“I’m fine,” Arlen said.
“It affects everyone differently,” Sterling mused. “Perhaps you—”
“I’m fine,” Arlen bit out again.
“The Boundary is invisible, Arlen,” Elroy said, his voice low, worried. “It’s marked by stones and a wall in some places, but it’s not actually visible to the naked eye. Perhaps we need to get you to a healer in Freetown.”
Well, wasn’t that something.
“Ah, my mistake.” He turned his attention back to the window so he wouldn’t have to see any more silent conversations so full of uncomfortable meanings.
It was hard being set apart by station, by perspective, by life, and now by shine. Arlen had been fighting to go west for most of his life. The great, yawning frontier always called to him, all those open skies and untamed mountains. It was a place where a man could live whatever life he chose. There was a certain unabashed freedom in the idea that always appealed to him. Despite his yearning, his father had always denied him the opportunity to travel, preferring to keep him close. Now, Arlen was here, and the Boundary felt more like a shroud than a rite of passage. One more difference distancing him from everyone else.
“Will we have lodgings when we arrive in Freetown?” He asked. Anything, to change the focus.
“We’ve rented rooms near the governor’s house. It’s nice enough. Nothing as grand as we have back in Union City, mind. When we leave the city, things will be pretty rustic, but you’ll be so busy you won’t notice. Now, Arlen, your father has told you about the people out here, right?”
“Of course.”
“Good, best prepare yourself to meet them. For the love of everything holy, don’t drink the shine, and for Fate’s sake, don’t snort any shine powder, either. We don’t need to send you home to your father with all this experience and a nice shine addiction to boot.” There was a loaded pause, his body rigid, a man about to bring down the law. “No consorting with the people out here, Arlen. None. You can look all you want, but the second I hear that you got into bed with one of them, I’m sending you back. Understand? There are laws about this sort of thing. No mixing.”
Yes, he knew all about the prohibition against mixed relationships, and what happened to the kids that were products of them. As a teen, he’d stumbled upon his father’s secret records, all the mixed babies who had been secretly disposed of by his henchmen. Doubtless, that was part of Sterling’s business on this trip. Shadowy, murderous work. He was so genteel. It was hard to picture the older man with hands covered in blood. That was probably why he was so good at his job.
It made him sick to think of. So many things about his father’s empire turned his stomach. Perhaps that is why he didn’t try harder to take his position as heir.
“Sterling,” Arlen said. “I am aware of what these people are, how they look, and what to do and not do. Stop treating me as though I’m a babe in arms.”
“I apologize,” Sterling replied. He actually had the grace to look abashed. “I’ve just watched you grow for so long. I forget you’re a man now.” He wiped at his brow with a kerchief.
Arlen watched as the old conductor starting to make his way through the cabin with a wastebasket, and not a moment too soon. The cabin was starting to smell rancid with the sour stench of vomit. Mixed into that, was a growing sickly-sweet odor, a scent he only vaguely knew but could instantly place. Burning shine, but it was stronger on this side of the Boundary. Much stronger, almost cloying. It turned his stomach.
“Truth to tell, Arlen,” Elroy said, tipping the conductor, “I’m glad you’re with us on this trip. It can get quite dull out there. It will be nice to have some like-minded company.”
Arlen wasn’t sure what that meant, but he smiled anyway.
The train started to roll down a hill. Outside, the mountains were flattening, turning into rolling, pine-studded hills and sprawling plain. In the distance, was a smear of light on the horizon, yellow and flickering, like a star in a sea of black. “That’s Freetown,” Elroy said. “It’s the largest city in the Territory, completely under company control. You’ll love it.”
Arlen’s mind moved to work. Familiar, and certain. “How will the governor’s reports be?” he asked. He didn’t care about the man personally. The accountant in him wanted to know what sort of mess he would be facing over the next few days.
“They will require minimal work,” Sterling replied. “From what I gather, Matthew wanted you to assess some of the reports, but your primary job is scouting.”
The textile mill. Yes, that was why he was really here.
“That’s good,” he said.
“It’s time for you to see what it’s like out here, Arlen. How can you run the company if you haven’t seen what the company does? If you haven’t seen the territory your father owns, and all the people who live in it?” Sterling’s voice was so moderated, so even. It sounded like he’d practiced every word a hundred times.
This scouting mission was incredibly important, not just for him, but for the company and the territory. It was the first factory of any kind in Shine Territory since the Shine Bandit burnt down the shine refinery all those years ago. A lot was riding on Arlen and this trip. Now, all the tension he’d forgotten during the journey was setting in again. He felt aged, somehow.
“Freetown! Ten minutes!” the conductor shouted. The train slowed, brakes grinding on the rails, squealing filling up the cabin.
“Thank the Fates,” Sterling said. “I could do with a good bath, a good whiskey, and a good bed.”
Freetown itself crept up on him like a thief. A hint here and there that something momentous was about to happen and then, almost before he realized it, he was there, in the middle of it, staring wide-eyed at empty cobblestone streets lit with brilliant shine-lamps. Ribbons fluttered here and there, colorful and lively, likely for Longest Day festivities. The buildings were newly fashioned and brightly painted, with glass windows and thick front doors with brass knobs. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but this could be any fairly well-to-do town. Not nearly as romantic or sweeping as he’d built the place up to be in his mind.
The train screamed to a halt. There was a lurch, and a jolt, and the ride was over. The conductor opened the door.
“I’ll get the bags,” Elroy said, standing. He gained his full height, then stretched his back and groaned. He reached into the overhead compartment and pulled down their three suitcases. The rest of their belongings were being sent and would arrive in a few days.
“Time to go,” Sterling said, grabbing his bag and stepping outside.
The night was warm and the air was shockingly dry, almost crisp. Everything felt harder, looked sharper. Arlen blinked at the light and noticed, to his right, a portly man standing beside a carriage, leaning on a pearl-handled cane. His dark hair was gray, but there was a tint of violet to it.
“Ah, Governor Harris, I apologize for the ungodly hour,” Sterling said. The two men shook hands as Elroy and Arlen followed close behind.
“Nonsense,” Harris replied. His voice was booming. “I stay up late. You know that, old friend! And who have you brought with you?”