Vaener, Ausicaa

A violent lurch on the train jolted Brenna from her slumber.

Her gray eyes flicked open in panic as her body careened forward. Passengers shrieked and clamored around her. The force from the sudden suspension would've likely flung her clear out of the seat had it not been for Squadron Leader Ariss' quick reflexes. His arms shot out just in time to catch her flailing, toppling form. He held her through the worst of the propulsion, flush against his chest, as the train screeched to a full stop.

As their train sat on the tracks at a complete standstill, he asked, "Are you alright?"

Brenna's sense of alarm faded as she glanced up at him. Embarrassment pinkened her cheeks. The green-eyed boy's arms were still wrapped tightly around her, and she was practically sitting in his lap.

"Yes, thank... thank you!"

Brenna scrambled to get away for propriety's sake, but Squadron Leader Ariss didn't loosen his embrace until Roshe began to yowl and snort loudly, expressing his obvious displeasure as he clawed and tugged at Squadron Leader Ariss' person in much the same way he had fended off her hapless suitors from Lachsea not so long ago.

With a huff, Brenna ordered Roshe to clamp down his overt hostility. She apologized to her squadron leader for the umpteenth time. If only they weren't surrounded by so many other passengers. Brenna desperately wished she could remove the magical amulet around Roshe's neck. The poor beast was constantly being misunderstood by the people around them, and she wanted to show Squadron Leader Ariss that her "cousin" truly meant no harm and was merely acting on animal instinct.

Brenna had a feeling that her squadron leader didn't quite believe it when she claimed Roshe to be an honest-to-goodness wolf disguised as a human. Despite his skepticism, however, he wasn't disrespectful towards Roshe. Back at the Station, their fellow cadets always retaliated angrily and violently to Roshe's wolfish antics, but Squadron Leader Ariss never reacted like the others. For this, Brenna was grateful. His calm, unflappable composure was perhaps the only thing keeping Roshe's behavior in check at the moment.

After Roshe's most recent show of animosity, Squadron Leader Ariss had simply untangled himself from Brenna in a most gentleman-like manner—as though nothing at all was amiss—and slid back into his chair without another word. His level of self-possession and poise was inspiring. In fact, the more time Brenna spent in her squadron leader's company, the more she came to admire the tall, handsome boy.

Sorcha must have chosen him for this very reason.

Nothing ever seemed to rattle Squadron Leader Ariss. His nerves were strong as steel and grounded like oak root. In the past few weeks, she had observed him like a curious pupil. He was the undisputed leader of their squadron. The other boys sought him out for guidance during training exercises as well as matters beyond their cadet duties. They respected him. Squadron Leader Ariss' mind had a way of pulling unseen solutions from problems that often stumped others.

Brenna wanted to learn from him. She wanted to be more like him.

In a shy voice, she murmured, "Thank you again, K-Kaz. Truly."

His lips tilted with amusement. "Whatever are you thanking me for now, Bren?"

"For agreeing to entertain this mad, grand scheme of mine. For always treating us with such kindness. I know, at times, Roshe can be a lot to handle. I feel as though I owe you far more than I could ever repay."

Squadron Leader Ariss sighed. "You think too highly of me, Bren. I, for one, do not doubt in your ability to repay my efforts. And I am sure your cousin has his reasons for acting out—as we all do. I am simply grateful that no harm came to us... yet. I cannot help but worry. Our train stopped rather abruptly just now, don't you think? I hope everything is alright."

Brenna shrugged. "The engine must have malfunctioned. I admit, the train systems and railways in Ausicaa tend to err on the side of being outdated and under serviced, but I am sure the engineers will have things up and running in no time."

Squadron Leader Ariss' expression tightened into a grimace. His eyes kept darting behind them as though he was checking on something or someone. "I wish I possessed your confidence. How far would you say we are from Vaener?"

Brenna peeked outside their cabin window. The late afternoon sun was beginning to sink into the horizon. Barren mountainscapes and craggy, misty hills greeted them with no signs of the actual township in sight. Only trees and rocks and fog stretching as far as the eye could see.

She frowned. "Vaener is still dozens of miles away, I would imagine. We have yet to pass Lake Sennach. Once you see the lake, the township should be nearby."

The lights in their train car began to cut in and out. Some of the neighboring passengers twittered and gasped.

In more urgent tones, Squadron Leader Ariss inquired, "Do you know where the closest exits on the train are located?"

"No, why?"

"I do not wish to frighten you, Bren," he muttered in a low voice, "but I think we ought to move closer to the exits. Just in case."

Brenna's mouth parted in surprise. "Whatever for? Are we... in danger?"

"I think someone is following us. And the fact that our train is stalled here makes me rather nervous. I hope I am wrong, I hope it is nothing, but, in the event that my paranoia is confirmed, we must act now and do everything possible to remove ourselves from jeopardy."

Her eyes grew wide with fear. "Who is following us? Is this person on the train... right now?"

He nodded curtly. "He is sitting two rows behind us. A Zan man in Levish clothing."

Brenna's stomach dropped. Her heart began to pound. As she was about to turn around and look for a stranger who might fit this description, Squadron Leader Ariss commanded lightly, "Do not look at him, Bren. It will only draw attention to us."

In a shaky whisper, she asked, "What could he possibly want from us?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Squadron Leader Ariss replied grimly. "Come along. I want to find the exits now."

One by one, Brenna, Roshe, and Squadron Leader Ariss rose from their seats. The lights overhead continued to flicker. The three of them wandered down the cabin aisle to the next car over until they found some empty seats beside an emergency exit door.

Right as Brenna was about to sit down again, the lights in the train blacked out completely. The sun had set at this point, and her surroundings became shrouded in shadow and darkness. She could barely make out the faces of Roshe and Squadron Leader Ariss. The people around them gasped. Soon, the cabin was buzzing with confusion and alarm.

Amidst the commotion, Brenna felt a light tap on her shoulder.

An unfamiliar voice with a thick foreign accent hissed into her ear, "Come with me, Your Highness, if you and your comrades wish to live. The House of Givenue has no intention of letting you off this train alive."