Chapter 10
"Mia!" Aaramerielle gently shook her. Aaramerielle had been awake, but didn't want to get up so soon, knowing that it would be the last night in her own bed for quite some time. Mia sat up and looked at Aaramerielle in a daze. She suddenly sprung to life.
"Aara..." she yelled. "Aaramerielle! I...I was...I,” her breathing came in ragged pants. She broke into a cold sweat.
"What's wrong?" Aaramerielle held her friend's shoulders. Mia responded by grabbing Aaramerielle's elbows with an iron grip.
"I was just there," she said. "Home!"
Aaramerielle knew of Mia's relentless desire to return to her home, her sorrow, and that she missed her loved ones. "Really? Did it go well?"
"Well, yes and no." She gave herself a weak laugh for what she'd said. "I couldn't stop thinking about this place. They think I'm nuts and put me in a mental hospital."
"What's that?"
"It's a hospital where people go whose brains go wacky." They looked at each other for a moment. "Aaramerielle,” Mia said. She choked back tears. "Why is it that the people where I'm from can't accept that you guys even are here, and you so easily think...they're...okay?" She knew she hadn't said it right, though she also knew that Aaramerielle understood. She couldn't control the tears, and she fell into the elf's comforting arms. She glimpsed through her confused thoughts: Aaramerielle is a good friend. A real friend. The tears soon ceased, and Mia recounted her trip home to the elf. After some discussion, the two girls made their way to the dining hall.
The dining hall was already bustling. Mia caught sight of Belemeriath, who was flirting with a group of giggling girls at the other side of the busy room. As soon as he realized Mia was there, he bee-lined straight for her, over the heads of everyone, leaving his would be's in mid-conversation.
"Great day, Miagaff,” he said, inches from her face. Tears welled up in Mia's eyes.
"What did I say? What's wrong?" If a fairy had ever sounded desperate, it was Belemeriath at that moment.
"I missed you, fairy," she said. “If I could hug you, I would!"
Belemeriath whooped as he turned aerial somersaults. He came to a quick stop a few feet from Mia, who was wiping away tears on the sleeve of her light blue tunic. "Missed me?” he asked. “What do you mean, missed me?"
"Last night, I went home. I was there for a long time." Belemeriath understood. He knew something of the trans location outworlders experienced, that times between the worlds somehow were not synchronous.
"I always miss you when you're gone," he said.
Mia held her finger aloft as she'd seen Finnegaff do. Belemeriath immediately landed on it. He was amazingly light. He stayed there until they were seated, babbling the whole time. One of the students, a young girl, brought drinks to their table, which reminded Belemeriath of the task in which he was previously engaged. He promptly flew straight away, back to the group of giggling girls. Mia smiled, unaware that the others in her party were watching her. She was glad to be back.
After breakfast, Aaramerielle and Marigaff did their best to disguise themselves as Mia and Finnegaff. Marigaff didn't make a bad Finnegaff. Aaramerielle, however, was four inches taller than Mia. She walked differently, and her mannerisms were more hyper. It was close enough, Mia thought. Finnegaff complimented her several times on her decoy idea. Mia was quite surprised that they hadn’t thought of it. They removed their costumes and stowed them for later, when they could leave in stealth.
Marigaff took private audience with Mia before they went their separate ways. “I have something for you,” she said. She closed the door to Marigaff’s quarters. Marigaff's room seemed particularly quiet just then. Marigaff held in her outstretched hand four gold coins, each the same size, each bearing different faces on the obverse sides.
“These coins, wrought by the Elves of old, are what we call Stracombe. They enable a wizard to access parts of Saa that he or she would not ordinarily be able to. There are few left; these have been in our care a long, long time, and as far as we can tell, only two others exist.
“The first,” she held the coin between her fingers in such a way that Mia could see the detailed picture of a waterfall pouring into a small pond, “is the Stracombe to water. Should you invoke Saa as you normally would and toss this coin at your desire, Saa will produce greatly magnified results. Greatly magnified! It will alter water in ways that Saa otherwise will not.” She dropped the first coin into Mia’s hand.
“The second Stracombe is to fire.” The coin had the image of a big fireplace blazing in a dark room. “As you know, Saa will give us fire, yet only in small amounts. Toss this coin as you call upon Saa for your wishes and it can produce great fires.” This coin, too, she gave to Mia.
“The third coin is the Stracombe to wind.” The picture on the coin was of leaves blowing. “Should you require wind, cast this coin at your concern as you call upon Saa for your want. It shall produce what you need in quantity.” The coin clinked into Mia’s hand.
“The fourth is the Stracombe to rock.” The coin had a picture of a rocky cliff side. “As with the others, when Saa is called upon, toss this coin at the place of effect and it shall do as you command. Be careful with them." She dropped the remaining coin into Mia's hand. "They are all very powerful. The last one once flattened an entire mountain.”
Mia looked at the heavy gold coins. They were beautiful, unscratched and perfect. She thought it an enormous power to be charged with. “Well, what if Finnegaff carries them for me?”
Marigaff raised her eyebrows in alarm. “Oh, no, child! You are the Carrier of the Book of Life. And no one must know you have them in your purse. They are widely sought after; care for them well. And do not tell Finnegaff, either.” Mia looked quickly at her, and Marigaff read her look. She smiled. “Finnegaff and I don’t always see eye to eye on everything, and he believes the Stracombe should not leave the protection of the farm. I did not hand them to you entirely on my own accord, either." She held a palm up toward Mia as she spoke. "And if we never use them for our most important causes, what good are they?”
“What if they fall into the wrong hands?”
“They won’t.”
“How do you know they won’t?”
“I don’t. I’m telling you to not let that happen.”
Mia slipped the Stracombe into a deep pocket that Aaramerielle had sewn into her shirt. Marigaff nodded in agreement with her hiding place. “We should be on our way, dear child. And Miagaff?” Mia saw concern, perhaps even worry, in the wise sorceress’ eyes.
“Yes?” she asked.
Marigaff took both of Mia’s hands in hers. “May Saa guide you.”
The entire population of Marigaff’s farm had turned out. Dozens, perhaps a hundred, were gathered at the stables to see them off. The horses for the party had been packed and were ready to go. Marigaff would leave with Aaramerielle later, having agreed with Mia’s suggestion that they be the only ones who knew about the decoy plan. Mia verified with one of the proverbs to her teacher: ‘Sooner the greater tongue will betray the innocent.’
Marigaff walked beside Mia as they joined the others to bid their many good-byes. Mia embraced Aaramerielle, tears in each of their eyes. Theramon the stable boy, a kind thirteen year old that had taught Mia much about horses, held the reins of Mia’s horse. He had a crush on Mia. She thought it cute, for he was a wholesome and quiet boy with interests that extended not much beyond horses. He blushed when he gave Mia a shy hug, then handed her the reins to her horse in a ceremonial fashion. He took a step back, stumbled in his giddiness, and did not see the horse behind him. The horse spooked. It jumped and kicked, landing a solid blow to Theramon’s rib cage.
Theramon went down. Another boy calmed the spooked horse. It all happened in the blink of an eye: Theramon lay upon the ground in a fetal position, choking for breath. Marigaff ran to his aid, as did several of the others. They rolled him onto his back. When Marigaff ripped his shirt off, Mia could see the caved in ribs.
“Get my medical bag!” she yelled at the first face she looked at. “Now! RUN!” The girl she spoke to took off at a full sprint. Theramon was gasping for breath. He choked once very hard, though he drew no breath to replace it. He was unable to breathe! Blood trickled from his mouth. Mia looked on in horror. She was compelled to do something.
The feeling was uncontrollable. It was as if she were not responsible for her actions, for indeed, she was not. Saa rushed through her in a torrent. She held Dielielle erect and spoke in loud confidence. “Facas su rotatta pon nah eme anso shemeo!” (Let the injury of this one be healed!) She felt more than compelled. She was driven; destined. She lowered her staff gently and touched it to the stable boy’s forehead. Immediately Theramon stiffened. He did not breathe with the action, even though Mia could tell he was trying. Mia's hand went to her mouth and she almost dropped Dielielle. She feared she’d just killed him. They all watched the depressed ribcage swell to its normal size. Theramon coughed some more and started to breathe in gurgling long breaths. The gurgling ceased after another cough. Marigaff held him close, blood all over her dress. He sobbed in her arms. But Marigaff wasn’t looking at him. She was looking at Mia, as was everyone. The only sound was Theramon’s sobbing and the returning running footsteps of the girl Marigaff had sent for the medical bag, who stopped next to Marigaff and handed it to her. Marigaff, not removing her eyes from Mia, shook her head to indicate she needed it no longer. The silence was deafening.
Mia’s voice shook through tears. “You told me not to use Saa unless it was an emergency! I just thought that this was an emergency!” She tried not to cry.
Finnegaff stood beside her. He gently yet firmly took her hand in his and raised it to chest level. “Miagaff, dear,” he looked into her leaking eyes. “Very few have been graced by Saa to have the power to heal, the Shemesaa! This even I cannot do!”
“Nor I,” Marigaff said. “We have known but two before you with Shemesaa.” Theramon was now being helped to his feet, his youthful pride taking over as he brushed the dirt from his blood-stained clothing. “She is more powerful than we thought,” Marigaff said to Finnegaff.
“Well, yes,” he replied. “Yes.”
Not long after Theramon's accident, Finnegaff and Mia and Belemeriath set upon their adventure to the hailing cheers of the entire assembly of Marigaff’s Farm. Down the tree-lined lane they went, destined for neighboring Elfwood. They were well out of sight before they could hear them no more.
Belemeriath hovered in front of Mia, flying backward. “Miagaff! You were great!”
Mia smiled a weak smile at her little friend. “Finnegaff,” she said. “What happened back there?”
“It was Shemesaa, the healing gift of Saa." He appeared studious. "It's apparent that Saa is strong in you. Very strong indeed.”
“But, it wasn’t me.” She shook her head. “I just got this feeling. No, this urge, almost like an order, to save Theramon.”
“That, dearest, is Saa. You had the desire to help; Saa showed you what to do.”
“I didn’t even start the invocation! It just happened. And I wasn’t the one who controlled where my staff touched Theramon. It’s like he made me do it.”
“Hmm. Interesting,” Finnegaff said. “Well. Yes. Anyway, Saa is not a ‘he’. Saa just is. That was a good thing you did with Saa. If it were a bad thing, an immoral thing, Saa wouldn't have let you do it.”
“‘Be not Saa for the good, the whole, the pure of Morrah? Thence shall provision become the bride’s maid.’” She quoted a proverb.
“You've been reading, I see!”
“Aaramerielle told me a lot. She loves the proverbs.”
“And she’s pretty!” Belemeriath added. “But not as pretty as you, Miagaff!” He blushed when Mia smiled at him, which she was beginning to believe he could do at will, for in fact, he could.
Finnegaff ignored the fairy. “Yes. Well, that she does. Truly a historian and philosopher, that one!”
A few minutes passed before Mia responded. “I could see that.”
“See what?”
“Aaramerielle being a philosopher. She’s real smart. And very nice. And she runs, too. I like her a lot.”
“Yes. I like her, too. She’s dedicated. Few show the drive she does in her studies,” Finnegaff said. “Uh, Miagaff?” Mia met Finnegaff’s serious eyes. “Be careful with Saa, child. Be very careful.”
The hilly plains they traveled through soon turned to mountains. By nightfall they were following a stream into the foothills. Pine forests broken by willow thickets dominated the foliage. The stream now cascaded over rocks, eddying in pools where before it had wandered noiselessly in most places. The mountains that formed the walls of the canyon were steep, not quite cliffs, and rose many feet from the canyon floor. Belemeriath, a capable, thorough scout, had selected the site for their first camp well inside the borders of Elfwood. Finnegaff had hoped to reach Elfwood by nightfall, since darkhounds entered the land only very reluctantly. They put the horses into a small pasture to graze right next to the outcrop of rock where they bedded down, purposely selected by the ever-competent Belemeriath. They built a fire of old, dead wood. Finnegaff warned Mia against taking live wood in Elfwood; the trees would not set well with it. After a casually taken meal of the more perishable of their stores, they slept to the sound of light rain. The campsite was perfect. The rain came from the north, the outcrop of rock faced south. With this arrangement, they managed to stay dry.
At first light they warmed up some tea, rounded up the horses, saddled them and packed their belongings. They continued their way up the narrowing, twisting canyon. Mia felt very much at home in terrain such as this. Going was easy as the path they took was well traveled and designed primarily for trade, trodden wide enough through the canyon to allow the passage of wagons.
Sometime in the afternoon they came upon a large meadow. The stream slowed down to snake through the beautiful half-mile wide by three-mile long valley. The path followed the stream to some degree, but in a straighter line, yet chose to cut corners where the stream opted to wind at tight arcs. The vast meadow was only sparsely wooded, mostly comprised of foot tall grasses that intermingled with acres of blue and yellow flowers. Belemeriath would retrieve an occasional motherberry for Mia, which had been her favorite ever since Belemeriath introduced her to them on the very same day he had rescued her from the trolls. And he would remind her frequently of both of these, and any other instance where he was credited with valor.
They were almost to the end of the beautiful valley when Mia's horse Rosielle shied. Finnegaff's Grinnolle stopped in his tracks and refused to go another step. The third horse, Mandarin, always did what Grinnolle did. Something was wrong; the horses had sensed or smelled it. Belemeriath hadn't seen anything unusual. The horses refused go further. In seconds they learned why.
Out of nowhere stepped six people. Mia recognized them as Mumbwe. They were right there, not more than twenty yards from where the horses had stopped. If Finnegaff had known they were there, he had not indicated such. Mia had certainly not seen them. But they were easy to see now, their long silky loose fitting clothes being of brilliant color. They all wore jewelry, very nice jewelry, bracelets of gold or silver, rings, earrings, nose rings, necklaces that glittered in the afternoon sun. All were very clean in spite of being out here in the middle of nowhere, even though they were barefoot to the last person. Some carried a bow with a quiver of arrows, some short swords. Except for the wizard, they were all well armed.
Three of them were men, the others women, one of the women wearing the wizard's hat of office. They were all tall, six feet six inches to seven feet, and appeared to be in tremendous physical shape. Their skin was dark brown like the Polynesian people Mia knew from her home, or maybe like the kind of people who spend most of their lives at the beach. The one wearing the wizard's hat smiled as she approached them. Mia could not help but to notice her eyes, a stunning shade of light blue. Though they were dressed in wh
at were certainly festive colors, they had an intimidating air about them. Mia knew them from her studies at Marigaff's Farm to be allies, a peace loving people who stood for good principals. Still, they were a big peace loving people.
Belemeriath needed no invitation to begin greeting the nearest of them. "Great day, Semeterrah!" He flew in front of her face. She smiled and nodded. He dashed to the next Mumbwe. "Great day, Delpheterem!"
"Great day, friend Belemeriath!" Delpheterem spoke in a medium toned voice, surprising Mia. She was expecting, from his appearance, low bass.
Belemeriath darted to the Mumbwe wearing the wizard's hat. She held a finger aloft for him to land on. "Great day, Lady Ameretegaff!" He lit upon her finger and fluttered his wings, something he did when flirting.
"And a great day to you, friend Belemeriath, sweetest of all fairies!" Belemeriath blushed and puffed out his chest, the expression of an emotion-driven mannerism foreign to most species. Ameretegaff, who was known from Awlland to Mantadia for her extraordinary charisma, had a soft speaking voice that would soothe even the most distraught, clear, full of truth, lovingly compassionate. Mia could feel her radiant presence, one of beauty, one of trust, one of motherly love. She couldn't take her eyes from the wizard.
"Dear Finnegaff!” Ameretegaff greeted him. “Welcome! We're honored by your visit! Won't you join us for evening supper?" She cradled her staff in one arm. Belemeriath stood on the upturned palm of the other, still puffing his chest.
Finnegaff had since dismounted. He stood before Ameretegaff and took both of her hands into both of his. Belemeriath flew to the other Mumbwe women to strike up conversation. Ameretegaff responded as old dear friends would, holding his hands warmly.
"Dear Ameretegaff! My dear Ameretegaff! Why, we'd be delighted! Allow me to introduce to you Miagaff." He released his hold on the beautiful Ameretegaff. He motioned to Mia, still on her horse. "Miagaff, Ameretegaff, Mumbwe of Elfwood and Lady of Peace."
“Do step down from your horse, dear child.” Ameretegaff held a hand upward to aid her dismount. “Allow us to care for the weary animal.” She stroked Rosielle's jowls with her other hand.
Mia had heard of the Lady of Peace. The descriptions given her in text or through discussion did her no justice. Mia thought that it wasn't that Ameretegaff appeared regal or saintly, nothing like that. Or official or powerful (though surely on both counts she was!) It was the love and serenity of Ameretegaff's gifts that were amplified when Mia took the offered hand, warm, soft, and strong. She dismounted. Ameretegaff took Mia’s other hand with her free hand. She looked at Mia with her big, blue eyes.
“Great day, Miagaff! Please be our guest this day. Always will you be welcome among the Mumbwe!”
“Thank you, Lady of Peace.” Mia tried to be formal. “It is my honor to so be taken in.” Mia thought throwing in an attempted small curtsy would be a nice touch.
Ameretegaff released a hand. She placed her arm around Mia’s shoulder. Speaking from the corner of her mouth, she half whispered to Mia. “You’ve been in the company of Master Finnegaff too long already!”
"I did sound like Finnegaff, didn't I?" Mia smiled. She liked Ameretegaff already.
They stepped off the trail to the south, not far, maybe a few hundred feet, to walk in to an encampment of Mumbwe. Now Mia knew what Finnegaff meant when he said the Mumbwe would find them. Had they not been led to the Mumbwe camp, they never would have found it.
The nomadic Mumbwe journeyed north during the warmer summers, and south for the colder winters. Mia estimated about seventy Mumbwe in this group, but knew that it was not the only one. The groups were called ‘stands’, and each stand had a leader. There existed a king that ruled over the twenty-five or so known stands, though it was known that a few wild stands still roamed Slagg, but were very elusive. This one was small compared to ones with hundreds on the Awlland plains. They inhabited Elfwood, Awlland, the Granite Mountains and Slagg. They were, in fact, the only race other than those controlled by the dark sorceress that inhabited Slagg.
Men tended the fire with the women of the Mumbwe. Cooking pots hung over the flames in the center of the camp, a pig on a spit over the largest. Dinner smelled wonderful! Belemeriath seemed to know everybody, particularly the female Mumbwe, with whom he directly made company. Ameretegaff accompanied Mia and Finnegaff to the center of the camp near the fires where family groups were gathered in various places. Some were seated on logs, while others lounged on wicker folding chairs placed around the fires. Finnegaff conversed with Ameretegaff about news while Mia observed the family they were seated next to. There was what appeared to be the father, mother, and a girl about Mia’s age with a girl of perhaps two years. The mom with the older girl focused on the antics of their beloved toddler. Such a happy people, she thought.
To their right sat a man, probably in his twenties. He was carving what looked to be a doll with a small knife. He would take a few cuts, then closely examine his work.
“Friend Hallallarah,” Ameretegaff spoke to the carving man. “This is our welcome guest Miagaff.” She motioned to Mia. Hallallarah stood.
“My pleasure to have such beauty grace our stand.” She held out both hands palms up. Hallallarah took them in both his and shook them but once, then released. He was a beautiful man himself, perfect teeth and skin, with a warm, genuine smile. “Might I join you?”
“Well, yeah. Here. Have a seat.” She motioned to the empty spot on the log next to her. He took her offer, setting his carving aside.
“Hallar...Hallaller...what’s your name again?” Mia asked.
“Hallallarah.”
Mia tried to say it a few times but tripped her tongue over the L’s. She got it with some coaching. “Hallallarah, I have a question for you.”
“Moghashi.”
“What?”
“That means ‘please ask’ in Mumbwe!”
“Oh. Okay. Hey, where do you guys sleep? Are there some buildings nearby or what?” Mia asked.
“In our tents, Mar... Meah...what’s your name again?”
“Mia.”
He sighed, shook his head and looked at her from the corner of his eye. He knew her name! She slapped him on the arm.
“Okay. What tents?”
“Those tents.” He motioned to the forest across from the fire.
“What tents?” she said. “I don’t see any tents.”
He stood and motioned for her to follow. Mia turned to Finnegaff with a look that sought his approval. He wore a smile a little too big for normal, and nodded his okay for her to go with Hallallarah. They circled the fire to the edge of the forest and stopped.
“So where’s this tent?” Mia asked.
Without a word, he reached down to grab air about six inches from the ground. The air he held between his fingers began to shimmer, the shimmer growing outward to reveal a sheet Hallallarah was pulling back. Mia’s eyes widened. Her mouth hung open, for behind the invisible sheet there appeared a tent, dark green with bright lime green stripes, the doorway open with supplies within.
“Woah! How’d you do that?”
“This is Mumbwe veilcloth,” he said. “Mother makes it. Nice piece, yes?” He held the shimmering veilcloth for Mia to take. She reluctantly took it. The silky material was unbelievably light. She looked at it closely, and could see it change its color to match the area behind it exactly.
“This is amazing!” she exclaimed. “How does it do this?”
“It is mostly of silk, which gives it that nice, soft feel...”
“No, not that!” He was smiling at her. He was messing with her again. She sunk her chin to her chest and let out a heavy, insistent sigh.
“Okay, okay! It is of silk and ancient Mumbwe magic. It takes the appearance of whatever is behind it, hiding that which it covers. It is of the Mumbwe only. Few others may work the magic, as it is made so that but one individual or group may use it. The ones covering the tents can be worked by Mumbwe or friend to the Mumbwe. Other pieces are made to
be worked by only an individual.”
“I get it! This is how you guys hid so well from us when you found us!”
“Yes! We have a tent by the path to keep watch.”
“But how can you see out of it? Doesn’t it hide what you’re trying to see?”
“Yes, if it is inside out. Otherwise it is nearly transparent. See?” He lifted the corner of the veilcloth and placed Mia beneath its cover.
The scene of the Mumbwe stand changed: everything had a slight waviness to it, like looking through water. Hallallarah looked about. “Mia!” he called. “Where are you? Where did you go?” She flipped the veilcloth from over her. “Oh! There you are!” he said, holding a hand to his heart. “I thought I had lost you!”
“Oh, knock it off!” She hit him on the arm again. She liked Hallallarah. He was fun to be around.
Mia was marveling at the veilcloth when there came the high melodious notes of a woodrod being played.
Hallallarah held a finger to the air when he heard the sound. “Come! They prepare our meal!” He strolled off, and Mia followed. She looked at him, then at the veilcloth.
She sat between Hallallarah with the family she had met on her left as they ate a most delicious roast pig served with vegetables. Mia didn’t recognize the vegetables, but they were very good, prepared steamed with a seasoning like garlic, but more like cinnamon. The older girl of the family next to her was giving an occasional tidbit to the dog, a cross between a terrier of some variety and a husky, kind of.
“That’s a pretty dog you have,” she said to the girl. “So, what’s your name?”
“I am Romessee.” She placed the braids of her long, black hair over her shoulders. Even her large, wide-set deep green eyes smiled as she introduced herself.
“I'm Mia.” Mia stood and held out her hands palms up, the traditional method of Mumbwe greeting, one of many means of proper behavior which Finnegaff had coached her prior to their meeting with the Mumbwe. Romessee stood with her. Mia startled at the Mumbwe’s six and a half-foot height. She took Mia’s hands and shook them but once in the fashion of the Mumbwe. They visited through dinner, and Romessee was more than happy to tell Mia about her Mumbwe lifestyle. She was pleasant, as were all the Mumbwe Mia had met so far. She reminded Mia of Aaramerielle. She missed her Elven friend, and wondered how she was doing.
As dark settled in the valley, the Mumbwe stoked their fires. An ensemble of musicians played woodrod, stringdrum and drums (of sorts) for their dancing brethren. Those that preferred had ale, served in large wooden mugs. Many of the Mumbwe came to sit with Mia to visit with her in a polite, kind manner. They were a happy, free spirited people with everything to live for; respectful toward one another, kind to all, family oriented. They shared in responsibilities with smiles and thank you’s. Mia found their benevolence infectious.
Finnegaff sought out Mia, which took a little doing on his part, for when he found her, he explained that he had been obligated to show ‘honor to tradition’ for the Mumbwe tradition of showing honor to the coming of spring, which he may or may not had only just now fabricated. Mia knew what that meant. Finnegaff smiled a silly grin while holding his mug a little unsteadily.
“Dear Miagaff, it’s ‘bout time to choose,” he said.
“Choose?”
“Yes, m’dear.” He smiled crookedly. “A Mumbwe mus' accompany us to the Reading o' the Book o' Life, you know.”
"I gotta choose now?" She hadn't taken time to think about it at all.
"Well, yes an' no. Tonight, as we leave at firss light."
Mia considered her choices. She had met so many Mumbwe in such a short time! All of them were easy to get along with, each one with his or her individual talents. She had liked every one of them. Why couldn't somebody else choose? Why did she have to choose, anyway? She was about to ask Finnegaff, but held her tongue when she thought about how he would answer in the event that it was a stupid question. It was then that she remembered: Saa would pick for her. She sat up straight and cleared her mind to Saa. Almost instantaneously she had a picture. Her head jerked back. Her eyes widened at the suddenness of it.
"Romessee!" she blurted out.
"Romessee?" Finnegaff squinted as he pulled his head back. He turned quickly to Mia. "Are you sure? She is young, dear Miagaff."
"No she's not! She's my age!" Mia defended her marginal adulthood.
Finnegaff laughed. "Oh, child," he said as he placed a hand gently on her shoulder, "We jus' wanna be sure. Are you sure?"
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“But are you abs’lutely sure?”
“Yes!”
“Miagaff, m’ dear, you mus’ be abs’lutely sure!”
"Look. I said yes! And I used Saa!" She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Finnegaff laughed and pointed at Mia's tapping foot. “Marigaff does that to me when she wants things to go her way. And they usu’lly do!”
Mia became aware of the imitation. She uncrossed her arms and laughed once.
He shook his head as he placed a hand on Mia’s shoulder. "Let's go tell the Mumbwe!" he said. Mia went with Finnegaff to where Ameretegaff was standing on the other side of the fire, supping a mug of ale. Romessee was standing next to her.
"Lady of Peace, dearest Ameretegaff, friend Mumbwe and, and my dearest Am'retegaff. In accordance to, with the directives for the eighth Carrying of the Book o' Life, I do hereby announce as Head of Wizard's Council..." Finnegaff had one arm around Ameretegaff's shoulder while he waved a mug of ale.
Ameretegaff placed a single finger upon his lips. He fell quiet. "My dearest Finnegaff. Who did she select?"
“I was getting t’ that,” he grinned. “As the head of the Wizard’s Council, I mus’ remind you all of what we’re doing here tonight.” Ameretegaff smiled at Mia and shook her head. “As you all know,” he continued as he looked into his mug, “we have with us the...the....” His face twisted into a puzzle. “Great Saa! I’m out of ale!” He caught sight of a young Mumbwe standing nearby. “Be a good girl an’ fill this for an old wizard, won’t you? There! Thassa good girls!” He handed the youth his mug, and off she went to do his biding. “Now. Where was I?
Mia had waited long enough. She couldn't hold back any longer. She put on her best wizard voice. "By the grace of Saa," she spoke with power, "Saa has selected Romessee to, uh, join us on our, uh, journey!" She tried to sound formal. "For the Book of Life!" Her mind thrashed for the right words to make her sound like an authoritative sorceress. She just knew they were there! "The Reading of the Book!" There! That was it! No...."Of Life!" She blew it! She knew she blew it! But at least they knew who was chosen!
"Ah, sweet child!" Ameretegaff touched palm up fingertips delicately under Mia's chin. As she did so, a warm wave swept over Mia. "One can always tell another that for too long keeps company of my dear Lord Finnegaff. Romessee is a wise choice!"
Romessee stood in the midst of the conversation gaping. Mia hoped that the Mumbwe girl wouldn't go running off or start crying because she had to go with them. "Me?" Romessee put a hand to her chest and smiled. "I...I am so honored! Are...are you sure, friend Miagaff?"
"I was instructed by Saa. But I probably would have chosen you on my own."
"Saa?! Saa directed you?! I am pleased that you are so sensitive to Saa!"
Ameretegaff placed a hand on Romessee's shoulder. "That is how its done, dear.” She turned to Mia. “Mumbwe Romessee," Ameretegaff said, "is my apprentice, and is to go to Marigaff's Farm in two years. She is gifted by Saa in compassion and judgments." Romessee took Mia's hands in the traditional Mumbwe handshake. Ameretegaff then turned to Finnegaff. "I do believe, great friend and Lord Finnegaff, that we must pay Honor to Tradition for the selection of the Mumbwe for the Carrying of the Book of Life!" Mia thought they were already paying honor to a different tradition, and in fact they were. But, wizards will be wizards.
"Indeed we shall! I know the tradition well!" Finnegaff put hand to heart and bowed slightly to the Lady
of Peace.
"Choritis, Saa! Lorusa pon shomos nar dea nok!” (Please, Saa! Mugs of ale for we four!) Ameretegaff thumped her staff gently on the ground. A mug of ale appeared in Mia's hand, which mysteriously was in the proper position to hold a mug. Romessee had one as well, and held it aloft in silent toast. She wore a grin that no force on Morrah could have taken from her.
Mia had never had ale before, and beer only a few times. At first she was scared: she had never drank before, not really. What would happen to her if she did? On the other hand, what would happen if she didn't, if she offended the Mumbwe? On the other hand, what harm could it do? She took a sip of the ale.
The next morning at an hour after sunrise, Mia's pounding head convinced her to never drink ale again, especially with wizards. She felt a little sick to her stomach, but that wasn't the bad part. The backside of her head felt worse than the troll experience. The sunlight pierced her eyelids. She shut her eyes tight. That hurt, too. In fact, everything hurt. She sat up in her bedroll, the flap of the tent partially opened. A familiar hummingbird wing beat sound startled her.
Belemeriath hovered in front of her face on the left. "Great day, Miagaff!" How could he be so happy! He buzzed to her right. "Sun's up! Sun's up! Let's go!" Mia fell back down on the bedroll, which was a mistake, as she had no pillow. Her head hit the ground with a painful clunk.
"Here! I have something for you!" Belemeriath lit in front of her face on the bedroll. He carried two motherberries, one beneath each arm. She slowly opened her eyes. "Finnegaff eats these when he has too much ale! He says they help!"
Mia would've tried cyanide at this point, so she sat up and ate both the berries. Within a minute or so, the pain was much more tolerable, though it wasn't gone. She thanked Belemeriath, then tried to roll up her bedding. She couldn’t quite handle that much activity yet, and decided to leave it for later. She then went outside with Belemeriath.
Finnegaff and Ameretegaff watched several of the Mumbwe pack the horse saddlebags. They showed little if any effects from the night before. Mia thought it was unfair, or maybe just that they practiced ‘honor to tradition’ more than she did. Ameretegaff was the first to notice Mia.
“Great day, Miagaff!” she said to the suffering girl. “You look bitten of ale this day.”
“Oh, I’m okay,” she said. She held her head so it didn't fall off her shoulders. Though she was feeling better and better as the motherberries took effect, mussed hair with a half awake stagger gave her away. Finnegaff was smiling obnoxiously at her.
“You’re enjoying this too much!” she told the wizard.
“Great day, dear Miagaff! You're in for a long morning.”
Romessee was more than ready to go. She was already mounted on her horse, Sheelee. She smiled proudly as she spoke with her mother, who was giving her last minute mom instructions.
The Mumbwe camp was alive with activity: tents were being disassembled, goods were being packed in large canvas bags, and items were being stowed in wagons that were hitched to horses. The camp was coming down fast. This was no wonder, for as everyone knows, nomads did this task well, it being their livelihood. Ameretegaff approached Mia with a small package.
“Miagaff, child!” she said. Mia didn’t particularly like being called child, but from wizards it was okay. “A gift from the Mumbwe to you.” She handed the package to Mia.
She took the small bundle from the Lady of Peace and untied the crossed string and unfolded an eight-foot square of the mystical Mumbwe veilcloth. She marveled at the shimmering chameleon fabric. “This is for me?”
“Yes. For you only. It will not work in the hands of another. The magic of the veilcloth is tailored for specific use, thus cannot be utilized if it falls into the wrong hands. Should another try to use it, they would find no more than an ordinary bolt of purple cloth.”
“What do I do with it?”
“Hope,” Finnegaff said, “that we don't have to use it.”
"What's that supposed to mean?” Mia looked at the wizard, who was lighting his pipe with a chicken bone he had acquired from who knows where.
“It means,” he paused as his pipe flamed, “no more than what it seems. Yet no less, either.” Mia hated those kinds of answers. “Here. Let me to help you fold it.” As he and Mia folded the veilcloth, Mia noticed that it stopped shimmering wherever Finnegaff touched it.
Belemeriath came out of nowhere and fluttered in front of Mia. “Are you feeling better?” He asked her.
“Why, Miagaff!” Finnegaff smiled. “Were you not feeling well this morning?”
“No, she wasn’t!” Belemeriath flew to Finnegaff. “She had a hangover, and really bad!”
“Shut up, fairy!”
"She tried to sit up in her bedroll, but fell back and hit her head! Bam!" He smacked his tiny hand onto his open palm. "You shoulda seen it! Her eyes crossed and everything!"
"Knock it off, Tinker bell!" She batted at him. Even had he been holding still, she would not have hit him. Belemeriath laughed at her. Sometimes he was just irritating.
He faced Ameretegaff the entire time he orbited he head. “I gave her two motherberries and she feels better now!”
“Two?” Ameretegaff said. “Only two? For her size she'll need at least six!” She took a few steps to a breakfast table that had been set up earlier and put several motherberries into a small bowl. “Here you are, dear. These will complete your recovery.”
Mia took the bowl from the Mumbwe. She ate one, feeling the nourishing warmth overcome her. “These really work, you know,” she told Ameretegaff.
“Yes, they do. Lord Finnegaff and I are fine because of them.”
“You woke up this morning feeling yucky?” Mia said while eating the second berry.
“Probably as bad, yes.” Mia didn’t feel so singled out then. They just knew the tricks, that’s all.
"I helped cure Miagaff's hangover!" Belemeriath announced, puffing out his chest.
"Don't you even tell anybody!" Mia said. “Fairy!” It was too late. He was off.
"Hey, Farawwah!" he yelled as he crossed the nearly vacant campsite. "Guess what I did!"
"Great," Mia said. "Now I'm gonna hear about this for the next five years!"
"No, I don't think you will," Finnegaff said. "He'll find other things to get to you.” She glared at the old wizard. “C'mon! Trust me on this one!"
Mia could hardly wait.
The farewells from the Mumbwe camp were blissful and many. Romessee had to say good-bye to each member of her stand one at a time. She warmly embraced each of them, the first time on Morrah Mia had witnessed greetings expressed as hugs. Ameretegaff spoke with Finnegaff out of earshot for a few moments before the small party parted ways with the Mumbwe caravan. The caravan headed north, Mia’s group, east.
As they settled into a comfortable pace, Mia visited with Romessee, of course with frequent comments from Belemeriath. Finnegaff lay in an impossible position on the back on his horse, feet crossed atop Grinnolle's head.
Mia learned that Romessee was skilled with a weapon called a sling, a small leather pouch with four long tethers.
“That’s a weapon?” Mia eyed the leather square with four long tethers.
“Yes,” Romessee replied, pulling the tethers straight. “A very effective weapon.”
“How does it work?”
“I'll show you!” Romessee picked up a rock about the size of a walnut and placed it in the square of leather, cradling it by the tethers. She swung the pouched rock once in a wide sweep, then released two of the tethers. The rock shot from its harness and struck a pine cone some forty feet away, exploding the pine cone on impact.
“Whoa!” Mia exclaimed. “That’s cool! Did you mean to hit that?”
“Pick a target for me,” Romessee smiled.
“Uh, okay! See that branch?”
“The low one on the pine tree?”
“Yeah! Hit it!”
“I'll try for the small stick on the end of it.” Romessee sel
ected another stone, nestled it in the pouch of the sling and let it fly. Belemeriath twinkled into a pinpoint of light and sped, faster than anything Mia had ever seen, to intercept the rock. It might have found its mark had the fairy not caught it in mid air.
Romessee laughed. “I should have guessed that would happen,” she said.
Belemeriath returned with the stone. “Look! Look! I caught the rock!”
“Man, that was fast,” Mia gasped.
“Try again, Romessee! Try again!” Belemeriath hovered between the two girls.
“What did you mean,” Mia addressed Romessee, “that you should have guessed that would happen?”
The Mumbwe tipped her head and shrugged. “He is a fairy.”
“And?”
“Fairies do that kind of thing.” She picked up another rock. “I'll sling another stone so that you can chase it, friend fairy,” she told Belemeriath. “Let this one find its mark.”
“I won’t stop it this time,” he promised.
The second stone hit the branch just beneath the twig with a loud crack. Mia was impressed. “Can I try?” she asked.
Romessee handed her the sling. “Hold the two red tethers between these fingers. They bind to one side of the pouch. The two brown ones, hold like this.” Romessee placed Mia’s hand in the proper position. “Swing it just once. When the sling is about here,” she pointed ninety degrees before the target, “release your hold on the brown tethers.”
It was several attempts before Mia was able to keep the stone in the sling to start the swing. She swung with all her might and released the missile. She felt the weight of the rock leave the sling and watched her mark with anticipation. The rock, however, didn’t go in the direction she’d intended. Belemeriath sped to the flying projectile and snatched it from the air not two feet from Finnegaff. Had he not done so, the stone would have struck the wizard.
Mia held a hand to her mouth. “Oops!”
Belemeriath brought the rock to Mia. “That was close,” he said. “Good thing I was here!” He stuck a thumb in his barreled chest. “Try again, Miagaff! Try again!”
“No, no!” Finnegaff sat up on Grinnolle. “You can practice with the sling when I'm not around.”
“Oh, uh, okay,” Mia said. She handed the sling to Romessee.
As Mia returned the sling to her new friend, she felt something. A presence, a force, something watching from above. She looked up but saw nothing. Maybe it was Saa watching over her, she thought, because the presence definitely felt good, not evil. She recalled that Saa was not a person. Saa was a force, like gravity. She stared into the blue, cloud-spotted sky where she thought the feeling came from, seeking what, she didn’t know. She saw only clouds and sky. The feeling gradually dissipated.
They made camp that evening in the forest, as a cool, light rain fell. In less than five minutes Romessee had erected a tent big enough for six, easily large enough to accommodate the three of them. Belemeriath took off into the woods for the night, as fairies did when in the company of other races. They ate leftover roast pig from the Mumbwe feast the night before and shared tales of their homes and talked of their respective families. Mia only somewhat missed hers, at least at the moment. She recalled that when she did go back home, she would find herself in a mental hospital.
The thick morning dew wet everything from bedding to spare clothing. Mia, her over night hairdo standing in every direction, wrapped a blanket around her shivering shoulders. She stood close to the small fire that Finnegaff, having risen before the girls, had started.
Romessee spoke about what she knew of the elves. “So when we get to the place of meeting, the elves will lead us to Abaradell,” she said.
“Why don’t we just go there ourselves?” Mia asked. “Why do we need an escort?”
“Nobody has ever found the city of Abaradell,” Finnegaff said.
“It’s protected by Elven magic,” Romessee said. “It can't be found without an escort. It’s on no map. And though we will be escorted without blindfold and seem to follow a mostly straight path, without a guide we would become lost and wander for days, perhaps weeks, until we found a way out of the Elfwood mountain range.”
“How far to this place of meeting?” Mia asked.
Romessee pointed west through the thickening forest. “About twenty leagues in that direction.”
Finnegaff pointed south. “Some ten leagues that way.” They looked at each other. “I thought you knew the way,” Finnegaff said to Romessee.
“I was following you, friend wizard,” she replied.
“I, uh, believe you were in the lead,” he reminded her. “Forests tend to disorient me.”
“The leader does not need go first,” Romessee said. “It is the Mumbwe way.”
“I am not Mumbwe,” Finnegaff said. He lit his pipe, this time with a rock. “But, yes, I do know about this tradition.”
“So which way is it?” Mia pressed.
“To the West?” Romessee said.
“To the South,” Finnegaff stated.
“Perhaps you are right,” Romessee said to Finnegaff. “I'm not too certain; the Shadowlight Stand usually approaches Abaradell from the West.”
He puffed on his pipe. “No, no. I was only, uh...”
Mia stood. “We’re lost?”
“Well, yes and no,” Finnegaff said. “I do know we’re in Elfwood. And I do know where I am standing. I am not lost. This, however, may not be so for place where I stand.”
Mia’s head dropped with her eyes still on the wizard. “What are you talking about?!” She demanded. “We’re in the middle of a forest and neither of you have any idea of where we are?!”
“I do know we’re in Elfwood,” Finnegaff said.
“And we could wander around Elfwood for, like, ever!” She turned to Romessee without saying a word.
Romessee shrugged.
“This is just great,” Mia spat. She sat down hard on a large rock and ran her fingers through her hair. “Man...”