Chapter 34: Not So Secret Secrets

I understood Shar's distress perfectly. In retrospect, I would have listened to him and not called Winquist, but I was neither thinking clearly nor acting the way I should. My thoughts were clouded with worry over my employer, his/her bonds, and Cy. I felt, at the time, that it was my fault they had disappeared. I should have allowed them to stay with me in the hospital (surely that nurse, as kind and nervous as she was, would not have refused them). I should have asked Shar to keep the watch until my return. I should have paid more attention to what was going on around me. But nothing can be done about that now. What happened, as unfortunate as those circumstances were, happened. And I, nor anyone else, can change that. So I called Winquist, purely with the intention of inquiring further details about the watch, and whether or not I would be able to locate my employer through him. He informed me that the watch was not something to discuss over the telephone and gave me an address and a time for us to meet. I would bring Shar, of course, and he had no objections to that so long as I did not bring anyone who was not already involved. I regretted bringing Shar at all, after our meeting ended, but there was nothing to be done about that. I doubted very much he would ever let me live the...incident down. I believe I was right. .:.:.::.:.:. Winquist stood in the middle of the park, dressed in a pleasantly bright cream suit and fedora, standing with his hands clasped behind his back and a smile on his robust face. He looked for all the world like he was admiring the clouds, and even offered a friendly word to the occasional child who passed him by or bumped into him. Jeffrey took in a deep breath as he approached, stretching his hand out toward Shar, who took it happily (as a child, this time as well, forcing his hair to turn a pleasant shade of blonde and his nose to take on a slightly larger shape than usual, lest people become suspicious). Shar had also insisted he bring one of McKale's canes, after all that passing and stretching his stitches Jeffrey was indeed beginning to have a little trouble keeping his paces. He didn't like the idea of bringing a cane, but Shar had refused to let him go unless he did. Jeffrey steeled himself, striding (limping) across the dewy grass toward Winquist. The man's gaze slowly drifted from the clouds to him, and his smile froze in place. Jeffrey hesitated, but Shar squeezed his hand, and he continued forward. "Mr. Eldon," Winquist strode forward, tipping his hat as he neared them,” Doing well, are you? I apologize for Mr. Bishop's actions, from last we met." "Quite, thank-you Mr. Winquist. I was released from the hospital yesterday." "That soon, hm? Good, good,” he gave a cheery clap and placed a hand on Jeffrey's back, guiding him forward,” I believe we have an important matter to discuss, yes?" "Indeed. My employer has-" "Not here," Winquist led them toward a large tree, beneath of which was a small, wooden picnic table. It was a little far off from the actual playground, and not too many people were gathered near the area. Winquist sat himself down at one end, with Jeffrey and Shar taking a seat on the other. "Now,” said Winquist,"What's Miss...Mister..."he shook his head and gave a little chuckle,” What has McKale done with my watch?" "My employer has used it without informing anyone as to where he...she has gone. I believe they left yesterday, perhaps the night before, and he...she...has not yet returned." "Hm,” Winquist stroked his chin,” So you believe...?" Shar squirmed, flopping an arm out over the table to rest his head against. .:I don't like him, Jeffrey. I don't trust him.:. .:Nor do I, Mr. Tah, but I believe this is our only available avenue:. "I believe, Mr. Winquist, that something has happened to my employer." "Or the watch,” added Winquist, his smile finally ebbing away into a frown. He cursed under his breath and dug into his pocket,” Very well, then, Mr. Eldon. I believe there's only one thing I can do for you." Jeffrey leaned forward across the table. Shar squeezed his hand harder in attempt to keep him back. "I'll simply have to make another watch, then you can fetch McKale from whatever mishap he...she's...gotten into." Jeffrey frowned, brow furrowing,” Will you be able to tell me where my employer has gone?" "Unfortunately not, but I will be able to provide you with a list,” his smile returned, more a smirk than a grin. Shar didn't like the sight of it,” But, like your employer, I'm not willing to simply give away such a valuable artifact." Jeffrey stiffened,” Certainly not." Winquist leaned across the table, stretching a hand out to grip Jeffrey's wrist, none-to-gently,” First of all, stop trying to get McKale out of this. Sh- h- They wanted the watch, I gave it to them, now they have to pay for it,” he leaned back, grimacing, and completely oblivious to the narrowed-eyed glare Shar was giving him from his spot against Jeffrey's side," Secondly, once you and your employer and..."his eyes flicked toward Shar,"The rest of your little group, finish collecting the people on my little list, I'd like you to meet me in person. All of you. So I may finally take the restrictions off the watch." "What restrictions?" "McKale can't go anywhere I don't want hi he- them to, of course. Not until my list has been completed,"Winquist leaned back, lacing his fingers together, and smiled,” Which is lucky for you, Mr. Eldon, or else your employer could be anywhere." He stood, adjusting his had until it tilted over his eyes, shielding from the sun,” Good day, Mr. Eldon. The watch should be finished within in a week." He tipped his hat again, turned, and strode away. "A week, Shar. They'll be lost a week." Shar frowned. A week was the least of his concerns. It might be time to pay that murdon another visit. .:.:.::.:.:. "Are you sure these aren't poisonous," Sakay poked tentatively at an engorged purple berry, wrinkling his (or her) nose in disgust. "We don't want to eat anything poisonous, do we Sakay?" "Oh no, certainly not, Hush." McKale wove through the bushed and plopped down in the dirt beside them,” Those are blueberries! Or saskatoons...something like that anyway,” he plucked one off the bush and held it under his nose, sniffing cautiously,"Saskatoons." He popped it in his mouth, chewing cautiously, and swallowed,” See? Perfectly fine." Sakay and Hush exchanged a look and shrugged, plucking a few from the bush and downing them quickly. Possibly poisoning or no, they were starving. The 'safe' fruits, that they were absolutely sure of, had run out a few days ago, and no one in the little quartet wanted to trail any deeper into the woods to look for something else. It was cold enough as it was, and they didn't really have anything to protect themselves with if something (or someone) decided to attack them. Keeping to the edge of the wood was definitly the smartest thing they could do, so do it they did. Besides, it also allowed them to keep an eye on the village, just in case any of those rather formidable looking knight-fellows decided to pop in and have a look-see for them themselves. "What are you eating?" The trio turned around to the crunch of twigs beneath Cy's feet. McKale plucked a couple berries off the bush and handed them up to her,"Saskatoons." "We think,” said Hush. "Could be anything, really,” added Sakay. "But we've eaten quite a few of them..." "...and we're not dead yet." They shot her a grin. Cy rolled her eyes and scooped up the proffered berries, tossing them down the hatch, as it were. They weren't bad, but she wasn't really hungry anymore. One good thing about scavenging a forest was there were plenty of little, harmless critters to steal death energies from. She had no worries about falling on a shortage of that any time soon. "How's the watch coming?" she asked, plopping down beside McKale and plucking a few more berries from the bush. McKale frowned and shrugged his shoulders,” Rather rummy, actually." Which was all that could be expected, considering the fact that McKale hadn't a bally clue how the insides of a watch worked, and what the time traveling device might look like. All he'd really managed to do was bash it against a rock and make all the inside bits fall out,” But no worries, aye? Jeffrey will think of something,” he popped a berry in his mouth,” He always does, what?" "Our hero!" the twins swooned in each others arms, giggling. "Oh, shush!" McKale shot them a look, which only managed to produce more giggling from the pair. Cy rolled her eyes and stood, brushing at the dirt and...junk smothered over her skirt,” He might, but we don't know that, do we? We could be stuck here forever." McKale frowned,” Well I don't bally well want to be scavenging for berries and friendly looking mushrooms the rest of the bloody life!" The thought wrangled gasps from the twins,” We’re not going to have to do that, are we?" "I mean, honestly, we're much too good to live like that." "Perhaps we should run off to that Prince fellow." "He seemed like a nice enough fellow." "To us, at least." "No one's going anywhere,” said Cy, abandoning her fruitless attempt at cleaning off her skirt. She whipped around and trudged through the bushes,"I'm going to go investigate,” she shivered at the word,” and see if the prince has forgot-" Prince Hadn't Shar said all the people on Winquist's list were princes, in some way or another? Cy twirled back around to face McKale,"Do you still have the list?" "The list? Certainly, what?" he pulled it out of his pocket,” It’s right h-" Cy snatched it up and flipped it open, scanning the contents of the letter quickly. "What-ho, there! You're not supposed to read that! It's mine!" Cy ignored him, pouring over the list. And there it was, in beautifully scripted letters, little dabs of ink spilling outside the curves of each otherwise perfectly formed word. Prince Brennan Smirking, Cy refolded the note and handed it back to McKale with an apologetic nod. McKale snatched it up, unfolding it and taking a quick glance at its contents just to make sure nothing had happened to it. Satisfied everything was in order, he tucked it back inside his pocket, frowning suspiciously up at Cy. Cy finally offered a little shrug,” Curious, sorry." McKale kept his pinched look for a moment later, before finally giving a little sigh and bobbing his head,” Fine. Can't very well make enemies with the only few people I've got here, what?" He quirked his lips in an attempt at a smile. Cy nodded, grinning back,” Of course not,” she gave a shudder and shrank down into the form of a little grey bird. She would have much rathered be that cat again, but the Prince's reaction to that form had been all but desirable,” I’m going to go investigate,” she repeated,” See if I find anyone that might be able to help us." McKale nodded and turned back to the twins, who, by now, had stained their immaculate white fur blue-purple with berry juice,” Right-ho, Cy. Don't be long, what?" "Not too long,"Cy replied, before flitting off the ground and swooping up into the sky. Not for what she had planned, anyway. And really, it wasn't as if it mattered that she had lied to them. They'd find out soon enough what she was doing. Cy couldn't very well hide a whole person from them for very long. Besides, for all she knew, that prince fellow could, or knew of someone who could, help them out of this rather....rummy situation.