Page 95 of Wolf of Ashes
I raise myself up and keep the fire mages in my sights while Jonah gives us an explanation of what to expect.
“Orlan will stand guard at the back of the car,” Jonah says. “Gad and Valki will be at the front. We have seats in the center, and we’ll remain with Elijah at all times. There are five stops between here and Boston. We can expect the occupants of the car to change at every stop. No matter what happens, we don’t leave Elijah’s side unless we have no other choice. We’re his final line of defense.”
“Got it,” I say, but my speech is drowned out by the very loud voice that blares through the air and announces that the train will depart in two minutes.
I flinch at the booming voice and so does Elijah.
It’s not the first time the loudspeaker—as Diavolo called it—has set my teeth on edge tonight, but it’s so much worse on the platform, where the noise echoes and seems to strike through my head.
I shake out the tension in my shoulders, hating that both Vanguard and Jonah would have seen me jump. Thankfully, they’re both focused on Elijah now.
Vanguard bends to his son, scooping up the boy’s hands.
The corners of Elijah’s mouth turn down even further. His voice sounds for the first time and it’s very small. Very lost. “I don’t want to go.”
Vanguard’s shoulders are tense, and his response is quiet. “You know why you must.”
The boy’s shoulders hunch even further. Tears trickle from beneath his sunglasses and his voice is bleak. “Please, Daddy, don’t send me away.”
Vanguard presses his forehead to his son’s forehead. Tears fill his eyes before he squeezes them closed. “Sending you away is the hardest thing I’ll ever do, Elijah. But I won’t risk you being killed. The people you’re going to stay with will protect you and teach you how to use your power.” His voice breaks, strained as he continues. “Don’t follow in my footsteps. Find your own way.”
With that, he lurches upright, spinning to Jonah. “Don’t trust anyone. Not even our own team.”
Jonah taps his heart with his fist. “I’ll protect Elijah with my life.”
At that, Vanguard plows away along the platform, not once looking back.
I’m struck by how bleak this moment is. Vanguard loves his son so much that he’ll send him away to keep him safe. To enemies, no less. It makes me wonder, if my mother had had the same option, would she have chosen to keep me at her side, or would she have set me on a new path even if it meant giving me up?
I’m startled out of my darkening thoughts when a cool hand slips into mine.
I look down to find Elijah beside me, his little fingers gripping my hand, his face upraised.
I can only blink down at him. I would not have expected him to gravitate toward me, since surely, he knows Jonah well.
Jonah doesn’t look happy about it, casting glances at Elijah’s hand around mine, but even when I tug a little, the boy doesn’t let me go.
He’s got a mighty grip, I’ll give him that.
I cast Jonah a helpless shrug. His lips press together in a stern line, but he steps toward the open doors, never quite turning his back on us.
Ahead of him, Orlan enters the car, and I sense the keeper close at my back.
Elijah doesn’t say anything to me, doesn’t even swipe at the tears trickling to his chin, as he tugs me after Jonah.
Once inside the car, I spot Gad and Valki in the distance. They’re sitting in the aisle seats in the front row, facing inward. There’s a transparent door into a small corridor situated behind and between their seats, through which the next car is visible.
We pass silently by Orlan, who takes an aisle seat in the first row near the doors at the back of the car. I catch the way his forefinger runs across every surface he can reach, noting the little swirls he makes. Drawing spells, perhaps.
We maneuver past multiple humans, who are all finding their seats. As soon as they catch sight of Anarchy in her harness, they step aside, squeezing themselves between seats if they have to. I’m not sure if it’s because they think my vision is impaired and they’re trying to be considerate, or because she’s fierce and they don’t want to be anywhere near her.
Finally, we reach the center of the car, where there are two larger seating areas on each side of the aisle. Each area is made up of two seats facing each other with leg space between them. Perfect for families or groups of friends, I imagine.
Jonah indicates that we’re to enter the seating area on the right.
Elijah tugs me forward and takes the window seat facing the front of the car. He hasn’t let go of my hand and it compels me to sit beside him, also facing in that direction.
Great. The seats may be high, but both Gad and Valki can smirk at me this way.
