He was also getting some odd feedback from Oberon, a combination of curiosity, caution, confusion, and relief/exasperation at Ceroill's return. He let himself in the front way, and was quite surprised (and not a little concerned) at it's being unlocked.
His entrance was therefore cautious, as he surveyed the shop in its early-morning dimness. Dawn came late here on Darkover, well after many people had risen and begun to go about their business. He'd heard that many of the Terranan were especially noted for rising while there was still complete darkness outside. But then again, if one waited to rise until there was full light, almost half the morning would be wasted.
There was no apparent theft that he could tell with an initial glance around his shop, but the light was on in the back! Not only could he see the crack under the door, but it was not quite closed. A slightly muffled hoot, plus stronger contact let him know that Oberon at least was there. This in itself seemed odd. He should be upstairs, watching over Kay.
As he pondered this a moment, he turned a thought back to the doctor who would need to spot the shop. He set about turning on the lights in the front shop room, and drawing the curtains back on the display window and door window.
While Ceroill fussed around his shop, Anwyn and Louis were getting closer and closer to Leaves. As they walked, it began to grow lighter around them. Finally, their desired search-target came into view. "Look ... ", Anwyn shouted excitedly back over her shoulder, "I think that's it ... look at all the ivy on the walls ...". *... just like the leaves I saw*, she added silently to herself, trying to make out more details. The dimness of the morning was brightening as the sun rose higher. It allowed her to spot a figure in the doorway. "And that must be Mestru Merrick", she added.
The shop wasn't overly-large. It looked to be roughly 20 feet wide inside, and about 24 outside. On the left was a large, shallow bay window which displayed a number of books (demonstrating fancy bindings, colors, materials, sizes, calligraphy, illumination, etc.) both closed and open. To the right of that, there was a dark-green and tan striped awning above an autumn-leaf orange door with a small curtained-window in it. Higher up, a couple of windows indicated the second floor. And, above that, a hoisting arm protruded from between an attic vent an a small hole beneath the eaves of the steep spanish-style shingled roof. But most notable about the roof was the most unusual weather vane --- a griphon on the wing, likely patterned after an image from one of Mestru Merrick's favourite Terran books.
At first glance, it looked to be the right place. "I hope you're right", Louis answered. Then he noticed the signboard sticking out above and between the door and the big window. It bore a painted carving of a stylized drifting-leaf. Below that is the word "Leaves" printed in both Casta and Cahuenga. The same graphic and name are painted in gold on the big window, and to one side the name is repeated in Terran. He gris happily to himself. This MUST be the place !
Ceroill opened the front door a bit, to make things all the more obvious, he glanced out and noticed a pair of out-of-place folk nearing the shop: a man and a woman, both in Terran dress. It seemed that Dr. Couvillon was not coming alone! He stepped out to greet them as the woman pointed in his direction.
Louis and Anwyn could see that the man who came out of the shop was rather short by Terran standards, but of middle height for a local. He was a bit heavy set, with a full beard going grey, and longish brown hair. By the look of him, he had arrived back at his store not overly-long before they had got there. His cloak was still on, and it was damp from the morning rain. He still had a walking stick or cane in his left hand.
"You're Mestru Merrick, aren't you ? Where's Kay ?", Anwyn demanded somewhat impatiently. She didn't completely understand what was going on, and that scared her a bit. Part of her wanted to go charging right into the shop. Kay was in there somewhere; she was sure of THAT much (and not alot more). In her opinion, finding this place had taken too long already. She was NOT happy about having to wait any longer.
"That I am, Mestra, Ceroill Merrick, to be exact", Ceroill replied graciously, "and may I assume that the distinguished gentleman with you is Doctor Couvillon?".
By then Louis had caught up with her. He bowed his head. "I'm Louis Couvillon...We're looking for Kay MacDonald.
With a nod to Louis, Ceroill continued, "Kay is just inside and upstairs in bed, resting". A brief troubled look flashed across his face. A brief troubled look flashed across his face. "Or at least she was when I went to call you", he added to Louis. Then he continued with. "I'm honored to meet you, Doctor. Any friend of Kay's must be, what is the Terran phrase, 'Good People'? And who is your concerned and lovely lady friend who walks so quickly?"
"I'm Anwyn; his student intern, and Kay's too", the girl interrupted, "but enough of this politeness nonsense. Let's NOT stand out here talking forever. I want to see Kay". And with that, she stepped around both men, marched over to the shop, and opened the front door.
Inside there was a considrable amount of clutter. A large table lay to Anwyn's left. It was stacked and piled with old and new bargain books that tempted a reader to come pick up one (or two or three or four). Along the left wall is a large set of shelves and display space where he has several more unusual or expensive books, as well as some samples of calligraphy, binding materials, page papers, etc. It was interesting enough --but not what she was seeking.
Nearby, there was a messy desk/worktable/counter that was clearly where Mestru Merrick usually sat to do much of his business. Further back, Anwyn spotted a curtained opening, with a door to the left of it. AHA! That looked promising.
Behind the curtained opening was the workshop proper, with presses, tools, stacks of papers, leathers, reference books, glues, etc. Anwyn frowned. THAT also wasn't what she was seeking.
When she turned her attention to the door, one of the first things Anwyn noticed, was that it was only partially-closed. "Hey Louis, look at this", she pointed out, "Shouldn't this be closed for privacy ? Either Mestru Merrick is somewhat careless, or he's had at least one visitor since he left".
So Louis knocked on the door carefully, then opened it. "Kay?", he called. The excited hooting of an owl was the first thing to answer him. A large bundle of feathers streaked through the door, pushing it open, and swooped past his shoulder. Oberon impacted against Ceroill's chest with a hearty thump before climbing to a perch of his shoulder.
The trickle of sensations then turned into a flood. *Relief* *Worry* *Hunger* *Inquiry* *uncertainty about past stranger in den* *uncertainty about current presence of strangers in den*.
The nonhuman thoughts seem to form themselves into statements and questions. After a bit of thought, it was clear that the owl was glad that Ceroill had finally returned to help resolve problems (the state of ill-health of Kay and the other bird, as well as the owl's stomach was empty). The inquiry about strangers wasn't as clear. The current strangers were obviously Dr. Couvillon and Anwyn. But who could have been the past stranger ?
It takes the shopkeeper a moment to adapt to this sudden explosion of owlness, but he manages to regain his composure. Sort of. He seems troubled again. Forming his thoughts carefully, Ceroill projects *inquiry about stranger* to the owl.
Oberon blinks his large eyes, and suddenly a blurry-picture starts to form in Ceroill's mind. It's distinctly the face of a pretty young woman. She has red-brown hair, brown eyes, a friendly face, and smells of fey power. But when he tries to bring the image into better focus, it wavers and fades as if it were never there. Certain that he's seen that face before, Ceroill frowns, trying to match a name to that face.