by K. Dzr
Chapter Eleven
V O Y A G E
When the small company gathered for breakfast the following morning, Meelix took command of the project.
“Listen, everybody. We need to begin construction on the basket right way. If we have it assembled by the time Jeverre gets back here later, we will only have to make the adjustments to fit it for his back. But there are satchels to be done before we can build it.
“I have thought about it all night, and although it may not be a perfect plan, it is a start. First, Tahir and Oraden will go back to Elysi to chop some bamboo. There are some nice-sized shoots on the other side of the meadow. Lugg, Reeny, and Caan will go with them. You’ll have to cut some twine and show them how to tie the bamboo together so Oraden can drag it back here. Sudlin and Bennie, you need to gather as much twine as you can for the harness. Get Mattie and some of the other girls to start braiding it. We need nice, long, strong sections. I’ll go talk to the gnomes. I have come up with a way to convince them to help us.”
Tahir, Oraden and the three sprites returned to Elysi. They chopped and prepared the bamboo as instructed, all the while ignoring the curious glances of several unicorns. Ramah watched his son from a distance. The sprites tried to conceal their excitement; Oraden and Tahir quietly devised an explanation for their behavior just in case Ramah approached. Ramah shook his head and resumed grazing, paying little attention to Oraden or his friends. Roddy on the other hand, couldn’t resist the urge to inquire.
“What are you guys up to now?” she asked.
Tahir glanced up at Roddy, annoyed by the interruption. “Nothing.”
“You’re doing something. What are you cutting all this bamboo for?”
“We’re building something, that’s all,” Tahir said without pausing from his work. Oraden shot Tahir a look, warning him not to say too much, but he was too involved in what he was doing to notice.
“What are you building?” Roddy poked her nose around the bundles of bamboo.
“Look Roddy, we’re just helping the sprites with a project, that’s all. Now leave us alone so we can finish,” Tahir finally told her.
Roddy refused to be brushed off. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No. We’re just about finished here anyway.”
Roddy stood back and watched. Tahir held several clean shoots of bamboo together as the sprites secured them with the twine. Once secured, he harnessed a pull-rope around Oraden.
“I could carry some of those,” Roddy motioned to the other bundles arranged on the ground.
Tahir and Oraden exchanged looks. Neither wanted Roddy’s involvement, but she would save them a lot of time.
“We have to come back anyway. We’ll pick them up later,” Tahir explained.
“Now, wait a minute,” Lugg interrupted. “If she is willing to help us, why not let her? We didn’t ask her, she offered. She could save us almost half a day.”
“Because she’s not being helpful, she’s just nosey. It’s her way of finding out what we’re up to,” Oraden answered.
“No, I want to help. What’s the big secret, anyway?”
Lugg stepped forward, ignoring the strife between Oraden and Roddy. “We would appreciate your help, but only if you really want to help us. Remember, we didn’t ask for your help, you offered it. You could save us a lot of time, but it won’t be worth it if you intrude on our privacy.”
“I only want to help and be a part of your project. I won’t ask questions and linger around bothering you. Really, I won’t be a problem.”
“Thanks, Roddy. Come on Tahir; let’s get this bamboo tied to Roddy.”
Roddy and Oraden led the way back to Rhykell. The sprites sat on the unicorns’ backs while Tahir followed behind with his own load to ensure they did not lose their precious cargo. Tahir wondered if Roddy would keep her promise and return quietly to the meadow. If not, he would have to think of a way to get rid of her before she figured out what they were doing. If Roddy reported back to Ramah and Diamond that he and Oraden were setting out to sea with a bunch of sprites in a basket on the back of a sea-dragon…well, he didn’t even want to know what they might do.
So far Roddy kept her promise. She asked no questions and didn’t try to make conversation with Oraden. She and Oraden walked side-by-side dragging their loads along the familiar path. Oraden was angry that Roddy was able to weasel her way into their secret project. The three sprites rode quietly, thrilled that they reduced the number of trips they needed to make.
They were surprised to arrive in Rhykell to find Jeverre already at the riverbank. Several female sprites were scurrying around his back and neck with long lengths of twine; some were on the ground, partially under Jeverre’s long neck, tying knots and testing the strength of the ropes. It was obvious they were making a harness of some kind.
The gnomes were experimenting with ideas for baskets by diagramming alternative shapes in the dirt and then arranging small sticks into makeshift models. They argued continuously, but only in an effort to increase productivity, and only occasionally to scold the sprites for their foolish behavior. More than anything, gnomes loved to fuss. Over in the meeting circle, sprites and gnomes were preparing a meal. Their arguments were sprinkled with talk and laughter as they compared and exchanged recipes.
Lugg, Reeny, and Caan jumped off the unicorns and ran to greet Jeverre. Oraden’s anger increased with every breath as he watched the astonishment fill Roddy’s eyes. Jeverre was not supposed to be here yet. Now Roddy didn’t have to ask any questions; the answers were right here in front of her. Tahir too, saw Roddy’s eyes light up with excitement. He figured there was only one way to deal with the situation now.
Meelix, the self appointed leader of this project, approached them anxiously waving his arms and calling out orders.
“Come on, then! Excellent work. Bring them over here!” He pointed to the area where several sprites were braiding twine.
Roddy eagerly followed the orders.
“Roddy?”
“Yes Tahir?” she stopped and turned her head to face the boy.
“You know that we did not mean for you to see any of this. I guess you can figure out what’s going on.”
“You guys are constructing something to strap onto that sea creature so you can go on a water adventure with him. Right?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s also true that you are not a dependable friend. Oraden really doesn’t trust you at all,” Tahir said, tossing a smile at the suspicious Oraden. “And if he doesn’t trust you, neither do I. The only solution is to for you to remain here with us until we finish our project. Then, I’m afraid you will have to go on the adventure with us.”
Oraden glared at Tahir, nostrils flaring. Tahir saw the look, but ignored it.
“You’re going to take me out on the waters with you?” Roddy exclaimed.
“That’s right. You are now just as much a part of this as we are.”
“Good fairies! I’ve dreamed of going on adventures with Oraden. Finally I get my chance!”
“I’m glad you feel that way. We have a lot of work to do. First get unloaded. Then find Meelix and ask him what he needs you to do.”
When Roddy trotted off, Tahir turned to Oraden. The unicorn’s eyes narrowed into slits and the red glow of rage suffused his horn.
“What other choice do we have?” he asked before Oraden could say a word. “Send her back to run her mouth? She wouldn’t have to tell your parents; every unicorn in Elysi would know before dark. Keeping her with us is our best chance for keeping our secret. If she tells everybody after we get back, she’ll be telling on herself as well. If I had to guess, she won’t tell. She’s more afraid of getting into trouble with her parents than anything we could ever do to her.”
“For once you came up with a good idea all by yourself. But I still don’t like having her along. She’s such a baby; she’ll cry and complain the whole time.”
“I don’t see any other way, Oraden. And if she c
omplains too much, I will shove my tunic in her mouth.”
They both laughed at the thought of Roddy being gagged.
“Tahir!” Dell, one of the female sprites waved. “Come here!”
Oraden dragged his bundle to Meelix for instruction, and Tahir walked over to see the spritish woman.
“Mmm. Something smells absolutely delicious,” he said as he approached the meeting circle where Dell and several other women worked and fussed over steaming pots.
“Hi, Tahir. Sudlin mentioned that you don’t get a good hot meal very often, so I, oh, um, we…” Dell nodded to the two female gnomes, Corey and Feldon, who had been helping her cook most of the day, “…made extra. It’s just about ready.”
Tahir knelt to take a peek. “What is it, rabbit or squirrel?”
“Actually, it’s venison stew. I wasn’t sure how much you would eat, so I made the stew and roasted a leg.”
“Oh, you really shouldn’t have gone through the extra trouble just for me, Dell.”
“Don’t worry about it. The meat became available quite suddenly. Bennie suggested covering the floor of the basket with the hide so Oraden’s hooves wouldn’t slip all over that wet bamboo. So Weiger, Mog, and some other gnomes went out and set a trap. And I mean almost immediately we heard the call to come running. Over half the village helped drag that buck on over here. Oh, Tahir. Some don’t like onion in their salad, do you?”
“I think so, but however you fix it is fine with me,” Tahir answered, hoping she would hurry up and finish her story and the meal; not necessarily in that order.
Dell turned and reached for a large bowl and began cutting vegetables as she continued her story. “…So what was I saying? Oh, yes. We ripped into that buck like never before. You should’ve seen us. Bennie took the hide to make the basket floor. We took the bladder to make pouches to keep your traveling things safe and dry. In case you were wondering, the gnomes took the antlers. I guess that’s only fair; after all, they did kill it. We took the leg and a portion of the butt to make the stew. It should be quite delicious with a little sprite touch and some added gnome spices.” She winked at her cooking companions.
“I can’t wait to try it,” Tahir said.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to wait just a little longer. If it doesn’t simmer long enough it will taste quite bitter,” Feldon added.
“Oh fairy wings! Can’t you see the human is hungry? Tahir sit down and prepare for the meal of a lifetime. I’ll let you start on the salad,” Corey turned to retrieve the salad. “Here you are,” she handed Tahir a bowl that she carried with both arms, but which became quite small in his hands.
Tahir’s mouth began to water. “All of it for me?”
“All of it for you. Feldon made another salad for the rest of us, so eat up and enjoy,” Dell said with a smile. “By the way, Tahir, when do you think the basket will be completed?”
“I’m not sure. Meelix said he’d be able to get the gnomes to help, but I didn’t expect this much cooperation. It’s kind of a village project now, isn’t it?”
“The gnomes are always willing to help. They fuss a lot but they are right there when we need them. And, of course, we are always willing to return the favors. By the way, how many of us are going to be able to go with you?”
Tahir was caught by surprise. He thought it would just be himself, Oraden, Meelix, Bennie, Sudlin, Figg, Reeny, and maybe one or two others; and now of course, Roddy. He had no idea that anyone else even wanted to go. Back home in his village, whatever he and his friends did, it never included girls. It was just unheard of; girls, and especially women, wanting to participate in the adventures of boys.
“Us? Do you mean sprites and gnomes?”
“Ha! I’d like to see a gnome ride on a dragon’s back in that contraption!” Feldon exclaimed.
“How many are expecting to go?” Tahir asked.
“Everyone wants to go, that’s why everyone is so eager to help build it. We know there will be a limited number that will fit. We’re planning on throwing stones to see who gets to go.”
“Throwing stones?”
“Well, let’s say only ten sprites, along with you and Oraden can fit. I’m sure Meelix, Sudlin, Reeny and Bennie will go for sure. That leaves room for six more. So we draw a large circle in the dirt with a smaller circle in the center. Everyone gets a stone and stands at the edge of the outer circle. We take turns throwing the stone into the center circle. Whosever stone comes closest to the center of the smaller circle gets to go.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I really don’t even know how big they are making it. Besides, now Roddy is going with us. Come to think about it, I should go tell Meelix, so we can adjust the size if necessary.”
Dell frowned and shook her head. “Is that why she’s here?” “I should have known. That means even fewer of us will be able to go, if any at all.”
“I’m sorry, Dell, I didn’t know that everybody wanted to go. Will they be angry once they realize only a few will go?”
“I don’t think so. Don’t even worry yourself about it. There will be other trips; we’ll just take turns, that’s all.”
Feldon handed Tahir a steaming bowl of stew as she removed his empty salad bowl from the miniature table. Although the meal was delicious, Tahir could not enjoy it as he would have before he knew that—once again—he hadn’t thought things through carefully. As hospitable as these little people have been to him, he never once thought about their feelings; he thought only of himself and his few closest companions. At the first sign of daylight, together, gnomes and sprites eagerly went to work to construct something that none of them had ever seen before, something that would allow him and a unicorn to safely travel the waters with a sea dragon. As exciting as that sounds, what would make him think that anyone else wouldn’t want to go? Why didn’t he at least ask to see who wanted to come along before they started building? At least that way they would have an idea of how big to make it.
“I have to go now,” Tahir said as he passed his empty bowl back to Dell and got to his feet. “Thank you so much for the delicious meal.”
Tahir ran along to visit with Jeverre and check on Roddy before talking with Meelix. He found Roddy and Jeverre together, their excitement mutual. Tahir didn’t like the idea of those two talking alone. Jeverre, of course, wouldn’t know what he should and shouldn’t tell Roddy. Although at this point, there wasn’t much to keep secret.
“Tahir! Come over here! Take a look at this,” Figg called out. “How high do you think the basket needs to be?”
Tahir was amazed at the progress they’d made in the time it took him to sit down and eat a meal and converse the the cooks. The floor was completely finished, except for the hide covering. The gnomes decided to contour the shape of the basket to match Jeverre’s back; thereby distributing their weight more evenly and reducing the risk of tipping over.
Figg wanted the basket to be as high as Oraden’s neck so there would be little chance of him falling out. Meelix felt it only needed to be as high as the top of his knees. If he sat during the ride, it wouldn’t be so top heavy.
“I think I agree with you, Meelix. We should keep the basket as short as possible. What do you think, Kewtan?” Tahir asked as he knelt down beside the little gnome who was busily securing branches with twine.
“I don’t know. I think we should start out tall; test it and then make any necessary adjustments.”
“How can I help?” Tahir asked, feeling a little guilty about not contributing more.
“You can help put it on Jeverre. We need to make sure it fits snuggly between the two rows of spikes on his back.”
Tahir called for Jeverre and Roddy to join them. Jeverre lay in the grass and allowed Tahir to hoist the basket onto his back. Once situated, the gnomes scrambled up to take measurements, make adjustments and tighten the twine.
“Oraden, come on, we need to see how well you fit in this thing since you are the biggest,” called Kewtan.
“How
am I supposed to get up there?” he asked as he approached.
“Just step right up on it,” Jeverre told him.
“But when you put the sides on it how will I get in and out?”
“See, that’s why we have to test it. Now we know we have to put a door on it,” Kewtan said. “But for now, just step up and see how it feels.”
Oraden stepped up to Jeverre’s side and jumped onto the basket floor. He positioned himself in the middle and knelt down.
“I think it will be fine once the floor covering is on. Right now it feels hard on my knees.”
“How do you feel, Jeverre? Is it too much weight or anything?” Tahir asked.
“No. I can hardly feel any difference. Roddy and Tahir should get on too. That way I’ll know for sure.”
“You first Roddy.”
Oraden reluctantly scooted over to allow the much too excited Roddy to join him.
“Come on, Tahir!” Roddy called. “You get in the middle.”
Tahir climbed in and sat cross-legged between the two unicorns.
“I’m comfortable. How do we look?”
“It doesn’t matter how you look,” Kewtan scolded. “What’s important is whether or not Jeverre can carry you.”
“I don’t think it will be a problem, especially in the water,” Jeverre said. “Hold on, let’s see if I can walk with you.”
“Wait! Wait”! Kewtan called. “Not yet! The basket’s not secured to you yet. If that basket falls off and breaks I’ll have nothing to do with making another one!”
Tahir, Oraden, the sprites, Roddy, and even Jeverre, all laughed at the little gnome.
“He’s such a worrier but he makes sense. Keep still, Jeverre; let’s not take a chance on breaking it. Tahir, how many of us do you think can fit in there with you?” asked Meelix.
“It depends. Where do you want to sit? Some could sit on Oraden, some could sit on Roddy and some could sit with me. I’d say about twenty.”
“Twenty? I’d say not! That is far too dangerous!” Kewtan exclaimed, shaking his head and walking away.
“Dangerous? How so?” Tahir called after him.
“Think about it.” Weiger began. “How could any of you watch out for twenty sprites? If Tahir, Oraden or Roddy fell out you’d know it instantly. But if one of the sprites were to fall out, who would notice one of twenty missing? The poor thing would be paddling around for the next hundred years before anyone found him.”
“But if the basket is sturdy enough…”
“There are far too many ‘what ifs’. Anything can happen. If you insist upon going on such a dangerous journey, the least you can do is take every precaution to keep your little friends safe. I suggest each one of you take charge of just two sprites each. Except of course you, Jeverre. You are responsible for all of them.”
Tahir dismounted Jeverre. “Now, wait a minute Weiger. That means only six sprites get to go. Don’t you think you’re being a little too cautious?”
“Am I? Tell me how you can possibly look after twenty or so sprites? Explain it to me. And explain it to Kewtan too.”
“First, you asked how many can fit, not how many should go. Besides, it won’t be just us; the mers will be going as well. They could help look after them.”
“Tahir, I think Kewtan and Weiger are right. It would be far more than we could handle,” Jeverre added. “Especially when we get out to sea. The water can be rough and loud. I might not be able to hear if any of you were in trouble. I would hate to be responsible for returning with fewer passengers than I left with.”
“What do you think, Tahir?” Oraden asked.
“I’m thinking we need to think more about this. Jeverre, you’ve been in these waters a lot. Are there other dangers we need to know about?”
“There are creatures in the water that would be a definite threat to any of you. I am Dracara; I have nothing to fear. What would ever attack me? I am at least twice as big as anything out there. If you are with me, you will be safe.”
“But if any of us were to fall out, would we be in danger?”
“I suppose so. Like I said, other creatures usually stay away from me. But the plan is to see the mers, play around with them for a while and come back right?”
“Well, that’s the plan, but plans don’t always work out the way they are supposed to.” Oraden said.
“Yeah, so let’s put the sides on. I think if the sides are at least waist high to me we will be fine. We’ll each take two sprites and off we go.”
“Can I say something?” Roddy asked shyly.
“NO!” Oraden and Tahir shouted in unison.
The two unicorns dismounted and Tahir retrieved the basket from Jeverre’s back.
The gnomes and sprites immediately began construction on the sides and the door. Tahir helped in every way he could. He carried bundles of bamboo from the sprites, who measured and chopped it, to the gnomes who built the basket. He returned to the meadow with Oraden to bring more stock while Roddy remained in Rhykell and tried to be as useful. They all worked on the basket the rest of the day and most of the next. By late afternoon, the basket cage was finished. It was oval shaped, and pointed at both ends. The sides were chest level to Tahir. Horizontal bamboo rails were held in place by the vented poles secured to the floor. The deer hide sewn to the floor provided cushion and kept the passengers’ feet from slipping. Along one side of the basket was a narrow doorway to allow easy access for the unicorns.
Tahir, Roddy and Oraden agreed they would each be able to take responsibility for three sprites, rather than only two. They decided that Sudlin, Bennie, Reeny and Meelix would definitely go. Five other sprites would have to throw stones to see who would accompany them. They would set out first thing in the morning, allowing the adventurers a full day at sea. After another big feast, followed by songs, dancing and stories, all of Rhykell settled down early to prepare for tomorrow’s adventure.
Tahir made his bed under Sudlin’s tree house. He lay awake imagining what this sea adventure would bring. Maybe it would provide an opportunity for him to uncover the magic hiding inside him.
When the rising sun crested the horizon, Tahir’s eyes took in the strangest sight: the completed basket appeared to have sprouted dozens of miniature legs and was making its way toward the riverbank. Tahir smiled and nudged Oraden. The unicorn shook his head and yawned. His eyes followed Tahir’s pointing finger to see the basket inching along. They both chuckled at the sight.
Tahir stood and stretched his arms and neck. “Come on, let’s help them.”
The day was sunny with low winds: perfect weather for seafaring. After they secured the basket to Jeverre’s back, Kewtan and Weiger went through a series of safety checks. The gnomes tugged at the harness and inspected a few more knots before standing back with their arms folded, giving the contraption a last visual inspection. Finally they nodded their approval and the eager passengers scurried up Jeverre’s back.
Everyone was seated comfortably; the door tied securely in place. Jeverre carefully rose to his flippers and lumbered down the shore into the river. The remaining sprites cheered and waved as Jeverre paddled deeper into the water. They floated down the river toward the open sea, each unable to contain their excitement. Tahir turned to watch the send-off party grow smaller and smaller as Jeverre cautiously maneuvered farther from shore.
“Oraden, do you think Nayani would disapprove of our sea adventure?” Tahir asked as an afterthought.
Meelix couldn’t help but offer his opinion. “I distinctly remember her warning. She said not to go into the desert and away from protection. We have Jeverre for protection and we’re not anywhere near the desert.”
“That’s pretty much the way I remember it too. So I guess being in the water with Jeverre is safe enough.”
Tahir thought about their logic. “I hope you’re right. I don’t want to upset her again. I didn’t enjoy being handled by a tree, and I don’t want to have to go through that again.”
The small group fell silent; each deep in their own thoughts.
Once again Tahir thought of his mother and the home he’d never be able to go back to. He wished she was there waving him off, eager for him to return and tell stories of the adventures he’d had and those yet to come. He missed her so much. He imagined he would always miss her. This was his home now; the sprites, unicorns, and even the gnomes took him in as their own and taught him so much. Soon, the day would come for him to leave here. As he thought of it, he realized it would be almost as hard to lose them as it was to lose his village. He figured he could always come back here, but who knew if he ever would? Although they had become his family, and Elysi his home, he still had to find his way to England to fulfill his destiny. He made a promised to his father and himself. He intended to keep it.
He wasn’t afraid of a new adventure, nor the aspect of traveling alone. What bothered him the most was leaving without knowing what magic he possessed. He had to find out before he left. Diamond told him it would reveal itself in time, but he didn’t have much time left. If he were to train to become a warrior, he must get to England before he got too old. They prefer their student’s begin in early youth. He may be too old as it was, and that wasn’t taking into consideration the time it would take for him to get there.
Tahir swayed and rocked along with the waves. He took a deep breath; the scent of water and seaweed awakened him from his reverie. He could barely see the shore they left behind. Meelix and the sprites pointed and smiled at each other and spoke quietly among themselves. Roddy was also very quiet. Maybe she was afraid to speak, or maybe just deep in her own Roddy thoughts. It didn’t matter to Tahir. He wondered what thoughts Oraden kept so quiet.
A wave splashed against the riders, forcing them all to awaken from their daydreams. The little ones struggled to hold on for fear they would be washed away. Tahir scooped them up in both arms; they giggled uncontrollably as they wiped the warm water from their faces.
“Maybe you guys should hang on to me. Another wave like that could send you all off.” Tahir ushered them between his legs. “Hold on tightly to my pants and don’t let go!”
“Tahir this is great!” Oraden blurted. “You know, I’ve been thinking lately that I have explored just about as much as I could around here. I thought there was nothing left to see without leaving. You know? I mean really leaving here. But look at this! Look at where we are!” Oraden’s eyes swept the unfamiliar surroundings. “I never imagined traveling along the river. Especially on the back of a dragon! Tahir, do you know what this means?”
Tahir tried to see what Oraden was seeing. He saw the water, of course. He appreciated the unusual company he was with. There was the mysterious and unknown nature of where he was and where he was going. But he didn’t know exactly what Oraden was talking about. He looked at Oraden, and then his eyes found the listening Roddy: the possible traitor. He looked at Oraden again. Oraden understood the gesture, but shook his head as if he didn’t care. He stared at Tahir waiting for his reply.
“I understand how you feel about a brand new adventure. It’s exciting and kind of scary at the same time. Is that what you mean?”
“No, no, no…well, yes, that’s part of. But I’m talking about what else is out there? What else are we missing? All this time I thought I’d seen it all. Good fairies, Tahir. We can’t even begin to dream about what else is out there. We have to find out. I want to see it all! Don’t you?” Oraden asked.
“I know exactly what you mean!” Roddy blurted out. “This is absolutely wonderful. Now I understand your need for adventures, Oraden. It’s almost like eating your favorite fruit. Once you’ve had a taste, you want to keep eating it.”
“Well don’t go wetting your lips too much. You can’t possibly understand what I’m talking about,” Oraden told her.
“Yeah, Roddy. I believe its part of you. It’s just there; inside you from the day you take your first step. Oraden and I were born adventurers. It’s not something you can suppress. It’s a need greater than the want. We don’t have a choice. But you do. So you think that just because you happen to be one of the first unicorns to ride the waters, that means something? Have you forgotten why you are here? It wasn’t because of want or need. You were forced to come along so you wouldn’t be able to stop us.”
“I told you guys. I wasn’t going to tell anyone.”
“But we had to be sure, didn’t we?” Oraden added.
“Regardless of the reason, I am very happy to be here. This is the most excitement I’ve ever had in my life!”
“Anyway,” Oraden continued, dismissing Roddy altogether, “I’m saying, all we’ve been doing is playing. Sure we’ve had some great adventures, learned a lot of new things and been many places no unicorn or—well—I don’t know about humans. But as far as we are concerned, we’ve been the first explorers around here. But why does it have to end here? I mean, look!” Oraden pointed to the very distant opposite shore. “Who knows what’s over there? I never even knew there was an ‘over there’. Aren’t you interested in knowing what or who’s living there?”
“Of course I am. Maybe on the way back we can ask Jeverre to stop so we can explore.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, Tahir. Aren’t you listening?”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about. I do.” Tahir’s eyes shifted back to Roddy. “But I don’t think this is the time or place to talk about it.”
Oraden eyeballed Roddy and resented her presence even more, but Tahir was right. No point in giving Roddy even more ammunition to use against him when they returned.
“How much longer do you think before we get there?” Figg asked trying to change the tone of the conversation.
“I don’t know. But this is fun, isn’t it?” Caan, picking up on Figg’s idea, cheerfully replied.
“What do you think the mers will look like?” Meelix added.
“I’m not sure. But Jeverre said they were playful. Too bad he can’t talk to us while he’s swimming,” Bennie answered. “Anybody want some hazelnuts? I cracked them earlier?”
“Hey! Look at that!” Meelix cried, pointing straight ahead. “What are they?”
Everyone scrambled for position.
“Oh, those are hippopotamus. They’re not dangerous. At least they shouldn’t be to a dragon,” Tahir explained.
“Are you sure?” Meelix asked. “Look how big they are!”
“Well, they can be pretty dangerous if you bother them. But they eat grass and stuff and they mostly stay in the water. I’m not sure if they actually swim or just walk on the bottom.”
“Wow! I’ve never heard of a hippobottomless before,” Figg said.
Tahir laughed at his mispronunciation, but didn’t correct him. They continued to watch the herd lackadaisically move as Jeverre approached. The hippos were not nearly as curious of the travelers as the travelers were of them.
“I wonder what else we might see along the way,” Oraden mentioned.
Tahir was tempted to stand up to get a better look at the large mammals, but was reluctant to leave his little friends unattended.
The entire herd slowly disappeared below the surface as Jeverre reached them. Tahir, Oraden and Roddy searched the water as they passed over the hippos, hoping to get a view of them underwater. The water was far too murky to see anything.
Their excitement grew as they continued on their journey, ever watchful of anything else unusual they may encounter. The only other wildlife, besides the large noisy birds flying above, was the fish, a few swimming snakes and a motionless crocodile. Finally Jeverre brought them to a swampy shore. He rose from the water and lay down in the wet grass.
“Okay. Time to get off,” he announced.
“Where are we?” Oraden asked as he got to his feet.
“You’ll see.”
Tahir opened the basket door and jumped out. “What about the mers? Where are they?”
“So how was the ride?” Jeverre asked.
&
nbsp; “It was great!”
“We loved it!”
“I liked those hip…hipta…you know, those really big creatures in the water,” Bennie said between giggles.
“So, everyone is okay? Nobody was lost or hurt?”
“Let’s make sure. Tahir told the sprites to raise their hand when he called their name. “Meelix, Bennie, Sudlin, Figg, Caan, Reeny, Rassine, Lugg, and Triah. Everybody made it safely. Nobody lost and nobody hurt, Jeverre.”
“I deliberately went slower than usual because I was afraid I might slosh you around too much and I didn’t want to lose anyone.”
“No, no, we were fine. Only one time a big wave came but I grabbed the little ones and held onto them thereafter. I’m sure we would be fine if you went faster,” Tahir reassured him.
“So, why are we here? Do you need to rest, Jeverre?” Sudlin asked.
“This is one of the places where the mers play.”
“Where? I don’t see any mers.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find them. I have to go deep underwater. You wait here.”
“Oh, okay. Will you bring them back here?” Sudlin asked.
“Of course. This place is safe; you’ll be fine until I get back. It’ll be easier for me to dive without the basket.”
“Sure. How long do you think it’ll be?” Tahir asked as he removed the straps from around Jeverre’s back.
“Only a few minutes, I guess. It won’t be long; I’ll come right back, with or without them.” Jeverre plunged into the water.
Meelix wandered in the muddy grass, looking for a rock or tree stump to stand on. “I wonder where we are. Have you ever been here before, Oraden?”
“Nothing looks familiar. I don’t think I’ve ever been this far north. And certainly not on this side of the river.”
“It doesn’t look like there’s much here.” Roddy surveyed the swampy area.
“I’ve learned to expect all sorts of things that were never expected. Don’t be fooled by the quiet.”
“Yeah, Meelix come back. Let’s just stay together until Jeverre returns,” Tahir said.
“Sure. You can say that because you’re not standing half-buried in mud.”
“Yeah, fairies only know what’s crawling up my pants,” Sudlin grumbled.
“You guys can sit on my back,” Roddy offered.
“Finally, she’s good for something,” Oraden mumbled.
Tahir rolled his eyes at Oraden as he hoisted the sprites one by one onto Roddy’s back.
“What if Jeverre…”
“Don’t even say it!” Tahir shouted. “I know what you’re going to say, Roddy, and don’t even say it!”
“I wasn’t going to say anything wrong. Just that…”
“Roddy, just shut up. No one wants to hear it,” Oraden snapped.
“Fine.”
The little sprites anticipated a very fun day, but Oraden and Tahir were making it rather miserable. Caan was ready to go back home. Bennie and Figg hoped the friends would work it out so they could all have fun together. Meelix figured the mers would be able to cheer them up. Sudlin blamed Roddy for his friends’ foul moods. The sprites remained relatively quiet for most of the day for fear that Tahir or Oraden would snap at them. It certainly wasn’t the adventure they dreamed about for the last few days. The buzz of flying insects and the songs of frogs broke the silence.
Tahir stared into the Nile and measured his thoughts. He hadn’t been very kind today. Time had gotten away from him. Now Oraden was contemplating the two of them going off on a long adventure. How could he break the news that he was leaving for England soon without Oraden feeling abandoned? And why can’t I figure out my magic?
Jeverre appeared moments later. “I found them!” he shouted.
The adventurers waded through the muck to greet him on the bank.
“Where are they?” Oraden asked.
“They’re right behind me.”
Just beyond Jeverre’s long body three heads popped to the surface. The creatures quickly swam around him to the shore. They had slick, brownish-grey skin covered with a fine layer of thin black hair. Their hands and arms were human-like, except for the webbed fingers. Instead of legs, their lower bodies were like fish tails without scales. Their faces were shaped more like a lion’s—without the fur and mane, than like a human or a fish. One was a male, a little larger than the other two and sporting more facial hair. The two females had a few fine whiskers under their small round noses, and their torsos were slender and curvaceous.
“This is Meena, Loni, and Konda. They are from the waters near the isle of Kadir. Not very far from where I am from.”
Tahir met their round black eyes. Never in his wildest dreams could he have believed such creatures existed. They were absolutely beautiful. Oraden was even more astonished than Tahir. He lived here his entire life, and not until a human boy came along did he encounter dragons and mers. He, Roddy and Tahir stepped closer toward the waters edge. The sprites held tightly to Roddy’s mane.
“Hello. You must be Tahir,” Meena said as Tahir slowly approached them. “Jeverre has told us much about you. I think we were as anxious to meet you as you must be to meet us.”
“I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know mers really existed.”
“He told us that you are not like most humans; he said you are much different from the others.”
“I’m sorry; I don’t know what you mean by ‘different’. Why aren’t I like other humans?”
“Tahir?” Oraden crept up to Tahir and whispered in his ear, “Are you talking to them?”
“Of course. Why shouldn’t I?” Tahir turned to the unicorns and sprites. Their faces were clouded with confusion. “What is wrong with everybody?”
“How can you understand what they are saying?” Oraden asked.
“What do you mean? I can understand them as easily as I can understand you. Can’t you?”
“We can hear noises,” Triah offered, “but we can’t understand anything they are saying.”
“How is it possible that I can understand them and no one else can?”
“Tahir, it could be that mers are more human than animal. So a human could better understand their language,” Jeverre explained.
“But you can talk to them, right?”
“Of course I can. But that’s because I am magic, and Dracara at that. I can talk to all animals, birds, humans, anything and anybody.”
“But the unicorns and sprites are magic too. Why can’t they?”
“I’m not sure,” Konda answered. “I’ve never tried to communicate with sprites before.”
“Maybe that’s what Jeverre meant when he said you were different,” Loni offered. “No other human has ever tried to communicate with us. Our ancestors have warned us that men on ships used to hunt us. We have avoided humans for many generations.”
“I don’t understand it. Everybody I meet who is not human, has a horrible story about humans. But all humans aren’t bad, at least not where I come from.”
“What did she say, Tahir?” Meelix asked.
Tahir repeated the conversation to his friends, and then turned back to the mers.
“It’s true that where I come from, we hunted animals for food, just like other meat-eating creatures. But I don’t believe those humans intended to eat you.”
“Nor do we. The story passed down to us begins when the ships first appeared in our waters and some inquisitive mers approached them. The human men stood shoulder-to-shoulder leaning over the side, yelling and pointing at them. The mers waved to greet the strangers and misinterpreted the men’s waving arms as friendly gestures. But the closer they got to the ship, the more excited the men became. Several of them jumped in, fell in, or perhaps were pushed into the water. According to the story, humans are awkward swimmers. The waters were violent. Without the gift of agility in water, the men were being swept toward a rocky shore. The mers rushed to their rescue. The men remaining aboard pelted the mers using long st
icks imbedded with crocodile teeth. Some of the mers were severely injured. They immediately abandoned the rescue attempt and fled for safety deep into the sea. All of the men in the water drowned.”
“What are they saying Tahir?” Oraden asked.
Tahir ignored Oraden’s question; he was too involved in the conversation. Jeverre took it upon himself to become the interpreter.
“So they accused the mers of killing them? And that’s why they started hunting mers?”
“We think so. We don’t want to take any chances; so we stay far away from them.” Konda said.
“So, if you saw a human drowning, you wouldn’t save him?”
“That’s an interesting question, coming from you Tahir.” Meena’s brow furrowed. “It depends. If there were only one, I suppose I would try to help. But if there were more than two or three I’d let them be.” The others nodded in agreement.
“You could just watch someone die and not help them if you could?” Tahir was astonished.
Meena moved closer to Tahir and looked deeply into his eyes. “Obviously you don’t remember me.”
Tahir was shocked. “How could I remember you? I’ve never met you before. What are you talking about?”
“Not a week ago, I was exploring alone when I heard a commotion on the shore. I was curious so I swam closer to investigate. That’s when I saw you thrashing around in the water. You were definitely not what I expected to find. I watched you from a distance until I realized you were in trouble. You were drowning.”
“What? That was when I was being chased by the hyenas and…I don’t know what happened. I found myself lying a ways down shore and I walked back and found that Jeverre was there.”
“You were but a child; alone and in trouble. Of course I had to do something. I grabbed you, held your head above the water and brought you to shore. I believed you to be dead, so I breathed the breath of the mer in you. Then I quickly retreated to the safety of the water and watched you until you began the cough of life.”
Tahir gasped. “I never knew what happened to me. The last thing I remember was tumbling around under water. The next thing I knew I was lying on the shore, confused and alone. Why did you leave?”
“I left for my own safety. I didn’t trust what you might do once you were awake and alive again.”
Tahir was overwhelmed with emotions. “I drowned that day? And you saved me? Thank you so much Meena!” Tahir stared at Meena, astonished by her revelation. He dropped down to his knees before her and hugged her tightly.
Tahir’s friends watched in silence as Jeverre finished interpreting the story.
“I’m sorry, I’m still trying to understand things. It seems that everyone I meet hates humans or is afraid of them. It’s hard for me to believe that humans have had such a negative impact on the world.”
“You don’t understand because you don’t want to,” Oraden snorted.
“I do want to. Actually, I understand far more than I did before I met all of you,” Tahir explained.
“Alright, alright. Enough serious talk. We didn’t come all this way to sit around and be serious.” Adding it all up—the unicorn attitude, the unwelcome guest, and now the species prejudice—Meelix was beginning to regret coming on this trip.
“I’m sorry. You’re right, Meelix. Tahir turned to his three new friends. “What do you like to do?”
“We like to explore, play tag, hide and seek, or go find,” Kondo replied.
“What is ‘go find’?” Tahir asked.
“That’s when we all decide on one object and whomever can find it first, wins,” Meena explained.
“Is it always played in the water?”
“Most of the time, but not always.”
“Okay, that sounds fun.”
Tahir explained the game to the others and an object was chosen. Finally they were having fun; the previous conversation was all but forgotten.
The mers excelled at just about every game they played. Being the most agile in the water, they were virtually impossible to tag and could easily tag the others. They could also see much better in the murky water than everyone but Jeverre, and quickly found any object called out. Jeverre was at a considerable disadvantage in shallow water; he could not maneuver as well as he liked, and his size made it virtually impossible for him to hide. He also had to be extra cautious to not crush his land friends. Despite these limitations, he was having great fun playing with them all.
Jeverre spun in circles as the others attempted to jump over his tail. They climbed all over his body, their little hands and feet tickling him with every move. The mers taught the others to climb high up on his head and dive into the water. The unicorns couldn’t really participate, but they enjoyed watching the sprites gracefully spin and slice into the water. Sudlin was declared the diving champion with his perfect spiraling back-flip. Meelix wasn’t nearly as graceful, but that didn’t stop him from plopping into the water in peals of laughter.
They built sand castles, slung mud, swam and splashed until they were all so exhausted, and so covered in mud, that no one could tell Roddy from Oraden or what color clothes anyone was wearing. And no one cared.
Despite the controversial beginning of their encounter with the mers, the day turned out to be more fun than they could have imagined. But while they played, a thief snuck into their midst and snatched time away. Too soon, they were left with a rapidly darkening sky and a long journey ahead.