EXCOLO

The town has a different feeling now. I don't know what changed, really, but before there was a sense of bated breath, and not everyone's breathing again. Breathing, but softly. There's something new.

It could be Miss von SacherMosch's new baby, or the fresh coat of paint on the post office, or the blind girl I saw in the café, or the death of that young man the doctor couldn't save. There's been some ugly rumours floating about with his name attached, and that's my best idea for what's changed.

Plenty of people are willing to talk about the doctor. He seems to carry on a lot, especially since his engagement ended and his fiancée married. Something like that could turn a man to things better left alone.

I'm just finishing scraping one of the walls clean where new growth was taking root. It breaks the walls down when you let vines and such wind their way through the stone. There's a tall figure coming up the path from the park's way, striding in a long, easy, rolling gait. The deputy.

I slip down off the wall and go to put my tools away. I wonder why he's coming here today.

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Recognize the man coming off the wall, seeming a tiny bit outta place, and takes me a moment t'place his name. Manage a smile, but it feels a bit off. Know what he'n Catherine meant t'do, but with everything crazy as it was--

"Morning," I say, touching my forehead t'him. Think I left my hat back somewhere at the Thiess's earlier today. "Hope you've bin well. Isidore, wasn't it?" Glance at the wall behind him. "'d offer ta help, but I guess you're pretty much done."

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I linger by the gate, to see the deputy when he comes inside. "Morning," he greets me. He isn't wearing a hat, and it makes him look somehow incomplete. "Hope you've bin well. Isidore, wasn't it? 'D offer ta help, but I guess you're pretty much done."

I smile at him. "Well enough, Deputy Hollow. Thanks for the offer, though it won't be a big job until the new growth really starts, but it's best to keep ahead of it." I shrug my shoulders to to ease them, and ask him "What brings you to the Abbey today, Deputy?" I suppose it isn't my place to ask on behalf of the Abbey, but I'm curious.

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Greets me and adds "Thanks for the offer, though it won't be a big job until the new growth really starts, but it's best to keep ahead of it," and I nod.

"Sensible," I say, glancing 'round. "Try the same thing m'self. Guess it's a bit different with trouble than with vines, though." If I needed sleep, I'd'a been running damn short of it lately...

Draw my attention back ta him as he speaks again. "What brings you to the Abbey today, Deputy?"

"Er." Glance 'round. "Was here earlier this week." And still tryna get my head 'xactly straight on that. "Thought I'd take a look around, see how things were, is all. Bin mostly quiet?"

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"Sensible," he comments. "Try the same thing m'self. Guess it's a bit different with trouble than with vines, though." I smile as I catch his meaning. "I wouldn't be surprised."

He looks back at me as I speak, but he seems a bit awkward when he does respond. "Er. Was here earlier this week. Thought I'd take a look around, see how things were, is all. Bin mostly quiet?"

I fold my hand behind my back. "I have a hard time thinking of a time when it's not quiet here," I tell him. "Even during practices. Unless you've heard something I haven't, Deputy."

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"I have a hard time thinking of a time when it's not quiet here," he says. "Even during practices. Unless you've heard something I haven't, Deputy," and I shake my head.

"Don't think so," I say. "Was wondering, though... Did you see anything of Derek Granger, while he was here?" Damn near a fortnight ago that I brought him in, but ain't guessing that gets forgotten real easy. "Was looking ta maybe talk ta the people who took most care'a him."

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I pay my respects to Nanshe every Sunday, but this morning, something in me wanted to go to the abbey again. It's so very close to my wedding day, and there's a breath of spring on the wind - so early! - so that with every passing day, I find my mind turning more and more to the gods. Hestia of the hearth, Hecate of crossroads - dark shadows hang over Hecate sometimes, but she guards magic as well as gateways and beginnings, so I feel that perhaps I am growing closer to her. Or at least, I am now, at the gateway of spring and of married life with Valmont, and at the crossroads away from my past.

I gather a few flowers from Valmont's garden - it is our house, but it will always be his garden, just as the little library nook will always be mine - and some herbs, too. They will make a lovely fragrance when I burn them.

My hands are curled tight around my offering, but I can feel my tension seeping out of me the instant I step onto the Abbey grounds, surrounded by its peace.

And Jack is there! He's talking to a tall man who looks somewhat familiar - I'm certain I've seen the other man around the abbey, but we haven't spoken. But whoever the other one is I'm always happy to see Jack. I break into a smile, and quicken my steps towards them…but then I draw close enough to see that they're in the midst of some rather serious discussion, and slow a bit before I'm in earshot.

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"Don't think so. Was wondering, though... Did you see anything of Derek Granger, while he was here?"

I shake my head slowly. "No, I didn't. Not really. Nanse-kam would have seen him, and some of those whose gifts lie in healing or caring. You might ask after them."

It's a strange thing for the deputy to ask, though I suppose he might be looking to account for events in light of the boy's death. Movement catches my eyes, and I see another person coming into the Abbey from town. A younger woman - younger than me, anyway - and she looks familiar. The woman from the library, yes.

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"No, I didn't," Isidore answers, "Not really. Nanse-kam would have seen him, and some of those whose gifts lie in healing or caring. You might ask after them."

"Yeah," I say, frowning a bit. "Er... I guess I'll ask Nanse-kam 'bout that. You don't happen ta know if anyone at the Abbey's a doctor, are they?" I guess not--I mean, town was so happy ta get Constantine--but I oughtta check.

See him glance aside, catching sight a' someone, and I look over myself. Recognize Hermia and then I'm smiling, and lift a hand ta her.

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As I draw closer, I can see that their expressions are very sober indeed. Oh dear - that must mean that Jack is on official business, and I don't like to think of any sort of trouble touching the abbey.

"I don't mean to interrupt. i just wanted to say hello on my way to prayers. It's good to see you, Jack. Forgive me - I don't think we've actually met properly," I say, holding my hand out to the other man. "I'm Hermia Stephanides, the assistant librarian."

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"Yeah," the deputy replies, as though he's thinking ahead of the conversation. "Er... I guess I'll ask Nanse-kam 'bout that. You don't happen ta know if anyone at the Abbey's a doctor, are they?"

I shake my head again, wondering where he's going with his questions. It's clear he has some ultimate goal, but he's taking a meandering path. Perhaps he doesn't think in lines.

"There's only Dr. Constantine so far as I know," I tell him, "in the way of formal doctors. And that bookseller - I'd heard he is, or was, a surgeon of some kind." Quietly, in my way. He hasn't exactly put it about overmuch.

Hollow and I both turn to greet the woman as she approaches us. "I don't mean to interrupt. i just wanted to say hello on my way to prayers. It's good to see you, Jack. Forgive me - I don't think we've actually met properly." She offers her hand. "I'm Hermia Stephanides, the assistant librarian."

I take her hand and give it a firm shake. "Isidore," I tell her. "I'd just met you briefly in the library." People don't remember me clearly, sometimes, unless I go out of my way. "I didn't know you were a devotée" I tell her, nodding to the Abbey proper.

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"There's only Dr. Constantine so far as I know, in the way of formal doctors. And that bookseller - I'd heard he is, or was, a surgeon of some kind."

"Right," I say thoughtful. Didn't know that--mean, knew Constantine thought he was worth gettin' after the riot, but not 'cause of any kinda training. "Thank you."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Hermia's saying as she joins us. "I just wanted to say hello on my way to prayers. It's good to see you, Jack," and I grin.

"You's well, Hermia. 'n'congratulations, again." Been months since I was worryin' 'bout needing ta hang Valmont upside-down of the Pontarlier bridge if he upset her, and damn glad it turned out the way it has. Isidore greets her too,askin' about her following Nanshe, an' I figure that's for her ta explain.

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"You's well, Hermia. 'n'congratulations, again."

"Thank you," I say to Jack, with an even warmer smile. I'd ask if he were attending the wedding, but it wouldn't be polite to speak of it in front of someone who isn't invited. And I hardly need to ask, with Jack. I know he'll be there.

"Isidore. I'd just met you briefly in the library. I didn't know you were a devotee."

"Isidore, yes. It's good to see you again, then." No last name? Well, people often don't give them, in Excolo. "I've only recently come to the worship of Nanshe, but she has… become very dear to me in only a few months," I decide on, with a small smile at the thought of those dreams. "And she is generous, so she does not mind if I leave offerings for my old gods as well. But it sounds as if I've come in on some business. I'll…leave you to it?" I ask, glancing up at Jack for confirmation.

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The deputy congratulates Miss Stephanides, though he doesn't make it clear for what. She thanks him, and turns to me, and I know well enough not to ask about their exchange.

"Isidore, yes. It's good to see you again, then. I've only recently come to the worship of Nanshe, but she has… become very dear to me in only a few months," she explains, after a moment's hesitation. "And she is generous, so she does not mind if I leave offerings for my old gods as well."

Her answer intrigues me, since I've come here to find something similar. "And do your old gods mind?" I ask her. "Most aren't known for their tolerance in such things."

She glances to the deputy. "But it sounds as if I've come in on some business. I'll…leave you to it?" I look to him as well, wondering if he's finished his questions for now.

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Feel a bit odd as they're talkin' 'bout other gods, an' glance away. Mean, I know there're plenty a' things ta believe in, and Nanshe's... well, she's part a' Excolo. Still feels odd ta think of Hermia as... pagan, I guess?

"But it sounds as if I've come in on some business," Hermia says, glancin' my way. "I'll... leave you to it?" she says, and Isidore looks my way's well.

"Oh, no, we're--I mean, I guess I'm done," I say. "Just asking 'bout a coupla things from a coupla weeks back." I damn well ain't getting inta details. "Er. Pardon my askin'," I say to both of them, "but d'you ever... does Nanshe... mean, do people dream 'bout her?" Well, guess they probably must, I understand that people dream 'bout things in their lives, but that ain't quite what I mean. "In a way that particular matters ta them, I mean."

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"And do your old gods mind? Most aren't known for their tolerance in such things."

I...can't. I cannot tell him about Eris, about the gods who were actually here. I can't tell him that I met some of my gods.

Not that I ever spoke to Eris - and certainly not Ares! - about Nanshe, but…for all their squabbling, they never tried to hurt Nanshe. And certainly Athena would never do a thing like that...

"They're generous, too," is what I decide on in the end, giving Isidore a smile. "I follow the Olympian gods. They're not exclusive in the least - they can't be, when there are so many of them. They understand about giving honor to the local deities, as well as to those who have personal meaning to the worshiper."

"Er. Pardon my askin', but d'you ever... does Nanshe... mean, do people dream 'bout her? In a way that particular matters ta them, I mean."

"Yes," I say, very softly. "Her domain is dreams - that's where her power is the strongest."

Does Jack dream? I've never asked him. It would be horribly impolite to! And he's so very human in so many of the ways that matter…

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"Oh, no, we're--I mean, I guess I'm done," the deputy replies to Miss Stephanides. "Just asking 'bout a coupla things from a coupla weeks back."

For herself, it seems to take her a moment to settle on an answer. She smiles when she does, and tells me "They're generous, too. I follow the Olympian gods. They're not exclusive in the least - they can't be, when there are so many of them. They understand about giving honor to the local deities, as well as to those who have personal meaning to the worshiper." I nod. "That seems sensible," I tell her, though in truth Asherah has her jealous moments. I shy away from that line of thought.

The deputy's been looking on a bit awkwardly, but he asks Miss Stephanides about Nanshe, and her power in dreams. "Yes. Her domain is dreams - that's where her power is the strongest."

I nod in agreement. "Nanse-kam's spoken to me of this, and says much the same, though I can't speak for her touch on my own knowledge."

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"Yes," Hermia says, quiet as breathin'. "Her domain is dreams - that's where her power is the strongest."

"Nanse-kam's spoken to me of this, and says much the same, though I can't speak for her touch on my own knowledge," Isidore adds, and I nod.

"I kinda had a dream 'bout her," I say thoughtful, "but I ain't sure how you tell if it's just... you know, dreamin' in yer own head about her, or what." Shrug a little embarrassed. "She seemed a decent sort, an' I thought I'd-- well. Come by and take a look 'round, see what I could remember, you know?"

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Isidore looks just the slightest bit…uncomfortable? uncertain? when I speak of the Olympians, but he doesn't say anything more on that, for it's Jack's question that holds us both.

"Nanshe spoke to you?" I can feel my smile growing as I look up at Jack. Well, it answers the question of whether he dreams - but also, I can't help thinking that of course Nanshe would visit Jack, if he dreamed at all. They both want to keep this town safe

"With Nanshe…I suspect that she's powerful enough so that people don't dream of her idly. What did she say? Or…" I pause, as something else he's said catches at my mind again. "Do you not remember it all?"

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