Chapter 04: Stolen

As the sun grew hot over their heads, Sir Kastin led the Jenkins family to a small inn where a meal had been prepared for them.

The inn was crowded and boisterous. Most of the people worked on devouring heaping portions of food, but others laughed together loudly between gulps of large tankards topped by crowns of white foam. The tables and chairs were made from either logs or tree branches cut down to size and polished smooth. A roaring fireplace in the corner roasted a large piece of meat on a spit, sending out a fragrant aroma to fill the inn.

Trophies from successful hunting trips hung on the walls in the form of skulls bearing horns or antlers. Spears and swords were also mounted on the wall, and banners hung from the overhead beams of the ceiling.

Sir Kastin guided the family to a table where they might observe the entire dining hall while maintaining a discreet distance from the other patrons.

"I shall see to thy meal," he told them before vanishing into the crowd on his way to the kitchen.

"Do we have to wait until tonight to talk?" Cassie asked in an insistent whisper while leaning across the table to her father.

"I don't suppose so," Mike replied after looking around and being certain no one could possibly overhear their conversation.

"So, how did we get to England?" Cassie questioned.

"I've been thinking about it," Mike answered. "From what I know of temporal theory, gravity is a factor."

"Do you mean similar to when a black hole slows down time near the event horizon?" Sean questioned, remembering a comment one of the characters on a sci-fi TV show had mentioned on the subject.

"Yes, exactly," Mike confirmed his son's opinion. "If this is the case, it would explain everything. Earth's orbit alters its position in the solar system, and the earth's rotation on its axis causes continents to be in different locations as time progresses. As Earth moves along its orbit, we'd be pulled along. Although the draw of gravity isn't enough to leave us in the exact spot where we started, it is sufficient to keep us from being deposited in space."

Just as Mike finished speaking, Sir Kastin returned with their lunch. The wide tray held a variety of fruit and a large bird, easily recognizable by the fact it still had a beak.

Cassie cringed slightly as she felt uncomfortable eating anything that still looked like an animal and had a face. Sir Kastin observantly picked up on her unease and turned the tray slightly, revealing a chunk of meat, well cooked over an open fire.

"Perhaps, I could interest thee in the mutton?" he offered.

"Thank you," Cassie said gratefully, taking a portion of the meat onto her plate.

Each member of the family helped themselves to the available options of meat and a selection of the fresh fruits piled around them. Sir Kastin departed and returned after a moment with tall metal cups filled with ice cold water.

"How did you get the water this cold?" Mike asked when he drank some from his cup.

"It comes from the king's private spring," Sir Kastin explained. "He authorized a portion for his guests."

"If you see the king before we do, be sure to express our deepest thanks for this honor," Alison said.

"I will do so," Sir Kastin promised, "but, the reason the king offered this to thee is because it is he who is honored by thy presence. I'm certain thy family wishes to speak without concern over my hearing, so with thy permission, I shall withdraw."

"Thank you again, Sir Kastin," Mike offered in parting.

Sir Kastin nodded and swiftly marched out the door of the inn.

"I like him," Sean said softly, staring at the door where the knight had gone. The rest of his family joined him in similar sentiment.

The Jenkins family ate their food in silence, savoring the fresh and rich taste. The aroma of the various culinary delights filled the inn, making the family feel hungry even as their stomachs were filled.

"What exactly can we do while we're here since we don't want to mess up the time line?" Cassie questioned.

"I'd like to spend more time with Sir Kastin," Sean spoke up quickly before anyone could suggest something that might enlist his time elsewhere.

"Can I explore the castle?" Cassie requested.

"Sounds like fun," Alison agreed with her daughter.

"I think I'll do some discreet looking around town," Mike decided. He surreptitiously opened the time travel device under their table and checked the progress bar on the screen, estimating the time required for a full recharge. He closed it and returned it to his pocket. "I think we should all be together before sundown, just to be sure."

"Do you think it has an automatic recall feature?" Alison asked.

"Anything is possible," Mike admitted. "It would be best if we stayed close to each other when the time is near. If it automatically engages to return travelers to their starting point, I don't want anyone left behind."

His family nodded in agreement.

***

"Thou art mad!" hissed the woman. Her shabby clothes of well worn gray wool showed her familiarity with poverty, and her thin frame revealed her being accustomed to hunger as well.

"It's the perfect opportunity, Carol," her associate argued back. He wore similar attire, marked by numerous holes. His balding scalp was red from too many hours under the sun.

"Thou plans to steal," Carol argued. "And, steal from the king's own visitors, no less."

"They be foreign," he continued, trying to reason her onto his side. "Foreigners always carry coin for their journey. They won't miss a little. Who knows what else they may have we could lift."

"I've known poverty and lack all my life," Carol stated in response. "But, if I let ye talk me into stealing from strangers, there be no tellin' where it ends. I'd rather be honest and poor than a wealthy thief."

"Carol, please listen," he implored her.

"No!" she denied. "If ye wish to rob and steal, ye can do it alone. I'll not be lifting a hand to aid ye in this vile deed. Make up yer mind, Corbin."

Carol stood and headed for the door of the small hovel. She opened the door, preparing to leave, but she looked back to see if Corbin was following. He remained anchored to his seat, so Carol departed, slamming the old door behind her in frustration.

Corbin looked out the dirty window. He wasn't watching for Carol but for the leader of the king's guests. The father waved to his family as they rode away from the inn toward the castle.

Corbin had seen the man look at something below the table while eating his lunch, but the visitor had kept it carefully concealed from view. Corbin didn't need to see it because he thought if something was valuable enough to hide, it was valuable enough to steal.

His days of being a peasant were soon to be over. Whatever the stranger carried had to be worth something, and Corbin intended to take it for himself. His hand rested on the hilt of his dagger. It didn't matter who got in his way, the treasure would be his.

***

The clatter of hooves across the stones of the courtyard echoed hollowly as Sir Kastin, Alison, Cassie, and Sean rode into the stable area. Leaving their mounts, they headed inside. As they entered the castle, the small group noticed a commotion in the corridors as royal servants hurried about. Sir Kastin halted one.

"What troubles this place?" he inquired.

"Tabitha has been stricken with the blood fever," a rounded woman in puffy sleeves and an apron over her worn skirt replied. "They've sent for the leeches, but we don't know if it be too late."

"Leeches?" Cassie asked her mother softly. "Seriously?"

"Who is this Tabitha?" Alison asked Sir Kastin.

"She's the king's daughter," the leader of the knights replied. "Illness hast troubled her of late, but it seems to have worsened."

"Take us to her," Alison commanded, instantly assuming a leadership position.

Sir Kastin nodded his acceptance of her instruction and led the way to the girl's chambers. As they drew closer to the room, the castle hallways became more elegant. Torches lined the walls in smaller intervals, providing more light than elsewhere, and paintings of past kings and nobles in exquisite detail hung between the torches where they were well illuminated but in no danger of being burned.

A pair of knights in full armor guarded the door, but they snapped to attention when Sir Kastin approached. He pointed to the members of the Jenkins family accompanying him.

"They're with me, let them pass," Sir Kastin stated, receiving a silent nod of acknowledgement from the flanking soldiers. The guards didn't move as the Jenkins family walked past them into the room behind Sir Kastin.

A nun, wearing the traditional black and white of her order, sat beside the large bed of the sick girl. The room was sparsely decorated, holding only a chest and dresser for personal items. A rug of vibrant blue resided in the center of the otherwise bare stone floor.

The girl, nearly hidden in the soft feather mattress and covering blankets, had light brown hair, but perspiration from her fever left it plastered to her forehead and neck in damp strands. Drops of sweat gleamed on her skin like miniature jewels.

Alison's maternal instincts took over as she went immediately to the child and examined her condition. She didn't believe the girl to be older than twelve.

"For what reason hast thou come here?" the nun inquired, standing up and looking very protective of her charge.

"These are the visitors of the king," Sir Kastin explained. "They have knowledge of sickness we do not. Let them be."

The nun looked uncomfortable handing the care of the young girl over to strangers, but she wanted the princess healed above all, so she kept her doubts in check and let Alison continue.

"Thou seemed dissatisfied with our use of leeches," Sir Kastin mentioned.

"The life is in the blood," Alison replied. "If you take the blood, you take the life. You're a soldier; surely you've seen what happens to a warrior who loses too much blood."

"We must purge her sickness," Sir Kastin defended.

"There are other ways," Alison said. "Make sure she drinks plenty of fluids and gets ample sleep. Additionally, limit her contact with other people as we don't want the sickness spreading to them as well. Everyone in the castle should get extra sleep to prevent any sickness from gaining a foothold."

Sir Kastin instantly grasped the use of the military terminology and nodded his acceptance of her instructions.

"It will be done," he promised. A nod to a soldier standing in the corner of the room sent the man hurrying away to carry out the silent command.

Seeing nothing more to be done, the Jenkins family withdrew from the room to let the girl rest. They were guided through the halls by Sir Kastin, but Cassie had a concern she thought best to mention.

"I hope we did the right thing," she said.

"What do you mean?" Alison asked her daughter. "We helped a sick girl; what could be wrong with it?"

"What if it was part of history for her to die?" Cassie questioned. "Could we have damaged the timeline by helping?"

Alison gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as she understood the horrible potential of their simple act of kindness.

"It's possible it was already part of history," Sean suggested.

"Could you explain?" Alison asked.

"In some theories of time travel," Sean expounded, "time can't be changed. If alteration is impossible, then our being here to help was already part of history, and we merely completed the loop."

"Let's hope that is the case," Alison stated. "There isn't anything we can do about it now."

***

As night began descending over the countryside, Mike returned to the castle, riding his horse in a clatter of hooves against the stone courtyard. He dismounted and left the animal in the care of the stable boy. Taking a brisk pace, he went quickly up the stairs toward his quarters.

"Are the kids asleep?" he asked his wife as he eased the door to their room closed.

Reclining on a mattress filled with the softest feathers, Alison opened her eyes and looked toward the door as he entered.

"As far as I know," Alison answered sleepily. "Sir Kastin took Sean on a ride through the hills, and Cassie must have explored every inch of the castle, inside and out. After dinner, they went to their room, and it's been quiet since."

Mike kicked off his boots and stretched out beside her. He put his arm around Alison's shoulders, and she curled up against his chest.

"The device is almost fully charged," Mike whispered in her ear. "We could leave sometime tonight, but I think we should wait until after breakfast."

"Whatever you decide, dear," Alison murmured, still not fully conscious.

Mike soon followed his wife's example and fell asleep.

***

Sean stood on the balcony of his room, looking out at the flickering firelight coming from the town in the distance. The night air was cool and more refreshing than any he'd smelled in the city back home. He'd spent the day conversing with Sir Kastin, and the discussions had left him unable to sleep. The concepts of selflessness, virtue, compassion, generosity, loyalty and duty had all been combined by the knight in a single word, honor. Sean had never given those things such serious consideration before, and it made him question his entire life.

As his eyes changed from looking toward the town, he noticed movement below. A figure ran from the castle and took cover in the shadows near the outer wall. It struck him as being odd. The servants came and went from the castle without needing to hide, and none of the soldiers would have been so secretive in their own stronghold. Whoever the figure was, he obviously didn't belong here.

Sean went back into his room and pulled the large sheet of white linen off his bed. Tying a secure knot around the stone railing of the balcony, he slid down the cloth material to the sloped roof of the castle below. His momentum down the angled roof increased, and he tried to stay centered and not go off the side. When the roof ended, he landed in a hay pile near the stable. Brushing off the hay, he pursued the figure, who was now running from the castle toward the open countryside.

***

"What's wrong?" Alison asked as she propped herself up on one elbow. Mike stood across the room, digging through the clothes he'd brought from the future.

"It's not here!" he whispered, an urgency in his voice. "I put it in my pocket, so I'd have it for tomorrow, but it's not here!"

"What's not here?" Alison questioned. She sat up, concerned by Mike's words and actions.

"The time travel device!" Mike exclaimed. "It's gone!"