Train In Tow

By M. K. Dreysen

A time when webs spin and grow.

Freedom, so close he can taste it. The prisoner knows, expands his reach, his
grasp. To those who welcome his call. And to those who will risk everything to
stop it.

Jane has listened to that call since birth. She's given everything to follow
the trail that led her to this place of ice and snow. All that she was, that
she might have been, has been sacrificed to free Chad from his imprisonment.

Jane has killed. She will kill again. Whatever it takes.

But her master has other plans now. Other means of getting what he wants.
And Megan, the queen, is close, ever so close, to knowing Jane's secret. The
queen, her daughter, her daughter's tutor and best friend. Each and every one
of them has a piece of the puzzle.

They know. Justice chases her heels, and the path Jane travels shifts beneath
her feet. Will she fall?

Or will her master throw her to the wolves first?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. K. Dreysen
• Release date: Sep 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370247783

Book preview

Train in Tow

Open Wounds, Book 3

By M. K. Dreysen

Copyright © 2017 M. K. Dreysen

Aimward Drift Publications. Visit aimwarddrift.blogspot.com for news, updates, and upcoming stories.

Dedication

As ever, to my family and my friends.

But most especially for my wife and daughter, with all my love.

Book III.

Chapter 1: Waiting might be hard, if 'twere not for…

When he finally did wake up, sometime before the false dawn, the first thing James worried about was whether his head was going to fall off. He'd had hangovers before. At one time in his life, they'd been a more or less daily occurrence, but this was a bit more than he was used to, now. He, barely, managed to hang onto his stomach, for which he was more than a little grateful. He didn't want to know what it would do to his head to retch at the moment.

The second thing he worried about was whether he had enough strength to get to the jakes. He tried work up the courage to roll over; only the threat of doing something in bed that he'd managed to avoid over most of the past thirty years was enough to stir him out. He hoped that the shakes that overtook him when he stumbled back to the bed were simply relief, and not a sign of further after effects.

Those were the third thing he worried about. Everything he thought he knew told him that there shouldn't have been this sort of hangover, just from seeing the inside of a dying man's mind. Sure, a backlash of some sort, that he could understand. But this felt like the poison in Mark's mind had bridged the mental gap to infect him, as well. Which was just silly. It was something physical that made the Captain sick, there's no way contact with him would have poisoned me as well, he thought. It's not like it was a disease.

Thinking about what he had been through brought on a wave of nausea, and James fell back into repetition of brief thoughts, each devoted solely to making sure that he didn't re-decorate his room as vomitorium. Eventually the effort paid off, and he curled up to sleep a few more hours.

The brief respite was barely sufficient to keep himself steady when Celeste barged in. Are you awake yet? she asked, and then sat down on the edge of his bed to feel his forehead. It can't really have been that bad, shouldn't you be up and around by now?

James groaned, and swatted her hand away. Yes, it was that bad, and no, I'm not up and around. And if you keep moving around like that, you're going to regret what happens next. He turned his head into his pillow, and avoided the dry heaves through main effort. He was hoping the girl would get the point, and leave him to suffer in peace, but no such luck.

I can run and get a bucket, if it'll help, she offered.

Why are you trying to make me feel like I have to pay for a night of sins?

Because you've been neglecting my education. She got up to sort through the mess around his bed. Oh, gross, was her only comment when she found the sick bin.

James considered that, as he was slowly taking roll of his body parts. Everything seemed to be in place and ready to go, except his head, which was still trying to put together a general strike. Everything else voted for a little more action. I guess there's nothing for it, then, he mumbled to himself. He tried to put a stern expression of disapproval on his face, he figured that his mutinous head would be willing to help with that much, at least. He sat up to face his student.

Can you at least put that out in the hall, or maybe just run it down to the jakes and throw it away?

Nope, I'm not leaving. You'll just bar the door behind me and sleep for the rest of the week. To show that she wasn't completely heartless, the princess picked up the used chamber pot and carefully carried it out into the hallway. There, no more excuses, drag yourself out and let's see what you have to say for yourself.

'How did this relationship get inverted?' he asked himself. Fair enough, but you're going to have to go out and close the door. He held the bedclothes up to his chest, waiting until she got the point and left. Then it was time to scrounge up clothes that didn't smell too bad, and scrape his hair into something resembling sanity.

When he stuck his head out the door, she was sitting glumly on the other side of the hall. Can I have five minutes? he asked. I'd really like to brush my teeth.

She shrugged her shoulders, and brushed past him to requisition his chair. He shook his head and went to the fireplace to finish his ablutions.

Once he finally rinsed his mouth and spit into the coals, he was starting to feel alive again.

Celeste waited for the usual next step. The Brother usually had half a dozen lessons ready for her, and could often be counted on to let a few of them fall just getting to breakfast. But when he stood there, staring off into space, she started to worry that maybe he wasn't recovered enough to manage the morning. Hey, should I just go get you something to eat?

James pulled himself back from his reverie. You probably wouldn't mind another day or two off, would you? I was trying to remember where we were. If you see me wandering, just let me know. He started toward the stairs, and the princess fell into pace with him. He was moving much slower than usual.

By the time they made it down to the courtyard, he was already flagging. Look, if you're willing, I'm going to take you up on the offer. I'm going to go sit on that bench and enjoy the sunshine. If you would, please, grab us a bit of bread, and maybe some milk or tea? I think that would do me just fine. He sat down with a grunt, and waved her off toward the kitchens. Besides, this'll give me a chance to think of something for you to work on.

Celeste nodded assent, though she stopped to take a long look at him, just to make sure he didn't fall over before she opened the door to the kitchens.

James took the chance to enjoy peace and quiet while his pupil was tending to the mundane of breakfast. At least, before Bill woke him up from the nap he didn't realize he was taking. I wasn't sleeping, honest, the teacher protested after he jerked awake to see Bill sitting next to him, shaking his head.

You might believe that, but no one walking by would. I heard your snoring clear across the yard. Why aren't you in your room?

The Brother wiped at the corners of his eyes. If it wasn't for earning my keep, I would be. He nodded at the kitchens, where Celeste was emerging with a tray full of something that steamed lightly in the morning air.

Bill looked over his shoulder. When he saw what she was carrying, he jumped up to 'help' her carry the tray the rest of the way.

James smiled at the inevitable bickering. Celeste refused to give up the fruits of her labor. If you want breakfast, go get it yourself, this is not for you! She set the tray down, and pulled a fork from it to emphasize her point. You'll draw back a bleeder.

The young man rolled his eyes, and then tried to grab a sticky bun. He feinted with each hand until she'd left him an opening. When she jabbed him anyway, he slumped down to the ground in front of the bench, the web of his hand tucked between his lips. He took it away to look for blood, then dabbed at the oozing wounds with the tip of his tongue. Damn, Celeste, you didn't really have to stab me, did you?

Quit your whining, I told you I would. She sipped from her mug, the fork held casually on her lap for when Bill tried her again.

He looked mournfully at the tray, considering it, but then turned his back on it. James thought this rather well done, but scored the overall match in Celeste's favor.

The thought, and the game, was cut short on a gasp from Bill, really just a tensing of his muscles that James wasn't sure he'd really seen, until he saw Jane's head out of the corner of his eye. She was looking from the dining room door, down toward the corner tower. She appeared not to have seen any of them, yet. From the angle Bill was sitting at, she was probably straight in front of him. But why did Bill react that way to her, James asked himself.

If he could have reached out with his mind, Brother James would have found why. But, he was still too confused and worn out. As it was, both he and Celeste were caught out by the strength of Bill's reaction. Both found themselves holding their breath as the seneschal examined the courtyard.

She seemed at first to not have seen anything amiss, and walked out a few steps in the direction of the tower. Then, before she made her way into the sunshine, she took one last look around, and saw the teacher and his students studiously ignoring her. The three kept not looking, and not noticing, as Jane turned back for the door into the cafeteria.

Celeste let out an explosive breath, but only after Jane went through the door. She saw us, why didn't she react?

She did react. Wherever she was going, she decided against it. James stretched, but kept watch on Bill out of the corner of his eye. The young man was busy looking through a bundle of notes that he was carrying. The Brother couldn't see enough to tell what it was that Bill was working on, but he figured that it was probably one of the queen's assignments. Anyway, enough of that. You and I, young lady, have lessons to return to. He looked pointedly at his charge.

Who immediately dove back into her breakfast. Just as soon as we finish this.

James chuckled.

Bill stood up, checked his notes, then stole an apple from the tray. I can take the hint. Besides, I don't want your mom to have more time to think up something else for me to do. He waved the apple at them in goodbye, then took off across the yard. James didn't see, but Celeste noticed that Bill stood for a moment while he tried to decide which door he wanted to take. Then he shrugged his shoulders and made his way across the courtyard to the tower entrance.

Since she still wasn't very good at keeping her thoughts to herself, she wondered out loud, I wonder what he's so worried about that he'd take the long way around?

James looked up in time to see Bill opening the door into the tower. Just ask him.

Nah, if it's something to do with Mother, he'll try and come up with a reason why he can't tell me. And she'll remind me that it's none of my business, anyway. She wiped the crumbs from her lap, and waited for the Brother to finish his tea. Now, where are we off to today?

Bill's moment of indecision was very real. Going through the cafeteria meant that he could end up running into Jane. Or, if he instead went down to the tower, and came back up the hallway to the queen's office, then if Jane had walked through the hall to get there without going across the courtyard in full view of Bill and company, then he would instead run into her in the hall or the tower, alone. Not that Bill would admit he was afraid of being alone with her. Again. In the dark.

But, if she had gone to the tower, what business did she have there?

The queen's spymaster might very well have reason to investigate, wouldn't he, Bill's imagination suggested. Another, quieter voice wondered what the use was of making all the plans, conveniently tucked under his arm, if he wasn't going to use them.

A good sensible voice tried desperately to ask that they hold such thinking until the notes and plans had been reviewed by responsible adults, especially the queen, and wouldn't it really be nice that someone a bit larger follow her around? With a sword, perhaps?

That voice was almost immediately drowned in a chorus of mummers' cheers, and Bill settled the inner debate by setting off toward the tower.

He didn't think about the fact that the queen's spymaster was manfully walking to his, er, doom with the princess as witness, no he did not. That would have been silly. Spies did their best work unnoticed, right?

The door to the little tower was tucked away into a stonework patio, impressed within the stones of the wall. The outer passages of the rest of the castle were covered against the snows of winter, though particularly bad blizzards usually meant that they would have to be dug out en masse. The covered walkways were an essential part of the life of the castle, otherwise work during the cold seasons would be well nigh impossible. This particular door was an exception; the tower's inaccessibility gave precious little reason to get in from the outside, especially since the hallway that led from inside was never going to get snowed in.

Still, it was also the only other exit from the queen's study, so she'd made sure to build the door when the place was being put together. You never did know when having another way out might turn out to be a good investment. Besides, she didn't want to have to take the thing apart again if she decided that she actually needed it. Better safe than sorry.

Here, in the bright sunshine of the late Arctic summer, the alcove enclosing the door clutched its shadows. Bill at first appreciated them. He thought the shade entirely appropriate to the proceedings, as spying is usually best done away from prying eyes. When he passed beneath the portico, and reached out for the doorknob while his eyes adjusted, those imaginative thoughts were chased out of his mind. 'What on earth am I doing?' was the question that he whispered. He didn't really expect an answer.

So, when a young boy's voice responded with I think you're coming back to start a new game with me, Bill's jump could have been timed with a sundial. At least, that's how it felt while he was hanging in the air.

Goddamn. He looked around, but there was no one there. At least on this side of the door. Who the hell is that?

A giggle came from the door itself, though that just meant that there was someone on the other side. Don't you remember me, Bill?

It took concentration for the memory to click in place. A few things had happened in the time since Bill met his 'playmate'. Chad? Now that he had a hold of it, he wrestled some more with the memory, trying to put a face to the name. There was nothing to associate with it, just something about a kid playing hide and seek in the old tower fort.

I wondered if you'd catch up. You never did come back and visit me.

Bill scratched his head. I thought you'd left with your family. Did you move in to the castle or something? Now Bill was really confused. He knew that he'd been face down in all the things that the queen had demanded of him, but there was no way that a new family with a kid could have moved into the little world of the castle without him knowing about it. Well, almost no way, maybe over the past couple of weeks, with the dead bodies and all.

Hey, Bill, wake up, don't wander away. There was another giggle as Bill brought himself back to the conundrum in front of him.

He decided there was really only one thing to do. If nothing else, having another person (even if it was only a kid) with him would help if Jane did come along. Strength in numbers, and all that. So he reached for the handle again.

But Chad stopped him. Are you sure you want to come in here, Bill? Here, there be monsters.

Bill stopped his laughter before it could get away. Now he remembered enough about his previous meeting with the boy to know that Chad took his playtime very seriously. What kind of game are you playing? I can play for a bit, if you'd like.

Another giggle. Oh, Bill, I think that I'd like that. But you might not. Are you sure?

Bill wondered what his young friend might be up to. There was a voice in his head that suggested that the queen's mood wasn't improving the longer it took for him to report in. Still, it would be nice to find out what the little puke looked like, and who he belonged to. Bill gripped the handle and pushed the door open, just