The Wilds (Reign and Ruin 1) by Jules Hedger Page B

"We've found her."
    ***
    When I opened my eyes
I immediately saw that the train had left the forest far behind. We
were flying along the bottom of a valley, ringed with gnarled hills
tanned from the sun's glare. The fields spread out over the land to
meet the hills like the patchwork on a giant quilt and there were
men and women working, presumably sowing and cultivating different
kinds of agriculture or whatever people grew out in the sticks. I
blinked at the sunlight shining out over the land and looked
quickly to the seat across from me. The coal man was gone.
     
    The farmers
stood up as the train rushed past and raised their arms to shield
the glare that ricocheted off the black metal in short bursts of
brilliance. Their working clothes looked ragged and frequently
patched. Some wore straw hats. They waved rather mechanically as we
sped past. None of them cracked a smile or a frown. Their faces
remained as tanned and smooth as the top of my mom's polished
dining room table.
    I began to
notice our speed decreasing, which I assumed meant we were at our
destination. Which meant Cirrus. I strained my neck around the
corner into the walkway, but there was no sign of anyone. The train
car seemed deserted, which struck me as odd because . . . well,
obviously.
    Well, screw
this then, I'm getting off.
    As I made my
way down the car, I could see the front train ahead pulling slowly
into a station. The sides of the valley were much closer on either
side and densely wooded with strong, dark green fir trees. But the
station seemed civilized enough and I wagered that if I jumped off
just before the train stopped moving, I could run fast enough to
get lost again in the trees. As long as the coal man didn't see
me.
    And that's when
I suddenly remembered the feel of cold metal through fabric and the
weight of something slip along the side of my jacket.
    My hands
fumbled for my pocket and pulled out a short knife. It was a silver
switch blade and shiny as a mirror. Had the coal man given me a
weapon after nearly sticking me like a roast pig? Why would he do
something like that?
    In my wonder of
finding something so unexpected in my pocket, I didn't notice until
it was too late that the train had stopped and the car door had
been thrown open.
    "Are you
Maggie?" I jumped and whipped the blade behind my back. I looked
down to see a young man standing nonchalantly with his hands tucked
into the pockets of his pants, regarding me with a curious smile.
His light brown hair was straggly and cut unevenly and his dress
shirt was untucked. His skin was a healthy pink and he looked
positively, utterly normal.
    "Yes, I am," I
replied slowly. The man's smile broke into a grin that showed his
crooked teeth. He strode the rest of the way across the platform
and took my hand in both of his.
    "Well, thank
goodness we got to you in time. This train was on its way to
Cirrus, wasn't it?"
    "What do you
know about Cirrus?" The man tapped his nose and winked.
    "You two might
be the main players but you didn't think Cirrus was the only one
who could use pawns, did you?" He shook his head and laughed. Oh,
he sounded so happy. It was infectious and there was a moment
before I realized my face had relaxed into a cautious smile.
    "Where am
I?"
    "Maggie, I have
the distinct honor of welcoming you to Lucky Creek. And of
introducing you to the Mayor." The man bowed and then shrugged
awkwardly. "That's me. Fifth time elected."
    He took my hand
and led me down onto the platform. His eyes lingered on the gold
dreamcatcher, but when he saw me notice he looked quickly away. "My
name is Tyler. At your service. Bless you, you're a long way from
the Middle Canvas. But we can get you fed and rested and set you
back on your way again, how does that sound? You must be exhausted
. . ."
    Tyler kept
talking as we walked out of station, leaving the now silent train
abandoned on the tracks. I cautiously slipped the knife into my
jacket pocket as he told me about Lucky Creek and the