Hilltop

 

The hilltop featured a small neatly-kept village. In its own way it seemed proud, looking over the western valleys. It must be a notable place of history in the surrounding culture, she thought. The houses looked well-settled, of a respectable age and cared for by their inhabitants. A newer city stood nearby, just below the summit of the hill, and seemed to provide some protection over the old rural town. No guards were present though, so Riannath knew the place was not under management of the city, despite its proximity. There was a certain lawlessness about the rural townships that Riannath cherished. It was not a chaos of violence and crime: towns usually kept themselves well-enough ordered for their residents to feel safe. It was that within the management of a city, things seemed to become homogenized. Villages under order of a regional conservation board had greater freedoms in their general energy. There was something special about a place that could claim a unique identity for its own. This one had a good sense of itself, even though it lay only a short distance off the city roads. The high plaza had the name of Five Tree, though the forest blanketing its sides contained far more than that number. The name told Riannath that there was a history here, however humble it may be. For her it served the purpose of being the first real high point south from the river that had an open summit. She wasn't sure exactly way she had led the squadron to higher ground, but the open view would at least afford her mind visual space to plan her next moves. There would have to be a base of operations, separate from the fort, and secret from imperial oversight. She needed stronger information, and considered polling local populations more directly. The question was how to escape discovery by someone like Andrus? Furthermore, she had a feeling he might do something drastic if she were not back within a reasonable time. If he thought she was conspiring against Imperial command, he would be within his authority to suspend hers. Suspension of her authorization could not be allowed to happen. Geordi would be able to recommend a leader for the satellite operations while she kept up appearances.

Low tangly woods mingled with grasses as the road opened on the village square. Around the summit clearing, small mounds of bedrock raised themselves above market stalls and through wizened old estates. Beyond was a flat open space that looked over treetops to the blue-tinted west. The whole square was weathered and bore signs of continuous use. At the far side were soft shaded meadows, and a rest area with places to sit and gather. Riannath dispatched troops along the perimeter of the town, instructing them to maintain a secure presence, but to not intimidate any of the locals. They were there for safety, not on military business.

It was as the Commandant was considering the local villagers that she saw the scholar just rising from a seat in the far meadow. He was some distance away, but the brown cloak and his overall demeanor was an uncanny match for her dream the previous night. He glanced over at the new arrivals to the square, eyes narrowing slightly in recognition of the military presence. He then saw her and his eyes widened again, curious. The Commandant realized her face had betrayed the surprise of seeing him, but too late. A funny thing then happened. It seemed to Riannath that the sage walked towards her, but when they finally met she found it was her that had ridden over to the meadow.

She dismounted and greeted the scholar, apologizing for intruding on the peaceful village.

“No need to apologize ma'am, unless you intend to break that peace.”

“Don't worry, we're not here on official business. Though I can't help it if they do their duty to protect me.” Davai glanced around at the slick troops positioned casually around the square. One of the two teams had disappeared down the wooded road out of town.

“Formidable for sure.” he said. “But what is your interest in me? I saw you take notice of me, and, assuming you wish to confer about some scholarly topic- how may I be of service?”

Riannath studied his unreadable brown eyes, suddenly the slightest bit unsure.

“This may sound bizarre, but I think I saw you once before this, in a dream of mine last night. I know some scholars have been known to engage in more...esoteric studies, but contrarily, you seem not to be expecting me.”

Davai's curiosity intensified. “No, you're right, I didn't try to contact you last night. I have been known to appear in others' dreams, but it is, usually that is, by my own will. What did I say to you in this dream?”

Riannath did not answer immediately, being a little taken aback by the scholar's blatancy. He had just said in such casual terms something which for her had only ever been rumor and speculation. It was said that the high scholars could manipulate their consciousness and the world around them. She had heard that they could communicate without being near one another. They could affect those around them with tricks based in a deep knowledge of the underlying energies of the world. It was all just a story though to someone like her who had grown up away from such teachings. Her own education in the military academies had been top-notch, but they had not told her it was possible to willingly enter the dream of another person.

“You...you didn't say anything. I just saw you walking by.” she told the scholar. “Then we were,” she looked around, realizing the place. “here, but the view seemed higher up, and a massive storm was brewing out there. It didn't look like you noticed me, you were thinking about something, and staring off to the west.”

Davai gave a small sound, and nodded. Then he was silent for a moment, while they both reflected in the light summit breeze. “I guess we do have something to give each other then. Clearly we were supposed to meet here, so please-” he gestured to the other side of the table he had been occupying, “sit, and let's figure out what those things might be.”

Riannath and Davai both recounted the recent events of their lives. Davai shared his and the other scholars' concern over the changes they had observed. Weather patterns and (more worryingly) star patterns had begun to shift. Communication with other regional councils had confirmed their findings, and Davai had eventually sought a connection with various parts of the earth in order to sort out his information into a clear picture. The picture resonated with the rumors Riannath had collected, but the commandant's stories from the land held some information Davai had not known. He was exceptionally intrigued by the accounts of these mysterious people in the tales. People that no one could account for, and who sometimes just seem to vanish into thin air.

On a large scale, Davai told the commandant, it was a matter of the worldly cycles. The cyclical aspects of nature were slowly consolidating into aspects of larger, more stable cycles. There was an activation of the world that had been unthinkable before. According to the projections of the scholars, Davai said, the eventual outcome of this shift to larger cycles would be beneficial. There may be some disruption during the transition, but he agreed that cycles that were more in sync with each other had the potential to build great positive forces in the reality they constructed.

He did caution that there would have to be an adaptation. The transition would not be easy. Society would have to adjust to the new patterns, which he and the other scholars he had spoken to were calling 'Seasons'. They did not know yet what cumulative effects the synchronizing cycles would have. While Davai was out here confirming the findings, those back at the Sanctuary were preparing messages to the populace. It would be necessary to foster preparedness in the people, especially those living in the countryside. However, any hint of the coming changes might also stoke catastrophic rumors and panic. Furthermore, the head sage Lucan had been away for many moons now, and tensions were higher without his leadership.

Riannath told Davai in turn about her difficulties with the imperial oversight. She had felt her position threatened simply by the consideration of these issues. It was clear to her that there were forces conspiring against her and the scholars' information gathering. Davai confirmed he had heard rumors himself of the sort. At the Sanctuary they had been careful about disseminating any information regarding the situation, and even now he was careful who to trust.

The commandant agreed with that stance, rising as she did so. “For my part I only trust my personal squads, as each one of them has sworn in my presence to protect me with their lives. For your part, you can trust them as well. I will stand with you scholar Davai, should anyone try to stall your progress in this matter.” They shook hands, satisfied in their new partnership. Davai stood as well and made to collect his belongings. “Come with me then, back down to the river. I have a friend who I must meet there: she contacted me earlier and I believe she has some part to add to our own.”