Chronometer

“It is here. This machine, it seems, hasn’t been for nothing. The circumference of the blast was about twenty feet, and someone was pushed out of it. Like a snake out of a jar,” Kaledred explained.

Indeed, the readings on the Chronometer showed a recent spike earlier today. The machine was the accumulation of years of Fealdarian research. Millions of Fealdarian gold pieces had been poured into it, in an attempt to understand time itself. When the beasts leapt out of Portals, it was crucial to understand where they came from. But there was no beast nearby.

Ran was astounded; never once in his years of research had he received such readings. Only small, negligible ups here and there, perhaps remnants of previous Portals from the War. But this time was different. The energy on the Chronometer was a sizzling icy blue, clear evidence of something significant.

“What and why, Ran? What’s going on?” asked his wife.

“That’s akin to asking which direction the wind blows from, where it’ll blow now, and how it will blow in the future. There’s no knowing. We have to locate the Traveller. He will have answers for us. Time always leaves a trail.” He paced up and down the room, deep in thought. Besides Kaledred and himself, there was no-one in their research lab.

“Where was it again?”

“Beaconsfield.”

“That shabby farmer’s joint? Whoever Travelled there didn’t know what they were doing and why. They probably have as many questions as we do. Wherever they come from.”

Kaledred nodded silently. “Surely you will not give up the fruits of our labour to Fealdar. We’ve come too far, spent too long to simply receive a monetary reward. This is our future; our legacy.”

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“We need to leap at this opportunity, Ran. There are things infinitely greater than mere Fealdarian gold. Think. Of anything. There is no limit to our reward; no limit to what we can find. Forget gold. You could be King.”

“King?” Ran scoffed. “That’s a privilege I could do without. Whoever this So Clansman is that’s looking over our shoulder, he’s very powerful. Part of me believes that he’s working for something much greater than the current fool of a ruler. He’s got his head on straight, Kale. We don’t want to stand out. Or, if we do, it will be somewhere far away from here.”

The room was gritty and dark, perfect for brooding. Only sparing sources of light edged in from the windows. Dust had been starting to collect again. It had, after all, been a long time since the Chronometer actually enticed them to stay longer than a few minutes. Their ‘research lab’ wasn’t exactly the most exciting place to hang about.

“So we can’t make a move on the traveller without dealing with the main problem. What do we do about that So Clansman? He’s one of many. Assuming we do locate the source of this Traveller, once he catches a whiff of the scent, he’ll start asking questions. If we give the wrong answer, it’ll be our heads in front of the city gates.” Kale was perceptive, but sometimes too risk-averse.

“I will have to deal with him directly, my love.”

“And how will you do that? The So Clansmen are said to be the glorified servants of powerful rulers around the world. Surely you don’t mean to punch your way out of this one!”

Ran laughed.

“Oh, I most certainly do.”