No! He stood suddenly and grabbed his bag. He would exit onto the platform to wait for Azriel, and they would find another way to Solar’s Edge, together.
Just as he stepped toward the aisle, the train lurched forward, and he was knocked back by the sheer force of the motion.
It was too late.
Tears sprang to his eyes, and he buried his face in his coat, overcome with grief and bone-deep fear.
Chapter 28
“Sir, are you all right?” the train guard asked as he came through the corridor leading to the other compartments. Galen had been sitting in the same position, dull with grief, since the train began moving some minutes ago. He must’ve looked stricken if the man had to ask, so he needed to pull himself together in case others around him grew wary of his morose disposition.
“Yes, thank you,” he said, swiping at his eyes and straightening in his seat. “I…I have my ticket, here, if you need to check it.”
Just as he was digging in his coat pocket to retrieve it, the conductor spoke again. “This fellow has reserved a seat beside you. He was late boarding the train and ended up in the wrong compartment.”
Galen’s eyes sprang up as the guard stepped aside, revealing the man, and Galen thought he was hallucinating. Because Azriel was standing before him, and he’d never seen a more stunning sight. Azriel was panting, undoubtedly because he must’ve run most of the way back to the train so he could board in time.
Galen’s cheeks hurt from grinning so hard—and possibly the passengers thought him mad, his sudden switch from sniffling to pure joy giving them whiplash. He wanted to rush to Azriel, pull him close and make sure he was real, but then surely that would cause an even bigger spectacle.
“You made it,” Galen said, his wobbly voice betraying him.
“Just in time,” Azriel replied, still attempting to catch his breath, but his smile matched Galen’s own. “This gentleman was kind enough to help me locate my compartment.”
“All settled, then?” the guard said, his tone slightly impatient now, and when they both nodded, off he went to check more tickets or whatever other duties he had on the train that probably kept him quite busy.
The entire compartment seemed focused on them as Azriel took his seat, but he still sat close enough to press their shoulders together, which made Galen tremble with relief. When Azriel’s floral scent hit his nostrils, it calmed Galen even further.
“Well, isn’t the sight of you good for sore eyes?” Galen said softly. “I was convinced we would be separated, and I wasn’t certain in what state that might leave us.”
“I promised you,” Azriel murmured, and Galen’s shoulders unwound. Everything would be fine—they would be safe—as long as they were together.
“What happened?” he asked, once he was able to calm his racing pulse.
“I made it to Enchantment and alerted Madam Fairborn.” Azriel motioned to his bag. “And I kept part of the root. Who knows in what condition we’ll find Solar’s Edge.”
“Brilliant.” Then he pressed his thigh to Azriel’s and said, “I’m sorry you had to leave so suddenly when you would’ve no doubt been needed by Madam Langley at the apothecary.”
“I will be needed elsewhere too. I have to believe that,” Azriel replied, but Galen noted the concern in his eyes. “We both will.”
Galen hoped that was true. That he could find himself useful in some capacity—and not an encumbrance. Never an encumbrance again. It made him think of his aunt and uncle and how they were faring—if they were faring.
“And besides”—Azriel nudged him—“this only means our plans came to fruition earlier than expected.”
“Indeed.”
They’d both rested their hands on their knees, and Azriel’s was so close to his, Galen’s fingers itched to tangle them together. Azriel must’ve had the same thought because he moved his hand a fraction, as if to bridge the gap between them.
When a lady coughed on the train, Azriel bristled. “We must also try to keep ourselves healthy in the process.”
“We shall take care of each other,” Galen replied, and he thought he would never tire of Azriel’s tender grin.
The journey continued peacefully, and for a while Galen rested his head against the window. Unfortunately, it was too dark to appreciate the countryside as they passed through it, but he was grateful to be able to have this opportunity at all.
As if reading his thoughts, Azriel said softly, “This was your dream, was it not? To travel by railway?”
A small gasp escaped him. “You remember that? I thought for certain you were asleep that night.”
“I remember,” he said with the hint of a smile. “So…is it as you envisioned?”
He would not admit it was nothing like it. But it no longer mattered. Everything in his life had shifted, bringing what was important into sharper view.