019 - Packing, Repacking, Finally Something To Take Serious

Steven went into the bedroom, leaving Caspian in the living room. He pulled his shirt off, and tossed it into the laundry basket in the closet. His mood seemed to lighten with it off. He continued to undress the rest of the way, changing into more comfortable and durable clothes.

Steven put his hands to his hips, and glared at the walls, thinking. If he isn’t genuine, what is Caspian?

He decided to pack, and see what happened. If Caspian was what he claimed, he may just be able to help. And it sure beats doing nothing. Steven commenced to pile on the bed all the things he normally took camping.

Steven dressed in hiking boots, BDU trousers, a tee shirt, a sweat shirt, his long coat, and custom rucksack.

While waiting for Steven, Caspian picked up the last of the books and stacked them on the short table. He then looked over the bookshelves and mantle. Plenty of things to look at here. On the left were Steven’s military paraphernalia, including an old portrait of him in Marine Dress Blues. Next to this was a deep picture frame with several patches and medals mounted in it. The next shelf was Roxanne’s martial arts trophies, and an old archery trophy, some pictures of her family, and some hand made items. Diana’s shelf was next, with some small trophies, and some odds and ends. Alex’s has a single trophy, and a 2-point rack of antlers, among some school things.

The rest of the shelves were full of books. Many of the titles were familiar from Caspian’s two years in school here. Many more were not familiar. In the time spent here, he had sampled the ‘great’ literature of this world. As with everything else, ‘great’ was quickly found to be subjective.

Cyrril left his shoulder at this point and settled among the bric-a-brac and pictures on the mantle.

Caspian browsed a book reading snippets here and there. Then put it back as Steven came back from the bedroom. Caspian was not sure where things were going to go from here. But a positive outlook would certainly help.

Steven spent the next hour proceeding through the house in an orderly manor gathering and packing what he wanted to take. They would need to travel as quickly and nondescript as they could. As such some of what Steven started with Caspian had to veto. Steven had first brought Rox’s camping/outdoor costume and laid it out to pack. Their sleeping bags were a sure giveaway as being strange, and too bulky to carry more than one.

“Have you got a bottomless bag to put these in to?” Steven was half serious as he asked this, testing Caspian.

“No. I don’t carry enough stuff to need one. And they are a lot of needless trouble to make.” Caspian responded.

Steven got some old blankets from storage and made a bedroll from these. Caspian mentioned again to Steven that where they were going batteries would not be available for anything. So more things were left behind. Most of Roxanne’s costume got left behind, as well as the kid’s clothes. Caspian further recommended Steven bring only one change of clothes for himself. If he wanted more, they could get it along the way.

Buy the time all was ready he had repacked most of the stuff twice. Steven ended up with camp food, a mess kit, a notebook and two wooden pencils, and some water bags, along with his fancy rucksack. A single change of clothes and a few changes of underwear. A few hard items: matches, some light rope, good knives, a pocket tool and bag full of rings, necklaces, and earrings. Caspian also had him bring each person socks and underwear, and a shirt and trousers for Rox. All of this was stuffed into the rucksack, the bedroll in a waterproof sack tied to it, and Steven’s entrenching tool secured to the back.

Caspian checked the sky, and saw that they had time. It was now dark out, with the moon starting up the east horizon. “Before we go, we better have something more to eat.”

Steven was still uncomfortable with all this, but was willing to go along. While he made them a quick snack, he finally started to talk to Caspian, as opposed to at him.

Caspian sat at the bar between the informal dining room and the kitchen, watching and helping some. He noticed again that all the cookware was copper, wood, or glass. No plastic. The kitchen knives were the only iron products in evidence. One of the knives was obviously not part of the set. The handle looked more like that of a fighting knife, with a short crossbar. Looking around the kitchen and dining room he noticed that all the dishes and mugs were stone wear or china. The glasses and tumblers, crystal. The utensils were of sliver. Much of it looked to be older than Steven, or Caspian.

Steven got Caspian’s attention, as he pulled the odd knife from the knife block. The blade was thick, and looked well sharpened. He put it into a sheath on his belt, and snapped a restraining loop closed. It was obviously a fighting knife that was used domestically.

“How long are we going to be gone, and just where are we going?”

“I’m not sure how long. I think a few weeks at least. We will need to catch up with the kidnappers, and get your wife and children. Then we will need to get away to somewhere safe, and figure out what to do from there. Because of the situation, the kidnappers will not stop until they have your kids where they can control and raise them.”

“This nightmare just keeps getting better. You really can’t tell me how long.”

“No, I can’t.”

Steven grunted. “And you can’t tell me where we are going?”

“You saw how they left? We will be going in a similar fashion. First to a place in the mountains north and west of where we are here. Then much farther away.”

Steven turned to the telephone and made several phone calls. Contrary to his reaction to Mrs. Winchel earlier, he called her and asked her to keep a watch on the house, and move the vehicles around. He called his work and left notice that he was going with a Detective to look for his kids, and to spread word to anybody else that called. Steven also asked them to collect his mail and bills, and dispose of it accordingly. He then called and had the phone forwarded to his work, and unplugged it.

The dinner consisted of sandwiches and soup. Without being told, Steven had fixed a completely bland meal; perfect for the trip they were about to take. He cleaned the dishes, and put them away. Steven then went through the house one more time, securing everything. Caspian just waited in the living room until all was ready.

“If we are ready, there is one thing to do before going.” Caspian said.

Steven stood by the couch where the stuff was piled, watching.

“Cyrril. Wake up, you lazy beast.”

Cyrril got up, much like a cat might, and then leapt to Caspian’s shoulder. Taking his staff in hand, he looked around.

“Where is the heart of your house, where you spend most of your time?”

“Right here, really, or in the kitchen.” Steven did not even look around.

Caspian stretched out, testing the energy of the place. Then moved to the most neutral place he could, between all the focus points. He then drew an octagram on the floor. Around that he drew a triangle pointing to the three major focuses. Finally, Caspian began chanting to organize the energy. As he did this, little bits of stuff were put in their appropriate places on the diagram. Steven looked dubious.

Caspian felt the energy organize and snap into place. That done, he knew they had a limited time before it fully coalesced and organized. At that point he would need to dismantle it to teleport out.

“What did you just do?”

“I placed a spell that will protect your house from uninvited guests.” He collected his bits of stuff, that which had not disintegrated, and then looked at Steven. “Shall we go?”

Steven looked at Caspian coolly. “Yeah.” He took his pack and started to the garage.

Caspian headed to the back door. “We best leave by your backyard. Trying to go by car will be useless, and attract more trouble than it is worth.”

Steven looked more dubious, but complied.

They went out the door and locked it. Caspian sensed the yard, and then stepped to a spot that felt strongest. He then stood at the cardinal point of the triangle he was going to use.

“Now, if you will stand here, we can begin our journey.” He pointed where he wanted Steven with the staff, at the other end of the triangle. Steven looked sheepish. As if he were entertaining a lunatic, but had about reached his limit. Caspian knew they had to go quickly, as he could feel the shield energizing. As soon as Steven was in position, Caspian started.

First he traced the triangle, and then began the pattern to carry them to the local stone circle, chanting as he did. He did it once and set the pattern. A second time to energize it. Steven was about to move away in disgust and break the pattern. But Caspian completed the pattern, and felt it ready to release. He placed the staff into the heart of the energy he had organized, and spoke the final phrase three times.

The matrix formed, expanded and swept them in, then collapsed and broke through the barriers of distance and matter. It looked for a moment to Steven like they were being drawn into the same point of space.

Steven did not have time to fear. He felt a sudden jolt run through him front to back, and then a hard push from behind shove him into the middle, and the staff got incredibly large for an instant. His direction of movement changed, and went up the staff, and into the sky, in an arc. He could only sense his body being compressed as he went. He could not look around, but thought he could see the Carson Valley disappear below him, as they went up. The western most Sierras dropped away, taking Lake Tahoe with, as they climbed, and angled over the mountains. He tipped over, and as rapidly as it went, the ground returned, somewhere in the central northern Sierra. He stopped just short of the ground, and felt the compressed sensation cease as the staff was suddenly back, and he rushed away from it.

They stood in a clearing of trees, for a moment. Then all Steven’s strength left his frame, and he collapsed.

Caspian was the first to recover. Cyrril was a bit miffed, but clinging to his shoulders. Steven had passed out. First, Caspian scratched a circle around the clearing they were in with the end of his staff, and then he placed a barrier, to keep uninvited things out. Steven was coming around as he finished. Caspian noted this, and set about collecting the rocks and sticks within his barrier to build a fire. This close to a ley line, he could feel his mana begin to replenish.

Caspian turned to Steven. “We will rest here tonight. In the morning, we will set out.”

Steven was not feeling awake enough to argue.

Caspian had decided to leave the rental car at the Caplan’s, and had told Alistare such. When he changed clothes, the keys, phone, and wallet, all went with. They were at the Judge’s house. He would have to take care of it.