A Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring #1)

She poked her head out and peered around. Down the little lane there were a few kids throwing garbage into the stream, but no one else was in sight. She remembered that the butcher’s shop was right next to the tavern and inn they’d seen, and if her sense of direction was right, they could make it most of the way there without returning to the main thoroughfare. She slipped out of their hiding spot and started running, crouching down as she did so. She could hear the soft footsteps of her friends behind her.

She came to another alley that led back to the main street. Coming to a stop with her shoulder pressed against the rough wood, she slowly leaned forward and took a peek. Other than people going this way and that on the far side, she saw nothing but a couple of stray chickens pecking at old bread.

“All clear,” she whispered before taking off again.

They repeated that process three more times before coming to the end of the lane. They had no choice now but to walk through the alley to their right and enter the main thoroughfare of the village again. Sera’s heart picked up just at the thought of it. The Time Warden was probably roaming the street, bouncing his menacing iron rod on his open palm.

She took a step into the alley when Dak grabbed her by the arm.

“What do we do if he sees us?” he asked. “We can’t run to the butcher and give the Hystorian away.”

“In that case, we’ll have to split up,” Riq suggested. “He can’t follow all of us.”

Sera shook her head. “I’d rather blow the Hystorian’s cover than get separated. We don’t split up for anything, and we don’t leave anyone behind. Now let’s go.”

She jogged lightly down the alleyway and slowed when she approached the end, glancing quickly over her shoulder to make sure Dak and Riq followed close behind. The noises of the main road rose to a pitch — laughter and horse’s hooves clopping on the cobblestone and sellers yelling for potential customers. She was just about to peek around the corner when the huge body of the Time Warden suddenly filled her vision — his chest at her eyes and his face towering above.

“Well,” he bellowed. “I knew the rats would come out soon —”

There was a loud thumping sound as his head jerked forward — his eyes rolled upward, and then he collapsed into a heap on the ground. A woman with long brown hair stood directly behind him, a large wooden club gripped in both of her hands. She wore a white apron with bloodstains all over it. Her chest lurched with heavy breaths.

“I knew something was up when I saw this lug chasing people,” she said.

“You’re the butcher?” Dak asked, the surprise evident in his voice.

The woman held the club out in front of her as if inspecting it. “Never leave home without one of these — it can knock out people just as well as cows.” She returned her gaze to Sera and the others. “Yes, I’m the butcher. But more importantly for the likes of you, I’m the local Hystorian. My name is Gloria.”





DAK WANTED to ask a million questions as the woman — who wielded her club like a knight wields his sword — led them to her shop. But she shushed him, told him to wait. People along the street gave them odd looks as they walked by, but none that lingered enough for him to worry too much. They reached the place they’d seen earlier, by the inn, and went through the front part — filled with hanging carcasses and wooden tables and lots and lots of knives — into a back room that held a few chairs.

Gloria motioned for them to have a seat, and then she took one herself after hanging her bloody apron on a hook. Dak couldn’t help but notice how everything seemed more intense in the past — by the ocean, everything had seemed sharper and fresher, but in this cramped room, dirt was dirtier, smells were smellier.

“So,” she said. “There’s no need to beat around the bush too much. I’ve been trained for this day, but I have to admit I never thought it would come. I’m just going to ask you a simple question, and I want a simple answer. You ready for it?”

Dak nodded, as did the others.

Gloria leaned forward and put her elbows on her knees. “Are you from the future?”

“Yes,” Dak said immediately. “We’re from the future.” He had to keep himself from smiling at the very idea.

“Good,” the woman responded. “You look out of sorts, quite honestly, and the man who was chasing you comes from a long line of SQ thugs. I won’t bother with the usual ‘I can’t believe it’ and the ‘you can’t be serious’ mess. I swore my life to this cause, and I’ll accept it now that I’m seeing it.” A broad smile spread across her face.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Dak said, letting his own smile come through now. He could see the kidlike excitement in the woman’s eyes, and he knew she was a true ally.

“What’s it like?” Gloria asked. “The future where you come from?”

Sera and Riq seemed more than happy to let Dak answer. “In some ways it’s amazing. We have airplanes — they’re like ships that fly — and ways to talk to people on the other side of the planet as if they were sitting right next to you. There are huge buildings that are hundreds of spans high. We’ve even sent people to walk on the moon.”