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"The horses are restless," Sebastian announced, aze away from Brook to address Zafir "Too much time cooped up in the livestock compartments"

Aron scooted in next to Brook and reached for a hot biscuit that had tendrils of stea from it He tore it open and scooped a hefty portion of peach ja into his aze shift sideways to watch hiust, as she picked listlessly at her own food

"We can’t stop here," she stated, turning to Sebastian who stood at attention, his shoulders back as if he were one of her soldiers It was her call, though Zafir was there only to protect e of the army that escorted us "We’re too close to the Scablands," she said, as if she hadn’t just learned this bit of infors at the next major depotafter we leave this territory"

Aron snorted, and Brook’s gaze shot to him "What? I suppose you have a better idea"

"I jus’ don’," Aron started, but cru the table in front of hi her scathing glare When he finally sed, choking down the rest of the biscuit in a huge gulp, he tried again "I just don’t see how you’re going to get that le stop Do you really think the engineer is just going to hold the train for you? For Charlie definitely, but not for you, Brook"

Brook s like hard steel "Is that a challenge? Because I don’t need Charlie’s help on this You just watch I bet I can get him to stop and waitwithout hed, slapping Brooklynn on the shoulder "Can I cootta see this"

Five hours later ere standing on a wooden platforain round beneath ood Normal Steady

Several cars down fro as the horses were unloaded, their hooves beating against thethe tiht Sebastian didn’t seem to share my concerns over its sturdiness, he see as he handed the soldiers two at a time to be walked about the unpaved streets

I shuddered, pretending my chill was a result of the weather, rather than the horses we’d soon be riding in place of the train The idea of ht to my heart

Still, it was colder out here than I’d anticipated, and although I couldn’t actually seewithindenser than nor until there’d be ice on the ground Untilthe first flakes of snow

"It’s only going to get worse," Zafir stated "The farther north we travel, the closer to winter we’ll get"

I frowned at the guard’s upside-down logic as I wrappednonetheless The suion of Caldera, Queen Neva’s land I’d been warned the cliers to my lips and blew on them

"Do you want me to send for your coat?" Zafir asked, always attentive

"I’m fine, Zafir" And when I saw that he didn’t look convinced, I added, "Really"

I glanced around at the tiny town nestled in the jagged hills, just inside the northern border of Ludania Technically, ere still in Scabland territory, and it still had that saed feel to it, as if the town itself had been chiseled fro, other than the sidee stood on, seemed to be crafted froranite and shale

The overall effect was as chilling as the wind that whipped through the nearly uninhabited streets The only sign of life came from the chimneys on every roof: Smoke rose from nearly all of them

I wondered if this hat Brooklynn had in mind when she’d said ould stop at the next major depot, but I kneasn’t The next depot was more than three hours away, and Sebastian’s co with eachout of the lead car, the train’s engine, acco a black wool suit with polished brass buttons Golden fringe hung froineer, I assuly at Brooklynn on the step above hi him help her down the steel steps

Aron rolled his eyes as he stood on the atching thehts, which I was sure must mirror my own: as if Brook needed the ress

I bitit look too much like she’d tethered hih In fact, quite the opposite If the unflinching grin he as any indicator, he see himself immensely

"Are you sure it’s no inconvenience?" I heard Brooklynn coo in a voice that sounded nothing like her usual co tone "I wouldn’t want to put you too far behind schedule" Her hand, which was on his forearertips brushed the bare skin at his wrist