18. Lumin

Tien stumbled in panic, her hands reaching out blindly for Fen or Saka. She could hear their muffled grunts nearby, over the drone of the insects. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut, as the flies greedily swarmed over them, seeking out the moistness under her lids with their proboscises, and shuddered at hideous tickle of hundreds of gummy legs pattering over her skin. They had even gotten inside her tunic. She wanted to scream, but the moist probing at the join of her lips prevented her from trying. She realized that she was grunting as well. And she could no longer hear the others. Get into the water, she thought with a flash of clarity. That will get rid of them. But which way was the water? That really doesn’t matter, she decided, flinging herself onto the ground and beginning to roll.

Dislodged flies hovered as she tumbled over the white rocks. She couldn’t hear which direction the waves were washing up, with the whirring of tiny wings thunderous in her ears, so she felt a great relief when her legs felt the blessed cool of water. She rolled all the way in, head first, gasping in great gulps of air as she surfaced. She splashed wildly with her arms to shoo away the remaining pests, having to go completely under two more times to fend off those that were more persistent. Finally they gave up, and flew off to join the larger mass, moving away in a black, buzzing swirl.

Tien rinsed the dirty sensation of the flies off her body, with trembling hands. A flash of movement caught her eye, and she looked across to see Saka sitting in the shallows close by, throwing water over himself. He saw her and managed a feeble smile.

“Is that the best they could throw at us? Pathetic effort!” he croaked. “Not even close to the welcome I expected.” His face sobered.

“ Are you OK?” Tien nodded. “But have you seen Fen?” They looked further out in the water, but she was not there.

”Fen,” Saka called, his tone soft and low. Then a little louder. “Fen!”

There was an answering snigger. The sound was so unexpected, that Tien and Saka both jumped and stared. Tien saw a figure emerge from an opening in the ground that they had not noticed before, near the building; he was dressed like miniature jester, complete with tights and long pointed shoes. A rounded belly hung pendulously over the wide belt that gathered in his short tunic. His legs and arms were spindly, his hands long-fingered. Generous eyebrows sat over beady heavy-lidded eyes. The man’s nose was hooked and extended almost to a mouth that had a beak-like sharpness about it. Tien’s first impression was that no one in their right mind could mistake this creature for a man. But it must be one of the little men, Munkho had talked of, dressed as a goblin. A very good likeness it was too. And it was not alone.

One after the other, like a nasty brood of mice, about twenty nearly identical beings tumbled out of the hole. They were snickering and elbowing each other, and in their midst, her body and head swathed in her cloak, was Fen.

Saka went pale, and immediately started to sweep through the waves towards her, but Tien remained unsure, in the water. They are only wicked little men dressed in costumes, she told herself. They are not really goblins, for goblins exist only in fairy tales. They just want to scare us.

“Let the girl go! Naughty boys!” A voice spoke sharply above them and they all looked up.

A white haired man clad in a brown tunic and robe, leant over the watchtower’s veranda rail, his expression thunderous. Immediately the little creatures were contrite, and mumbling hasty apologies to the old man, and to Fen, they backed slowly away, bowing. When they had each produced about twenty bows, they sprang to work, puttering about the little island, brooms, paintbrushes, and buckets appearing as if from nowhere. Some painted the fading stones white, while others vigorously swept away the dirt or made sure the beach’s surface was evenly spread with the stones. Despite their distended bellies, and long gawky limbs, their movements were light and graceful. They swooped and dipped dramatically, like a troupe of prima ballerina spiders. Just little men, pretending, Tien reminded herself. She didn’t really know what to think.

Tien tore her gaze away and looked up at the man.
Saka called out “Lumin?”

The old man nodded, then beckoned to them. “It really was your own fault you know” he tut-tutted. “You must have heard about my little protectors and their tricks before you came here. Well, well, you are here now. Come up, and tell me your business.” He didn’t quite manage to disguise the curiosity in his voice.

“Saka, could you come here a moment.” Something in Fen’s quiet tone, made Tien look intently at her. Fen had not moved from where the goblins had left her and her face was still covered by the cloak. Saka turned to Tien. “You go up, we’ll be right there.”

Tien approached the rickety ladder and looked up. It seemed along way up. But she had to do it. An old man who probably climbed it every day was watching her. And I’ll have to be quick, she urged herself, for if the flies return while I am still climbing, I’ll fall! Focussing on Lumin’s wrinkled face, she began to clamber up as fast as her fear would allow. As she reached the final rung, Tien grasped his proffered hand and pulled herself up onto the platform of the veranda.

Once safely behind the railing, she released her breath and gazed around. The shimmering blue sea, set against the deeper blue-grey backdrop of Stra Mountain, was a scene she could look at forever. No wonder the old man had come to live here. The sound and rhythm and blue of the water were mesmerizing and she could scarcely drag her gaze away.

“A drink, Madam,” The old man held out a small clean cup. Remembering her manners, she took it with thanks and drank thirstily, listening as Saka and Fen climbed the ladder. When they stepped out onto the landing, Tien noticed that Fen’s face was pink, the pale scar standing out even more in contrast to her flushed cheeks. Had the costumed men hurt her face somehow? But Fen smiled at her, seeming calm and relaxed once more.

They all stood on the veranda, drinking their water silently as they looked out at the view. It seemed right to follow the old man’s lead, and he seemed to be a bit stiff and formal, though Tien sensed that it was more to do with being out of practise with having company, than a gruff nature.

“Please come in and we will talk,” he said eventually. He led them inside, where it was cool. The walls were whitewashed, and bare of any hangings. Large tasselled cushions were scattered about on the bare floorboards. A purple drape that skimmed the floor hid the back half of the room. “I would have come to your assistance earlier, but I was having my siesta and did not hear you.” he apologized. Then with a twinkle in his eye, he added. ”Though I must point out that you are rather lucky. The last intruders had pink-barbed wasps to fend off.” He smiled fondly at the memory.

“Where did the flies come from?” Tien asked.

“What? Oh, the flies, yes! My little friends called them.”
Tien’s brow furrowed in surprise, and she glanced over to see how the others received this piece of information.

Lumin chuckled. “Goblins can speak to most winged insects, and convince them to be part of their mischief,” he explained as he eased himself carefully onto a thick wooden chair in a corner, motioning the others to sit on the cushions. He blinked hard as though his eyes ached, as he smoothed the long thinning hair from his forehead. Then he shifted himself further into the chair, so that his stooped back was well supported.

Goblins! Does he really think they are?, Tien wondered? Do you really believe that they are not?, a little voice inside asked. Surely I would know if such a creature existed and lived in our very country. But then, even Munkho called them little men. Oh, wow! Real goblins! Papa would swallow his moustache if he knew that I saw a real one. I’ll remember every detail so I can tell you, Papa. And one day I’ll write about them.

“Well then, what is your business with me?” Lumin asked. His sharp eyes rested on each of them in turn. Fen sank further back into her cushion, as if signalling that Saka could do the talking. He leaned forward obligingly.

“You may have knowledge of something we need to know. Something that we do not think we can trust the Library’s academics with,” he began in a loud voice.

The flattery tactic, huh?, Tien thought, smothering a grin. Good on you, Saka.

“No need to shout, lad. My hearing’s perfect. I can hear the crackle of my painted pebbles drying downstairs.” Lumin’s eyes gleamed as if daring his visitors to challenge his outrageous claim. No one did.
“So,” Lumin continued, “the historians and scholars are still good for nothing, but filling up each others ears with their endless jibberjabber, eh?” He pushed his spectacles back onto the bridge of his nose. “You made a wise choice there.”
His chin jutted out proudly. “They probably would not have shut up long enough for you to get a word in edgeways. ‘Focus on the basics and practical meaning,’ I would say. But no. All the good plans got lost in the endless competing. Competing to be the best and most renowned centre of knowledge.” His tone had taken on a reflective, dreamy quality, signalling that this may be a favourite topic to chew over, and that he had plenty to say on the matter.
Saka cleared his throat softly. Lumin’s eyes cleared and he looked around, as if surprised to see them.

“Oh, I am sorry. What was it you said you wanted to know about?” he said, shaking his head as if to clear out the cobwebs.
This time Saka knew to get straight to the point. “We are seeking information about an Aryk tapestry.” He paused. “It would be very old or very valuable,” he finished uncertainly.

“That’s very little to go on, isn’t it, young man.” Lumin looked at them rather severely, over steel rimmed frames. “Haven’t you any other information?”

“No, and in fact the chance of us even finding anything about it is probably remote.” Fen admitted.

“Oh, indeed? Ah well, let’s not leave it to chance then, shall we?” Lumin’s creased face was alive with interest. “It does ring a bell you know. The Aryk Tapestry…Aryk tapestry…” He closed his eyes, as he rolled the words slowly off his tongue, trying to conjure up a familiar image. “Aryk Tapestry…..Pascan Tapestry…….Tiran Tapestry……no that’s further off…..lets see. Tapestry of Aryk………no. No, but it sounds somewhat familiar. Tell me, where did the Aryks live before they settled in Pendelethe?” he asked.

Fen and Saka shot questioning looks at Tien. Caught off guard, she reddened and stammered. “Uhh, O.., Oq.., Oquis.”