Seeker (Completed)

In the time of corsets and courting

Chapter 22

It took another week before my necklace started heating up again. I know the timing is random now but I didn't realize it would warm up any time soon. Nick, Justin, Zack and I are in the training room trying to perfect my swordplay. I've been practicing my elements and mind blocks every waking moment and I thought it was time to brush up on my fighting skills. My pendant suddenly heated up and my hand shot to my throat. "Um, guys." They turn their attention to me. Justin groans, "Zack don't you even think..." But both Zack and Nick are already rushing towards me. There's a blinding white light that fills the room...

Bang. I open my eyes, still dazed from the flash of white. The four of us are standing on a hill over looking a small town. It looks like a movie set in the 1800s, with men walking around in tail coats and top hats and the women in corset dresses. The only thing we have is the clothes on our back and the weapons in our hands. We look really out of place. Justin drags us behind the bushes.

"Zack I thought we talked about this!" Justin scrutinized but Zack just shrugged.

"You talked, I listened but I didn't change my mind." I hear Justin sigh in frustration. Nick glances towards the town. "We're going to need to steal some clothing and money." We pick out our target, there's a clothing shop right on the edge of town and we should be able to sneak in. We're behind the building when Justin causes the water that is in a well about a hundred meters in front of us to explode. Everybody's attention turns to it allowing us to sneak through the front door unseen. 

"I'll be right with you." We hear a males voice say. A man with a stomach too big for his suit walks out from a back room. "How may I-" but he is cut off when Nick knocks him out. "He shouldn't remember a thing." He says plodding the guy with his finger. I feel guilty stealing but I gotta do what I gotta do. I have to get Nick to try help me into a dress because those things have corsets and some other weird stuff going on. I can hardly breathe and my boobs are popping out way more than what I am comfortable with. God, how did women in this era live?

I walk out and Zack's eyes are not where they should be. "Hey! Eyes up here." He smiles sheepishly and Nick just laughs. Justin walks out from a room holding a moneybag, grinning triumphantly. He distributes us the contents. "The thing is in this town somewhere, but I'm not sure where. I think we should split up and get an idea of this place and report back to the well in two hours." The boys aren't ecstatic with my idea but they agree non-the-less. It wasn't unusual for men to carry around swords from what I've noticed so I gave mine and it's halter to Zack who had come here empty handed. "What about you?" I smile, maybe even somewhat sadistically. "I always have a dagger."

I wander around aimlessly for a while. I'm absolutely fascinated by everything, the buildings, the clothing and people's behavior. I randomly walk into a building and find myself in an art gallery. There were exquisite paintings and sculptures scattered throughout the room. Somewhere a hidden band was playing music. Why not look around? I'm engrossed in this artwork. I've never seen anything like it. A young man comes and stands next to me. "I've never seen you in town before. Are you just passing through?" I glance up at him. He a little over six-foot, red hair and gorgeous blue-green eyes and he looks about twenty. "Yes, my family and I are just passing through but I'm unsure at how long we'll be staying." He smiles, "Well in that case please allow me to show you around."

We drift around town and I find out he is a chatterbox: his name is Samuel Ketwell, we are in the delightful town known as Scoth Fell, he's an only child whose parents own the Art Gallery. I'm sparse on my details but he doesn't seem to notice as he just talks and talks. I glance up at the setting sun and realize that I should probably be heading back now. "Samuel-" I begin to say but he cuts me off, insisting that I call him Sam. "Well, Sam I need to go to the well that is situated next to a clothing shop. Could you be so kind as to escort me there."

After listening him drone on for some time I'm beginning to pick up on how I should speak and it's rather entertaining. He flashes me a smile, "I would be absolutely delighted to do so."

The three of them are pacing around the well when we arrive. Nick pulls me into a hug. "Do you know how late it is? I was getting worried." I roll my eyes. I can take care of myself. "Oh Sam. This is my brother," I gesture at Nick. "And my two...cousins." Zack looks confused but nods at Sam.

"How do you do, Sir?" Justin says tipping his hat ever so slightly in Sam's direction. "Very Good, very good. Layla tells me that you are only here a short while but may I inquire as to whether you have acquired accommodation."

"No. I'm afraid not yet but if you could be ever so kind as to point us to a motel."

My eyebrows shoot up, who knew Justin is actually capable of being polite. Sam shakes his head. "No, I insist come stay with me. My family is always happy to supply hospitality."

"We couldn't possibly impose like-" but Sam cuts him off assuring it's absolutely fine.

On the walk to Sam's house Zack slips his hand in mine. "Cousin? Really?" I giggle. "Incest was absolutely fine back in the day, but a woman travelling with an unrelated male! How immoral!" He laughs.