The train hadn’t arrived at the Chancellor’s Estate until early evening. The village was far enough from the estate it would require them to camp overnight. Sticking around the estate for the night wasn’t going to do them any good. Both of them needed to get that initial arrival at the village done and over. The closer to the village they came, the more Todd’s stomach churned and his throat burned. Changes in Nick in the last twenty-four hours clued Todd into the fact Nick’s stress level was at boiling point.
A few hours’ ride, not cooped up in the train, being out in the fresh air and they’d both be tired enough to sleep. No matter how dedicated to engaging Nick in conversation Todd was while they rode, he was met with little more than one- or two-word answers. Nick’s clenched jaw and th
