Rook Academy: The Chronicles of a Hunter

Chapter 3

The hours pass by like water flows down a stream, quickly with fleeting moments of interest but mostly the same constant path. Astrid and I chat, sleep, joke and hide for a majority of our extensive and boring trip to the outskirts of Ugäri; the trip itself takes only a few days but in that short time period Astrid and I are forced, on more than one occasion, to hide behind the mounds of boxes and crates as security guards make regular daily sweeps of the carriages. They quickly find the patch of blood but given how old this train is and the decrepit state it is already in they quickly wave it off; similar to how they ignore the open chest and simply lock it shut once again.

All in all though, we spend three days on the train before we are even in sight of the city. It appears on the horizon like a mirage with one half of the city showing bright vibrant building and the other side is a mass of military tents, with a large wooden wall dividing the city. I had assumed the train schedule I had looked at was real, but then again I also believed my train was for passengers and had a less then reputable friend make up a forged set of tickets.

I stand on one of the crates and stare out at the city from the dusty windows. Taking in the view before looking down to Astrid who lies sprawled out on the floor counting vials of brightly coloured liquids.

"Well, there's Ugäri... and in about ten minutes I reckon it'll be gone."

I jump down from the crate and smile at her panicked face as she jumps up in shock. Dropping various vial from their balanced place on her midriff.

"Wait, wait, wait. I thought you said the train was stopping there!"

I shrug, it brings a wave of discomfort but nothing as unbearable as it had been. The wound hadn't been as deep as I had thought and it's already began healing over; still though I think I'll get a quick fix when we do arrive in Ugäri.

"Well, Aoife fooled me once so shame on him but now... it's shame on me. I never checked the official train schedule when we arrived in Dorminth, it's probably sheer luck this train is even passing by."

Astrid scrambles to recollect her vials and I help, handing back the brightly coloured bottles which she quickly stores away in her pouches. The only label I do manage to catch is one which she has wrote on herself which simply states 'acid'.

"Azzie, you have some very dangerous toys you know that?"

"What toys did you expect me to have."

"You really want me to answer that?"

She looks confused for a moment, but that quickly turns to shock and she begins spluttering out a rebuttal through giggles and laughter.

"Tali you dirty...ugh, ANYWAYS, we're getting off topic, how're we getting to Ugäri?"

"No denial then?"

She jokingly slaps my arm, but I see a red blush spreading across her face in embarrassment from the mere notion.

"Tali!"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

We laugh together for a moment before I indicate to the backdoor of the caboose.

"If the train isn't stopping then I think we have a very clear line of action, don't you?"

Astrid looks to the door and then back to me, she then looks away from me and begins twisting her hair in her fingers, a thoughtful look in her eyes. She gets like this when she's nervous but that's completely understandable. I am asking her to jump off a speeding train after all.

"Umm Tali, I don't think we should try and get off... We're travelling really fast... And you're already hurt..."

We walk out together onto the back of the caboose, she looks worried as we stand by the railings, watching the track flying by under our feet as the jets of wind breeze through our hair.