A Tale of Colour
Life soon fell into a rhythm for Spin and Lief. Their days were divided into quarters. Each quarter their training was the responsibility of a different Master who directed them to study under whatever Journeyman was available or appropriate.
First quarter they went to Weapons Master Hardy, second quarter to Lore Master Arin, third quarter to House Master Goodba (this time was mostly working around the compound wherever needed), and fourth quarter they went to Art Master Poon.
Every seventh day was a Restday when they could do whatever they liked. In addition to this there were occasional days when they would be released a quarter day to do what they chose. During these times Lief hung around the Smithy or went into the forest with Spin who couldn’t get enough of the trees and small animals and birds that were so abundant there.
Within three weeks the boys were feeling at home. They fit comfortably into the routine, learned quickly and began to make friends.
Shortly after Spin had recovered from the assassin’s attack the boys were moved into a larger room with eight others. Here they began hearing about a mysterious ceremony called “Colouring.” They asked Lore Journeyman Findd about it. She answered cryptically.
“What Colour are you? Your skin I mean.”
“Grey,” Spin scrunched up his nose.
“”And what Colour is my skin?”
“Kind of Browny, Pinky, Orange.”
Findd smiled. “We call that Flesh Colour. Colouring is the ceremony that changes people from Grey to Flesh Colour.”
“But why? What happens? Why are we still Grey?”
“Colouring is one of the things that is difficult to explain to the uninitiated. It has two aspects: The first one has to do with your soul more than your body. A person’s Colour is influenced by his or her soul, in a way similar to (but different from) how the Colour of cloth is influenced by the dye it is immersed in. The dye permeates every part of the cloth and changes it subtly. To change the Colour we change the dye. So to change your Colour your soul must change.
“The second aspect has to do with seeing. Right now, and especially at first, I imagine Colours appeared almost overwhelmingly bright. Am I right?” They nodded. “Actually, what you see now are what we call pale pastels. People who have chosen to serve Sightgiver see Colours that are so vibrant and bright that you would be overwhelmed. Now you are unable to see Colour in yourselves because parts of you still believe you belong in the City.” Findd paused.
“I’m confused. What is Colour?” Spin asked.
“Well, the aspect I’m talking about now is a way of seeing. The Great Artist made everything and when He made each separate thing He gave it, buried deeply inside every part of it, its own Colour – its own identity. Then the Unmaker came. He hated the life in Colour and so decided to unmake it.” She laughed. “But, in spite of his name he hasn’t power enough to unmake anything. He can only mask or hide things. So he began to teach people that there was no such thing as Colour.” She humphed.
“As well teach that there is no such thing as Life.
“As people started to believe him he masked the Colour. Soon he had everyone blinded to Colour. All they can see now are the washed out shades of the dullest colours like grey and beige. Now the only people who can really see Colour are those who belong to the King and serve Him and the Great Artist. He opens their eyes to Colour again. That’s why we call Him Sightgiver.” She looked at her two rapt students and sighed.
“To make a very long story brief, Colour is a way of seeing. It is seeing as the King originally intended.
“Now. Enough of this. We have other things to cover. There is a Colouring coming up soon. Watch that and then perhaps we can talk more.”
Findd’s explanation didn’t really answer their questions and raised a number more, but they had to be satisfied with it at present.
Spin kept thinking about his soul being grey and what that meant. A few days later they were given a free quarter day. Spin went into the woods to a favourite spot by a stream. He had found a rock hanging over the bank shaped perfectly for his body. He would sit there and absorb the life of the woods and the sounds of the birds and water, marvelling in its beauty.
This day he stared at his arms and legs trying to see his soul. Was it really grey and dirty? The longer he thought about it the dirtier he felt. After a while he would have sworn he could see grey smudge penetrating every part of every layer of his body. Finally he shook his head roughly and looked around.
He was surprised to see the sun shining, sparkling on the swiftly flowing water, and the grass green and lush along the banks, vibrant with life and Colour.
Suddenly Spin jumped up, stripped quickly and dove into the pool just below his chair rock. He gathered sand from the stream bed and used it to scrub himself vigorously all over. When his whole body was tingling and clean he got out and dried in the sun. He was disappointed to see he was still grey but felt much better. Dressing again he started back to the compound. As he left the glade he glanced back, as he always did, to fix the serene beauty in his mind. He felt the shock hit his stomach soon after his eye noticed the grey smudge on his rock, right where he had been sitting. He turned and ran.
Surely the smudge hadn’t been there before … maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him … No! The smudge had been obscenely noticeable.
His feet pounded out the rhythm of his thoughts all the way back to the compound; “I’m grey … I’m grey …” until the words were lodged firmly in a ball of hopelessness in the pit of his stomach.
As they lay in bed that night Spin whispered to Lief quietly, “I’m grey, Lief. I’m grey everywhere.”
Lief heard the despair in his friend’s voice and raised up on one elbow to look at his friend.
“So am I, Spin. But only until Colouring. Then we’ll both be Colour. You’ll see.”
“It goes deep, Lief. I’m grey. What happens if Colouring doesn’t work?” Spin rolled over with his back to his friend.
Lief puzzled over that for a while and then decided Spin would feel better in the morning.
Spin threw himself into his studies with a frenzied determination that even House Master Goodba, (perennially absent minded) noticed. Lore Journeyman Findd wondered if there was a connection between Spin’s behaviour and the recent discussion. She decided to keep her peace and see what effect the upcoming Colouring would have.
Finally the long awaited day arrived. The boys rose early and were assigned chores to help with all the preparations taking place. Apparently there would be a feast following the ceremony. Lief’s mouth watered at all the food being prepared and his stomach began rumbling not long after breakfast.
Just before noon a trumpet blew the call to gather in the courtyard. Everyone turned out in their best clothes, proudly dressed in the Colours of their chosen discipline. At the very front of the crowd was a line of people dressed in simple grey tunics and belts. They all looked nervous and excited.
When everyone was gathered and grouped by Colour, Colour Master Farinton strode to the front near the main gate and held up his hands. When the crowd quieted he began to speak, his voice carrying to the back corners.
“Welcome, people of the King. Today we gather to celebrate the initiation of ten of our brothers and sisters into Sightgiver’s family.” He paused and smiled while the people cheered. “Yes! It is indeed a happy day. Now, come Minstrels and lead us to the Falls.” At his wave a group of people with the blue and yellow sashes of Minstrels picked up their instruments and readied themselves. As soon as all were in place and ready Lore Master Arin signalled and they began playing and singing a cheerful marching song. The crowd picked up the song and followed the Minstrels out the gate and then left along the bank of the Dramor River. Other groups of Minstrels stationed themselves throughout the crowd to help keep the whole long line of people in time with the songs’ beats.
Spin and Lief found themselves amongst other Grey people near the front of the crowd. Many of the songs sung along the way were familiar to the boys by now, but there were several new ones they had never heard before. They listened carefully to these, joining in when they began to learn the words.
The joy and anticipation of the crowd was contagious. Soon Spin found himself singing as heartily, if not as tunelessly, as Lief, and smiled to himself. This was a talent he had newly discovered in himself. In Dramor City, the Unmaker’s chants required no skill at carrying a tune. They were toneless, monotonous dirges that dampened the spirits and fed despair. Since coming to the Vale, Spin had begun to realize why he had hated the Unmaker’s “music” so much. He had an inherent ability to tune; to carry a tune and even make up tunes. This new-found skill gave him great pleasure. The more so as he realized how much the Unmaker would hate it. So he joined in vigorously and elbowed his friend in the ribs when Lief made a particularly noticeable goof. Lief grimaced at him and struggled on, not minding his mistakes. He enjoyed the making of them almost as much as Spin enjoyed his own ability. Lief felt that his lack of musical talent was in no way as bad as the Unmaker’s “songs” and so flaunted his lack as a vast improvement on the City dirges.
The line of people wove across the field to the river bank and then along the bank, following the twists and turns of the River. They moved with the River into the forest, passing beneath the large limbs of the forest patriarchs, across small open glades that met the river bank and back into the forest.
After a while, Spin realized he had never come this far into the forest before and began looking more carefully to see what new sights he could find. Lief marched beside him, enjoying the feel of friendly people all around, and the smell of the trees and the good earth along the edge of the river.
The minstrels stopped singing at the end of one of Spin’s favourite songs and then they were out from under the trees and moving across a large meadow. A sound like continuous quiet thunder became noticeable when the singing stopped. As they moved across the meadow, Spin noticed that the river was at this point a large pool and at the far end … he stared in wonder. There was a wall of water taller than the height of the Duke’s tower back home in the City!
The people moved to line the edge of the pool. Some of the younger ones climbed the rocks near the wall of water to get a better view. When everyone was there, Colour Master Farinton raised his arms and called for quiet. He was standing in the water at the edge of the pool. There was a shelf of rock a couple feet under the surface. Lined up near him were the initiates.
Spin and Lief dropped down to sit on the edge of the bank as it hung over the pool and dangled their feet in the cool water, refreshing after the long walk.
Farinton’s voice boomed out, carrying above the noise of the falling water. “We have come here today to witness the Maker’s acceptance of new members into His family. Each of these initiates has learned what they felt necessary of Sightgiver’s Way. And each has freely chosen to pass beneath the waters of these Rainbow Falls and become one of us. Each has learned that there is a place for them here and that they belong here.” Farinton paused, looking at the initiates, and then shouted, “Each has chosen to come Home!”
A cheer went up from the gathered crowd that almost deafened Spin and Lief. Belatedly they joined in, not sure if it was allowed for outsiders like themselves and the other gray ones.
Spin found his eyes drawn to the light playing over the falling water. As he watched, he thought he saw the water changing Colour. The more he looked, the more Colours he saw. The light seemed to catch the moving water so it looked like liquid jewels. He saw diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls … Every Colour he had seen to date in the Vale was somehow caught and brightened in the waters of Rainbow Falls. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
He realized his mouth was hanging open, closed it and glanced at Lief. His gaze was locked on the Falls, too. Spin looked back toward the Falls and noticed the line of initiates moving toward the bottom of that wall of falling water. Only then did Farinton’s words register.
“They’re going to go right under the water!” he said to Lief. “Surely they’ll be hurt! Look at the way the water hits the bottom. We’re getting wet from the spray way over here … They’re crazy. They’ll be hurt!” Spin started to rise, not knowing what he planned to do, when Lief grabbed his wrist.
“Farinton knows what he’s doing, Spin. This isn’t the first time, after all.” His voice trailed away as Spin sat back down and they watched the line move slowly under the falling water.
The first person disappeared below the water, appearing to have been smashed into the rocks by the weight of it. Then the next moved below the falling water and disappeared, then the next and the next until all ten had disappeared into the churning, pounding spraying waters.
Suddenly Lief grabbed Spin’s arm and pointed toward the far side of the wall of water. Barely visible through the spray they could see a head, then the upper body of the first initiate. He appeared to be directly under the falling water. They could see it hitting his head, bouncing off and spraying out. Then another head appeared and another …
When the first reached the far side and moved out from under the Falls he turned to face the waiting people and began to move back across the pool. Spin caught his breath. “Is it the same person? He’s Colour! Lief, he’s Colour, look!”
“Well, I’ll be a light blinded oaf,” Lief muttered. “Who’s ever seen the like?”
“Look Lief. Their clothes are different, too. They look like the Falls!” Spin couldn’t believe his eyes. The simple grey tunics had somehow taken on the characteristic Colours of the Falls.
As the initiates made their way back across the pool, Spin gradually became aware of the roar of the crowd. They were shouting and cheering. Slowly the noise fell into the rhythm of a minstrel song. It was a song unknown to Spin and Lief. They were oblivious, staring at the shining, grinning faces of the initiates. Half way across the pool they seemed to notice they were Colour and began pounding each other on the back and hugging and jumping. Soon there was a joyous splashing free-for-all in the middle of the pool. Members of the crowd began to join them, jumping in off the rocks and from the bank.
Spin and Lief sat through it all, stunned and speechless.
After a long while, when the crowd in the pool began to calm down, Spin turned to his fried, “Lief, do you think it would work for us? For me?”
That question hung in Spin’s mind and bounced around in his heart all the way back to the Compound, all through the celebration feast, and plagued his dreams that night. In his dream he was back at Rainbow Pool. As everyone left he looked back and saw a slimy grey sludge covering the place where he had been sitting. The sludge seemed to ooze out of his pores. Everywhere he went, he left grey sludge behind him. Everything he touched was stained by contact with him. Everyone he talked to was left with a fog of grey sludge from his breath.
Spin woke, sweating, a feeling of unbearable heaviness sitting on his chest. He could barely inflate his lungs to breathe. The heaviness seemed to centre around the assassin’s wound. As he laboured unsuccessfully to breathe, Spin began to panic. A thought flitted through his mind and left … then returned. This time he caught it on its way through. He tried to mouth the words, “Light! Sightgiver help me.” The weight eased slightly and he was able to draw in a little air. He repeated his plea again and again until he could breathe freely.
When the weight was gone, Spin lay on his bed, breathing heavily and sweating, wondering what had happened. It was a long time before he slept again.
Spin told no one of his nightmare, too ashamed of the grey sludge to dare it. But the nightmare returned, and others like it, until he was afraid to sleep. His old wound began to throb again and cause him to favour his side. He became morose and taciturn, even with Lief.
Finally Lief went to Sarah, the Healer who had helped Spin before.
“I’m worried about Spin,” he began without preamble. “I think his wound is bothering him. He favours that side. And he’s not eating. And … something’s wrong.” He trailed off uncertainly, regretting that he had come to her with no more proof than that.
Sarah smiled at him. “Sit down Lief. Relax. I received a note from Master Hardy this morning. It appears his journeyman has noticed something amiss during weapons training. Tell me more. When did this begin?”
“Just after the Colouring, I think… No. Maybe it was before that. After we talked to Journeyman Findd about being grey … I’ve never seen him like this. I don’t like it. I’m his best friend and he hardly talks to me any more.”
“What about you Lief? What did you think about the Colouring?”
Lief’s broad face lit up. “It was wonderful! So beautiful! I can’t wait ’til I can do it!” He blushed. “I mean … if I can … when I’m ready …” His voice trailed away.
Sarah was regarding him steadily. “Do you doubt that you can pass through the Falls, Lief?”
“No … well … sometimes after talking to Spin. I don’t know.”
Sarah smiled again. “Thank you for coming to me Lief. Could you send Spin to me? I will talk with him and see what I can find out. And as for you,” she rose and clapped him on the shoulder as he stood, “I’m waiting for your Passage with great excitement.”
Lief stared at her then grinned. “Me too. Uh … Thanx Sarah,” and he was off quickly, happy she hadn’t noticed his blush. As he went looking for Spin, he muttered to himself. “Light blind you, oaf, if you don’t blush every time you talk with a woman…”
Sarah watched him go with a smile. Then frowned as she thought of Spin. “Could we have missed some of the poison?” She went to find the book that contained the passage on the Scorpion Guild’s poison.
Spin approached the healing rooms nervously, afraid someone had noticed him spreading grey sludge and complained. He knocked uncertainly on the door and waited. When there was no answer he knocked again, louder,.
“Yes.” The response was faint.
Spin gathered his courage and leaned in the open doorway. “It’s Spin. Sarah sent for me.”
“Oh!” The voice was startled. Suddenly Sarah appeared in the inner doorway. “Sorry Spin. I got carried away. Come in, I would like to talk to you. Have a seat.”
Spin stepped into the room, remaining standing just inside the door.
Sarah moved to the fireplace and swung the kettle over the flame. “Would you like some Tay?”
“Uh, sure.”
She turned and saw Spin standing by the door. He looked ready to flee at the slightest sound. Sarah frowned, suddenly worried. She approached him carefully, smiling.
“Come in Spin. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. I was wondering how you’re doing.”
“OK,” Spin shrugged and then winced, edging toward the door.
Sarah changed her direction, moving toward a nearby chair. She picked it up and moved it closer to the fire. “Would you bring that one, please?”
Spin hesitated, then moved the chair she pointed to over to the fire and stood behind it.
“Have a seat.”
“No. I’ll stand. It’s better.”
“What’s better?”
“I … I leave .. oh bother!” He moved around and sat down carefully, favouring his side.
“Is your side hurting? I should have checked it. Let me see.”
“No.” Spin flinched away, then caught himself. “It’s OK. It’s been a bit sore, that’s all.”
“I would like to see it please, Spin.” Sarah spoke firmly.
Spin lifted his tunic to expose the wound. It was red and puffy and felt hot as Sarah pressed lightly on the skin surrounding it. After examining the wound Sarah made Spin sit and poured him a cup of Tay.
“Now. I want to know what’s been happening, Spin. How long has that,” she pointed to his side, “been bothering you? When did it start? Why didn’t you tell me? Out with it.”
Spin looked at her determined face and felt his stomach shrink. This was it. He would have to tell her and they would send him home. Back to the City, where he belonged. He suddenly decided it would be a relief to have it over with. So he took a deep breath and began. He told her about his nightmares, and how he had seen a grey smudge on his rock. He told her how, no matter how hard he scrubbed, it made no difference. Then his side began to hurt after the Colouring. He felt like an undisclosed Unclean. (The people who were marked by the Enforcers and out-cast, horribly disfigured by the Enforcers’ treatment and any contact with them could mean the same treatment for you.)
Sarah listened quietly, asking a question now and then.
To Spin’s surprise her expression didn’t turn to horror. She didn’t back away. On the contrary, she leaned forward and put a hand on his knee.
“I’m sorry, Spin. We should have seen sooner that you were having trouble. I should have kept a closer eye on you. I’ve just been checking the passage we found about the poison the assassin used. Apparently it has side effects sometimes, similar to those you are describing, but different with each person. I’m sorry. We have not looked after you well. Will you forgive us?”
Spin was confused. He had trouble hearing what she said. As he focused on her words and her genuine concern, his head began to pound.
“I don’t understand.”
Sarah looked at him, examining his features carefully. Finally she sat back. “I think it is time to put an end to the nightmares, the torment and the pain in your side. Will you wait here while I fetch help?”
Spin nodded, his head spinning.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there staring at the fire waiting, trying to get his mind around Sarah’s response to his disclosure. It was long enough that when he heard footsteps approaching and looked toward the door, it was dark out.
Sarah came in followed by Colour Master Farinton, Lore Master Arin, his Journeyman Findd, Weapons Master Hardy,and Lief. Spin stood up quickly, overwhelmed with being in such august company. But Farinton smiled pleasantly at him and the others looked friendly.
“Now Spin,” Sarah began gently, “I’ve filled them in on what you told me. We are going to ask the Great Healer to bless you with True Sight. The assassin’s poison and your own fears have blinded you, so that you can not see your own Colour. You need freedom to see clearly. Then you can choose who you will serve. Do you understand?”
Through his confusion and headache Spin darted quick glances at each person, then nodded.
Lore Master Arin began. Spin tried to focus on his words but his headache got worse until he was holding his head tightly trying to keep the pain from blowing it apart. His side ached fiercely. After a while, through the haze of his pain he became aware that they were singing a healing song. Gradually the pain lessened and peace came. The song rose in a triumphant crescendo and ended. At the last note he felt a sharp jab in his wound then nothing. The pain was gone! His headache was gone. His mind began to clear.
He sat back, only now realizing he had been crouching in a tight ball on the floor with everyone gathered around him. He was panting and felt exhausted.
“How do you feel, Spin?” That was Sarah, her voice soft.
“Tired.”
She smiled. “I’ll bet. How about your side?”
“Better.”
Sarah lifted his tunic to look at the wound. The redness and puffiness were gone. It looked like a normal wound scar now. “Good. You will stay here tonight.”
At the flash of fear in his eyes she added, “There will be no nightmares, my friend. That’s over.”
Colour Master Farinton put his hand on Spin’s shoulder. “Have no fear, Spin. And no,” he added, noticing Spin’s glance at his hand, “there will be no grey sludge coming from you. Tomorrow you and Lief here will begin preparing for Colouring.” He laughed at Spin’s expression. “The healing we have done here has been successful. But Arin thinks the only full cure will come with Colouring, and I agree. Now, off to bed with you.”
The others murmured farewells as they left. Lief waited until they had all gone.
“Are you better now, Runt?”
Spin nodded. “I feel … clean … peaceful. Thanx, pal.” Spin glanced at Sarah then back at Lief. “Can you stay here with me?”
Lief looked to Sarah, who nodded.
The next days were filled with intense instruction and self-examination. Both the boys knew that they never wanted to return to Dramor City. The thought almost made Spin ill and a feeling of suffocation came on him. However, their decision was challenged by every one of their instructors. In answering the challenges, their decisions rooted deeper in their hearts until they were unshakeable.
Finally, the big day came. There were four of them going through Colouring that day. They were dressed in their grey tunics and belts. The trumpet called everyone to the Courtyard. The Minstrels led them to the Falls and Colour Master Farinton said the words that released them to the Falls.
Lief was first in line, with Spin right behind him. As they approached Rainbow Falls, the fear they had held at bay came pouring in on them. Lief hesitated at the edge of the thundering wall of water. He was already soaked from the spray. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward – and disappeared under the pounding weight of the Falls. Spin gasped as his friend disappeared then stepped forward himself.
The water hit him like a sledgehammer and drove him to his knees. As his head went under water, silence descended. The shock of it made him open his eyes. All around him was dazzling Colourful water, swirling and glistening, changing Colours with every movement. Awestruck, he moved forward the better to see … Suddenly he became aware that his skin was burning. Every inch of it felt like it had been badly sunburned and then scraped with a sharp object. He tried to look at his arms and legs but saw only the Coloured waters.
Spin became aware that he needed air and tried to stand again. As he did, his head broke through the surface and was once again beneath the falling wall of water. But it seemed to have lost is power. He could stand with no trouble. Now he looked down and thought he saw a vanishing trail of grey moving away from him to be swallowed up by the Colours in the water. He watched it until the faint trail of grey washing out of him had stopped. He raised his face to the Falls and spread his arms, enjoying the feeling of the water, soft as silk and comforting as a cool balm on his burning skin. He felt a movement behind him and moved forward to give room to the person following him.
Spin became aware of Lief a pace or two in front of him, then they were through the Falls, out the other side and turning to go back across the pool. Spin found himself staring at his friend’s back. Was that really Lief? Why, he had red hair and … ouch. Spin had to shut his eyes, the Colours bombarding them suddenly overwhelming. Carefully he opened them a slit and looked. He had never imagined anything like this! The water was brilliant with every Colour he could think of. The grass at the edge of the pool was a vibrant pulsating green. The mass of people shouting and cheering on the banks were such a patchwork of brilliance he couldn’t bear to look at them.
Then Lief turned around and grinned. He had shocking red hair, light green eyes, and white, white teeth. Spin gaped at him, then was caught up in a bear hug.
“Why, you’re a white one, Runt!”
“What do you mean?” Spin managed through the hug.
Lief dropped him, “Your hair’s so white … so blonde … It looks … I dunno … white. And your eyes are deep blue! Never seen the like.”
“Well, you’re red!”
“What?” Lief’s mouth dropped open and Spin laughed at him. “Red hair. Green eyes. Ha!” He splashed a dollop of emerald and sapphire water over him. Then there were people with them, pounding their backs and hugging them and splashing and laughing.
Later, when they were on the bank, recuperating, Spin looked down at himself. He was flesh-Colour! And clean! He could see an underlying pure cleanness that felt wonderful. He decided he liked his blond arm and leg hair glinting in the sun. Sarah came over.
“Welcome Home, boys!” She laughed. “So what do you think about your true Colour?”
“I’m white! And clean!”
Sarah gave Spin a quick hug. “We call you a white blonde. Your Colouring is quite rare. As for you,” she turned to Lief, “redheads like you are uncommon, too. You’re quite a pair.” She gave Lief a hug, too. “Come on back for the feast. I bet you’re hungry!”
The boys stood up and looked at each other.
“We are Home, Spin.”
“Yes. Finally! I have a Home, Lief. Can you believe it? A Home!”
So the boys learned that uncleanness and unbelonging can be washed away.
