Page 112 of Pretense

“Perfect. Then I’ll stay here and share our news.” The smile returned to Essie’s face.

Beneath his hand, Farrendel could feel the way her muscles relaxed. It would be good for her to rest before they got back on another train. And she would enjoy celebrating their news with Paige, who had been a close friend of Essie’s even before she had become her sister-in-law.

“I will stay here as well.” Rheva stepped away from Weylind. “I would like to greet Queen Paige. I have heard much about her.”

Essie’s mother hurried forward. “I’ll show you the way.” She strode deeper into the bustling fort, Essie and Rheva trailing behind, and began a story about the last time she had visited this fortress, back when Averett had been a baby and Essie’s late father had been the crown prince on a goodwill tour of the kingdom and army forts.

By some unspoken agreement, Captain Merrick along with some of Weylind’s elven guards peeled away from the others and trailed after Essie and Rheva, ensuring that they would be more than safe here in the castle.

Some of the tension in Farrendel’s chest eased. He would not have stopped Essie, if she had wanted to come with him all the way to the border. But he would not be quite as nervous if she and their unborn child remained safe, surrounded by Escarland’s army and its fort.

Weylind eyed his children, as if he wanted to tell them to stay behind as well. But both Brina and Ryfon had crossed their arms. Brina’s gaze was pleading, but Ryfon had a bit more defiance as he stared back at his father.

Finally, Weylind sighed and faced Farrendel. “Babies are easy. Remember that. It is when they start to think themselves all grown up that parenting becomes difficult.”

Behind Weylind, Ryfon and Brina shared a grin.

Farrendel did his best to solemnly nod. “I will keep that in mind, shashon.”

* * *

By the time the tiny steam locomotive puffed its way to the mountain pass, Farrendel was even more glad Essie had not come. His teeth were about to be rattled right out of his mouth while every bone and joint ached from the jarring.

Only Rharreth appeared even remotely relaxed, as if rickety trains that felt about ready to fly off the tracks into the nearest river gorge were an everyday occurrence.

Melantha gripped Rharreth’s arm the entire time, muttering something under her breath about how “it is not as bad as Kostaria’s trains” the whole time, as if to reassure herself.

Farrendel had only heard about the terrifying experience of Kostaria’s train through their mountains. He had no memories of it himself, since he had been unconscious when he had been a passenger in one.

When the train came to a shuddering, squealing halt, Farrendel tottered to the door and bailed out of the train car as quickly as possible.

The second train car disgorged an entire squad of Escarlish soldiers, as well as the troll and elven warriors that formed the guard details for both Rharreth and Weylind. Iyrinder came to stand behind Farrendel, guarding his back.

In the middle of their huddle, the Escarlish guards hauled not only four of the spies who had been captured in Tarenhiel, but also the rest of the spies at the Sentinel who had been arrested in Escarland.

The train had stopped on a broad shelf carved into the side of the mountain. The top of the ridge that formed this mountain pass was still a good hundred yards higher yet. At that point, a square, squat tower rose into the air, the trees cleared from its base to give it a clear view of both sides of the pass.

The rolling peaks of the mountains rose even higher all around them, so dense with trees that Farrendel could not see far in any direction.

The crisp air wrapped around him, noticeably cooler than it had been down by the castle. Farrendel drew in a deep breath of it, both the coolness and the clean forest scent steadying him.

“The border is this way.” Averett pointed, then hiked up the mountain trail headed in that direction. He had to halt for a moment as four of his guards jogged past him to lead the way.

As Farrendel hiked upward, he gazed at the untouched forest around him. Many of them were the same kinds of trees that were found in Tarenhiel, but the mountains gave them a different smell and feel than his homeland. Unlike the mountains of Kostaria, he might like to explore these. Perhaps he and Essie could come back someday. Surely there was a mountain retreat where they could stay.

A dream for the future. Essie would be so proud of him when he told her.

When they reached the top and halted next to the tower, the land flattened and spread away before them. Not quite as impressive a view as what they would have had if they had climbed all the way to the top of the peaks. But through the gap, Farrendel could still see miles of mountains rolling into a hazy blue distance on either side of them.

Directly in front of them, the pass in the mountains had been cleared of trees. It remained relatively flat for nearly half a mile. At the far side, another tower, this one round and flying the red and white Mongavarian flag, faced the Escarlish tower.

In the center of the grassy field between them, a large stone that appeared to be at least as tall as Farrendel had been placed too deliberately to be a natural feature of the landscape.

The door to the Escarlish tower opened, and a soldier peeked outside at them, bobbing a series of bows as he caught sight of Averett and Julien. The leader of the squad of Escarlish soldiers spoke to him in a lowered tone, likely explaining what was going on.

Averett gestured to the field. “That stone in the middle marks the border. Back when Escarland and Mongavaria divided the mountains between them, the kings agreed on the border and marked it with a stone like that every ten miles or so. This is where I’m hoping you will help, King Rharreth. With your magic, you should be able to find the stones marking the border from north to south. Farrendel can then use your magic to guide his power along the border.”

Rharreth crossed his arms, eyed the stone, then faced Averett. “This is beyond the bounds of our current treaty.”

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