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.”