At her name, his grin broadened. “I thought so. Fieran’s girlfriend, right?”
“How…” Pip blinked, staring at the stranger next to her. How in Tarenhiel could this random man know that?
He glanced around before he lowered his voice. “I’m Fieran’s cousin. Well, cousin a couple of times removed. My grandfather is Fieran’s first cousin.”
Wait…if he was fully human and his grandfather was Fieran’s cousin…there was only one branch of Fieran’s family that fit that description.
“Then you’re a prince.” She gawked at him as the train shuddered into motion. “Aren’t you in line for the Escarlish throne?”
“Yes and yes.” Myles flashed that grin. Even though he was a cousin so far removed, the grin still reminded her of Fieran’s. “But I’m sixth in line for the throne. Far enough down that I’m allowed to join the army and contribute to the war effort.”
Sixth in line. He said it so casually. And here Pip had been intimidated by the fact that Fieran was somewhat in line for the Escarlish throne and seventh in line for the Tarenhieli throne.
Myles heaved a sigh. “Though I’m probably going to be stationed in headquarters as a clerk or adjutant or something. They aren’t going to send me to the front lines.”
“Be glad. The front lines are giant, dug-in mud pits.” Pip suppressed a shudder. Not that she’d seen them up close. But she’d gotten glimpses of them from the top of the bluffs, and she’d seen the mud-spattered clothing of those returning after the battle to rescue Fieran.
“Still.” Myles slumped against the seat behind him, his grin disappearing as he stared at the rows and rows filled with men before them. “My unit will be stationed there. I should be with them. Not given special treatment because my great-grandfather wears a crown.”
NowthatPip understood. She’d had the opportunity to stay in Aldon, but here she was, returning to the danger of Fort Defense to be with her unit. Because she couldn’t imagine her boys going into danger without her having their backs.
“I’m sorry. But I’m sure Fieran will appreciate having one of his cousins around.” Pip settled more comfortably on the seat. “Which brings us back to my original question. How did you know Fieran and I are courting?”
That had only become official a week ago. How had this random cousin learned it while at basic training?
“The family grapevine.” Myles grinned and stretched his legs out as far as he could under the bench in front of them without kicking the feet of the man sitting there. “Louise talked to my sister who talked to me on my last call home before being sent to the front. My sister and I figured out that I was being sent on the same train as you.”
“Fieran wasn’t kidding when he said the family grapevine is scary.” Pip hugged her bag tighter to her stomach. She’d been worried about all the titles and fame in Fieran’s family. Turned out the family gossip chain was by far the more intimidating.
“It’s a force to be reckoned with, for sure.” Myles tilted his head to rest it against the back of the seat. He closed his eyes, as if settling in for some shut-eye of his own. “The only reason Uncle Farrendel hasn’t heard already is that everyone is under strict instructions not to blow the surprise before Fieran has a chance to tell him in person.”
Pip blew out a long breath and sagged against the back of the seat. “Everyone knows? Even King Averett?”
“Pretty much.” Myles cracked an eye open and gave her that lopsided grin again without stirring from his slouch. “But don’t worry. All I’ve heard are good things about you.”
Great. Pip squeezed her eyes shut and pretended to sleep. She’d known courting Fieran would be complicated. And yet this still threw her.
Fieran tried notto bounce on his toes as he waited for the train to chug its way into a stop.
The train station at Fort Defense was strangely crowded with some of the higher-ups, including Uncle Julien. Someone important must be arriving.
With a hiss of its air brakes, the train settled to a halt. At one end of the platform, crews descended on the cargo cars, opening the doors and loading crates onto various carts.
The door to the passenger car opened, and a sergeant stepped out, barking orders. He was followed by ranks of marching infantrymen dressed in crisp, olive-green uniforms.
Fieran blinked. Was that…no, it couldn’t be cousin Myles. But when the man was pulled aside by Uncle Julien’s adjutant, Fieran got a good look at his face. Yep, that was Myles. He must have volunteered for the army, and of course he would be stationed somewhere in headquarters. Fieran would have to track him down to swap basic training stories when he had a chance.
Then Pip stepped from the train, and Fieran forgot all about his cousin, his uncle, and the audience crowding the platform. It didn’t matter that he’d only been separated from her for a few days. He dashed forward, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her right there in front of everyone.
When he set Pip back on her feet, she sent him an expression that was somewhere between a grin and a grimace. “As if your family grapevine didn’t have enough to gossip about.”
“Sorry. Should I have waited to kiss you?” Fieran took another half step back. He and Pip hadn’t had much time to discuss what kind of boundaries they wanted, especially when it came to public displays of affection. She’d said dwarves were more exuberant than elves, and he was naturally exuberant, but he wasn’t sure what she’d prefer.
“Yes. No.” Pip huffed a breath and adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “It’s just…my parents don’t even know yet, and apparently most of your family has already found out. And it’s not like it’s a secret. That’s the whole point of finally courting. It’s just…a lot to learn a cousin of yours I hadn’t even met yet already knew.” Pip’s voice dropped even further. “Apparently even King Averett knows.”
Fieran winced. He could see how that would be intimidating. “Sorry. We’ll have to tell Mak as soon as possible. Before he finds out from someone else.”
“Yes.” Pip jabbed a finger at where the workers were unloading the crates from the train. “I need to see to it that the new synchronization gears are properly delivered to our hangar, then we can go tell Mak and the flyboys.”
