Meral

 

At the glen township of Mont-Clair, the sights, sounds and general atmosphere of working life filled the forest. Smells abounded in the scene: the peaty smoke of fires for the smith and the huntsman, the acrid funk of animal and sweat, and the sweet waftings of fresh brew, fine meat, and subtle woodland produce. A large tent, erected to the side of the main square, promised some regulation over the proceedings - Mont-Clair was one of the rural townships which often hosted an official presence from the valley cities. Regional groups regularly dispatched ambassadors to some of the more prominent mountain townships where it was deemed helpful to have an outside coordinator. These towns commanded large areas of natural resource and presided over some of the more unique landscapes known to the Imperium offices, and so oversight of their activities was required. Caretakers, as they were called, had little direct connection to the Imperium but served a key purpose as an impartial mediator for trade and governance in the remote places.

The central square of the glen lay split by the dome of a large rock. The boulder served as a landmark, carved and marked by years of village life. Overlooking the rock, the main town structure served as a modern marketplace and home for many who lived in Mont-Clair. Like Birch Glen it was practically a small city, fully enclosed by wooden walls and covered with a sturdy roof. The outer open spaces held the camps of less-than-savory merchants or those who shunned dense social populace. All was within view of the caretaker's tent though, so one could feel relatively safe walking about the town.

On the north-east side of the village, where it edged close to a small ravine, a heavy-duty hauler sat canted slightly to one side. A young man pulled himself back out from under the vehicle and stood up, wiping his hands on a rag.

“Well, I do hope that Nathan's having some luck up at the market. I don't think there's anything more I can do for that repulsar.” Jaen said, breaking the news of his efforts to Thomas. “And if it were me, I definitely wouldn't attempt crossing over the Lion with it in this condition. Those are some nasty ledges and you're going to need all the grip you can get.”

The eldest Ravael sibling frowned slightly, thinking over the situation. “Well, then I have to share your hope.” he said, looking around at the Glen. “I'm not too keen on getting stranded in this place...or tackling those ledges on foot.”

Up in the town building, the hopes of Jaen and Thom were proving true. Searching the small but crowded and bustling village, Nathan had come across a man selling what they needed. It could barely be considered a scrapyard, but one of the three old vans he had up for parts was still mostly in mint condition. Nathan happily paid for an entire repulsar unit, complete with lens and regulator, that was even a touch better than their other working ones. He set it on a borrowed cart and headed for the building's exit, looking casually for his sister as he went. Meral's presence inside the village center wasn't apparent, so he left for their camp. He knew she would turn up eventually, and it was not a moment after having that thought that he saw her outside. She sat off a little ways on a rock bench with her journal, watching the people going about the square.

From her seat, Meral could see where the southern mountain road entered the village. It came down a slope thick with bushy ferns and shaded by twisted birch trees. Most of the road carved a deep course into the mountainside, but it turned at one point allowing her to see travelers upon it as they passed a crest in the land. The little window was like a preview of who or what energy would enter the village nexus, or a brief image of one that had just left. She found the mixing of people and energies most interesting. Each center of life-activity was made up of different little energetic aspects, like pieces of food in a stew. They held their own, as independent entities, but also contributed to the emergent quality of the whole. That whole only existed through the actions of its parts in a close relation to each other and was changing all the time. It was a buzzing assemblage, the frequency created by the qualities of the energetic parts. Humans, entering a system like that carried in with them whole other systems and so had extremely complex effects of the energy of the new larger whole. The forces involved in a human settlement like this could be highly complicated, but people went about interacting with the system without much care for their responsibilities in doing so. Life was so innate as to be invisible; taken for granted.

In the little window of road before her, Meral saw two travelers. One was a wandering scholar, with sparse pack and bedroll on his back. He walked casually, but Meral knew that he was keenly aware of his surroundings. With a walking staff in hand and his blue hood drawn up he looked to her like a wizard from the ancient histories. He gave off a quiet power, but her eye was swiftly drawn to his companion. Behind him walked a young woman, clad in a belted rangers jacket open at the top to show a familiar reddish shirt. She had an air about her that astonished Meral. This woman was one she recognized, and yet did not. It was a new Ayleah that passed in front of her eyes, and the glance had been too brief to ascertain the precipitating reason. All she knew was that the traveler she had just seen carried with her a vibrancy; a bearing of empowerment that shone in a visible way.

When they arrived a few moments later, the Ravael sister made sure to direct Telon and Ayleah's steps to the siblings' campsite, and they all spent a nice evening catching up with their former traveling partners. The Ravaels were intrigued by what had happened with Angelica, and gladly welcomed the two scholars back into the fold. As they had replaced the faulty repulsar unit on the hauler, they were well-equipped for the next part of their journey, and excited to set out the next day.

Jaen however, did not join in their evening, as he had earlier left the Ravaels to their own devices. Seeing their vehicle fixed, he had set about imminently to leave and circle back around towards his duties in the south. As he departed down the forest road, he had a sense to look back at the Glen now well above his track. There was a feeling of change; of a chapter ending or beginning. He had had the same empty feeling before, but this time something reached out, through the turning of time and held on to a piece of him as he moved away. It was a warm and hopeful feeling, and Jaen smiled softly to himself.

Sunlit Grove

 

The little clearing was lit with bright sunbeams that filtered through the spruce canopy. The golden light illuminated mossy terrain and small rock outcroppings. It dappled the simple cairn at the side of the clearing, itself grown over with reaching lichens. Caught in their finite world of the beams were dancing mites, barely there but for movement. A pair of large yellow butterflies lazily flapped their way across the open woods, to all appearances aimless in their flight. There, on the gently-warmed rock and moss, Telon and his apprentice sat in meditation. The day had proved clear and beautiful, if not as hot as might be expected for such bright sun. The two traveling scholars felt totally refreshed, having left the manipulations of Angelica well behind.

They had paid thanks to their driver near the summit of Mt. Etan, as he had business in the local township and planned to remain in the summitlands for the day. The larger glen township of Mont-Clair was near enough, and Telon figured they could hire passage onward from there, so they took a moment to sit and regroup. The two had still not had a chance to talk properly since reuniting, and Ayleah could tell Telon had something important to share with her. They found a quiet open space on the north peak and sat in the pleasant air to discuss more details of their separate adventures. Ayleah told Telon of the attack at the trailhead and her interaction with the man in black and his mirrors. She told him about Kae-ri and the various strange occurrences in her life over the past eight or ten moons. Telon listened with great interest, and told her in his turn of what he had been practicing at Burnt Rock. He spoke of how he had been transported there, and what he had gotten out of being able to study in such a power-saturated place. He seemed to start to say something else, but then suggested they both meditate for a short while and regather their energies.

-

Ayleah was the first to break the silence.

“What made you first take an interest in me?” she asked the blue-robed one across the rock from her.

Telon's mind flashed back to the marketplace at Silver Shores. He thought of how Davai had seemed to already know much of this would happen. “We shared a dream the night after I arrived at your village. We saw each other in the market square, and I think marked each other at that time. There is an innate automatic power people have in their gaze, and when two who have heightened sensibilities make contact...”

“But I wasn't very aware of all that at the time, I only learned most of the energetic stuff at the Sanctuary.” Ayleah cut in. “What is it about me that makes people see me as special?”

Telon glanced away, and looked back again with a faint smile. “You're exceptionally well-connected to, and perceptive of the energetic realm.”

Ayleah looked skeptical. “There are scholars that are far more in tune than I am though. Just by their capabilities, if nothing else. Whatever 'prodigious' power I might have, it still pales in comparison to someone like you or the head sages at the Dome. I've never been to the Queen Cities, but I'm sure there are powerful people there as well.”

“There is a difference.” the blue-robed scholar explained. “I am skilled, yes, at working with the world. I, and many of my colleagues are very good at working with reality, and knowing how to flow alongside and through its patterns. You though, are more powerful than I think you realize. In your efforts to understand and work with reality, you are actually actively shaping it to fit your energies.” He paused here for a breath, and began again with a new tone. “Remember a through-line in all your teachings: we are not separate from the world, but an integral piece of it. It is important for the scholars to understand that we are a part of reality so that we can direct and steer our intentions harmoniously. For us, learning to work with reality is like learning to control a boat on a river. You though, act as a nexus upon that river, pulling the surrounding currents in to support your direction. It's actually quite incredible, and I have yet to meet another with that innate sort of connection and power.”

“What are you saying? I'm not an elemental, like Kae-ri though. I'm...human...-solid-whatever!”

Telon's voice became gentle, but his faint smile had returned. “True, true, but you're not not an elemental.”

Ayleah had the strange sensation of her world collapsing into the space of her consciousness and at the same time her awareness expanding to fill the whole world. It was a fragile but strangely liberating feeling.

“How...how have I been shaping my reality?” she asked, when she was finally able.

“Have you ever heard of the literary device called the Hero's Journey?” Telon replied. “It can be found in uncountable works of mythology and fiction as a basic framework for the story. Some main character embarks on a journey of symbolic self-discovery. Along the way they meet with a mentor, they engage in a series of ordeals in a special world, or one different from their own. Eventually, they gain a certain mastery and ascend back into their “ordinary world” as a sort of glorious homecoming. The story has roots in reality, but it is not intended to perfectly mirror reality. Real lives do not work out as tidily as those of our fictional stories.

Ayleah had the sense of a burgeoning realization. An idea was just now sparked by Telon's description of the literary device. “Wait, do you mean you think I've been creating my own destiny?” she asked.

“Well, we all create our own destiny,” Telon said, “but you seem to do so in a more literal sense. It is subtle, but so are all the ways of energy until they come down right upon our heads. I, Jaen, and most of the others in your life have unwittingly played a role in your story. Your energy is powerful enough that it has pulled their flows around yours at key moments for the service of the destiny you sought. Whether or not you knew it consciously, you placed yourself on this path and the world complied. Your power Ayleah, is in your story. It is an overlooked fact that stories are life; stories create life. Your curiosity has given birth to a story which has actually shaped a bit of the world. That is a direct power that the scholars of the Queen Cities would do anything to possess.”

The feelings of destruction and expansion increased in Ayleah. The more she wrapped her mind around the concept, the more incredible it seemed, and yet it explained every decision she had made since she could remember. Times when she had acted seemingly against the character of her being, times when she had acted impulsively, with no thought except a feeling that the action needed doing. She struggled with the idea that her life could be so pre-programmed and yet be decided by her own intentions. How could she be free and as powerful as he was saying if she was tied to a destiny that pulled everyone else in to its current? She felt pulled and pushed at the same time, boxed in and exploded all over the mountainside. Everything felt resolved, but dispersed into chaos at the same time. She felt lost, and a tear wet the top of her cheek. She blinked, and shook her head slightly. “It doesn't...make sense.” she managed.

Telon's reply held the utmost compassion. “The most profound parts of life often remain paradoxes even when we reach a full understanding of them. I tell you these things only so that you have a fair chance. Knowing the truth of how you are is the only way of having a chance to decide differently. I believe in you Ayleah, especially after what you've told me about your travels. I believe you can use your power for whatever destiny you want. And if you see this story out to the end, I think you'll do well too.”

Ayleah looked back at him, feeling bolstered by the peacefulness of her surroundings. Telon continued: “The question put before you now, before us, is this: What do we wish to do, now that we have this knowledge?”

Ayleah shut her eyes, listening to the forest and the sounds of the mountain township wafting through the trees. She felt the breeze, and noted for not the first time its curious lack of warmth. A minute passed in silence, maybe more, but when she opened her eyes she saw Telon had been meditating as well. She looked at him and he opened his eyes. “There's somewhere I have to be, some moment I'm needed for, isn't there?”

Telon softly nodded.

After the two had left the clearing and begun their way down the mountain to the village glen, a large yellow butterfly landed on the mossy cairn. It slowly waved its wings a couple times before taking off and continuing on its way. The golden sunlight shone on the cairn and its lichen as it had for many days since, and as it would for many days to come.

Escape

 

Ayleah woke with a start from swiftly-fading dreams. Dawn had not come yet; the room was still dark, but something else had brought her up her awareness. For a moment her mind strayed half in the remembrances of the dream that had been there before and half in the concrete reality. Telon was leaning over her, urging quiet, and for her to get up and dressed. It took a second for her to figure out that this was part of the concrete and not a reclaiming of sleep and its images.

“Quickly now, I don't know what alerts she may have put about the cottages.” His whispered voice cut through her stupor, and suddenly her memory was vivid with the threat from the previous afternoon. As she heard Telon's steps leave the room, she sprung into action, but found her traveling clothes at the ready, and the rest of her belongings already packed and neatly by the door. In the dark room, Ayleah moved with a quietude of mind and body. She knew haste was needed, but also that she should be careful with her energy. A person such as Angelica had sensitivities. Not only would she know if someone nearby had awakened, but Ayleah thought she could probably sense it from anywhere on this summit. One had to pull one's own energy close about their person, releasing it in a measured way through their actions. Normally, a person's energy vibrated out in all directions, with concentrations only based on their intentions and movements. To remain more covert, one had to control that energy, limit it to the skin level, and release the excess in targeted places where it could be absorbed softly and without notice. It felt a bit like holding your breath, and required a subtlety of bearing and self-awareness. Ayleah considered it quite fortunate that the practice had come up in the course of her previous education.

When she stepped outside, closing the door gently behind her, Telon was immediately by her side. He shone softly in the darkness like a door of indigo among the shadows, his hood up and nearly covering any sight of his eyes. He gestured to Ayleah that she should stay silent and keep very close to him. As they made their way through the night-cloaked village, Ayleah sharpened her senses. The houses and ruins were quiet, and it seemed too still for as nice a night as it was. No moon lit the sky, but the stars glowed brilliantly, winking around the dark shapes of the fir trees. It would have almost made her breathe easier if there were some mysterious rustling in the bushes or movement in the black branches. It was only when they had fully left the old burn-scarred clearings that something did scurry away from their path.

The two of them walked for the rest of the night, keeping to their agreed-upon silence. Ayleah worked to keep up with Telon's long strides, which seemed to carry them along faster than she would have thought. An upcoming landmark on the road that looked to be at least twenty steps away would be reached in no more than five. Ayleah had noticed before how things often looked different at night. Colors faded to gray-scale with the lack of light, but distance, and speed also felt funny. Moving through a landscape at night always felt faster than in the day. She wondered if perhaps it had to do with a loss of proper distance perception. Without the play of shadows and color she could not tell as well how far away things were. Telon did naturally take long steps though, and when they finally stopped to rest a bit her legs were glad of the pause.

Telon didn't dare stop though until the two of them had passed beyond the immediate bubble of Angelica's peak-bound aura. At a small seep that divided the land, as the sky was barely beginning to light, they took a break. As Ayleah watched Telon set about recovering his energies from the effort, she thought about the relation scholars had to the land. There were plenty of people who lived right with the land, and engaged in practices that were more nitty-gritty and druidic in nature. True druids did live in these mountains as well, and any number of hermetic witches and farmers with a family background of spellcraft in one form or another. The scholars like Telon though pointed to a deeper sort of work, and a deeper truth to the matter. The scholars engaged with the land through theory and esoteric ritual. They communed with the land's energies without fully immersing themselves in its rawness. It was as if they sought inner knowledge of the world, of which those druidic powers of the dirt were too close to perceive. Ayleah watched as Telon took water from the spring. He took some and filtered it for their use, but then also placed a drop on his forehead and one on his heart. He took dry dirt from the forest floor and let it drop in the light breeze, then smudged the wet spot off his forehead with one finger. To work with the land is to also work with oneself, she thought. To respect the land is to understand that we are a part of it as well. If we want to use or tie to its energies we must understand and respect our own. We must think about how our energies come together, where their intentions lie, and how that combined intentional power will affect and mix with those of the natural kinds. Land-craft is just as much a kind of “self-craft” as any of the other scholarly disciplines, despite its outwardly focused nature. The truth was this: that all people worked and lived in this relationship, not just the scholars, witches, and hermits. Ayleah could see that everyone had a connection to land, even if just to the small plot on which they live. The land supports everyone, and gives energy to everyone through resistance and growth. In this way all people are engaged in the magical relationship, whether they know it or not.

Once the sun had risen, the two scholars were able to hitch a ride further north with a driver bound for Mt. Etan. He was out early, and had frankly just been glad to hear they had no business down the southward road. In the back of his work-truck there was an air of security, and Ayleah found herself able to get in some of her missing hours of sleep. Telon remained on a passive alert, but inwardly was glad of the chance to relax. He let out a sigh as they climbed the next hill, fully immersed now in the energy of a different mountain. Outside, a pretty spruce forest passed, intermingled with the yellow-green tops of birches and maple against a thinly-clouded sky.

The Woman in White

 

It was morning again, and Ayleah woke from another restful night in her quaint stone cottage. The dawn was clouded, with damp mist clinging to the inn-village. Breakfast, though cozy and comforting, was a fairly quiet affair. Jaen and the brothers Ravael were still in their rooms, and Ayleah sat at the table with Meral, meditating on the curls of steam that rose gently from the cups between them. Ayleah couldn't say she particularly liked the taste of the tea, but it did have a wakening effect on her mind. She wondered what they would do today, and if she would get any time alone with Telon. They had not really had a chance to talk at all the previous day, busy as they were with Angelica and the group.

“Why did we stay here another night?” The soft question from Meral brought her out of her thoughts.

“Hm? I thought you said yesterday: you enjoyed the extra time hanging out with the larger group, and you all seemed happy to help out with the gardening. I enjoyed it myself, it was good to be back working with plants.”

“Yeah, that's all true, for sure. But, Ayleah, we never do this. My brothers always like to stay on their schedule and keep moving, unless something's broken or we're so tired that we really need the break. Also, there was nothing urgent about that gardening. When you think back on it, it almost seems like Angelica had to find things for us to do.” her tone had turned curious, almost conspiratorial. Their host had not been seen yet that morning, but Meral glanced around just to be sure. “What do you think about her Ayleah? You seem to have a good read on people.”

Ayleah knew exactly what Meral was talking about, and had just opened her mouth to say so when the woman in question entered the room. She was wearing the white flowing clothes that she usually seemed to wear during casual times of the day, and greeted the two at the table with a soft warmth. Soon after Telon and the others joined them, and conversation turned to superficial matters.

The morning flew by quickly, and Ayleah could not get a moment alone with Telon. Sometime after breakfast though, Jaen managed to get a moment with her.

“Ayleah, I've come to say that I'll be leaving today with the Ravaels. I wanted to see through your quest, but now that you've reunited with your mentor you certainly won't need me around. If I don't get a chance before we leave, let me say that it has been great to know you, and I hope to see you again among these mountains.”

She looked at him, touched by the moment and his simple sincerity. “Oh Jaen, thank you for everything you've done to help me get here. I do hope we meet again someday.” She hoped he could tell from her gaze that she did mean the words as she spoke them.

Come midday, the Ravael siblings had their transport ready and insisted on taking their lunches for the road. They said that they had had a lovely time, and thanked Angelica for all her hospitality, but also that they were already behind schedule and needed to make a certain distance by nightfall. Their midday departure with Jaen had been decided beforehand, but Angelica still seemed mildly disappointed that they were not staying to eat as a group. Nevertheless, she waved them goodbye with a smile as their van trundled out of the clearing.

-

After lunch, Angelica finally made her case to Ayleah. Telon had gone off somewhere, and it was quiet about the inn in the energetic lull after the van's departure.

“Telon's told me that you were a very promising apprentice in your time together. I hear that you're quite adept at sensing natural energies.”

Ayleah felt wary by the conversation opener, but answered frankly. “I've learned a lot from Telon, and I hope to continue to do so. I enjoyed my classes at the Sanctuary, but he always brought a different perspective to the ideas. He's actually quite wise for his age.”

“Well so are you,” Angelica countered, “You're even younger than him, and I can tell you have even more potential to shape this world.”

Ayleah was confused now. The turn had come so suddenly that she didn't even know if her defenses should be raised. “What do you mean by that?” she said.

Perhaps she realized the error, but Angelica paused and then softened her tone. “You should stay for a while and learn with me!” She said it almost as a lark; a sudden joyful realization. “Oh, but we could be so amazing together! I know so much about these mountain energies, and you have such an innate talent for them as well. If we worked together we could help to shape them and grow their power. We could use our combined power to influence this whole region for the good! I've been working with Telon, but he's so...different from me, and our energies don't blend as well. They were right though, you are a spark!”

Ayleah didn't even think to ask who she meant in her efforts and excuses to leave. The energy in the room had shifted dramatically in a short time and she felt suddenly coiled upon. “Thank you, but no.” she said, reaching for the door. “I think I-I know where I should be.” As she left the house she could hear the last thing Angelica said to her back. “You say you know many things, but you don't even know the potential there is right here, between us.”

-

A short while later, as she was writing in her journal, Ayleah's mind still rung with the words of the woman in white. “Don't you want to be a true witch of reality?” the words said. “Don't you want to live up here in paradise shaping the world beyond?” Angelica had power, but not enough to do what she really wanted, which was...what? She said she wanted to shape lives for the better; to shape the energies of the world for the benefit of all. Ayleah did not want that weight on her shoulders. It was maybe for no other reason that she had rejected Angelica's offer. It was that 'maybe' that scared her a little bit.

Telon found her there, on the edge of a ruined patio. Ayleah had gone a good distance out from the village center, seeking privacy for her reflections. She did not mind the blue-robed scholar's presence though. She had been thinking of him anyway.

“Ho there my friend, may I join you?” he said, casting a look over the old foundation and weed-choked stones. Ayleah looked up and closed the book. “I had just finished.” She stood up, and a small bird somewhere announced the motion. “Wait, is it actually just the two of us finally? I feel like I've been in a whirlwind the past day and a half.”

Telon chuckled. “Yeah, same. It's almost as if someone wants to keep us busy.”

She joined Telon and they began walking down an overgrown side road. Ayleah told her mentor about Angelica's proposal, and about how she had turned it down. She had begun to tell him about her experiences with Kae-ri as well, when they saw Angelica approaching from the opposite direction. She was walking casually, holding a large basket into which she seemed to be gathering herbs and tree-parts for her various concoctions. Ayleah noted though that she was wearing her closer-fitting work clothes, as if ready for more serious efforts.

“Well met, good hostess.” Telon said when they did so on the path. Due to her familiarity though, Ayleah heard the note of defense behind his voice; the scholar was on edge by her chance appearance. He wasted no time in cutting to the unspoken point, but outwardly his tone was the essence of lightheartedness. “Do I hear correctly that you've been trying to steal my apprentice away?”

There was no way the question came as a shock to Angelica, but she blinked, almost looking offended. “No, of course not sir, I merely offered that we could do a lot of good together, if she wishes.”

The feeling in the grove had become oppressive. The light that shone through the branches was weirdly stale, and the birdsong had quieted. It was Ayleah's turn. “I've already told you, I am satisfied with the mentor I have now. I have no wish to leave his practice, and no wish for the power you offer.”

Angelica's voice was deadly calm. “I could keep you here you know, if I wanted. It would be more amenable if you wanted to stay of your own will, but I'm sure you would eventually learn to love this place anyway as much as I have.”

The exposed bedrock about the roadsides pulsed softly with light. The oppression closed in and Ayleah felt as if there were no outside world anymore. Everything beyond this rocky peak could very well be a myth. She knew it was only a show of force and tried to keep her focus.

Angelica continued: “I don't know who that other was, that black-cloaked figure who tried to capture you before, but I can assure you I am a much greater power than he, especially on my rocks.”

“They are not wholly yours at the moment though, my lady.” Telon had stepped forward with a commanding air. At his word the light of the rocks dimmed, and even the sky seemed cloudier. “I have learned much from you, white Angelica, and now I say that you will not challenge me, even here. I know your energies better than you should have let me know them. You will not succeed in keeping us here, and you will not take Ayleah from my tutelage.”

Angelica let her energy fall, and the birdsong began again. “We shall see, we shall see in time my blue one.” She walked past them as if nothing had happened. “I do insist you at least stay for tonight though: it is too late in the day to begin traveling. We will...revisit the topic in the morning.”

Gardening

 

Their morning proceeded lazily, the night having been so very restful. Their host, an accommodating though slightly reserved woman named Angelica, provided the group with a simple breakfast in the communal hall. The food was so plentiful and fresh that it was clear there was a farm somewhere on this peak. Ayleah vaguely wondered where it was, and who tended the crops, as she could not recall seeing any signs of agriculture on their way into the old village. The day ahead promised answers though. It was sunny again, but lately the clear days were not quite as hot as had been expected. The weather in general had been wonderfully less humid, and Ayleah suspected it had to do with the mountain elevation. Feeling the sun on her skin in recent days, she had tried to remember the last time she had been uncomfortably hot outside. It had probably been as long ago as her time at Bartlett Falls, but she couldn't be sure.

Finishing breakfast, the Ravael siblings declared their intention to stay at the peak for the day. The attitude among the group was bright, reflective of the rest and the good weather. They figured it was a good chance to take a day off from their journey, and were excited at the idea of helping out with the garden chores. Angelica humbly but gladly welcomed the extra hands, and the whole of them spent the morning out at an herb garden, digging and planting the rows. The source of the food was quickly discovered: Angelica tended extensive vegetable gardens, utilizing the sprawl of former neighborhood back yards. The plots were small enough that a single person could reasonably keep them, but plenty large for hosting visitors. Ayleah's hands felt good getting back into soil, though the dirt here was not quite as nice as on the Little Abe farm. Telon too, had become accustomed to being hands-on in his studies of the land and appreciated the experience. As they worked together, the two of them were also able to talk a little, though Telon seemed guarded whenever their host was present.

“Ayleah, I am, truly sorry for any distress I may have caused by not keeping in contact. I should have told you at least about my mission, but I honestly, I thought I would be back much sooner. It was supposed to be just a fact-finding visit to the scholars at Abrahim, and then I would have returned straight back to the Sanctuary.

“Hm, funny, I wouldn't have learned much of anything if that were the case.”

“Why didn't you ever report? Have you been here the whole time?” Ayleah glanced around at the lush gardenscape and surrounding woods. She hadn't meant the question to be quite as sharp as it had sounded.

Telon passed over the energy easily enough. “Yes, for the most part I have been here, honing my skills in Landcraft, and learning what I can from the lady in white.” He glanced over towards Angelica, who was away for a moment gathering watering implements. Still, Telon kept his voice low.

“Angelica has a way of keeping herself isolated. She may seem welcoming, especially to us, but she is not to be fully trusted. I do not think she is welcoming to all, and she uses her own discernment in such matters. There is a power about this place, put there by her doing. I think she truly means it as a protection, but it also means we are all inside the bubble here. The isolation goes for anyone on this peak, and no standard communication can go out. The roads around are treacherous, as you probably saw, and locals shun this place out of superstition. It was only after working to increase my abilities, and through very deep concentration that I was able to reach out to you a few days ago.”

While he had been speaking, Ayleah had looked for the hostess in white as well. When she saw her, their eyes met for half an instant; she had been watching the two of them from across the planted clearing. Ayleah went back to her work as if nothing had happened. “How did you know I was at Lincoln Peak that day?”

Telon smiled, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “Pure blind luck actually.” He took a drink of water and picked up the shovel again. “Well, I did have a dream. I usually don't put too much stock in them. I know you're supposed to; at least, Davai and the others back at the dome would always go on about how important dreams are. In the dream I saw you rising, like a bright little sun, over Mt. Abrahim. You were coming over the peak, striding, but also floating upwards, like a weird glowing balloon. You see, this is why I can never take them seriously, because it just sounds weird when you say them out loud.

“Anyway, I was meditating off away from the old village, as I like to do, when I thought maybe I'd try to contact you. With enough concentration in zero-point, I was able to just barely sense your energy. I couldn't tell where you were, or even if my efforts were having any effect. I'm glad enough of my intentions came through.” he stopped again and looked at her. “I'm glad you made here. There are things that I want, need to discuss with you.” His tone brightened instantly as he saw Angelica approach. “And I want to hear about your journeys! It seems you may have been in the mountains a while now looking for me, I'd love to know what you've gotten up to.”

After lunch, they dispensed with the work and took the afternoon for relaxation. Ayleah looked forward to her promised chat and proper reunion with Telon. He intended to take her for a short tour of the Burnt Rock groves while they shared their findings and musings from each others travels. However, as they started out, Angelica insisted that she join, saying she wished to take the opportunity to get to know Telon's promising young apprentice. Her company was not opposed though, and the three of them had a satisfying enough time talking about Ayleah's travels to this point. They discussed the various woodland communities she had encountered along the way, and even speculated on the natures and relationships of various woodland energies.

Angelica found the combined energy of Ayleah and Telon delightful and stimulating. She greatly enjoyed having two such people of intellectual and energetic character at her inn: the type of philosophic conversation was missed when she was alone. Of note though was Ayleah's very brief account of the attack on her group at the trailhead by bandits. There was something about the story she could not put her finger on: something that was missing.

Ayleah had not shared the story of the mirror-trap, or anything of her experiences with Kae-ri. She was saving those for a moment alone with her mentor. Angelica had a friendly and open demeanor, but Telon was right, there was something about her that made her feel untrustworthy. There was definitely a feeling of mystery about the woman in white, and Ayleah noted that Telon never really shared anything in that conversation at all.

Reunion

 

A gigantic wall of stone, gray and weathered with unknown age, flung its shoulders high above the road. Disused after the fires, the old township's pulley systems had long rotted away. The cables and platforms lay deteriorated and reclaimed by nature. A small, handmade sign directed traffic instead onto a narrow climbing route that scaled the face of the granite summit cone. Just above a canopy of warm spruce trees lay the summitlands of Burnt Rock. They promised rest for the day, but also a reunion of lost friends.

Ayleah did consider Telon to be a friend, though their relationship had always been clearly one of student and teacher. Back at the Sanctuary he had been a source of comfort, always supporting her in her classwork and extracurricular studies. Understanding Landcraft required both in-class lecture time and practical field exercises, and he had been helpful at times in her learning. There had been others of her age in the classes, and she had been mostly friendly with her peers, but she always felt a separation from them. Most of them had come from a background in the cities, and had developed very different tastes and interests compared to her rural sensibilities. Telon however felt more similar to her than the others at the Sanctuary city. Though he had come from the Queen Cities, and was not a native of her own shores, Telon knew the energy of her people well. He understood the ways in which the rural lakeside people thought; what their land meant to them and how it influenced their life entire. He was a scholar, well read and wise for his relatively young age, but he was not of any order that appeared at the Sanctuary. The brown and green robes found his blue ones strange and, though there was never any ill-feeling, Telon had seemed as much if not more of an outcast than Ayleah herself.

When the blue-robed scholar had disappeared from the city and fields, Ayleah had lost her closest in-person confidant. It would have been at least reassuring if she had been told of his mission to Abrahim, but the head office of the Sanctuary had kept mysteriously quiet about the whole business. Ayleah wasn't fooled though: Davai's caginess in her presence was enough for her to suspect that he had been just as worried about Telon's lack of communication as she was.

Ironically in searching for her missing mentor, she had met others along the way who she could call friends as well. Whether or not they had a lasting place in her life, she could at least trust them for the time they had together. Sutton, Isak, the others at the farm, and Jaen. Jaen Bartlett, the rising son of a woodland royal line. She had been truthful with him that evening: there was an alternate universe in which Ayleah could see herself running off into these mountains with the young captain; staying and building a life among the peaks. It was not her path. Ayleah could not see the path in front of her, but she knew it was there, and could feel more and more each step of the way if it were under her feet.

The van jostled slightly, and a moment of tension passed through its occupants. Jaen had been driving today, giving a bit of a break to the lankier Ravael brother. The repulsar had been working well since the morning's repairs, but Jaen still preferred to guide it over the trickier bits of terrain himself.
Every once in a while he would pass advice to Nathan who sat beside him in the front.

“Now, remember to take it easy on that right side when coming down off a root ledge like this. If the landing zone isn't flat, that differential could knock it out of place again if you come down too hard.” Nathan, for his part, took the advice in stride and gave tips in equal measure back at Jaen, who had very little experience driving such a large capacity vehicle. “Watch your side clearance there! This ledge is barely wide enough for us. You gotta keep real precise with the tracking.”

The ledge angled up a sheer side of rough gneiss, narrowing until the way forward was no more than a goat path. When it seemed like they could not proceed any further, the road turned and entered an old tunnelway. As they passed through, they could see deep cracks in the rock, but all was stable, and the way was well-cleared. The passage led straight, steeply uphill, and brought them out to the open summit. Behind them the elephantine rock swelled casually under a crystal blue sky.

The van began to pass through the remnants of the burned-out village, and pulled up in a square where a few of the homes had been restored. Before the largest of the renovated houses stood a sign proclaiming food and lodging. About the entire mountain peak it seemed there was no sign of human life, but the yards and gardens around this square were thriving and definitely tended by someone. The inn had a cozy feeling to it, serenely beautiful and quaint in its presentation and décor. All about the late afternoon scene was a welcome relaxation. The Ravaels were thinking of the evening meal, and hoping that the food here would be of good quality. The extensive rock-fenced gardens behind the inn and around the village promised as such at least. Ayleah was thinking of dinner as well, but she had another goal in mind first. When she entered the house she scanned it right away for any signs of her mentor. They had knocked and been greeted immediately at the door by the innkeeper, a pleasant woman wearing flowing white clothing. She had welcomed them warmly, saying that guests had been rare lately and she was happy to provide them with cottages for the night. Jaen extended his courtesies along with the others, but remained wary: he knew what was on Ayleah's mind.

Meral and Nathan had just gone back outside to park the van and unload, when a door opened from a porch on the other side of the building. Ayleah had matured over the many moons since leaving her home, but still could not help but let out an exclamation when she saw the blue of the newcomer's cloak. Telon looked only momentarily bemused as he saw her across the room, and then smiled with a look that clearly said: 'Good. Now we can begin.'

Warning Signs

 

That next morning had not, in fact, turned out to be an easy one for the group. By the time they had finally left Birch Glen and were properly on the road it was well into the day and they were less two of their party. Fen had awakened most of them bright and early with muttered exclamations and an irritated air of packing. Apparently he had only just found that his companion was gone. The Plainfielder had departed sometime in the night, seemingly without wanting to be seen. Fen had heard Heln stir much earlier, but thought at the time that he was just getting up for a morning meditation. Once the color-master had risen himself and saw Heln's belongings missing, he became alarmed and was determined to set out after the Plainfielder at once. It was likely Heln was on foot, and Fen knew if he left before breakfast, he had a chance of catching up. He said this while packing, and with an apologetic eye to Thomas who, himself up early as usual, was beginning food preparations for the group. Though the evidence was scarce, Fen asserted that Heln had headed downhill, and off the mountain. The master seemed so sure of this fact, and was in a sour mood, so no one thought it prudent to ask him how he knew.

Ayleah and Jaen were both less concerned about Heln. His disappearance was odd, but they both knew enough of him to figure he was capable on his own. They also figured, though they did not vocally share this fact, that he must have had a good reason for his actions. There was no sign about the rooms of a struggle, and the bed he had been in the previous night was neatly made. He had been acting a little differently the past day or two, more reserved than usual. Perhaps he simple had some business he didn't want or need them to know about. Perhaps he had some business in which he didn't want Fen involved.

She had a strange sensation. It was almost as if she knew why he had left, but couldn't quite piece the strands of story together. They lay about her consciousness like errant threads, each containing a snapshot of information: a scene that lent some meaning to the whole. She could remember a dream from two or three nights ago. Heln had been standing with trees behind him, in a glade or something. She couldn't remember what had happened in the dream, but what stuck with her was the image of the dark Plainfielder wearing these eyeglasses made of pure light. The frames tingled with a sort of bright fire, gently lacing its way up and around...was it more or less of a dream than she thought? The vision shimmered and faded in her mind as she tried to grasp it. Ayleah rubbed her eyes and went back to what she was doing, trying to put the matter out of her head.

Jaen had behaved admirably that day, considering her rejection of him the previous evening. Still, he kept their interactions somewhat cordial and brief. Ayleah knew he just needed some time to feel and adjust his emotions, so she accepted this state of affairs. It did make her feel a little lonely though; the two male Ravaels were getting along so well with Jaen, and Meral was nice, but comparatively shy and not a very talkative travel companion. Now that the curiosity of Heln and Master Golbein had left the group, Ayleah was back to her own world. She looked forward to finally reuniting with Telon again. There was so much for them to talk about. A breeze picked up, rustling the canopy over their heads.

Ayleah's thoughts meandered back to Jaen, thinking that though she had turned down the future he offered, another would be lucky to take it up. It was partially thanks to him that they were moving at all. After breakfast Nathan had been inspecting the van only to find the back right repulsar wouldn't activate. It had been acting up for a while, but had held together until now. They were about to try and source a mechanic from the village, a dubious proposal, when Jaen stepped in with his expertise. He had experience with repulsar technology enough to be a hero when it counted in the wilderness.

Despite their usefulness, repulsars were still less popular than good old wheels in the more remote rural areas. The technology had more ways it could break down, and there were fewer people out here who knew how it worked. Those who did usually charged exorbitant fees to tourists who needed their services passing through. Folks like Jaen and his uncle Grive (and Isak too) who had more knowledge than greed were essential for sustaining the mobile infrastructure of these communities.

When they stopped for a rest Ayleah went off to talk with some of the local woods-people. The van had pulled over near a small farmers market in a high broad gap where the road crossed from one side of the mountains to the other. Speaking with one of the vendors, Ayleah asked how much farther it was to Burnt Rock. “Oh, ayuh, yer stayin' with Angelica are you? Not much further now, just uphill north from here.” The woodsman had a tone to his voice that intrigued Ayleah, and she took the bait: “I'm meeting a friend at Burnt Rock. Who is this Angelica?”

“Oh, well I guess you should know- that peak up there is all hers. She set up a while back in the ruined township and runs a sort of country inn. Seems nice enough, but the funny thing is nobody else's been back to settle above the ledge. Some folks say that she's the one that set the place on fire way back, but I know that can't be true. She's far too young and too...mild-mannered for that. It's just the, well, the energy up there. Nothing wrong with it, but it's maybe a little spooky. People say they see things that aren't really there: clouds of mist and mischievous sprites that lead them astray. Again, not saying there's anything terribly bad or evil about the place,” the woodsman rushed to conclude, in case he had been worrying this young woman, “Angelica's a fine host, just a bit of a strange character. Go and meet your friend, and be well, but maybe keep your wits close at hand when you get up to the peak.” I always do, thought Ayleah as she walked away. As she returned to the van, a cloud passed in front of the sun and a stronger gust of wind rustled the trees.

Looking out of the window while they rumbled along, an unusual movement caught her eye. The road had traversed along the side of the mountains all day, at first on the west and then on the east. To one direction the land sloped and folded, rising in hummocks and ever higher hills. On the other side it fell away, sometimes gently, sometimes steeply, but always angling farther and farther down into the green. In the distance on the downhill side the upper canopy of the trees eventually reached their eye-level. The road here near constantly gave a view out into the wide forest, and at the points where it crested above some ledge, the sight was quite wonderful. Mossy boulders appeared here and there among micro-forests of ferns and winding farm tracks. What caught her eye though was something falling. It was large, about the size of a dinner table, but very thin and without legs. Despite its size, it fell gently, swaying to and fro with the forest wind. As it turned Ayleah realized it was a leaf, curled and yellowed as if by some sickness. The contrast of its color with the green of the woods was stunning, but Ayleah felt a note of alarm in the back of her mind. The leaf was light enough in its dried state: it wouldn't harm anything when it hit the ground, unless someone happened to be standing in that exact spot. What concerned her intuition was the cause, she had never known leaves to change color in this way except in times of terrible blight or drought. The yellow-brown of a dried leaf was usually a warning signal in nature. Of all the times for the color-master to have left...