A Fire and a Manor

Quinautae looked at the square faced boy and the dark clothed man in front of her. They were the oddest pair she could have expected, but they weren’t robbers so it was alright.

“Four of us?” Quinautae asked. “For what? I don’t understand---”

“Chance, explain this to her, I don’t feel like saying it twice.” The man said, tossing her gift back to her, the large dial was heavy in her hands. The square faced boy, with brown hair and a confused look gave her a nervous smile.

“You see, there are six Turners.” The boy explained. “Each of us control something, I control Chance. Right Tuner?” The boy asked the dark clothed man.

“Yep.” The man--the Tuner--crawled over a bed to look out the window.

“And it seems you control Consequence.” The boy said, sounding very unsure of himself.

“What are the other four?” Quinautea asked.

“I-I don’t know.” The boy admitted. The Tuner crawled back into the aisle and sighed.

“Have I taught you nothing?” The man asked the boy, putting a hand to his hip.

“Yes actually!” The boy snapped.

“Alright fine!” The Tuner said. “There are six of you. Chance, Placement, Limitation, Substance, Consequence, and Juncture.”

“Juncture!” The boy exclaimed. “You mean one of us can control time!” Quinautae frowned at the square faced boy, she hadn’t know that word, how had he?

“Oh course one of you controls time.” The Tuner said. “We need to get going, I think we’re going after Placement next.” The Tuner suddenly pulled out a flat little piece of metal, the small flat sheet was riddled with engravings.

“What is that?” Quinautae asked.

“A shifter.” The Tuner said.

“And does it do?”

“It shifts us.” The Tuner rolled his eyes slightly as he traced his fingers along different little lines on the object.

“What do you mean it--?” Quinautae cut off as the train car started to glow, she screamed as it started to move faster, the wheels rattling filling her ears. Quinautae shut her eyes against the glow and covered her ears against the rattling. When she heard it stop she opened her eyes and thought she would faint when she looked around to see they were in a flower garden!

“What happened?!” Quinautae demanded, grabbing the square faced boy by his green vest. The boy looked as if he would faint aswell.

“We-we shifted. Like the Tuner said. Right Tuner?” The boy said, laughing nervously. Quinautae let him go and looked around. They were in an expansive garden, flowers grew in neat and intricate patterns, sculptures and fountains were scattered all about. Quinautae gasped at the sight of the huge manor house before them. The large building was covered with large windows and flowing stone carvings along the trims. As Quinautae looked she noticed smoke rising from the other side of the manor, dim shouting also arose from the unseen part of the house.

The Tuner started to walked towards the hose and the boy followed. Not knowing what to do, Quinautae followed behind them.

“I’m Davner, but the way.” The boy said suddenly.

“Quinautae.” She responded bluntly. She and Davner had some trouble keeping up with the Tuner as he hopped over bushes and flower beds, but soon they were at the manor’s massive doors. Quinautae suddenly realized she still had her dial out, the chain digging into the back of her hand again. Quinautae slipped the dial into the pocket of her red jacket, it just barely fit, though it sure wouldn’t have fit inside the small, pointless pockets of her trousers. 

The Tuner swung open the manor doors and walked inside, the home was magnificent with high ceilings and flowery gold wallpaper. As the three of them walked through the house, the sounds of shouting grew. Quinautae grew nervous as they made it to a large room with two staircases and another set of large doors, the shouting becoming clear enough to understand. The Tuner rushed to the other set of heaving them open and revealing the large crowd of hysterical people on the other side.

She, Davner, and the Tuner walked out into chaos as people shouted and cried outside. Quinautae looked up to see the upper stories of the home’s west wing was on fire. Two fire engines did their best to fight the flames, but it didn’t seem to be working as they continued to eat at the large house. The Tuner stared at the sight before them for but a moment before running back inside.

“HEY!” Davner shouted, running after him. Quinautae ran after him as well. The Tuner sprinted up one of the large staircases, skipping steps as he went. She and Davner tried their best to follow as they watch the Tuner rush off in the direction of the fire.

“What are you doing!?” Davner shouted after the man. The Tuner was out of sight before Quinautae and Davner reached the top of the stairs. The two of them ran to the hallway their guide had ran down only to glimpse him turning down another hall. They both ran faster, the sound of flames growing louder until they found themselves standing in a long hallway, fire and char destroying the other end.

“TUNER!” Davner called.

“TUNER!” Quinautae joined.

“What?!” A voice snapped behind them. Quinautae spun around and gasped st the sight of the Tuner standing behind them, a girl in his arms, her long golden curled hair tumbling about as much as her smoldering, lace skirts. The Tuner had soot on his face and his dark clothing smoked the smallest bit, but other then that he looked completely unharmed.

“Is that the Placement Turner?” Davner asked, pointing at the gold dial hanging out of the unconscious girl’s hand by a thin chain.

“I’d say so.” The Tuner said, a smile appearing on his lips. “Why don’t we go before that gets any closer?” The Tuner asked, nodding to the fire at the other end of the hall. Quinautae in unison nodded with Davner.