Past and present

They were in the lower parts of a medieval town, were the poorer of the common people lived. Life was going on every hour of the day and night. There was always something that happened, robberies, brawls and such. During the evening most people was about, drinking, eating, playing dice or placing bets. It was a dangerous place, some would do anything for the smallest bit of coin. Beggars and street rats was everywhere.

~o~

Dressed in time appropriate like clothing, Tessa and Shaw appeared in a dark alley. Tessa had refused to wear a dress, even if breaches would make her stand out more. It was worth more to be able to move in a combat situation than to be ultra stealthy. Roma had sent them there to fix one of the larger cracks. In this world the balance had fluctuated for a long time, but it wasn't until now that it was completely out of hand.

~o~

"That was a original sensation." Shaw told Tessa, commenting the travel from one world to a other.

"I guess that one will get used to it." She started walking through the narrow back alleys.

"Yeah, right. How were we supposed to get back?"

"When the balance has been restored we will be returned." With one finger Tessa taped the watch like thing on her left wrist. "That is what this little thing is supposed to do."

"Oh, I was just starting to wonder why I was wearing one of, what ever these are."

"How did you get so successful if you are so bad at listening?"

Shaw shrugged. "I guess I'm lucky. Besides, she wasn't talking about money. When it's about money I pay attention."

Shaking her head Tessa sighted. "Some people are just incorrigible."

"And we are some of those people."

"You think?"

"I don't think so, I know so."

Both grinned.

~o~

When they got out on a torch lit square a old beggar woman grabbed Tessa's ankle. The woman had bony hands, but her fingers was strong.

"Ye don't belong here. I can see that." Her speak was slurry and when she opened her mouth Tessa saw that she had lost most of her teeth. "'haps others can't, but I can. Ye have get out of this place while ye can."

"Why do we have to get out of here?" asked Tessa patiently, but her voice had a determined tone.

The woman's eyes flickering over the surroundings fast like fireflies. She let go of Tessa, pulled up her legs against her chest and hugged them with both arms.

"Just get out of dis place."

"Come on Tessa, the woman is clearly crazy." Shaw said, trying to get Tessa to move. She ignored him.

"Do you know what's disturbing the balance?" Tessa crunched down to get her face almost level with the beggar's.

"Dere is no balance down here. Ye don't know dat?"

"Why is there no balance?"

"'cause..." Her face became even more haunted.

"Because?"

The ragged woman put her head on the side looking at Tessa. An other train of thought had crossed her mind. She squinted her eyes.

"Ye speak lik' a noble."

Shaw barely held back a laugher attack, but a few bits of chuckle still escaped him and caused Tessa to give him an stony glare.

"Shaw, get a hold of yourself." She turned back to the beggar.

"Tell me about the balance." It wasn't as much of a request as it was an order.

"Why would I tell ye 'bout da balance?"

"So that I can fix it."

The woman leaned in closer to Tessa and whispered. "It's the magic."

"What about the magic?" She was losing her patient, but didn't show it.

"Sshh, not so loud." She looked around again before she continued. "Everybody knows about the magic, but ye don't. Ye're not from here. Magic keeps land together, protects everything. Magic's important, magic's ruled by the Temple of the All Knowing." The woman's speak had become clearer and she didn't talk so much in slang. "What the people do not know, magic almost spent. Magic don't hold the land together any more. Magic disturbs balance. Magic not needed. Drain mages so it will keep working. No one knows. No one's telling. If told they lose power over people. They drain mages to keep the magic working. Everyone feels the magic. Always there. If gone everyone know. Panic. Uproar. Temple of the all knowing. All knowing. Temple of the all knowing." She started rocking back and forth mumbling. "All knowing. Temple of the all knowing. All knowing…"

Tessa stood. "I don't think that we are going to get any more information from her."

"At least we learned something. We know what we need to correct." Shaw answered her.

"The magic."

Shaw nodded. "My qualified guess is hat we fins it's source in the Temple of the All Knowing."

"Then let's see if we can find it."

The beggar seamed to wake up from a trance. She looked at Tessa and Shaw with out recognizing them.

"Do ye 'ave a extra coin to spare for a old woman?"

~o~

They walked across the square and on to one of the larger streets.

"Do you know where this temple is?" Shaw asked.

"Not really, but I think that it would be in the richer part of town. To get there you just follow the largest roads."

"The beggar said that everyone felt the magic. Do you feel it, 'cause I don't."

"It is there. You just aren't paying attention to it. Try to feel it. What is different from how it usually is?"

Shaw tried to do as she said, without success. After a few minutes he gave up.

"Not working."

"Try to not to concentrate. Let all thoughts escape your mind."

"It's impossible not to think."

"I didn't say that you wasn't supposed to think. Just don't grab your thoughts. Let them pas and don't hold on to any of them."

"Fine, I'll try."

~o~

It wasn't until the houses lining the streets had gotten way fancier that Shaw got it. At last he felt a tension in the air and the sensation of something that pressed over his lungs.

"I got it!"

"Very good."

After a little time of walking the feeling had grown slightly stronger.

"You didn't guess the way we were supposed to go. You followed this all the time!" Shaw exclaimer.

"Finally you are being a bit clever. I almost thought that jumping between realities had mad you stupid."

"Hey, bee nice to me. I'm the one who signs your pay check."

"And I could make more money by playing the stock market."

"Are you calling me cheep?"

"I didn't say so."

"I bet you thought it really loud."

"Here we are."

They had stopped in front of church like building. The design was similar to a cathedral, but it had a few differences. Shaw didn't notice them, but Tessa did. The temple of the all knowing lacked all the statues, ornaments, gargoyles and similar things that usually were on large cathedrals. The exterior was just made of smooth gray stones and the glass windows was plain.

"It's a cathedral."

"It's the Temple of the All Knowing." Tessa corrected.

"Whatever." Shaw walked up the steps to the gate and felt on the door. "Locked."

"No problem at all." Tessa went up and when she was next to him she brought out her look picks. Holding them up in front of Shaw's face she said "I have the keys."

____________________________________________________________________

Author's Note: One day late, I know. Just didn't have any time yesterday. Hope you don't mind. I would also want to give a big THANKS to xxxroxyxxx for leaving the first review. Made me so happy.