The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling (5 page)

They put in three hours after dinner,
continuing to go through books without finding anything. As Drune
and Erin wearily trudged down from the fourth floor library to
their rooms on the third floor he said, “I really didn’t expect to
walk in and find an answer but I must say that the task seems
rather daunting when you are tired. The thing we need to keep in
mind is that we are looking for a pattern of information or
something that appears to be out of place, but isn’t.”

Erin looked at him. “It’s my guess that we
will have to plow through a lot of books before we stumble on
something that makes sense. There are several books that I would
love to sit down and read. Maybe I can ask Gyan if I can borrow a
book to read in bed at night. Oh well. I’ll see you in the morning.
‘Night Drune.”

As Erin closed her door to the corridor she
heard a rustle from the darkened room. ‘Erin, Keir showed me to
your room,’ Nuit said. ‘He is asleep atop your shelves on the
bathroom wall. Can you fill me in?’

Erin smiled. ‘Completely, my friend.’ She
talked about Gyan and the library. She went on to the research they
were trying to do and how, most likely, it was hidden and the
magnitude of the task. She ended with, “Gyan would like to meet
you. He needs to make sure that you are cleared with security and
there are no snags. He respects the role you three have played and
the great help you have been. There is a special type of guard on
the library that you must be authorized with. We can do all of that
first thing in the morning.’ ‘Sleep well Erin. I will hunt and come
back here before morning.’ and with those words Nuit silently flew
out the balcony door.

The following morning both Erin and Drune
were up just after dawn. It had been their pattern for weeks and
their bodies were programed to rise at that hour. With Nuit on her
shoulder, Erin knocked on Drune’s door and the three of them went
down to breakfast.

They had just served themselves when Gyan
came in. Erin turned to him. “I would like you to meet Nuit. She
will need to sleep soon but can wait for a little while.” Gyan made
her a small bow. “It is good to meet you. I understand you also
know Ree. We won’t be long with breakfast then I need to get you
cleared for the library. You could even sleep there if you wish.”
Every one made quick work of their breakfast and soon were walking
to the library.

“Gyan, could I borrow a book or two from the
library and read in bed at night?” Erin asked. Drune gave her a
small smile.

“I don’t see why not, Erin. We are mostly
scanning the books right now. We don’t have time to read but if
something interests you set it aside and take it to your room
before dinner.” “Nuit, please perch on the chair so you can look at
the carving of the book. You will know when to move away.” The owl
did as requested. “If you wish to enter the library to find us,
just look at the carving on the book and the doors will open.” Gyan
demonstrated and the doors opened. They all filed in and each went
to the area that they had been working the day before. Nuit flew to
the upper tier and settled on a corner shelf to sleep.

Soon all were so focused on their search that
they were unaware of time. Erin was charmed by the beautiful
embossed covers and splines. She used to illustrate her mothers
herbal record books and had a decent artistic talent. That is one
reason that she so appreciated the subtle carvings around the
Aerie. There were so many fascinating books but none of them seemed
to hold the answer they sought. They were checking the table of
contents and going briefly through the book pages. None of them was
sure what they were looking for but it seemed logical that it would
relate to the tectonic and meteorologic activity of the planet.
Another topic possibility would pertain to sages or perhaps the
bond between the planet and sage seeds.

Each individual had made inroads in their
specific area of the library but no clues had been found by the
time they stopped for lunch. When they returned from lunch Tempo
was in the library curled up on a chair asleep. That afternoon Gyan
found a book that looked promising and had sat down at the table to
read. Drune and Erin continued looking but to no avail. She had set
aside a couple of books she wanted to look through in the evening,
but that was the highlight of her day of searching. When they broke
for dinner Nuit and Tempo returned with her to her room to drop off
the books and wash up before eating.

Nuit flew out the window for her night
hunting. The temperature was dropping and Erin told her two raptor
companions that she was going to close the balcony door, but if
they tapped on the glass or told her they were there, she would let
them in. Tempo decided to stay in for the night. He had found
several skunks in the area and had a nice visit. Hunting had been
adequate but not as good as on the plains. He could always eat nuts
and berries in the Aerie. With that in mind the two of them went to
dinner together. By the time they called it a night Drune had found
a book that possibly had answers. He was going to look through it
before he went to sleep.

Erin, Tempo and Drune walked back to their
bedrooms. For the most part they were quiet, processing what they
had seen in the library during the day. Drune and Erin said
goodnight and went their respective ways. As Erin opened her door
she saw a movement beyond her glass balcony doors and heard in her
mind. ‘Erin I am here.’ She ran quickly to the doors and opened
them for Keir. ‘Were you waiting long my friend? Is there a way you
could come in the front doors and fly here? I don’t want you to
freeze!’

‘I am well. There is a niche in the balcony
wall next to the window that is out of the wind and warm enough.
Don’t worry. Thank you for letting me in. Did you make any progress
today?’ Keir asked. Erin shook her head and after re-latching the
doors, she climbed up on her comfortable bed and crossing her legs,
started looking through the books she had brought to her room.

Keir settled on top of the shelves and Tempo
paced around the room, exploring all of the nooks and cubbyholes in
the room. Erin picked up the book on symbols. When she had flipped
through it she had spotted some of the ones around the halls of
Aerie. She enjoyed looking at the drawings and the definitions.
Erin had seen some of these patterns in other founder cities. It
was interesting to see what they originally meant to the ancients.
She enjoyed looking at every page. Erin discovered that the small
bird perched on the leafy branch carving that she had seen on the
first day meant a music room. The idea of those beautiful
sculptures indicating room uses was charming. Erin laid that one
down and picked up the other. It had an embossed leather cover. It
was a book of herbs and the uses they had and reminded her of her
mother. She stroked the embossed cover thoughtfully before opening
the book and starting to read.

Erin read for a half hour or so before
preparing for bed. As she was getting under the covers she once
more opened the book of symbols and turned the pages, carefully
looking for the pattern that was embossed on the other book. When
she found it and read the definition completely she raised her
eyebrows. She turned back again to the book about herbs and flipped
the pages until she found a certain one. Erin went down the page
carefully. Thoughtfully she opened the book to the last few pages
and studied what was there. When she closed the book she looked at
Tempo. The little skunk had been watching her closely. “Tempo the
information is hidden. Certain symbols are part of the code. We
still have a lot of searching ahead of us but there is hope. I
think I’ve found one of the keys!” Tired though she was, her smile
was radiant and Tempo noticed that her face seemed a little less
tense.

After working in the library all day, Gyan
retired to his study. There was something that was disturbing him
and he wasn’t sure where it was coming from. He sat very still and
closing his eyes focused on the realm. He still couldn’t pinpoint
it so he opened his mind to Char, the sage woodworker in Yerra.
‘Char, this is Gyan, are you free to talk?’

Char had some tenseness in his mental voice
as he answered. ‘I hope you are making progress because things are
getting down right sticky. Those fools that Bure stirred up are
looking for targets and I am on their list. Mayor Harra has
assigned me a new ‘apprentice’. He is that big strapping young
lumber man from Sherroton. Terk is his name. He is the nephew of
Holm, the jeweler who was attacked. Cheroan sent him with the
caravan as subtle protection. He is my apprentice for the same
reason.’

‘Tell me what has been happening, Char.’

‘Well, when Bure was sentenced, there were
folks in the crowd that had believed his story that we need to
eradicate the witch infestation in the realm and that the quakes
and bad storms would then subside. The mayor mentioned my name as
one of Bure’s attempted murders. He did so to show how wrong and
off beat Bure’s actions were but those blasted followers of his
figured that to stop the storms and stuff they needed to finish the
job. Now, I must say that they are a small number and most people
were horrified that such an honest upstanding citizen as myself had
been targeted. But as you know, it only takes one crazy person to
make you dead. Harra has discreetly placed ‘long lost relatives’
and ‘apprentices’ with anyone who is older and skilled. There have
been a few other people, regular folk, who have had attempts on
their life.’

Gyan rubbed his brow. ‘What interesting
things has our world been giving your area lately?’

‘The usual bad, cranky planet stuff:
horrendous storms at sea, glass etching sandstorms, torrential
rains with high winds and the occasional turn-the-ground-to-pudding
quakes. People are, pardon the pun, really off balance with what
the planet is throwing at us. Some are reacting by endeavoring to
kill ‘witches’.’

Gyan shook his head and sighed. ‘To answer
your question, I am trying to find a solution. I have been working
on the problem for months and just recently have recruited Erin and
Drune to help. You knew Erin as Terran. I have hope that we will
have a breakthrough soon. I’ll keep in touch.’

Gyan sat for a moment testing the disquiet he
had been feeling. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be just from the
Sawblen province. He would talk to Mayor Harra later. Right now he
had to check with others across the realm. He took a deep breath
and let it out. ‘Ree how are you faring?’

‘Good to hear from you again so soon, Gyan.
The planet has been unsettled and some people are reacting in an
ignorant and ugly way. I have had some visitors but my guardian
posts have detected their intent and protected me. The subliminal
frequency the posts emitted made them go away without remembering
why they had come here.’ Gyan’s smile was not friendly. ‘Do give
those posts my humble regard. Char has been assigned an
‘apprentice’ and other folk have gained ‘family’ to protect them. I
am trying to find out how far this disease has spread. On another
note, Erin and her companions are delightful. I have known Drune
from many years ago and am even more impressed now. I have an
intuition that they will be instrumental for turning the tide. I
must go, my dear. Stay close to home and stay safe.’

He was feeling a little low on energy but
needed to contact Bas and see how the Arbreton Province was doing.
He settled back into his chair and relaxed. ‘Bas, do you have a
minute to speak to me? Has Bure’s propaganda infected your area
yet?’

‘I don’t like the ‘yet’ you tacked on, Gyan.
I can’t say it has been peaceful here with the planet kicking up,
but the good citizens of our province were shocked at how many
those three lowlifes had killed. I haven’t heard of anyone
championing their beliefs. I take it, by the way you asked the
question, that some areas are getting witch hunts.’ ‘Yes, Bure had
time to seed the idea well in Sawblen. It has spilled into Ree’s
area. I need to speak to Cheroan but don’t have time tonight.’ Bas
nodded in understanding. ‘I can catch him tomorrow morning and
mention that you will be in contact to give him more details.’ Gyan
sighed. ‘I hope to have more news soon. You stay safe, Bas.’

So far the contagion of superstition was
limited. He knew it would get worse while the planet grew more
unstable. One more to go. ‘Lor how is the caravan? Has it reached
the rock slide yet?’

‘Gyan, thank the ancients that you have
contacted me! Three days ago, about an hour after Drune and Erin
had left, the caravan was attacked!

Gyan sat bolt upright. ‘What! Is anyone
hurt?’

Lor continued as if Gyan hadn’t spoken.
‘Several riders with kerchiefs over their faces came galloping up
and demanded we give up the ‘witches’. They had Alliz and Flar in
mind. They were brandishing swords, knives and harpoons. We tried
to reason with them. They were beyond any rational thought. You
could smell their fear. It became a pushing, shouting mellay. A
knife was thrown and Alliz was hit above her collarbone.’