Temporal Adventures

Chapter 05: Wrong Way

Chapter 05: Wrong Way

Sean followed the fleeing suspect from the castle, taking shelter in crevices and behind boulders where the terrain permitted. Although he wanted to see where the cloaked figure went, he knew pursuing an unknown person could be life threatening if the man turned on him.

The words of Sir Kastin repeated in his mind, driving him onward. Formerly, he wouldn't have cared about an unknown person skulking about the castle in the middle of the night. If it didn't affect him, it was no concern of his. After having his eyes opened to the potential of a world based on honor rather than the serving of one's own self interest, Sean knew he couldn't turn a blind eye; he had to take action.

The ground became plentiful with rocks and more uneven as Sean drew closer to the hills. As he looked ahead, he saw what he believed to be the figure's intended destination. The gaping maw of a cavern left a dark hole in the front of a gray stone hillside.

As the fleeing individual vanished inside the subterranean tunnels, Sean saw the flickering orange light of a torch. The light grew dim as the person carrying it proceeded deeper into the caves.

Sean avoided making any noise to alert his quarry of his presence and slowly returned the way he had come. If the mysterious person he'd followed to the cave was planning harm to the castle or those in it, the leader of the knights needed to know.

***

"Sean's not here either," Mike reported to Alison when he came back into their room after going to wake the kids. "A sheet is tied to the balcony railing as if he went out that way, but I don't know why he would leave in such a manner. Cassie was asleep in her bed across the room and didn't notice him depart."

"What are we going to do?" Alison questioned while lacing up her leather boots.

Rather than putting on the long black skirt and high heels she'd been wearing when the first time jump occurred, Alison had changed into something more practical for chasing down a thief. Her boots came halfway up her shin and were very comfortable for running or walking over any terrain for extended periods.

Although she still wore a skirt, it maintained a high slit on either side, revealing tan colored leggings of soft leather, laced up on the outside of each leg. The white collared shirt she'd brought from the future was tucked into the top of the skirt, and the long sleeves were buttoned securely at the cuffs. Alison took the rest of her apparel from the future and shoved it into a leather satchel Sir Kastin had provided for them earlier in the day.

Mike was too busy to change from the pants and sleeveless vest of dark brown leather he'd been provided, so he handed his modern apparel to Alison as he answered her question.

"I don't know what can be done," he replied honestly. "It's unthinkable to leave our son behind, but if we don't find the thief before the time travel device activates, all of us may end up stranded in the Middle Ages. We will look for him while we try and get the device back. If we can retrieve it without setting it off, we'll have more time to find Sean."

Mike moved to the connecting archway between his room and the one belonging to the kids. He pounded a fist on the door.

"Cassie?" he called out. "Are you ready yet?"

"Almost," she shouted back, but the thick timbers of the door muffled the sound considerably.

"I'll be downstairs when you're ready," Mike finished. Turning to his wife, he added, "Make sure we don't forget anything. We might not be back."

Alison nodded her understanding, and Mike departed from their room. He took the stairs going down two at a time until he reached the stables in the rear courtyard.