After the confusion of the rumble. After Calarapan and Eliska disappeared. After the storm. After the panic, the anger, the sadness, the villagers had to rebuild the truth.
Going out to the boundaries where mysteries liked to dwell, they had dipped the loose garments into the edge. This display before Joseph was the result of that connection.
He understood the mysteries weren't necessarily on his side, but he also knew they couldn't help themselves when something dramatic happened.
They wanted to see what Joseph would do once he learned the truth.
First, the old man with the staff.
"Knew where to look." Joseph whispered.
"Discernment." Tamara whispered from the center of the circle.
"Mysteries are…chaos." Joseph whispered.
"Certain colors." Tamara whispered.
But Joseph knew the mysteries were coy. It was only after the old man discovered the point where to tap the edge for the truth, that the women showed up at their allotted time.
"First woman," Joseph whispered, "gentle."
"Soft." Tamara whispered.
"Mysteries became calm." Joseph whispered.
Captured by the first woman, the mysteries saw the second woman arrive. Their winds already quailed, the currents
began to fall closer to the ground.