[Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Straken »

Ruarc sat thinking for a time as he connected dots in his head. After the brief pause, his face lit up. "It makes sense now. The placement of the name in the seemingly random tome segment. It was written shortly after Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul. During this campaign, in his memoirs, he wrote about Gaelic culture he found interesting. One thing he wrote was the day follows the night for the Celts in regard to how the old Gaelic calender, which... I can go into detail some other time. But, that helps solidify France as the destination, but where in Gaul indeed."

The Druid was back to pacing. He couldn't think of how Patrick tied in to France. Then, thinking back on a small detail, he returned once more to the Druid History. paging through, he eventually found his spot and began reading. Apparently finding what he was looking for, he sat the book down and focused on the maps.

Mumbling thoughts to himself, Ruarc compared an ancient map of Gaul to a modern map of France. "Bingo!" he practically cheered as he confidently pointed to a spot on the map. "One thing mentioned in the record was that, because of the conflict with Rome, Druids were unable to visit some of the settlements they used to visit. One such was an old village in southern France that had been destroyed, which later was rebuilt, and eventually became the city of Avignon. Which also is home to none other than the Palais des Papes."

"The Palace of the Popes."
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

She watched him pace with a small smile and arms folded. Jane gave him another pat on the shoulder when he had his eureka moment. "Nice work, Mr. Flynn. It seems m'work 'ere is done. Ye ever need a lass t'spill more hot coffee on ancient texts, I'm yer girl." She headed for the door to collect her gloves and hat.
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Straken »

"A moment, Miss Smith," Ruarc said after a brief pause for thought. "Ah don't s'pose I could convince you to join the expedition? It is doubtful that what Ah'm lookin' for'll just be sittin' on a bookshelf, and you did say trackin' was more your forte."
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

Jane threw on her jacket and gloves while she mulled over his proposition. School was still a fair way out and her lesson plans were already set. The house would be fine and the last stretch of fence could wait a little while longer.

Facing him, she batted eyelashes and pressed a hand to her chest. When she's spoke, it was in a comically emphatic accent. "Mr. Flynn, I do declare you are a very direct man. Invitin me ova f'tea in the night, and then tryin t'sweep me off to Europe! Heavens, what's a gal to do? What am I to say?"

She chuckled at her own humor. "Yes, Mr. Flynn, I'll escort ye t' Avignon. If it's trouble what's holdin yer book, I'll find it, and I've got a feelin trouble is all this book is about."
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Straken »

The Irishman just laughed along with Jane. He figured she earned some jokes. "Fantastic, we can solve a conspiracy, and afterwards we'll already be someplace I can repay you for your time and effort."

"So, in tha' case, pack supplies enough for a week, and plan to meet here tomorrow morning. Ah'll pack my notes, dig up some other maps, and square everything away with the school," Ruarc said, already getting to work on a check list. With his attention securely diverted, Jane was free to go back to her business.


The Next Morning

Ruarc was sipping some coffee as he breathed in the crisp air of the early morning. He had been early to bed and early to rise, as was his habit before a trip. The Druid had gone through his checklist twice to make sure everything was gathered, and now sat quietly as he collected his thoughts and went over a few more notes. All that was needed now was for Jane to say she was ready, and they would be off to France.
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

There came a knock on the door but a few moments later. The American stood there holding an aged duffel bag and a satchel over one shoulder. Otherwise she looked the same as always: same worn duster, same frayed hat, button up shirt, jeans, and dusty boots. Hey hair was down today, splaying across the ridge of her shoulders.

"Mornin, Mr. Flynn. I'm ready to go."
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Straken »

Taking one more sip, Ruarc walked over and opened up the door to greet the expected arrival. "Mornin'," Ruarc said in return. "Sounds good, Ah'll get everythin' around. Laoise! Ah'm on my way out!"

Turning back inside, the Irishman downed the rest of his coffee, and the rest of the pot was poured into a thermos and stuffed into his rucksack. A rustling from the other room signaled Laoise moving around. As the girl came out into the living area, she yawned and brushed some stray strands of silver hair out of her face. Stretching, she tidied herself up as Ruarc checked a couple leather straps that he wrapped around his forearm. Then, after reaching into the fridge she pulled out a small basket wrapped in a tartan cloth, and took it over to the door.

"Good morning, Jane," Laoise said, giving the older woman a welcoming smile. "I prepared some lunch for you two to have along the way. I wish I was going along with, haven't been to France in ages, but I've got a couple of publicity events over the next couple of days."

"It'll be fine, you're in charge while Ah'm gone," Ruarc said as he placed a hand on his familiar's head. "Alright, let's get going."

With that, Ruarc led Jane away from the cottage, and out behind the mansion toward the woods.
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

The gift was a surprise and Jane's gratitude was sincere. Her appreciation was almost immediately overshadowed by confusion. Publicity events? Before she could ask, Ruarc was ready to depart.

As they walked, Jane aired her questions. "A pair o questions fer ye, Mr. Flynn. First, I don't rightly recall ye sayin what the plan is t'get t'France. So: what is yer itinerary? Secondly, Laoise," the American pronounced the familiar's name flatly, like lee-sha, "Mentioned publicity events? What in the four winds is she talkin about?"
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Straken »

"Both are fair questions," Ruarc responded. "Ah'll answer the last one first. Laoise got a job with a studio, fancies becomin' one of those idols you see around on TV. She's been doin' a couple of similar events, to get ready for he debut later this year. Neat, aye?" The two continued to walk across the grounds. As they drew closer to the trees on the edge of the maintained portion of the campus, the Druid pulled out his personal magic tome and began to thumb through it.

"As for the first question," he said after a few moments. "Quite simply, we're gonna walk there."
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Prelude] In the Pursuit of Knowledge

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

Jane had no clue what he meant about Laoise, but didn't care to inquire any further. She didn't watch TV. Too much gossip, too much idle chatter. A person could get that anywhere. So she politely answered, "Sure does," but her heart wasn't in it.

The answer to her other question summoned memories. "As a gal, I rode my horse to Japan... From Arizona. Didn't have the self awareness then that I do now-- and even now I often overlook it-- so I never knew until much later what I did shouldn't be possible. That's how we met. The sunset led me west to that evil. Led me like it usually does to places that need me."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Jane shook her head with a wry smile. "Sorry, dunno why I'm gettin all melancholy. Must be the deja vu er somethin."
Post Reply