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And that hen she heard it The train

pulling away from the station

x

Out in the streets, the wind had picked up Ignoring my protests, Zafir had sent someone back inside the train for my cloak, and even now, as I stood before the stone hearth inside the tavern, warrateful for the shelter it provided The hood concealeda disguise, although Zafir’s presence still dreelcoiant

He’d left lares at everyone within spitting distance as he went to get me some tea Under normal circu, andit nearly impossible to speak

Outside in the streets, beyond the tavern’s walls, I could no longer hear the rumble of hooves, and I knew Sebastian and the others had headed just outside of town, giving the horses roo them back onto the train for the remainder of our journey

Inside the tavern, however, there were the sounds of dishes being slaled with raucous laughter and loud voices A drunken lot in one far corner warbled a bawdy tune about a farhter Not one of the crooners see with the s wood, I inhaled the scents of tobacco and rubbed s and decor Black wax dripped onto the tables and floors, creating dark pools beneath the rusty chandeliers overhead This was the kind of place a girl, one asn’t a queen, could easily get lost

Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky I spotted the periodicals, first one and then another, and then an entire stack of them, scattered across the nearby tables When the front door opened, one of them was carried on the breeze that rushed in, and it landed nearmy cloak fall around my face as I studied it I didn’t need to, of course I’d already seen this particular bit of news I’d already seen this i the paper into a tight ball and I tossed it in I stood there, watching it disintegrate into a thousand pieces of ash, until nothing rely fanize I cocked ain It see into the din of the alehouse around ure huddled at one of the tables His black eyes watched me with an intensity thataze away from him Nor his froers to his lips in a gesture that warnedmyself to look away, to search for Zafir within the crowd To run To flee from thisWhile I prayed that ain, that whisper ofthe spell the nition coursed through nized it

It was the train And it was leaving

My gaze shot wildly around the tavern, searching for Zafir and co up empty Hoas that possible? Where had he disappeared to? He’d never leave me alone like this

Clumsily, I took a step and felt a voice at my ear, just behind uess that it was hi voice matched the black eyes to perfection