Framework of the Frontier, Sain Artwell [read me a book .TXT] 📗

had definitely been waiting for this trip for a while. Her backpack was thrice the size of William’s and stuffed to the point of bursting. In her hands she carried a white bow decorated with arcane symbols and from her hip hung a similarly marked shortsword.

“Naw, last one’s the worst,” said a blue skinned adventuress with cropped bronze hair and fin ears.

William had learned she was a triton. Alongside trolls, elves and faun they were apparently the most common race within the western regions of the Nibirian empire.

She continued, “The middle is empty ‘cos there’s a huge ass chimera nesting in the rear. Been that way for a couple of months from what I hear.”

“A chimera? What kind?” Ember sounded a little too eager to see it.

“Scaly and toothy.” The woman shrugged. “Dunno. We plan on steering clear from it.”

Counting her, Ember, and William, there were a total of ten on the bridge ready to jump, and Lidarein to see them off. The triton led the largest group, a band of six, which included two faun brothers with dark tanned skin, magnificent black beards, and curly red sleeve tattoos; a middle-aged looking triton woman with numerous wands on her belt; a blonde elven girl who was the most generic lego-lass William had ever seen; and a heavily armored male troll the size of a brown bear.

The other two were a pair of kitty eared fluffy tailed girls straight out of William’s fondest fantasies. The red haired one had large breasts, while the slender one with more rear had light brown hair and ears. Both wore tight pale leathers under a series of earthy veils. From their hips hung a multitude of small blades.

A gust of cooling evening wind blew past them when the Ghost Engine rumbled beneath the bridge. The train’s low resonating ‘choo-choo’ left a tremble in William’s chest.

“I’ll be seeing you guys again,” Lidarein gave William and Ember friendly pats on the shoulder.

Ember turned it into a hug. “We will. I’m happy to have made you a friend while I was stuck waiting. You need to come visit Nastall when I get my place set-up.”

“Of course.” Lidarein chuckled weakly as their hug broke, giving Ember’s head an affectionate ruffling. Her gaze moved to William. A number of emotions played behind her taciturn smile before she spoke, “Letter King may have deep enough pockets to buy a colony. But if I find out you’ve disrespected your duties as a Ranger, you’re gonna wish the stamps could mail your ass away from my wrath.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cram it tonight.” William chuckled, patting the Ranger’s rulebook she had given him. He wanted to say more, but couldn’t come up with anything snazzy about the nightly favor he’d promised.

“Middle cart coming,” shouted the triton girl.

“Go go! And good luck!” Lidarein urged them over the edge.

People dropped down from the bridge on the lazily moving cart’s roof. William followed Ember, rolling on the overgrown covered metal panels before regaining his footing.

Wind buffeted the leaves around them and the clanking of wheels drowned out all but the loudest shouts. The bridge distanced a bit over ten miles per hour.

Lidarein waved and he waved back. Although he’d only known her for a day he was sad to leave the elf behind, sadder than he had felt for no longer being on Earth.

Silly thoughts. William snorted as he turned to follow the triton’s group off the roof.

The large troll pried open a hatch on the cart roof. Descending down below, they were welcomed by dark musty tunnels of rust, intertwining roots, dirt, and shroomy growths. Metal groaned when the troll dropped down, closing the hatch to seal them inside the rattling darkness. Ember and the two bearded fauns lit up oil lanterns.

On one side, the cart had a hallway wide enough for two men to walk abreast, and on the other a row of cabins. There were windows, albeit most were veiled by heavy foliage. It might’ve once been a cart for overnight passengers, though nature had long since eroded beds and furniture.

“Aight, how many first timers?” The triton loosened the straps on her backpack.

William, Ember, brown kitty, and the older triton raised their hands.

“‘Kay, the ride can be hella simple if we work together. We clear this cart of anything that moves, block the doors between coaches, and sit tight. Gonna be well past noon tomorrow before we arrive, so if you’re feeling sleepy go have your nap. Trotto, Eren, check that one. Veren and aunt Duhie with me. You can stay back and let Veren and me go first if something looks scary…” She continued speaking to her squad, drawing a thin sword while gesturing at the doorless cabin rooms.

William unsheathed his spanking new falchion. It was light, lighter than he’d imagined and the swings had a nice feel to them. The handle was big enough for both hands, its long green-ish steel blade had a curve, and the end flattened to give the butt some weight. According to Lidarein it had been the easiest sword for a newbie to handle.

He gave it a cautious swirl and spoke to Ember. “Come on, let’s get to carts at the rear. I’ll take the front.”

“Okay.” She set her bags against the wall and drew her weapon: A beautiful pale steel sword coated in arcane sigils. With a whisper she lit a gentle light of magic in her eyes. “Lead on.”

It was hard to see with the lantern being held up behind him, but William didn’t need much light to hack a path in the thick underjungle.

When they reached a cabin door, a shriek sounded behind them. It turned into a deep roaring chuckle.

William snorted. “Sounds like someone saw a bug.”

“An adult carrion centipede coming at you! Careful it’s venomous!” Ember bumped into his back.

William squinted at