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“Or, perhaps, we should look into renovating our sleeping compartment and figure out how to fit a bed big enough for two people into this space.” Essie kept her voice soft and light, matching the movements of her fingers to the rhythm of his breathing. “After all, if we are going to be taking this trip from Escarland to Tarenhiel and back often as we split our time between our two homes, we might as well be comfortable.”
Farrendel broke his steady breathing to huff a laugh, though he didn’t yet raise his head or speak.
“Though, perhaps, at that point, it would be better to invest in our own train with a whole car all to ourselves. After all, if Averett or Julien or Edmund need this train, then they have first dibs because they technically outrank me.” Essie traced her fingers along one of the scars over his ribs. “If your brother starts traveling more, we’ll have to get our own train on that side of the border too. Or maybe we will design a train to run on both Escarlish metal tracks and Tarenhieli root tracks and have our brothers build a bridge over the Hydalla River. Then we could use the same train back and forth and never have to worry about the awkward transfer across the river each time.”
Farrendel finally lifted his head, his breathing back to normal. In the heart bond, the tightness was fading, replaced with warmth. He glanced at her, his silver-blue eyes bright in the faint light of dawn outside. “Perhaps, once I have my magical engineering degree, I could use my magic to power this train. Then we would never have to stop all the way from Estyra to Aldon.”
“Now that’s a great idea.” Essie patted his shoulder, his skin warm beneath her hand. “Besides, I don’t see your people allowing a coal-burning train into your kingdom, and it would be nice not to rely on anyone else’s magic to power our train. After all, Averett has looked into upgrading the royal train to a magical power cell, but those can be tampered with a lot easier than a coal-powered engine and so far it has been deemed too risky. But I have a feeling your magic would be a lot more tamper-proof than a regular human magician’s.”
“Yes.” Farrendel’s muscles relaxed beneath her hand, and he sat straighter instead of hunching, resting his arms on his knees.
The growing light from outside shone against his back, highlighting the scars. Thin, white lines marked where the trolls had twisted stone beneath his skin fifteen years ago.
The scars from Farrendel’s recent capture were deeper, more puckered, especially the ones on his back where the stone floor had stabbed him. Long, straight scars traced his collarbone and places along his ribs where the Escarlish surgeon had cut him when they had removed the stone after he was rescued.
Essie traced the puckered circle of a scar near the middle, left side of his back. “This one must have hurt.”
“It did.” His tone was matter-of-fact. No blaming himself in some way. Just acceptance that what the trolls had done to him had been terrible. Instead of flinching from her touch, he leaned into her hand, glancing over his shoulder at her. “I nearly died.”
Essie had felt him nearly die, the heart bond straining to keep him alive until she had passed out from the strain of it. “I know.”
“Melantha saved me. It was the first time she was allowed to heal me.” His voice went quiet at the mention of his sister’s name, his gaze straying from Essie to stare at the wall instead.
Essie wrapped both arms around his waist. “I know you’re worried for her.”
It was one of the things she loved about him. That he was so forgiving, even of the sister who betrayed him.
“If she has been killed...” Farrendel’s fists clenched, his muscles going tense once again.
Essie could not let him dwell on the worst-case scenario. It would only make the nightmares and the anxiety worse. If Melantha was dead, Essie would be there as Farrendel worked through the grief. But there was no reason he should grieve until they knew for certain.
She tightened her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. “You know Melantha. She’s angry enough at the world that she will have survived out of sheer spite.”
Farrendel’s shoulders shook beneath Essie as he gave a hard laugh. “This is true.”
Beneath her hands, she could feel the play of his muscles across his stomach. His shoulder muscles were strong beneath her cheek, and she appreciated the solid feel of him. Over the past few months, he had regained the strength the trolls had stolen from him.
When they faced whatever lay ahead, he would fight whole and strong.
The train gave a shudder and a squeal. Out the window, the shimmering expanse of the Hydalla River rushed closer. “Looks like we’re almost there. We’d better get dressed and gather our things for the steamship ride across the river. You’ll have to save your morning exercises for running across the elven train.”
Farrendel shrugged, the corners of his mouth tipping up into a smile once again. “It is preferable anyway. The lack of tree branches passing over the train tracks makes running along the top of your Escarlish train too easy.”
Too easy was not what Essie would call it. But this was Farrendel, after all. He did not get those muscles she admired so much by sitting and doing nothing.
The elven train pulledinto the station at Estyra in the afternoon. The sun streamed through the massive tree trunks and turned the snow on the ground and on the bare branches into a glittering, soft yellow.
Essie stepped off the train and stared around at the grand trees, bare of their broad leaves. In the meandering streets and on the upper bridges of Estyra, elves strolled gracefully as they went about their business, long thick cloaks protecting them from the chill.
The thinner branches were rimed with snow, but all the branches where the elves walked were free of any snow and ice.
Farrendel halted beside her, and she gestured toward Estyra. “How are the branches kept from being slippery?”
“There is magic placed on the walkways that melt any snow and ice before it becomes slippery.” Farrendel gave her a soft smile, reaching out to clasp her first two fingers with his, pressing the backs of their hands together, in the elven style of holding hands. “Estyra is beautiful in the wintertime.”
“Estyra is beautiful at all times of the year.” Essie leaned against his shoulder, craning her neck to take in as much of Estyra’s winter splendor as she could. “Once this is over, I look forward to spending time here.”
“Yes.” Farrendel’s gaze strayed past her, and when she turned in that direction, she caught sight of a large group headed in their direction. Farrendel’s grandmother Leyleira led the way with Rheva, Weylind’s wife, at her side. Jalissa followed, along with several of the elven generals and a few of Weylind’s staff members trailing behind.
