Time Guards - The Italian Quest

Chapter XVIII

Viola was surprised more than anything else that Julius hadn't used his pocket watch. No one would be able to see him, the streets were deserted and it was dark anyway. However, Julius kept walking, so Viola kept following. What was he doing? About fifteen minutes of trailing him later Julius stopped abruptly outside a thin but very tall house. Viola chewed her lip for a moment before darting behind a tree just outside of the house and peering round it. She was glad for the dark, had it been day light Julius would have seen her easily but the night cloaked her from his view. Julius knocked on the door and a moment later it opened, light flooding into the small courtyard area they were in.

Out of the door way strode a tall man in armour. Viola felt as though an icy hand had gripped her heart, it was Xiahou Dun. He bowed before Julius and his voice, as sharp as a razor said,

"You have all three keys, your royal highness?"

"Yes," said Julius, gesturing to his pouch, "Enlisting the Time Guards and the Parisian Adventurer, Bernadette St Pierre, to help us was worth the trouble. I couldn't have done it without them."

"Worthy companions."

"Indeed, I hope to persuade them of the truth and have them join us. One of the Time Guards, Constance, certainly will. She understands political complexity and has a dedication to justice."

Xiahou stepped inside and Julius followed, Viola strained to hear their last exchange before the door closed.

"Is she talking yet?"

"No, my prince."

Prince? Political complexity? Enlisted? Viola could barely comprehend was being said. She looked at the house to try and work out how she could hear more. There was a gap between the building and the next one, enough for her to stand in. Maybe there was a back door? Viola didn't dare try the front entrance so she considered finding a back one instead. There was a low wall separating the courtyard from the gap between the houses which Viola just made out in the darkness. She did run up and them jumped at the wall. Her hands and forearms caught the top of it. Viola let out a small sob as they scratched against the wall and as she pulled herself over it.

She fell with a thump, landing on the ground in a squat. She notice a small glass window in the wall just ahead of her, light came from it. Viola walked towards it. She took a glance at the ground and saw two yellow eyes look up at her, Viola forced a hand over her mouth before she could shout - rats. She walked slower to reach the window, her heart beating fast and her eyes darting to all sides. She was expecting Xiahou to jump down on her at any second but that thought went when she saw him in the window.

Viola was careful to just put her forehead and eyes in the window, just enough to see what was going on. Xiahou and Julius were standing at the end of one room, their eyes directed towards the other end. There, chained against the wall, was a woman. Viola let out a small gasp and covered her mouth firmly to stop her from making any more noise. She couldn't be caught.

She looked on at the women; dirty, knotted, blonde hair covered her face. She was wearing a dirty white dress. Julius walked up to here,

"You have been a martyr for our cause," said Julius, "I am truly sorry that the position was the hand fate dealt for you but you can be sure that your misfortunes will help my mother and I restore justice and legitimacy to Reyia."

"Martyr," repeated the woman, her voice was oddly childlike. Innocent and unsure of itself, "I am a martyr. You killed me."

"No, Viscountess Margarethe Fredriksen," said Julius with what appeared to be a kind smile but which didn't reach his eyes, "You are certainly not dead."