Page 23 of Winds of Death (War of the Alliance #4)

Chapter

Thirteen

P ip hefted her bag higher on her shoulder as she stood on the train platform within the AMPC’s secure boundaries.

Troll and human workers loaded crate after crate filled with new synchronization gears—as many as AMPC and several other manufacturing companies could put together in the past few days.

Instead of patenting the item, Louise had made the plans available to other manufacturers so that more could be made on a short timeline.

While they hadn’t managed to make enough for even a full squadron, more gears were being made every day.

Luckily, most of the parts were standard parts from other sources, so only a few pieces needed to be made specially for the gear.

“That looks like the last of it.” Louise examined a clipboard she’d been handed before she signed the paper on it. She handed it back to the clerk, who scurried off to tend to the next item on his list.

“Thank you for seeing to it that I was sent back to Fort Defense with this shipment.” Pip shifted closer to the train. The sooner she boarded, the sooner she could be on her way back to Fieran.

“I like you. I’m invested in you and Fieran.” Louise grinned, sharing a look with Pip.

Pip grinned back, though she wasn’t sure what to say besides, “I’m glad.”

And she was. Louise already felt like a sister, and Pip was rapidly coming to love Fieran’s whole family. How could she not, when Tryndar had hugged her around the legs that morning and cried at having to say goodbye to her too?

Though Fieran’s dacha was still intimidating. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to get so much as a word out the next time she saw him.

“Besides, everything I included in my report was true.” Louise turned back to the train as the workers slid the door closed.

“It will be helpful for you to be there with your squadron to install the new gears and monitor their effectiveness. We tested the gear as much as we could, but it hasn’t been tested as rigorously as I’d like.

A mechanic with your training and skills needs to be on hand in the field.

Not just for this, but for anything else we send your way. ”

Pip nodded, edging another step closer to the train. She’d helped with the new radios when those had arrived at Dar Goranth, and now she could help with this.

That record would, hopefully, mean that she would stay at Fort Defense with Fieran for the rest of the war. Lance Marion, Louise, and Bennett had things well in hand here. Another inventor might help, but not enough. Not the way she could help at the front lines with real-world testing.

The train gave a whistle. A warning that it was leaving soon.

“I need to board.” Pip turned to Louise. Should she hug? Elven hug? Just wave?

Louise didn’t seem to have any hesitation as she hugged Pip with the enthusiasm of a sister. “Stay safe. And keep Fieran safe, even though I know that’s a tall order.”

“I’ll do my best.” She knew all too well that she couldn’t promise anything more than that.

After returning Louise’s embrace, Pip stepped back, gripped her bag, and boarded the passenger car. She found a seat at the back. Right now, she was the only military passenger headed for the front, but she’d heard they’d be stopping to pick up a unit of infantry also bound for Fort Defense.

Within a few minutes, the train pulled from the station, the gates set in the wall opening to let them through.

Pip watched as the buildings and sprawl of Aldon flashed past the window. As this was a military train, it didn’t stop at any of the stations, though it remained at a slower speed until it left the last of the city behind.

She settled down for a nap. After all, today would be a long day of travel.

When the train slowed and pulled into the station at Fort Charibert, Pip roused and scrubbed at her eyes. The train car was about to become very crowded and very noisy. Her nap was definitely at an end.

After several minutes, she could hear the barking of sergeants outside of the train. Then a column of men in olive-green uniforms marched into the train car. They filled the train car from the front to the back until one of the men broke ranks to take the seat next to Pip.

Pip scrunched closer to the wall to give him more space. She had expected to have to share a seat, but she wasn’t in the mood for chitchat.

The young man had brown hair, brown eyes, and a complexion that had burned slightly pink instead of browning in all the time he must have spent out of doors during basic training. He smiled at her before he stuck out a hand to her. “Myles Kinsley.”

“Pippak Detmuk-Inawenys.” She shook his hand firmly, not sure why he was bothering with introductions. They would just be seat mates until Fort Defense, then they’d go their separate ways.

At her name, his grin broadened. “I thought so. Fieran’s girlfriend, right?”

“How…” Pip blinked, staring at the stranger next to her. How in Tarenhiel could this random man know that?

He glanced around before he lowered his voice. “I’m Fieran’s cousin. Well, cousin a couple of times removed. My grandfather is Fieran’s first cousin.”

Wait…if he was fully human and his grandfather was Fieran’s cousin…there was only one branch of Fieran’s family that fit that description.

“Then you’re a prince.” She gawked at him as the train shuddered into motion. “Aren’t you in line for the Escarlish throne?”

“Yes and yes.” Myles flashed that grin. Even though he was a cousin so far removed, the grin still reminded her of Fieran’s. “But I’m sixth in line for the throne. Far enough down that I’m allowed to join the army and contribute to the war effort.”

Sixth in line. He said it so casually. And here Pip had been intimidated by the fact that Fieran was somewhat in line for the Escarlish throne and seventh in line for the Tarenhieli throne.

Myles heaved a sigh. “Though I’m probably going to be stationed in headquarters as a clerk or adjutant or something. They aren’t going to send me to the front lines.”

“Be glad. The front lines are giant, dug-in mud pits.” Pip suppressed a shudder. Not that she’d seen them up close. But she’d gotten glimpses of them from the top of the bluffs, and she’d seen the mud-spattered clothing of those returning after the battle to rescue Fieran.

“Still.” Myles slumped against the seat behind him, his grin disappearing as he stared at the rows and rows filled with men before them. “My unit will be stationed there. I should be with them. Not given special treatment because my great-grandfather wears a crown.”

Now that Pip understood. She’d had the opportunity to stay in Aldon, but here she was, returning to the danger of Fort Defense to be with her unit. Because she couldn’t imagine her boys going into danger without her having their backs.

“I’m sorry. But I’m sure Fieran will appreciate having one of his cousins around.” Pip settled more comfortably on the seat. “Which brings us back to my original question. How did you know Fieran and I are courting?”

That had only become official a week ago. How had this random cousin learned it while at basic training?

“The family grapevine.” Myles grinned and stretched his legs out as far as he could under the bench in front of them without kicking the feet of the man sitting there.

“Louise talked to my sister who talked to me on my last call home before being sent to the front. My sister and I figured out that I was being sent on the same train as you.”

“Fieran wasn’t kidding when he said the family grapevine is scary.” Pip hugged her bag tighter to her stomach. She’d been worried about all the titles and fame in Fieran’s family. Turned out the family gossip chain was by far the more intimidating.

“It’s a force to be reckoned with, for sure.

” Myles tilted his head to rest it against the back of the seat.

He closed his eyes, as if settling in for some shut-eye of his own.

“The only reason Uncle Farrendel hasn’t heard already is that everyone is under strict instructions not to blow the surprise before Fieran has a chance to tell him in person. ”

Pip blew out a long breath and sagged against the back of the seat. “Everyone knows? Even King Averett?”

“Pretty much.” Myles cracked an eye open and gave her that lopsided grin again without stirring from his slouch. “But don’t worry. All I’ve heard are good things about you.”

Great. Pip squeezed her eyes shut and pretended to sleep. She’d known courting Fieran would be complicated. And yet this still threw her.

Fieran tried not to bounce on his toes as he waited for the train to chug its way into a stop.

The train station at Fort Defense was strangely crowded with some of the higher-ups, including Uncle Julien. Someone important must be arriving.

With a hiss of its air brakes, the train settled to a halt. At one end of the platform, crews descended on the cargo cars, opening the doors and loading crates onto various carts.

The door to the passenger car opened, and a sergeant stepped out, barking orders. He was followed by ranks of marching infantrymen dressed in crisp, olive-green uniforms.

Fieran blinked. Was that…no, it couldn’t be cousin Myles.

But when the man was pulled aside by Uncle Julien’s adjutant, Fieran got a good look at his face.

Yep, that was Myles. He must have volunteered for the army, and of course he would be stationed somewhere in headquarters.

Fieran would have to track him down to swap basic training stories when he had a chance.

Then Pip stepped from the train, and Fieran forgot all about his cousin, his uncle, and the audience crowding the platform. It didn’t matter that he’d only been separated from her for a few days. He dashed forward, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her right there in front of everyone.

When he set Pip back on her feet, she sent him an expression that was somewhere between a grin and a grimace. “As if your family grapevine didn’t have enough to gossip about.”

“Sorry. Should I have waited to kiss you?” Fieran took another half step back.

He and Pip hadn’t had much time to discuss what kind of boundaries they wanted, especially when it came to public displays of affection.

She’d said dwarves were more exuberant than elves, and he was naturally exuberant, but he wasn’t sure what she’d prefer.

“Yes. No.” Pip huffed a breath and adjusted her bag on her shoulder.

“It’s just…my parents don’t even know yet, and apparently most of your family has already found out.

And it’s not like it’s a secret. That’s the whole point of finally courting.

It’s just…a lot to learn a cousin of yours I hadn’t even met yet already knew.

” Pip’s voice dropped even further. “Apparently even King Averett knows.”

Fieran winced. He could see how that would be intimidating. “Sorry. We’ll have to tell Mak as soon as possible. Before he finds out from someone else.”

“Yes.” Pip jabbed a finger at where the workers were unloading the crates from the train. “I need to see to it that the new synchronization gears are properly delivered to our hangar, then we can go tell Mak and the flyboys.”

Fieran held Pip’s hand as the two of them strolled from the tram to the hangar. His heart hammered harder in his chest, but that was mostly just from holding her hand.

As soon as they stepped inside the hangar, the flyboys hurried toward them. But they halted in their tracks as, almost as one, their gazes dropped to Fieran’s and Pip’s clasped hands.

“Finally!” Lije grinned.

Stickyfingers swatted Tiny’s arm. “Told you.”

“It was rather obvious.” Pretty Face smoothed his mustache.

Deeper in the pack, a few of the flyboys exchanged money. As if they had been taking bets. Even some of the elven pilots exchanged looks, as if they had been expecting this.

“You all…knew?” Pip stepped closer to Fieran, her eyes wide.

Lije crossed his arms and huffed. “Duh. The two of you were obvious as sunflowers in a wheat field.”

“Why do you think none of the rest of us so much as flirted with Pip?” Pretty Face pointed a finger at his own chest. “Not even me.”

Aylia strode between the others and smirked at Fieran. “And why do you think I never flirted with you?”

“Yeah, the two of you have been walking around with big Taken signs.” Stickyfingers jabbed a finger first at Fieran, then at Pip. “No one dared get between you.”

Fieran shifted and shared a look with Pip. They really hadn’t been all that subtle.

Mak strode between the flyboys, halted in front of Fieran, and crossed his arms. “So. You’re courting my sister.”

Pip huffed, losing that hunched look. “Mak. Don’t you dare go all big brother on him.”

“It’s my job. I’m obligated.” Mak’s gaze didn’t waver from Fieran’s. “Don’t hurt her.”

Fieran held his gaze, his own stance firm. “I won’t.”

“Then we won’t have any problems.” Mak held out his hand, and Fieran gave it a firm shake.

Pip just huffed again and rolled her eyes, as if she was rather fed up with their male posturing.

Lije grinned and bumped Pip’s arm with his. “Well, it’s good to have you back, Pip. Things haven’t been the same without you here. You and Fieran.”

Fieran forced his smile to remain in place. Things wouldn’t be the same again. Not with Merrik fighting to walk again in Estyra. He might never return to active duty, much less flying in their squadron.

Pip drew her hand out of Fieran’s and planted her hands on her hips.

“All right, I’m glad to be back, but I need to get to work.

There’s a shipment of new synchronization gears that will be coming up the tram any moment.

I’d like to get them installed as soon as I can so there will be no more crashes from broken propellers. ”

Several of the flyboys cheered.

Fieran grinned and gestured in the direction of the tram platform. “Since everyone is so excited, who wants to volunteer to help haul the crates to the hangar?”

The groans were more exaggerated and halfhearted than real as the squadron trooped toward the platform.