Farryn

Chapter 5- Part 3

The train was pretty crowded, but Farryn found a seat in the back for her and Luli. Claud set to chatting with a man at the front, and she massaged her temple as she plotted her escape plan. The next station would hopefully be a lot more crowded. I can try to get lost in the crowd and then use the rest of my money to get to Sernaxa as fast as possible. She'd find Liviana and the pair would be gone before Claud could catch up.

The train doors closed as the last of the boarders found their seats. Farryn prayed no one would sit opposite her and Luli, but someone did; a tall woman wearing dark green, with polished brown boots. They had shiny bronze buckles, and Farryn admired them as the woman sat down.

"Oh my! Fancy seeing you here."

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up. A familiar face smiled at her. "I never did get your name, Miss. And neither did the Constable."

The Captain from the ship so many weeks ago was sitting opposite her. Farryn forced her mouth closed, searched the train for any other seat. Every other seat was full, and the train was already moving.

"I-" her throat was suddenly dry. "I'm afraid I don't know who you are," she said.

"Oh, don't lie." The Captain tutted. "I always remember a face. Especially one as pretty as yours, My Lady."

Her slimy smile widened as she regarded Luli. "And who's this?"

Farryn gripped Luli's hand and pulled her away. "Leave us be," she said, her fear apparent in her voice. I have to get out of here, now.

"Luli, do you need to pee?" she asked. Luli shook her head but Farryn was already standing up, tugging her out of her seat.

But the Captain extended a leg, blocking her path. "Why don't you sit here with me a while longer?" she asked. "If you move I'm afraid I'll have to alert one of the attendants that a criminal is on board." She crossed her legs, smiling up at Farryn. "I'd like to talk."

"I am not a criminal," Farryn said. 

"You seem to have blood on your hands." the Captain replied. She was still smiling. Why is she smiling? "Won't you honour my request? Sit. Let's talk."

Reluctantly, Farryn sat down. She wiped her palms on her skirt. My excuse. What was my excuse?

"You left the Constable's Stand in Berkerly's before he had a chance to speak with you," the Captain said. "That isn't the behaviour of an innocent woman, is it?"

"I was trying to reach my family as quickly as possible." Farryn lied. "That's why my niece here is with me. We've split, to hide from-" 

"Oh? But I thought you didn't know who I was?"

Never backtrack on a lie. Farryn could feel sweat trickling down her back. "My apologies. It took me a moment to remember you," she said. "I'm sorry if I made a negative impression. I-"

"I think you're lying to me." the Captain said. "And I think I'm going to report you." She got up, skirts swishing. Farryn rose too.

"Luli, we have to go," she said, panicked. She saw Claud notice her from down the aisle and get up, but she needed to get away from him too.

Jump. She hurried to the back of the train, and sure enough, there was a bathroom. She entered it and then shut the door behind her and Luli. It was a tiny room, with one toilet, a faucet, and a window.

She unlatched the window and a plume of smoke came billowing in. Luli started coughing as the footsteps pounding down the aisle towards them grew louder. Farryn stuck her head out the window. They weren't going too fast yet. The worst thing was the smoke, but they'd just have to deal with that.