Artwork by Andrew Krivulya

The Wishing Map is a full-length fantasy that is being posted episodically at this site. To read the previous episode, click here. To read the entire novel, begin here.

Newly arrived at the island kingdom of Sur Kellan, Zack and Gina were taken to an inn by their rescuers Maerith and Shelcor. The inn, it turned out, was named for the strange little screaming bird they’d encountered at the entrance (See below for a Glossary of SurKellish words*)

The Screaming Spiffwit’s interior was made of richly-grained wood covered in rainbow-hued scenes. Only upon closer observation did brother and sister realize these “scenes” were drawn from the wood’s own natural colors and textures—an angelic face surrounded by pale blue flowers; the sun breaking through vermillion clouds; a deep green forest marching along a bluff—in a near-miraculous merge of nature and artistry.

Gina stroked the wall. “It’s almost as if the pictures were there from the start!”

“They were!” a child exclaimed from across the room.

“An’ the stories too!” another added.

“Tis SurKellish rainbowwood,” said Maerith. “In all Ismara is nay nobler a tree. The very pillars a’ the Great Court in Zshinia are made just so.”

“Check this out!” Zack exclaimed, following the lines of a ferocious-looking worm with his fingers. It was exhaling a long blue flame at ants—which turned out to be humans!

“Me an’ Sniggle carved that’n,” a reedy child-voice boasted from nearby. “Tis a Morahsan sand serpent!”

“Yer never saw nay Morahsan sand serpent, yer pilky naimling!” a round-faced man baited from the other side of the room.

“Hush, Gurth!” hissed his wife. “Don’t be stirring up the naimlings now, yer duppy old fern!”

Following the woman’s gesture, Zack and Gina saw eight or nine children gathered around a low table in an alcove.

“Oh, how cute,” Gina remarked, “a kid’s section.”

“Nay goats allowed here,” said Shelcor. “There sit the lee naims.”

Gina and Zack suddenly realized these “children,” while only about two feet tall, were in fact full-grown adults. In age, at least; in demeanor they acted more like third graders at a pizza party.

“’Naims…” Gina tried out the word, and then, realizing the ay sound in Kellish is the equivalent of an o in English, exclaimed,

“Oh! ‘Gnomes!’”

“Cool!” said Zack.

Shelcor led them to a scallop-encrusted fireplace where the flames danced invitingly. He pulled a heavy rainbowwood table and two benches close to the heat, inviting them to sit. Zack dropped his soggy backpack and soggy bottom near the hearth.

Gina leaned back and lifted her feet over the redding embers. “Oooooooo! I’m never going to leave this spot again! When I die, just use me for kindling!” The fisher folk at a nearby table smiled. Like children playing in a tide pool, she and Zack had no hint…

Of the tidal wave that was to come.

φ

Thoughts: Have you ever observed a phenomenon of nature so wondrous that it simply could not have come into existence by chance?

To read the next episode, click here.

*A brief Glossary of SurKellish words: spiffwit = a flightless seabird; yer = you; nay = no; pilky = a crude, derogatory adjective; naimling = diminutive of naim; duppy = stupid; lee = little; ter = to; traith = truthful or wise saying.