Then there was Sage, a young woman near Maria’s age. She had naturally curly blonde hair and a smile that would light up the room. She was, according to Gramps, a woman of many talents, but the talent that touched the people of Dominion the deepest was her affinity for humor. She could make the stoniest Orc crack a smile.
Then there was Parmella: a witch who, upon first look at Gramps’s sketch, was a woman in her late thirties. However, Gramps told Maria that Parmella was one of the oldest witches in the village. Her natural beauty was not a spell—she had just aged as gracefully as anyone in Oriceran. Many thought she was part Light Elf, but Parmella always denied it. Despite her youthful appearance, her wisdom knew no bounds. The king often called upon her for counsel; she was one of the few citizens who could say they had that honor. Gramps smiled and mentioned, “Oh yes, and she made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating.”
And there was Michein, a young woman whose silky blonde hair stretched nearly to the backs of her ankles. In Gramps’s sketch, her smile popped off of the page. Michein was the town animal lover. It was said she lived with as many animals as there were in the neighboring forests. She didn’t ‘own’ the animals, though. Instead, they were among her family. It was also said she could converse with them.
“Like me?” Maria asked.
“Not quite. I believe it was more along the lines of her understanding the animals, and in some way, they understood her.” Gramps sighed as he put the paper back into the chest. “One of the greatest people I knew.”
“Who is this?” Maria asked, pointing to the next visible sketch.
“Ah, that is Franklin. He was a businessman. He negotiated with the neighboring people, making deals, helping run the monetary system, bartering…you know, all the boring infrastructural stuff a town must have in order to be successful. I know, I know, probably not what you expected, is it?”
“No,” she answered.
“Remember, Maria, there’s always more to people than meets the eyes. One look at Franklin, and you’d never expect he was also the town’s greatest athlete.”
Maria cocked her head, surprised. “This old guy?”
“Yes. Name a sport, and Franklin could beat anyone who challenged him. I never beat him in Rallendgull, but I got close on a few occasions.” Gramps sighed longingly again.
“Rallendgull?”
“Ah, yes. It is like a combination of Earth’s basketball and bowling.”
Maria tried to picture it, but had little success.
“It is quite fun,” Gramps continued. He rubbed his shoulder. “Though it is often damaging to the body. I’ve not seen it played anywhere else in Oriceran. Shame, shame. That sport could’ve been quite big.”
“Bring it to Earth. You could probably make a fortune.”
Gramps laughed. “I don’t think the Earth people would…adapt. Not to mention we would need the Moving Trees.”
“Moving Trees?” Maria asked.
Gramps waved the question away. “An answer for another time.”
He continued showing his granddaughter the sketches he’d done in his nineteen years as an Earth citizen, flipping through a large sketchpad tablet. There was Davidton, Suzanna, Lola, Chester, Olive, Markton, Feliniona, and many more.
“Of course, these are not all who were lost, that day your mother tried to save them. There were many others I haven’t gotten around to sketching, but believe me: their images are fresh in my mind. So fresh, it is as if we never left Dominion. As if the grass and wildflowers still grow around the king’s castle, and the sun still shines through the trees, and everyone’s faces still light up with smiles as bright as the sun’s rays.”
Maria put her hand on Gramps’s forearm. She felt him shaking beneath her touch. “Don’t worry,” she soothed. “We’re gonna get them out of there. Mark my words.”
The door to the back room swung open, and Salem popped his head in. “If you don’t hurry up and come out here, Sherlock’s gonna eat all the ice cream.”
I heard that! Sherlock yelled. Why does no one understand the fact that I have supersonic dog hearing?
“Actually, Salem,” Gramps said, “I was wondering if we could discuss something.”
“Yeah, we can. In between spoonfuls of buckeye ice cream, my old friend. Come, come, there won’t be any left. Sherlock is a canine vacuum cleaner.”
I heard that, too! Sherlock shouted inside of Maria’s mind. She couldn’t help but smile.
Salem sighed when he saw the serious expression on Gramps’s face. “Oh, old friend, you already know my answer.”
The serious expression gave way to a look of sadness—eyebrows drawn, lips frowning. “Are you sure? It could be dangerous,” Gramps said.
Salem walked the length of the floor and clapped a hand on Gramps’s shoulder. “I’d never let you go do something like that alone.”
Gramps looked up, a smile blossoming.
“You mean it?”
“Of course I do,” Salem answered.
“Thank you.” Gramps put his hand over the one Salem was resting on his shoulder. “Although, where were you when I had to fight the Volcano Fairies?”
Maria raised both eyebrows. “Volcano Fairies.”
Salem shuddered at the mention of their name. “Horrid things. I don’t want their image in my head. Not when we are celebrating.” He laughed. “Like Raffins with bigger teeth, they are.”
“Exactly, which is why I needed your help back then, friend,” Gramps scolded with a smile on his face and a hint of humor in his voice.
“No, no, you did just fine without me,” Salem said. “Handled them like the powerful wizard you are.” Salem winked then nudged Gramps with his elbow.
“I still have the scars to prove the going wasn’t as easy as you might think.” Rolling his eyes, Gramps asked, “Wanna see? Little buggers got me right on the behind!”
“No, no!” Maria said, waving her hand. “I don’t think anyone wants to see that!”
Salem chucked. “Except maybe that lovely dark witch, Frieda. Shall I call her in here?”
Maria was surprised to see Gramps’s face go a shade of red.
