That is invariably the case in the East; a story always sounds clear enough at a distance, but the nearer you get to the scene of events the vaguer it becomes.
The author is trying to show that the nearer that the two become together, the more unpredictable things may be. This shows that there is tension between the two forces and it might be best if they are not going to communicate with each other yet.
There are moments in reading wherein you truly have to read between the lines. You need to look deeper into what is being described. Words are absolutely powerful and they will allow you to create powerful emotions into people who are reading the words that you have stated. Some are gifted with words while others struggle to find the right words to say.