Page 109 of A Monarch's Fall

Trains and Mountains.

Percy Flores

Once on the train, we managed to sleep most of the journey. The train wasn’t like the train to House Ardens; it was quiet, with few others travelling. A woman passed by us and dropped a couple of ham sandwiches in front of us.

“We don’t have any money,” I said.

“I gathered,” she answered — and it was a little rude — “but no one else wants them, and they need to be eaten today,” she explained.

“Oh, thanks,” I said happily, and began unwrapping one.

Ana looked out the window, her eyebrows scrunched up in what looked like a complex thought.

“Is everyone like that around here?” she asked.

“I don’t think she meant to judge us or come across like that. I think she’d just rather it didn’t go to waste,” I said.

“No, that’s not it, I meant, did you grow up with everyone being so generous?” she asked.

I laughed and paused as I went to take a bite of the sandwich.

“The Maria tax man certainly isn’t generous,” I said.

She smiled.

“You know what I’m asking?” she said, her voice rising in a question at the end.

I shrugged.

“I didn’t realise that everywhere wasn’t like home. In the village, we take care of each other and pool our resources. Father explained to me that it works because there aren’t too many people, so everyone gets a say, and we agree to get along. I don’t think that type of sharing is possible when you get too big a community, then someone has to start deciding on behalf of everyone. People are selfish, especially if no one is looking. Some people, or a lot of people, get left behind and forgotten about. I think it takes work to make sure that happens as little as possible. I never really thought of people from House Maria as generous or friendly, but I hadn’t ever known anyone from the other Houses before. I think House Maria has less people left behind and forgotten. Maybe that’s what makes them seem generous.”

Ana nodded and continued looking out the window.

“Maybe I could come back one day. Not forever. I think I’d miss my coven but for a while, to see what it’s like living somewhere different,” she said.

I smiled and pushed her sandwich across the table between us towards her.

It was very early the next morning when we reached Thyella to swap trains.

Ana pulled me aside before we reached the platform for the train to Borealis.

“I’m going to change my ticket to House Syngeneia or as close as I can get,” she said.

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

I had only just begun to feel like we were real friends again, and honestly, I was nervous being on a train and travelling by myself. I’d never done it before.

“I have to. I need to get home to see my family and warn my coven. You can make your way to Borealis, it’s not difficult,” she reassured. “Just… wait —” she reached out and took the wool hat from my head. “Let me fix this,” she said as she then gathered my hair, wrapping it into a bun and pulling the hat back on over my hair. “There, that hides your hair,” she smiled. “You don’t want to be recognised the closer you get to Borealis.”

“No, you’re right,” I agreed.

“Good. Keep your head down. Your eyes are too distinct, and if anyone is into Royal gossip and tabloids, they’ll know about your eyes,” she said.

“Great, now I’m scared to look at anyone,” I said.

“Just close your eyes and sleep until you stop in Borealis. It’s so big, no one will pay you much attention once you’re there. The Castle is well signposted, you can guide us by the setting and rising sun; you can read a street sign,” she told me.

“I’m nervous,” I admitted.