All through the next day the cloud remained, covering the summit township in a light gray veil. Moisture collected on the extensive rock slabs, making travel between the outer homes and the central fort slightly treacherous, especially in the morning hours. Ayleah's business was inside in any case. Hearing nothing about Telon the previous night, she planned to visit the scholarly offices herself while the others in the group took care of the supply distribution and affairs with the Premir.
The few researchers dwelling at Abrahim who were officially credentialed held offices in an upper level of the central fort. Somewhat contentious and reserved, they presided over an astronomical observatory set high in the large rock wall. Theoretically it was a public service for the greater community of knowledge-seekers. While others could reserve times (for a fee) to use the observatory, it was an uncommon occurrence. Many of the outsider researchers prided themselves on not needing the fancy instruments of the “academy fellows”, and frosty attitudes prevailed.
Ayleah found the observatory scholars like-able enough, though they shared the same reserve she had found among some at the Sanctuary. She often found that those who held knowledge were easily corrupted by the power of deciding who else gets to have that knowledge. The astronomers told her that Telon had scheduled a meeting with them over a moon-cycle ago, but never kept the appointment. Though they had initially met the blue-cloaked scholar when he first arrived at the village.
“He was in need of food and rest, so we told him he would be welcome back to speak with us once he had gotten those things. He seemed on a mission of great importance though. And he seemed an honorable scholar, I would have liked to know what he wanted to talk about.”
Ayleah pressed the point, “Has anything been going on astronomically that he might have wanted your input on? There was a reason he was sent up here, of all places, for his research. If I could find anything out about what that was, maybe it would give me a clue to where he went.”
The scholar looked at the other two, then back to Ayleah. When he spoke it was with a measured tone. “We know there is a change occurring. We do not know the consequences yet, or the exact cause. There is something altering the perspective of our world, and we have yet to pinpoint the source. We know this source is something, perhaps in our Solia System, that was not present before, but again, we don't know what this presence is yet. That is to say, we have observed changes, but not observed anything new in the celestial equation. For certain there is no cause for concern at this time.”
Ayleah felt a sort of buzzing deep in her spine somewhere. “Telon must have had some information to share with you about your findings. Maybe your observations were going to complete some theory of his. The scholars at the Sanctuary must have noticed something too and talked about this among themselves.”
“Undoubtedly true. I wonder what they found out there in the valley.” the astronomer replied, almost wistfully, “I wish we could be of more help to you, but we have not seen your mentor since that morning. Our meeting was supposed to be at midday, but he never appeared in our offices. We looked around to see where he had gone, but it seemed he left the village by mid-afternoon. There are only two roads out of town, but we haven't heard of any sightings.”
Ayleah left the office with just as many questions as she had had upon entering, though now they were different ones. She was just organizing her thoughts when a younger-looking scholar beckoned her from around a corner in the hallway. Curious, she followed and the scholar spoke to her in a low voice.
“I may know something about what happened to your friend, but I have to be quick. Some of the others don't like mentioning all they really know.” They glanced around briefly before continuing. “There's been a strange Mystic woman around the village lately. She dresses in all white and doesn't seem to say much, but everyone gets a bit of a weird feeling around her. I don't know anything for sure, the whole thing might be accidental. Anyway, I and a couple of the others saw her meet with a man in a blue cloak near the edge of the village. He sure looked like the person you described; definitely a scholar of some sort. They were walking toward the north side of town, near where the meadows begin. Maybe she's still hanging around somewhere and would have more information for you.”
Ayleah thanked the young scholar wholeheartedly, and walked outside with purpose. The cloud cover had brightened, and some of the stones were not so wet as earlier in the day. She left the central square and ventured out to the northwest side of town, where the rock ledges of the village softened into long sloping meadows of scrub that slanted precipitously downhill.
The suburban hermit meadows here provided no additional leads however, and she became distracted by the unique flora of this alpine place. Jaen found her returning slowly along the open rock-ways having found no trace of the woman in white. He was interested to hear of her visit to the astronomers, but echoed her disappointment in not finding more of a lead. They ate from the picnic lunch Jaen had brought with him, and spent a fun afternoon exploring the open ledges and the soft ethereal alpine meadows. The cloud never fully lifted, but Ayleah felt the day was light enough.
