War Bound

by Tara Grayce

  Except that her stomach made a loud grumbling noise, making Farrendel smile.

  She turned to the door. “How come your stomach isn’t growling? You’re probably hungrier than I am, considering you usually eat breakfast long before now.”

  He reached the door first and opened it. “It stopped an hour ago.”

  In other words, he’d been up so long, his stomach had given up rumbling a long time ago.

  In the sitting room, they found toast, jam, eggs, and sausages laid out on the table while Edmund lounged on one of the benches, reading what looked like that morning’s newspaper. One of the guards must have retrieved it when the train stopped for water and coal earlier that morning. He glanced at them over the top of the paper. “Morning.”

  “Anything interesting in the news?” Essie picked up two plates, handed one to Farrendel, and started dishing food onto hers.

  Edmund turned a page and flapped it to straighten the paper. “Just a headline about the visit of elven royalty and competing editorials either in favor of the closer ties with the elves or protesting it. Nothing they haven’t already printed a dozen times over since your marriage.”

  There was something to Edmund’s tone. He wasn’t telling her everything.

  But she didn’t want to press him for details now. She’d rather focus on being reunited with her family and properly introducing them to Farrendel. The grim realities of trying to stop another war from sparking, the impending war between the elves and trolls, the traitors in Escarland and Tarenhiel, the reaction of Escarland’s people, could all wait until later.

  She took a seat on the bench with a table in front of her. After thoroughly inspecting the food, Farrendel picked out a slice of toast, a piece of sausage, and eggs. When he sat beside her, he still eyed his food suspiciously.

  Had he ever eaten hot food for breakfast? Elves tended to only eat a hot meal once a day for dinner in the evening.

  The door at the far end of the car opened, briefly letting in the louder sound of the rushing wind and clacking wheels, before Jalissa stepped inside.

  Edmund’s paper crinkled as he folded it and set it aside. “Good morning, Princess Jalissa.”

  She dipped her head in a nod before picking out food with the same wariness Farrendel had. She claimed a seat next to Farrendel, and the two of them discussed something in elvish too quietly for Essie to hear.

  As they ate, the rising sun illuminated the rolling hills flashing past outside the rows of square windows now that they had left behind the more heavily wooded part of Escarland near the border with Tarenhiel.

  Farrendel turned in his seat, and his gaze remained focused on the landscape even as he absently finished his breakfast and set the plate aside.

  “It looks different than Tarenhiel, doesn’t it?” Essie swiveled as well to better watch both Farrendel and the scenery outside.

  “Yes.” Farrendel leaned closer to the window. “There is so much sky.”

  Essie grinned. At least she wasn’t the only one who was mesmerized by seeing a new kingdom outside the train windows, even if Farrendel and Jalissa were more dignified and restrained than Essie had been.

  As they approached one of the larger towns that surrounded Aldon, Farrendel’s eyes widened, and he came dangerously close to pressing his nose to the glass. “Is that Aldon?”

  “No, that’s Highborough, a town about ten miles north of Aldon.” Essie couldn’t help but grin wider. “Aldon is even bigger.”

  Farrendel’s gaze swung to her with something that might have been horror in his eyes before he stared out the window once again.

  As they were a royal train, they rumbled straight on through the Highborough station. They had to stop briefly at the coal and water station outside of town for the last amount of water and coal they would need to reach Aldon.

  Then they were chugging past the final stretch of rolling hills and smaller villages before they finally crested the rise and the sprawl of Aldon came into view.

  Aldon rose along two sides of the Fyne River and spilled into the surrounding hills. A mass of chimneys puffed smoke into the sky while warehouses, homes, and shops clustered along rows upon rows of streets and alleyways.

  Near the river, the distinctive bell tower of Hanford University, a world-renowned college for magicians, punctured the skyline. It was a landmark in Aldon, though Essie wasn’t sure Jalissa and Farrendel would find that fact interesting.

  Jalissa muttered something under her breath. Farrendel’s hands clenched at his sides, his expression hard and grim. Gone was the wonder they’d had looking at the cornfields stretching into the distance. This looked more like they’d seen their doom written into the landscape.

  “What’s wrong?” Essie leaned close to Farrendel, speaking in a low tone.

  He glanced from the window, to her, and back. “I knew you humans were numerous but...” He shook his head, still staring out the window as the tracks neared the outskirts of the city. “I did not understand how numerous.”

  When he didn’t elaborate further, Essie took his hand. “That’s why we need to build an alliance beyond a simple peace treaty. I believe our kingdoms can be assets to each other rather than enemies. Now, we’ll be entering Aldon and arriving at the palace soon. Let’s grab our crowns and make sure we’re ready.”

  Farrendel nodded, and they left for their compartment. Jalissa retreated to hers as well to finish getting ready for her arrival as the official Tarenhieli ambassador to Escarland.

  In their compartment, Essie dug out her silver, elven circlet made of twining strands with maple, oak, and beech leaves forming a pattern, and settled it on her hair.

  The shriek of the steam whistle warning those on the streets that a train would be passing by had Farrendel grimacing and reaching for his moss earplugs. As the train whistle kept blaring, he rested his own, matching circlet on his head. In his formal silver tunic, gray trousers, black boots, and silver-blond hair flowing down his back, he was every inch an elf prince.

  Essie swallowed and smoothed the front of her dark green elven dress. Why was she even nervous about this? This was her home. Her family. Everything would be fine.

  Metal screeched on metal as the brakes slowed the train as they pulled into the private, royal train station that was walled into the palace complex.

  Essie braced a hand against the wall as the train jerked and shuddered. Farrendel rested a hand on her waist to steady her, his feet braced.

  With a final squeal, the train juddered to a halt. The shrill steam whistle blared into the morning before a whoosh filled the air as the rest of the steam pressure dissipated.

  Farrendel grimaced and removed the moss from his ears. “Are all of your human inventions so loud?”

  “We humans do tend to be a loud bunch.” Essie took his hand and reached for the door to their compartment. “Are you ready for this?”

  Farrendel tensed, almost as if he was trying to think of a nice way to say the truth since elves didn’t lie. His shoulders sagged a fraction. “No.”

  “Sorry. My family isn’t as scary as they seem. I think you’ve already started winning Edmund over.” Essie faced Farrendel and touched his cheek. “They’ll love you once they get to know you.”

  Farrendel straightened his shoulders, and his aloof, hard mask fell into place. Perhaps not quite the reaction she was hoping for, but his hard, warrior edge would make for an impressive entrance, even if he wasn’t wearing his swords.

  Essie slid the door open, then picked up her skirt so she didn’t trip.

  Edmund was already gone from his compartment. Probably to prepare the last few things for their arrival.

  Essie and Farrendel joined Jalissa, who wore a flowing silver dress. A silver circlet of aspen leaves rested on her dark hair. She stood tall, head high, shoulders back. No princess ever looked more regal.

  As the official ambassador, Jalissa led the way through the train and down the steps to the wooden platform. Her guard marched behind her, just as s
toic as ever. This particular guard must have been chosen due to her skill at being impassive. She made Farrendel seem expressive.

  As Essie and Farrendel stepped from the train, Farrendel stiffened.

  The private, royal train station sat off to the side of Winstead Palace, with the tracks running along the outer wall that surrounded the whole palace complex including extensive gardens and a small lake. The roofs of the town crowded against the other side of the wall and spread into the distance. A few people leaned out of the upper windows closest to the palace wall, trying to catch a glimpse of the arriving elves.

  Ahead, soldiers and servants lined the walk that joined the main circle drive before the grand entrance to the palace. Edmund waited for them on the walk.

  Essie couldn’t see anything that would make Farrendel go so hard and cold. She leaned closer and whispered in elvish, “What’s wrong?”

  Farrendel’s gaze was locked on Winstead Palace sprawling before them, a grand edifice of gray stone accented with marble steps and glittering arched windows.

  “Are you all right?” She still spoke in elvish and squeezed his hand. “Are we in danger?”

  Farrendel’s stiff posture cracked enough for him to flick a glance in her direction. “No.”

  Was that no, they weren’t in danger or no, he wasn’t all right? Essie couldn’t be sure, and now didn’t seem like the time to ask.

  Jalissa glanced over her shoulder, and Essie thought she caught a hint of worry in the narrowing of her eyes before Jalissa faced forward again.

  Stepping forward, Edmund bowed and extended his arm to Jalissa. “Welcome, to Escarland and to Winstead Palace.”

  Jalissa eyed him, as if deciding if taking his arm would be beneath her dignity. After a moment, she lightly rested her hand on Edmund’s forearm in the style of the elves instead of tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow as was the custom in Escarland.

  Edmund didn’t miss a beat, and instead matched her pace along the walk. The Escarlish soldiers saluted while the servants bowed.

  It was all so very official and pompous. When Essie had arrived in Estyra, the walk from the train had been relaxed, with the elves in the town casually greeting their king as he passed.

  Then again, she had gone to Tarenhiel as Farrendel’s bride. Part of the royal family instead of an official ambassador like Jalissa was. This visit of two members of the elven royal family to Escarland, a human kingdom, was historic. Nothing like it had happened in living memory.

  Two footmen in crisp black uniforms and white shirts opened the huge double doors to the palace. Edmund swept inside with Jalissa on his arm. Essie followed, and beside her, Farrendel crept forward like the floor would burn him.

  Inside the grand entrance hall, a huge marble staircase wound to the upper floor while paintings of historic battles and kings flanked the walls along with a few busts of those same kings.

  Her brother Averett was, thankfully, standing at the base of the stairs rather than waiting on the landing for a cliched grand entrance. He wore his large, gold formal crown, complete with jewels set into the heavy thing, though the rest of his clothing was a nice suit and shirt. He was the only one of Essie’s siblings to also inherit red hair, though his was a darker shade of auburn.

  Beside him, Essie’s sister-in-law, Paige, beamed in a bright pink dress that set off the sparkle in her blue eyes and the shine of her golden-blond hair. Although Paige was four years older than Essie, she had been Essie’s best friend even before she’d fallen in love with Essie’s brother Averett.

  Essie’s mother stood beside Paige, dressed in a somber gray dress and wearing a circlet on her faded red hair that had once matched Essie’s in color. She still carried herself tall, wearing the circlet of the Queen Mother with dignity.

  Julien, the middle of Essie’s three older brothers, wore his tan, army uniform. His brown hair was cropped short while a short beard covered his chin.

  Averett stepped forward. “Welcome to Escarland. I hope this visit will be the first of many as the alliance between our kingdoms strengthens.”

  Jalissa gave the mouth to forehead greeting gesture and a small dip to her head. “It is a pleasure to be here. I hope we will be able to put aside our differences to build a more lasting peace.”

  Essie hung back with Farrendel while Averett completed the official welcome for Jalissa. Essie didn’t want to greet her family in this stiff, formal manner.

  After a few more preliminaries, a maid stepped forward.

  Averett motioned from Jalissa to the maid. “She will show you to your rooms if you would like to freshen up and settle in. We will be dining in an hour.”

  “Very well.” Jalissa followed the Escarlish maid from the entrance hall, her elvish guard trailing behind them.

  As soon as she left, Essie turned to her family. They had relaxed, somewhat, but their stances remained tense as they glanced toward Farrendel.

  This was ridiculous. They were family, even if Farrendel was a stranger to them.

  Essie launched herself forward. “Mama!”

  In a moment, Essie found herself enveloped in her mother’s warm, soft hug. How she’d missed this.

  Her mother stepped back, her gaze searching Essie’s face. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine, really.” Essie stepped into Julien’s bear hug. “I missed all of you so much.”

  Essie squealed as her sister-in-law Paige gave her a squeezing tight hug. “I have so much to tell you.”

  Paige flicked a glance toward Farrendel as she drew back, but her smile remained in place. “I’m sure. I can’t wait to hear all about the last three months.”

  Averett pushed past Paige to hug Essie next. “Are you sure you’re all right? I’ve been so worried...” He trailed off, and Essie caught the tortured look in his eyes before he looked away.

  “You need to stop beating yourself up about arranging a marriage of alliance for me. It worked out better than even I could have imagined.” Essie returned Avie’s hug before she extricated herself and glanced over her shoulder.

  Farrendel stood, hands behind his back, his face impassive. To her family, he probably looked forbidding and hard. But they wouldn’t be able to see the way he leaned back, as if he wanted to bolt.

  Essie reached a hand to him and waited until he hesitatingly twined his fingers with hers. “I know most of you met him briefly at the wedding, but none of us were relaxed enough to really get to know each other. Everyone, this is Farrendel.”

  Farrendel remained still and hard as the statues in the palace’s garden. But Essie could feel the tremble through his fingers, the wariness in his stance.

  Essie tugged on Farrendel’s arm to get his attention and spoke in elvish. Hopefully Edmund’s elvish wasn’t as good as Essie suspected it was. “Farrendel, my love, I know you’re nervous, but you’re going to scare my family away if you keep putting on your intimidating Laesornysh face.”

  As he glanced down at her, the hard line of his jaw softened. When he replied, it was in elvish. “Sorry. It is just...”

  “It’s scary meeting my family. You want them to like you, but you don’t want to be vulnerable.” Essie quirked a smile. “I know. I had the same thing with your family.”

  Farrendel’s mouth curved upward enough to count as a smile. “You made it look easy.”

  “I like people, so it is easier for me.” Essie patted his arm. “Just smile and relax and try not to look so scary. Now we probably should stop talking in elvish before my family wanders off.”

  They were all staring at them. Averett and Mother just looked bewildered. Paige smiled, her eyes twinkling as if she read something into the situation. Edmund had a smirk as if he had, indeed, understood that entire conversation. Julien had his arms crossed and looked bored.

  Essie tugged Farrendel to stand in front of Averett. “Farrendel, this is my brother Averett, though we all call him Avie.”

  Averett held out a hand. Farrendel’s smile dropped for a moment before he past
ed it back into place and shook Averett’s hand. When Averett let go of Farrendel’s hand, Farrendel gripped Averett’s shoulders in the elves’ restrained version of a hug. “Shashon.”

  Brother.

  The elves didn’t have words for brother-in-law or sister-in-law. They believed a couple was so united in marriage, that they used brother or sister for an in-law. Though, they tended to skirt around that by simply not claiming any sort of relation if they didn’t want to, making it a huge deal for Farrendel to claim her family as his. Once said, he wouldn’t take it back. He would consider her brothers as his brothers for the rest of his life, even if her brothers didn’t know it yet.

  Essie could’ve hugged Farrendel right then and there, but she restrained herself and instead gestured to Paige. “This is Paige, my sister-in-law and best friend. I have two nephews as well, and you’ll meet them tonight.”

  “Essie has told me so much about you in her letters. I’m so excited to finally meet you.” Paige gave Farrendel a quick hug, and Farrendel went stiff again, glancing over his shoulder at Essie.

  Essie grinned back at him and told him in elvish, “I did warn you hugs were common in my family.”

  His mouth twitched with a grimace before he smoothed his expression and gripped Paige’s shoulders briefly. “Isciena.”

  Edmund squirmed his way into line next, even though he’d had his chance to greet Farrendel at the border. He gripped Farrendel’s shoulders in the elven style of hugging and said in perfect elvish, “Elontiri, shashon.”

  Welcome, brother. Essie sighed and swatted Edmund’s shoulder. “So you do know elvish.”

  “Sorry to break it to you, but your secret language isn’t so secret, little sister.” Edmund tweaked her nose and strolled away, still chuckling, before Farrendel even had a chance to return the gripped shoulders gesture.

  “Your brother is sneaky.” Farrendel’s tone was flat, almost like he couldn’t decide if he should be offended or impressed or simply bewildered.

  “Yes, but, for the most part, he uses his great powers of observation and sneakiness for good, though he does enjoy annoying his younger siblings. As my husband, I think you now fall into that category.” Essie glared at Edmund’s retreating back. In the past three days since realizing they had formed a heart bond, Essie’s elvish had improved even faster than it had before. That meant up until a few days ago, Edmund had probably been better at elvish than she was, and she had been working at it for months.