Time Guards - The Italian Quest

Chapter IXX

"I can't believe it," said Kristen, sitting down on the low bed, "I just can't believe that Viola would just want to leave like that. I mean she seemed fine." Bernadette nodded and Constance turned to Julius,

"Did she say anything else?"

"No, I've told you everything," said Julius, sitting down on a rickety chair. The inn they were staying in really wasn't good value, "This must have all been very hard on her. I think Viola's visit to the fifth hour particularly shocked her. She told me that she just couldn't cope, that she wanted to go back to Reyia and her father."

"Who she now can't help free," said Kristen, "This really doesn't sound like Viola, Julius, when she commits to something she sticks with it. Are you sure she wasn't a bit upset and you persuaded her that it was the best thing for her to leave?"

"Kristen," said Constance outraged, "That is a very serious accusation and an unwarranted one. We cannot assign blame for this. If Viola chose to go then it was her decision. She was an indispensable member of the group so far but she wanted to leave and that is her choice."

"We can assign blame," said Bernadette, sighing, "It is our fault. She was the youngest and the least experienced and we should not have stretched her so much."

"It's not your fault," said Julius, "It's not our fault." Kristen looked at him, he was very quick to distance himself from all fault. Viola would not leave like that she wouldn't leave without getting justice for her father and bringing in Greta. Kristen was sure of that, she was the best friend he had and she would not just leave like that. Viola was loyal, Julius not necessarily. He certainly wouldn't force her to go but Julius seemed so obsessed with finding the gem that maybe he wouldn't want to take any risks on this last part. He would make sure that everyone who was helping him knew what they were doing and Viola didn't exactly have experience. Maybe, she was considering to go and her persuaded her to? Kristen was going to find out.

"Do you know where the gem is?" Constance asked, "And how was your mother?"

"She was fine, thank you," said Julius, "She's very proud of what we have done so far, she's overjoyed that she might be able to return to Reyia. Anyway, she has been doing her research and there is a strong possibility that the gem is in Vespansiano's house, where he lived with his brother before they discovered time travel."

"Your and your mother's hasn't failed us yet," said Constance.

"Then we leave immediately," said Kristen, standing up, "The sooner we find the gem, the sooner we find Greta."

Bernadette nodded, "We are against her and Xiahou now, we need to work fast. Constance are you feeling well enough to go now?"

She nodded, "Have you got a time, Julius?"

"About 1578, we should go in June but apart from that we need not be specific," he said.

Constance nodded, "June it is, but let's go at night so we are not seen breaking into a house and to avoid any questions about our clothes. Oh, and the plague hit Venice just two years before so let's be careful and we are all up to date on vaccines?"

Everyone nodded and soon they were ready to leave, deciding to go early in June. Kristen felt angry that Viola wasn't with them. He nearly thought about finding her in Reyia on his way but time was short and they needed to find Greta; finally bring her to justice. They all set their watches and then they left.

The journey was only a hundred years but Kristen still had the unsettling feeling around him, the jerk behind his navel and the feeling of being weightless whilst air rushed around him. His feet hit the floor with a thump. Looking around him the stone walls and ceiling had gone, to be replaced by a dark alleyway. The beds and chairs were now wooden cargo boxes and barrels. A rat could be heard scurrying behind one of them, "Don't give me the plague," he mumbled. However, apart from the rat and the steady lapping of water the area was quite quiet. There may have been voices far off but Kristen was comforted that around him everyone was asleep.