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As Edmund had explained as they hid and waited for the passenger train’s first departure time, the Woodlands was a luxury resort in the mountains that was a favorite gathering spot for Mongavaria’s elite during the summer.
For their purposes, it was not that far from the border. Not to mention, those hunting them would be looking for a group of fugitives. They would not think to look among the Mongavarian nobility, at least not right away.
The man behind the ticket counter bobbed Edmund a polite nod, took his money, quickly punched three tickets, and handed over two brass keys. “You are all set, sir.”
Edmund did not nod or thank the man but swept off toward the train, steering Jalissa along with him.
All she wanted to do was run to the train, but she forced herself to glide at Edmund’s side. He kept up a steady but unhurried pace, even taking the time to stop and purchase a newspaper.
Finally, they boarded one of the first-class passenger cars. The first half of the train car was a shared parlor and dining area while the back half consisted of a narrow hallway with compartments on either side.
Edmund halted in front of the compartment indicated by the embossed leather tab attached to the key. He handed the other key to Sarya, the number indicating that it was for the next door down. “Get some rest while you can.”
Sarya nodded, but she waited in the hall while Edmund unlocked the door and stepped inside his and Jalissa’s compartment.
Jalissa followed him and closed the door behind her. The compartment was small, just big enough for a bed built into the wall and piled with velvet blankets, two chairs facing each other, and a small table.
Edmund crossed the room, keeping a hand on the wall or the furniture as if to steady himself, and opened a small door set into the wall. “As I thought. The water closet is shared with Sarya’s room.”
That would explain why he spent the money on two rooms when they could have squished into one. Though, it likely helped their cover as well. A gentleman would never squish but would instead secure a second room for his wife’s traveling companion.
Jalissa sank onto the bed and dug out the hatpin, which had been digging into her scalp, then set the hat and pin aside. “Where did you get all that Mongavarian money?”
Edmund shifted a bit as he shed his hat, jacket, and waistcoat. “You know those times when you had tea with the Mongavarian ladies? It turns out their husbands enjoy a good card game or two. And I am rather excellent at cards.”
Jalissa blinked at him, unable to hide the distaste in her tone. “You won it by gambling.”
“Well, yes. I started with the small stipend King Solan gave us and grew it from there until I had the amount I estimated we would need for my planned escape route. But I made sure I didn’t win too extravagantly and break my empty-headed persona.” Edmund shrugged and started unbuttoning his white shirt. “I did bring along some counterfeit Mongavarian money that the Intelligence Office had whipped up. We had the printing press and supplies their spy ring left behind, after all. But I prefer real money instead of fake for our escape if I can help it. We already have enough risks without the risk of being caught passing phony money. The fake money at least pads my wallet so it looks like I have more than I actually do.”
Jalissa sighed and shook her head. “You are rather morally shady when you are on one of your missions.”
“Spying is a morally shady business.” Edmund tossed his shirt onto the chair with his jacket and waistcoat, then kicked off his shoes. “It involves breaking and entering, pawing through someone’s personal papers, stealing important documents, lying, and, yes, gambling with money or with my life.”
The disguises, the masks, the gleaning of information were all things she could live with.
But the darker side of spying…she was not sure she was comfortable with that.
Jalissa dug her fingers into the thick blankets on the bed. She might not like it, but as long as there were morally shady kingdoms like Mongavaria who would not hesitate to spy on their neighbors and plot assassinations, then men like Edmund would be needed to defend Escarland, Tarenhiel, and Kostaria from them. It was not a pretty job. Not as laudable, perhaps. But it had to be done.
Edmund’s face twisted and went white again. “Now, if you need me, I’ll…”
He trailed off and raced for the water closet, shutting the door behind him.
The flimsy door did not entirely block the noises from inside, and Jalissa distracted herself by divesting herself of the packs hidden under her skirt and picking up Edmund’s discarded clothes. Apparently, he had not been simply getting comfortable, but instead he had taken off his one set of nicer clothes to avoid getting them messy.
After some debate, she slipped into the hallway to Sarya’s room to pass along her pack. Sarya gave her a sympathetic look but did not comment.
Jalissa returned to the room she shared with Edmund and changed into her shirt and trousers once again. They would be on this train for seven hours before they would transfer to another train, which would take them into the mountains to the resort. She might as well be comfortable during that time.
After changing, she lay down on the bed, but she ended up staring at the ceiling. While she had not slept well on the cargo train, she was not yet tired enough to nap during daylight hours.
And Edmund still had not emerged from the water closet. The twisting in Jalissa’s stomach was growing worse, even though she was not touching him.
After fetching another vial of elven healing medicine, Jalissa crossed the tiny room and knocked on the door to the water closet. “Edmund? Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” His words were short, clipped.
Clearly not fine.
