The Finding

Part 15 A revealing

Katherine was awoken at the crack of dawn by the banging of kitchenware.  She kept downstairs to find both Eli and Thomas carrying large backpacks. The ruckus stopped as they peered down at her.  They were dressed for an adventure, while she was still wearing pajamas.  "Why are you guys all dressed," Katherine asks quietly.

"Why aren't you," they questioned back in unison.  What was she to now.

"What could we possibly be doing now?"

"Well", Thomas began, "If you were listening to us last night, then you would know that we are going to find you aunt."  The memory came flooding back to her.  They had told her that they were going to find her aunt but she didn't think that it would be this early.  This was almost too early.  The was excessively early.  Thomas looked at her eagerly, his forearm resting on a large blue duffle bag.  Eli stopped forward as Katherine got a full glimpse of his attire.  He was wearing some camo pants and a black hoodie.

"What does this little adventure entail, travel wise?"

"So," Thomas unrolled a map onto the kitchen counter.  It was stained with age, an dark yellowish color.  There were two castles a village, and a forest on the map.   There also appeared to be what looked like a small body of water in the center of the forest.   Around the edges of the map was writing, but it was unrecognizable to Katherine, though she didn't want to let on that she didn't know so she just nodded when Eli pointed to it.

"Alright," started Eli, "we are here."  He pointed to the smaller caste, surrounded by a village.

"Why are we the only castle?  Where does the lord Aitken's  son live?  I thought you said that he owned the lands."

"Well," Thomas stated, "You're looking at him, and thats sons."

"What? How? wha-wait. huh?"

"I seriously can't believe that you haven't figured it out by now," Thomas scoffed.

"We've been throwing you subtle hints all over", Eli joined in. " I mean have you seen any other castles?"

"No, but only because you guys are holding me here like some sort of hostage and won't let me leave this err- castle?"

"Well, know you know."

"So where  do you think that my aunt is?"

"There." Eli pointed at the only other castle on the map.  it was much bigger than this one and there were on  villages surrounding the back of it.   It was all they way beyond the forest.  Even on the map it looked dreary.

"And why would my aunt be there?"

"Rebekah-  I mean her highness isn't on of foreigners and those that are loyal to her most likely brought Al- your aunt back to her. "

"What is the queen like?"

"A arrogant, crazy , trollop." Thomas gave a warning cough to Eli.

"Eli, she would kill us if she heard that."

"Will the queen give her back to us."

"She is going to have too."

"How?  Are we going to break in?"

"Its not breaking in if its your own home."