“The sands here are safe, and the muds are very well. Galarsmen, please, bathe yourself that they see. When you do so, they will know, sands and muds are safe.”

Old Galarsmen held up shaking arms. “My people, follow me. Let one carry you outside. We must learn new things, and this is hard. I trembled to walk in these sands, but Via came to us, a well clone of my master, and he showed me there is nae harm here. I will bathe, and you may see my well, after.”

Everyone got up, but their healers carried all but several Elshars in red or blue robes.

In all the confusion, the healers with Wulai, Nepah and Elanapah walked with us and we all hugged ‘em. Ladies carried ‘em, and Wulai was my age! That’s his wife! Nepah laid in the arms of a hefty Ishah lady who smiled really big, and a smaller Ishah lady carried Elanapah.

But all of ‘em watched Galarsmen tromp into the nearest marsh outside and he sat with a big splash. Mud got all over healers near him, who laughed and rubbed it in their faces or arm.

He laid in the water and moved mud over all of him, and when some of it broke the surface, it foamed and covered him. Then he sat up and rubbed it in his open eyes, his face, down both arms, and his legs from knees to toes. “Ahhh! These muds are like those of Fhiah, or Par Vu, or even MarKu, if some of you traveled far. Whether white like Fhiah’s, or brown or blue as Par Vu’s, or orange of MarKu’s, they are just as well. Come, all of you, bathe and see how much well comes to all of you!” Yellow, golden yellow, bloomed in his skin and people’s happiness tingled on us!

Then, everyone went to the nearest marsh and we had a mass bath! I giggled as I enjoyed the foam. When it dries, dust blows away, like magic! I bathed my husband. We both had so many pleasant baths in this sweet-smelling mud, in Rainbow. White or golden, he enjoyed it just as much.

Some were hesitant to sit in the water and needed some encouragement. Healers pulled ‘em in. That kind of shocked me, because Molly was adamant that no one needed to be pulled or pushed! A few people got upset, but it was obvious they saw things we didn’t. Healers reassured people, that they’d fall asleep, and they did. They answered a lot of anxious questions.

“Why did Asaferan nae hear me?”

“When we lack well bathing, this can happen, that one relives a memory. See, he warms now. Nae speak of this, for he nae remembers, tomorrow. As long as he bathes oft, this happens nae again. He was on Opherap for 5 months before a friend could come with a ship, eae?”

People grimaced, but most didn’t know where that was, like me. Diplomats go everywhere.

Soon, most slept, or at least, smiled.

Ella grabbed handfuls and bathed Farley’s head with it. He startled awake.

Galarsmen held a handful of dripping mud up to his nose. “You used much ea fae, but this is better, my son. Nae fear it. All muds, here, and in our home, are same.” His red-gold eyes went to medium lightness.

He gave a tentative sniff, then breathed in. “O, is well ea fae! I nae ever saw yellow! To bathe in muds in our home, Ella, is to poison oneself, there, on Elshar Zheiea, and even K’hasa Zha! I had to be ever careful only to bathe in our fountains, and nae on windy days, ever.”

Galarsmen sighed, and it rumbled on us. “If only I knew our fountains were unwell! Elshars oft shook off their garments near them and we had gradual poisonings. How grateful I am that nae Elshars of Par Vu may trade here!” His eyes wavered again.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Brother, all may trade here, but progs watch all for signs of unwell behavior.” An Ishah walked beside us. “Why carry you umar seg? He is na needed here—”

“Nae needed! Know you how many wake with terrors, and nearly die?” Those eyes went black!

“We have better herbs for this! Pirad can remove the terror from memories without harsh herbs such! Did you see him, Brother?”

Galarsmen paled. “I had nae time! So many needed me today—”

“How was your sleep before today?”

“Sleep? How can anyone sleep when people are dying? I took nes, as I did every night this week, so I could—”

The healer gasped and waved for vek ea and gave it!

All of Galarsmen’s healers gasped. “You must nae give a master healer—”

“How many of you are master? Wish you to lose him? I am a clone of Via Of Ishah. Will you argue with me? I have all of his memories!”

They all bowed, even the ones in leiwege! Most were.

“I know you love Galarsmen, and I love him, that he saved his colony with his methods. But, know you, I will change much of what you know. We have progs to prevent the use of umar seg. You are trained to use him too oft, and all of you have unwells of memory because—”

“But, umar seg removes poisons! We must use him oft—”

“Guides of Ishah state that more than once in a year is unwell! Did you study, when you became healers? All in Healer Colony Service must—”

“We know of them, but who has time to study? Our healers’ chambers stay filled, and we can nae even sleep long, for slaver attacks. We must watch our diplomats, for their sleep is unwell—”

“Then, I must teach you of unwells of sleep. See this prog. I alter him to run on all of Esta Faho. When one is exhausted, he must have well sleep. My enneads will stay by all of you. All of you have much exhaustion, and I nae ever saw this but in Rahn Estar. I ask of Wasa Mai. See, he comes to me!”

Wasa Mai stepped out of a portal, in a white tunic. Rubbed an eye. But, he looked at the prog. Laughed. “Ah, I wished for rest for my poor people, and now they shall have him! Eae, Via, run this. My people, nae be frightened. I have an army of healers and diplomats to sit on your beds and watch, and even they will have rest from this prog when needed.

“He brings another diplomat if yours must sleep, and if one sleeps before he can bring one, the prog brings one before it works. All of these know of our plight and volunteered to help us. Many are students in Sigan Mas from worlds such as Siar that suffered attacks as we did. Siar is here in Alb, and runs progs similar.

“So does all of Ea~. The Alb Council approves as we speak, and I concur. Run it, Via, and any prog you feel necessary. I wish nae to lose even one to overwork! Now is time of healing for us, all of us of Elshar Zheiea, and King Challet also approves. Run him on me, and I sleep by Galar.”

Wow. I guess healers disagree about things like any scientific discipline does.

People gasped! Zheien, anyway. Via waved, and every Esta Faho Zheien immediately yawned, and fell asleep! Wasa Mai leaned against Via, and another him carried him into the yellow mud. The ones on their feet had an Ishah healer to scoop him up and put him in the muds. Everyone got a leisurely mud bath, and got carried into the yellow building.

I was shocked that a good many of the Ishah also went to sleep. So it works on anyone. As he said, another Ishah healer came to work in his place before he laid down, often where he was, even on a cael. Animal tenders seemed to just walk by the cael until a healer came. Some went in the festival, that was still going.

An Elshar near us also got zapped. He wore a diplomat’s uniform. His healer put him on a cael, put a long, white tunic on him, and the cael walked to an Elshar lady carrying a tray. She gave it to another lady and climbed up beside him to hold him.

Several Elshar artisans—red robes—carried sleeping people to healers with confused looks, and Ishah healers carried them in, too. Some just looked sleepy until a healer picked ‘em up and they went to sleep, too.

Ella laughed. “This is like something out of Sleeping Beauty!”

Oh, I held sleeping Keiley and giggled. It was!

Then she had to explain the fairy tale about the princess cursed to die if she pricked her finger on a spinning wheel’s spindle, but the fairy’s blessing just made the whole kingdom sleep until true love’s kiss woke her.

One of the diplomats got a mischievous look and kissed his sleeping wife’s forehead. “Ah, she is immune to the True Love’s Kiss! Or perhaps, my love is nae true enough—”

She laughed and pulled him down, then fell asleep again.

“O! He works! I am true love!” He laughed and held her. Then he, too, fell asleep.

Ella put her head down, then startled. “Love, it’s safe here.” He tried to lift his head.

A diplomat put his hand on Farley’s forehead. “Dear friend, I am Fespa, Diplomat Of Par Vu, Parveia, and I am rested, and well. Sleep long. I am here to watch, in Galarsmen’s Chambers Of Rainbow.”

“Rainbow?” He struggled to open his eyes, and his healer hummed. His body went limp. Ella sang. When he heard her, he relaxed.

Another girl came over and sang. This one could sing opera! She looked a little like Sarah Brightman with black curls and light blue eyes.

They sang for a long time. I just held my husband, and Wu’s hand, and he’s warm. I fell asleep fast.