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Edmund’s paper crinkled as he folded it and set it aside. “Good morning, Princess Jalissa.”
She dipped her head in a nod before picking out food with the same wariness Farrendel had. She claimed a seat next to Farrendel, and the two of them discussed something in elvish too quietly for Essie to hear.
As they ate, the rising sun illuminated the rolling hills flashing past outside the rows of square windows now that they had left behind the more heavily wooded part of Escarland near the border with Tarenhiel.
Farrendel turned in his seat, and his gaze remained focused on the landscape even as he absently finished his breakfast and set the plate aside.
“It looks different than Tarenhiel, doesn’t it?” Essie swiveled as well to better watch both Farrendel and the scenery outside.
“Yes.” Farrendel leaned closer to the window. “There is so much sky.”
Essie grinned. At least she wasn’t the only one who was mesmerized by seeing a new kingdom outside the train windows, even if Farrendel and Jalissa were more dignified and restrained than Essie had been.
As they approached one of the larger towns that surrounded Aldon, Farrendel’s eyes widened, and he came dangerously close to pressing his nose to the glass. “Is that Aldon?”
“No, that’s Highborough, a town about ten miles north of Aldon.” Essie couldn’t help but grin wider. “Aldon is even bigger.”
Farrendel’s gaze swung to her with something that might have been horror in his eyes before he stared out the window once again.
As they were a royal train, they rumbled straight on through the Highborough station. They had to stop briefly at the coal and water station outside of town for the last amount of water and coal they would need to reach Aldon.
Then they were chugging past the final stretch of rolling hills and smaller villages before they finally crested the rise and the sprawl of Aldon came into view.
Aldon rose along two sides of the Fyne River and spilled into the surrounding hills. A mass of chimneys puffed smoke into the sky while warehouses, homes, and shops clustered along rows upon rows of streets and alleyways.
Near the river, the distinctive bell tower of Hanford University, a world-renowned college for magicians, punctured the skyline. It was a landmark in Aldon, though Essie wasn’t sure Jalissa and Farrendel would find that fact interesting.
Jalissa muttered something under her breath. Farrendel’s hands clenched at his sides, his expression hard and grim. Gone was the wonder they’d had looking at the cornfields stretching into the distance. This looked more like they’d seen their doom written into the landscape.
“What’s wrong?” Essie leaned close to Farrendel, speaking in a low tone.
He glanced from the window, to her, and back. “I knew you humans were numerous but...” He shook his head, still staring out the window as the tracks neared the outskirts of the city. “I did not understand how numerous.”
When he didn’t elaborate further, Essie took his hand. “That’s why we need to build an alliance beyond a simple peace treaty. I believe our kingdoms can be assets to each other rather than enemies. Now, we’ll be entering Aldon and arriving at the palace soon. Let’s grab our crowns and make sure we’re ready.”
Farrendel nodded, and they left for their compartment. Jalissa retreated to hers as well to finish getting ready for her arrival as the official Tarenhieli ambassador to Escarland.
In their compartment, Essie dug out her silver, elven circlet made of twining strands with maple, oak, and beech leaves forming a pattern, and settled it on her hair.
The shriek of the steam whistle warning those on the streets that a train would be passing by had Farrendel grimacing and reaching for his moss earplugs. As the train whistle kept blaring, he rested his own, matching circlet on his head. In his formal silver tunic, gray trousers, black boots, and silver-blond hair flowing down his back, he was every inch an elf prince.
Essie swallowed and smoothed the front of her dark green elven dress. Why was she even nervous about this? This was her home. Her family. Everything would be fine.
Metal screeched on metal as the brakes slowed the train as they pulled into the private, royal train station that was walled into the palace complex.
Essie braced a hand against the wall as the train jerked and shuddered. Farrendel rested a hand on her waist to steady her, his feet braced.
With a final squeal, the train juddered to a halt. The shrill steam whistle blared into the morning before a whoosh filled the air as the rest of the steam pressure dissipated.
Farrendel grimaced and removed the moss from his ears. “Are all of your human inventions so loud?”
“We humans do tend to be a loud bunch.” Essie took his hand and reached for the door to their compartment. “Are you ready for this?”
Farrendel tensed, almost as if he was trying to think of a nice way to say the truth since elves didn’t lie. His shoulders sagged a fraction. “No.”
“Sorry. My family isn’t as scary as they seem. I think you’ve already started winning Edmund over.” Essie faced Farrendel and touched his cheek. “They’ll love you once they get to know you.”
Farrendel straightened his shoulders, and his aloof, hard mask fell into place. Perhaps not quite the reaction she was hoping for, but his hard, warrior edge would make for an impressive entrance, even if he wasn’t wearing his swords.
