”
“I didn’t, but I wondered. Arto listened to her as if she were his mother.” Delmarf laughed, feigning hurt. “Even after all these years together, he only listens to me when it suits his fancy or when I have a big carrot in my hand. Wemael had his ear and, I think his heart, the second she spoke to him. I figured the only way that happened was that she was Color-blessed.”
Fribble let out a big chuckle, then said, “ brrraup Friend Delmarf, you’re funny. brrraup The Colors had nothing to do with that. brrraup Friend Wemael is a Peacer, of course Arto listens to her. brrraup
“A Peacer? What’s a Peacer?”
“brrraup A Peacer is what you call a Halfling. brrraup I don’t know why you call them Halflings. brrraup, They aren’t half of anything I know of, brrraup, but you Two-footers have strange ways of talking anyways. brrraup”
“Hey now, watch it. We Two-footers have very good reasons for the ways we talk.” Delmarf feigned offense “We just don’t know what they are.”
He attempted to look indignant while stifling his laughter, generating a facial expression more comical than his words. It sent both the Riverjumpers into a brief spat of giggles.
“brrraup Friend Delmarf, if you keep up with the funning, you’ll never learn about your little Peacer friend. brrraup.” Fribble ribbed him.
“Ok, go on, I do want to understand this whole Peacer idea.’
“brrraup The all-Father made the Peacers or Halflings, the peace-makers for all Terrerth. brrraup He gave them two gifts that help them be peace-makers. brrraup One gift is what you thought was the Colors. brrraup When a Peacer speaks, you listen, brrraup and want to do what they say. brrraup There’s something about the sound of their voice. brrraup You hear them speak, brrraup and what they say sounds like your idea, brrraup like the best idea you ever had. brrraup”
“So Peacers hypnotize you, making you do what they want?” Delmarf asked, a bit unnerved by the thought.
“brrraup No, friend Delmarf. brrraup Peacers can’t make you do anything. brrraup Their gift just makes their suggestions sound very good to you, brrraup but you still do what you want. brrraup.”
“brreep People fight because they see only their way. brreep” Riup added. “Peacers make you see the other person’s way. brreep Their voice moves your way out, so you see the other clearly. brreep”
“I think I understand,” Delmarf responded, “So Wemael’s voice has been affecting me and I didn’t realize it?”
“brrraup No, friend Delmarf, brrraup friend Wemael is just a tad, brrraup her voice only affects animals now. brrraup”, Fribble continued, a wide grin animating his face, “brrraup I know she won’t end up in the river. brrraup”
“Very funny, friend. So what is this other gift?”
Fribble’s grin grew bigger, “brrraup What language has been spoken since you came here today? brrraup”
“Muckish, of course.” Delmarf answered quickly, wondering why Fribble asked such an obvious question.
Fribble said nothing, just sat there with a knowing grin on his face. Two minutes passed with no change in Fribble’s behavior. Delmarf began wondering if Fribble had forgotten what he was going to say, but that silly smirk suggested something else, something that was eluding Delmarf. A couple minutes more and Delmarf turned to entreat some help from Riup, only to encounter the same smirk and silence. He was about to demand that someone tell him what was so funny, when he got it. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped, a robin could have flown into his gaping mouth when he declared,
“Wemael is speaking Muckish.”
Both his friends laughed at his sudden understanding.
“But how’s that possible? There aren’t any Muckrakers south of Twin Rivers, other than you. She couldn’t have learned Muckish in less than an hour. It isn’t possible.”
“brreep That is the all-Father’s other gift. brreep Peacers can understand any language in Terrerth after only hearing a couple of sentences. Brreep”
“Now, that’s one gift I’d love to have. It took Ban’helai ten years to teach me the basics of the most common languages in Terrerth.” Delmarf chuckled. “So friend Wemael has these gifts and is blessed with the Colors?”
“brreep Oh yes, friend Delmarf, brreep friend Wemael is strong in the Colors. brreep”
“Does she know that she is Colors-blessed?”
“brreep Friend Wemael sees the Colors, brreep but doesn’t understand what she’s seeing. brreep She needs a guide. brreep”
Turning to her husband, Riup inquired, “brreep Father, what do you say about friend Wemael living with us? brreep”
“brrraup Welcome home, friend Wemael. brrraup” came his cheery answer.
Children at play, giggling and shouting put an end to this discussion. The tads and Wemael were in high spirits and on a mission. They ran, jumped, in a bee-line to Delmarf.
Digger actually knocked Delmarf off his stump, as he jumped into his lap and proclaimed, “ brrap It’s story time! brrap”’
Picking himself up and setting Digger on the ground beside the stump, Delmarf chuckled as he announced, “The storyteller is here. All who would hear tales of wonder and adventure draw near and be amazed!”
The tads quickly found spots on the ground near the stump, Lily pointing to a spot next to her for Wemael. Wemael sat down looking around to see where Riup was, and saw her slip into the trees, looking very much like she had important business elsewhere. Grinning, Wemael watched Fribble pour another cup of grasshopper tea and join the tads on the ground. He was just another avid story listener, eager for a new exciting tale. As usual Delmarf did not disappoint. He transported them to icy mountains, facing the wrath of winter wolves and abominable snowmen, to arid deserts and the warring tribes of Asaathi lizard folks riding Fire worms. They felt the cool morning mists lifting off the sweet grass plains of Alena, as Ubuti hunters stalked Moss snakes. Time raced with cheetahs’ speed and the sun was anxious to rest as Delmarf ended his evening of tales by recounting his defeat and befriending of the mighty red dragon, Blazewyrm, using only Riup’s delicious daisy bread and Fribble’s honeysuckle wine. The tads and Wemael pleaded for more, but Delmarf told them that even stories need their rest, else they lose their flavor. Her face aglow with accomplishment, Riup joined them in time to hear how instrumental her daisy bread had been and snickered to think that Delmarf would include that in one of his stories.
As the sun kissed the very tops of Kairn’s Keep Mountains far to the west, Fribble announced, “ brrraup Family, it is time for evening prayer. brrraup”
Delmarf motioned for Wemael to sit next to him and watch, she was about to see a thing of beauty. The family ceased talking and formed a small circle, Fribble being the focal point. For a minute nothing happened, the family was squatting in that circle, heads down, not making a sound. Then without warning, a low, thrumming sound began. Fribble lifted his head and looked deeply into the sky, the rich, sonorous music increasing in volume. Riup joined her husband’s upward gaze, adding her own voice, a sort of trilling that complimented Fribble’s thrumming. This unique concert continued for another two or three minutes and then the clearing was alive with activity and noise, as the tads joined the prayer. When the tads added their voices, the whole family burst into the air in a huge leap. The action was non-stop, jumping, ricocheting between various trees, dancing in an awkward, crouching, waddling manner. Even though there were no words for Wemael to hear, she was amazed at the music of the Riverjumpers’ prayer. She had all but decided that the family’s physical movements were just random, when Fribble pulled Delmarf into the dancing. When she stopped snickering at Delmarf’s dancing, his slightly paunchy belly flopping up and down, she saw the patterns. They were re-enacting the highlights of their day. This frenzied dance continued another ten minutes, Delmarf showing, not only that he was a human, but a poor dancer as well. With the utterance of a single word, “Tantoi”, the amazing prayer ended.
Wheezing and red faced, Delmarf moved back toward Wemael. When he was close enough, he leaned over and whispered, “You will be doing this soon, so stop laughing and help a tired man to his seat.”
Wemael struggled to stifle the giggles and helped him sit down. She liked this family and this human.
“brreep Time for bed, tads. brreep” Riup announced
“brree Mother, can friend Wemael sleep with me? brree” Lilly pleaded, bringing another smile to Wemael’s face.
“Brreep She can’t sleep in your bed, brreep but she can sleep in the bed next to you. brreep Hurry off now and get ready for bed. brreep Friend Wemael will be along in a minute. brreep”
As Wemael watched her new friends scurry off to their beds, her mind was a jumble, ‘What kind of bed did a Muckraker sleep in? Why didn’t Riup let her go with Lily? That prayer had been the most wonderful thing she could remember seeing…’
Breaking Wemael’s entangled mind, Riup announced, “ brreep Friend Wemael, I have a couple of gifts for you. brreep”
Wemael immediately saw one of the gifts and she almost cried. Riup was holding a small smock in one hand. Compared to Riup’s own lovely dress, the smock paled, but to Wemael, accustomed to the many plain shades of brown, it was gorgeous. The smock was made with white and Tiger lilies, woven together with lily pads.
“brreep You need something else to wear, brreep so I made this one for you. brreep I had to hurry, brreep so it is not my best, brreep but I promise to make you something better soon. brreep”
Running over to Riup, Wemael hugged her tightly, and between her soft sobs, thanked her repeatedly.
“brreep There now, little tad, no crying. brreep. Everything’s going to be fine. brreep The all-Father is looking after you, brreep and we’re going to have fun and be happy. brreep Here is your other gift. brreep It will help return your happy dreams. brreep”
Delmarf perked up at the mention of dreams, wondering what Riup had made. He was dismayed when she handed Wemael a necklace made from Mireweeds. Mireweeds were the most useless, annoying weeds in all Terrerth. They grew way too fast, smelled of the swamp, and were the bane of farmers everywhere. Why she had chosen Mireweeds was beyond him, but as he waited for Wemael to wrinkle her nose at the odor, he saw that she was actually smiling. She seemed to like the gift. After thanking Riup again, she rushed over to him, beaming. As she showed off her gifts, he noticed a tiny flower on the necklace, something Mireweeds do not have. It looked like a Summerstar Lily. He didn’t understand what Riup had done, but he said nothing other than how beautiful everything was.
“brrraup Friend Wemael, brrraup follow me and I’ll take you to the tads. brrraup Friend Delmarf, brrraup are you coming now? brrraup Your hammock is waiting; brrraup”
“Friend Fribble, I will be there as soon as I see to Arto.” With that, Delmarf grabbed a torch and headed off.
A short trip on a path behind Fribble’s drying nets, and they reached the tads. Wemael found herself standing on the shore of a small pond filled with giant lily pads. She had never seen lily pads this big. Most were three or four feet across and all had a lip around the edge about two inches high. Hopping up and down on a pad in the middle of the pond, Digger shouted to her, “brrap This is my bed! brrap This is my bed! brrap This is my bed! brrap”

“brrraup Digger brrraup”, one word from his father dropped Digger into a fake sleeping position.
Wemael scanned the rest of the pond, spotting Rain in her “bed” about five feet into the pond on the left side. She smiled when she noticed a hammock tied to trees lining the shoreline close to Rain. She truly was Delmarf’s greatest fan. A small hand sliding into hers announced Lily’s presence
“brree I have your bed ready. brree Do you want to wash in the pond before wearing your new smock? brree There is a place over here, brree” Lily showed her a secluded corner of the pond. “Mother said you might want to be away from others when you washed. brree”
Lily held Wemael’s worn homely smock as she slipped into the cool water of the pond. Wemael always loved the water. She took only a few minutes to clean, wondering how she was going to dry off. She didn’t want to ruin her new smock.
“brree Don’t worry about getting this smock wet, friend Wemael. brree It won’t get messed up. brree” Lily said, as if she had been reading Wemael’s mind. “brree Mother told me that Two-footers’ clothes don’t take water well, brree so I should tell you not to worry about our clothes, brree they like water. brree”
Slipping her new outfit on, Wemael saw that Lily was right. It felt like the water on her skin just slid off the material. This smock not only was pretty but felt very good. Lily led her back to the rest of the family, pointing out a lily pad near the water’s edge.
“brree Just step in. brree It’ll hold you. brree” Lily urged her.
Cautiously Wemael stepped onto the pad, and though it shifted a little, it didn’t lower any in the water as she had expected. She sat down, as Lily bounded over her head to a pad right past hers.
“brree You like your bed? brree” Lily asked
Laying back and soaking in the wonder of the softness and comfort of this “bed”, Wemael softly responded, “Yes.”
“brree We can’t talk too much tonight. brree It’s late and Father wants us to let you sleep, brree but we’ll talk tomorrow. brree Happy dreams. brree”
Wemael was left alone with her thoughts as Lily rolled onto her stomach heading off to slumber land. At first, Wemael’s mind raced, thinking about all that she had experienced this day. A big grin owned her face, as she thought of the Riverjumpers and Delmarf. It wasn’t long though before dark memories crept to the forefront, warring with her body’s desire to sleep. She began to cry when a unique odor filled her nose. For a brief moment, it was unpleasant, but then, with intensity almost palpable, it changed to a sweet smell, floral and overwhelming. Wemael’s tear stained face smiled involuntarily, and then sleep found her.
It was an hour later when Delmarf settled into his hammock satisfied by a good day’s ending. When he glanced at Wemael, happy relief marked his countenance. She was sound asleep wearing a content smile; something he had feared would be a stranger to her for far too long for a child.
“Thank you,” Delmarf whispered.