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Essie grinned. “I wondered how long it would take you mention that.”

“It’s rather noticeable.”

“It’s wonderful.” Essie swung her feet. “In Tarenhiel, both males and females wear tunics and trousers for everyday clothing. In their treetop walkways, dresses would just get in the way, not to mention awkward if anyone happened to look up. It’s just more sensible for them. Besides, tunic and trousers are so much more comfortable.”

Edmund chuckled as he lounged in the chair once again, all tension gone at the change in topic. “You always begged Mother to let you wear trousers. And tried to steal some from us, if I recall.”

“Yes.” Essie laughed at the memory, even as she had to suppress a yawn. How stifled she’d felt back then. She’d wanted to run and play like her brothers, but it was so hard to climb trees and get into trouble in a dress. Not that she wanted to wear trousers all the time. She loved dressing up in a gorgeous dress as much as the next girl. But it was nice to have the freedom of movement in between the fancy dress wearing times. “It is funny, really. I thought I would be even more stifled among the elves, since they are rumored to be so stuffy. And, in some ways they are. But in other ways, I’ve found the freedom I’ve always craved. Perhaps it wouldn’t have been that way with another elf, but Farrendel is a rather unusual, scandal-causing elf already.”

“I’m glad you’re happy.” Edmund’s smile was soft. “We all worried.”

“I know. And I’m probably going to have to reassure everyone several times that I’m fine before anyone believes me.” Essie blinked her dry eyes and swallowed back another yawn. She needed her bed soon, that was for sure.

“Probably. Especially Avie. He’s been beating himself up for the past three months.” Edmund stood and tugged on a strand of her hair. “Now off to bed with you. Don’t think I haven’t noticed your yawns.”

“It was an early morning.” Essie swigged the last of her hot chocolate and covered another yawn. “Elves subscribe to the whole early to bed, early to rise thing.”

“I bet that was an adjustment.” Edmund chuckled as he walked with her to the doors of the sleeping compartments.

“Just a little bit.” Essie paused by her door. “Goodnight.”

It felt so much like home, being with her brother again. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this.

This was the price she’d paid, marrying Farrendel and moving to Tarenhiel. She’d given up her home. Her family.

She stepped into the compartment and clicked the door closed behind her. The tiny room remained dark, except for the gaslights of towns and stations flashing by along with hints of the moon filtering down from the crescent high in the sky.

Farrendel was nothing but a lump beneath blankets on the upper bunk. Was he already asleep? Perhaps. He had been awfully tired, especially after the last few, rough nights.

She eased her boots off and slipped into the blankets of the bottom bunk. After the last two nights sleeping next to Farrendel, the bunk felt cold. Empty. Even if she could hear his steady breathing above her.

Farrendel’s steady breathing. The clickety-clack of the wheels. The steady sway of the car. An easy rhythm to lull her to sleep.

ESSIE WOKE to chilly, early morning air pouring through the upper window by Farrendel’s upper bunk. His blankets flapped in the breeze, but he was missing.

Had he slipped out the window? How had he even managed it? The window wasn’t that big, and the wind from the train’s passing had to be strong.