“Awkward.”
He laughs again and nods. “To put it mildly.”
“So we have a special railcar for sleeping? How clever.”
“Yes. I wasn’t sure which one we’d get. Some of them have separate beds. I think my father is plotting against us.”
Elowyn smiles at that. “I see. Well, I’m glad he seems to like me.”
“Yes.” Rominy draws out the word. “So, you can sleep in here, and I’ll—”
“Don’t be silly. There’s plenty of room for us both.”
He stares at her, his heart thundering again.
“Unless you’d rather sleep in a chair,” she continues.
He shakes his head.
“Then it’s settled. It will be awkward, but we’ll do our best to manage.”
He opens his mouth, but no words come, and eventually, he nods.
“So, what do you do on trains to pass the time?” she asks.
It takes him a moment to find his tongue. “There are some games we could play.”
“Sounds delightful. I will warn you, I am quite competitive.” She smiles up at him, and he manages a half-grin in return.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Carry On
Episode 32
Ceriangroansashepaces his chamber. He said he wouldn’t run from her.
Then he ran.
He should go back. Apologize.
He cringes at the thought.
He’s never been good at apologizing, though he’s already had practice with Arisanna from when he ran at their binding feast.
She’s probably hungry. She plied him with nuts and berries until he was ready to burst, but she ate nothing herself.
Some binding partner he is. Her first morning in his home, and he doesn’t even feed her.
He just abandons her. Not once but twice, and it’s barely mid-morning.
Groaning again, he lobs a set of fireballs at the stone-lined fireplace across the room.
She deserves better than this. Better than him.
With a frustrated huff, he strides toward the door and wrenches it open.
And there she is, standing outside his chamber, looking slightly terrified.
