Lyn moved among the people and the wreckage of the train, carefully avoiding Kayden and his men. She’d help with the retrieval of water later. For now, she needed to rest her magical ability so she was helping in more mundane ways.

  Earlier, Kieran had stopped Lyn from interfering when he’d reprimanded his warlock with a touch on her arm and a shake of his head. It pained her to know that Martyn was going to lose his position because of words she’d spoken so casually but she’d spoken the truth. Part of Lyn felt guilty for getting the man in trouble but the other part of her felt like the man’s reaction to her asking for him to help was a cowardly one. That didn’t mean she wanted him so harshly punished. At least Kayden hadn’t demoted Liam.

  As Lyn made her way around the debris kicked up by the derailed train, she saw a woman leaning tiredly on a cane. She was calling to and was trying to soothe a child of about six years old with the same dark skin as her. Maybe they were mother and daughter?

  The little girl was looking around frantically for something and ignoring the woman who was having a hard time getting to her. Lyn moved closer and squatted down in front of her. “What’s the matter, little one?”

  The girl sniffled and between sobs, she told Lyn, “The mean man threw my dolly. I can’t find her.”

  The woman said, “It was a gift from her father, my brother, before he left for the capital. We’re moving there to be with him.”

  The woman frowned. Lyn wasn’t sure at what and Lyn looked back at the little girl. “What does your dolly look like? Does she have a name?”

  “Her name is Madeline. Papa said she looks like mamma did but I don’t remember her.”

  The woman chuckled nervously but said, “Brown curly hair, brown skin, wearing a pink dress, and she’s about this big.” She held her hands a small distance apart.

  Lyn smiled and stood. “I’m Lyn, how about I help you search?” She held out her hand to the little girl.

  “I’m Abi and that’s my Aunt Gretta.”

  “You don’t have to do that, My Lady.” The woman tried to move forward on the uneven ground.

  “I want to. Please, don’t worry. I won’t take her out of your sight.”

  “No that’s… that’s not what I mean, Lady Lyn. You are with King Lionheart, I…” She looked nervous.

  “Oh,” Lyn chuckled. “I was only fortunate to run into him in the desert. Don’t worry, he has no say over what I do.”

  Gretta didn’t look convinced but she didn’t argue further. It took ten minutes but Lyn found Abi’s doll as the woman kept looking over her shoulder nervously. Lyn supposed she couldn’t blame her but she also knew, deep down, that Kayden wouldn’t have harmed the child. Maybe she wasn’t his daughter but he’d spoken so fondly of her Lyn couldn’t imagine him being harsh with this girl.

  It was a subject Lyn still wanted to broach with him but hadn’t been willing to be alone with him, except after the demon attack and then earlier in his cabin. Two times where the circumstances weren’t conducive to conversation or intimacies.

  Kayden was a desirable man, despite, or maybe because of, how he acted on her behalf. Which made her have to examine her feelings for him. She’d kissed him earlier because she’d been worried and having his lips on hers assured her he was alright.

  How could she get so attached so quickly? It was a question she didn’t want to look too deeply into.

  She spent the rest of the time helping the people retrieve whatever belongings had been taken from them by the robbers who were, by what she could tell, all dead by now. That made Lyn wonder what happened to that supposedly young but strong warlock that had been employed by her captors. She’d have to ask Kayden if he was accounted for.

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  Eventually, Lyn could no longer avoid Kayden and she moved as close to him as she could without drawing attention to herself. She saw his lips move but didn’t hear what he said when he lit the funeral pyres. Then he turned and stalked away.

  Lyn hesitated for only a second before she followed, keeping pace with him easily. When he reached his door, she said, “Kayden, may I come in?” A pause. “To check on your wounds?”

  Kayden opened his door and gestured for her to enter. “I’m tired, Arelyn. What do you want?”

  Lyn gave him a tight smile and stepped in, moving as far away from the bed as she could to let him get comfortable. “I wanted to check on you, Kayden. You’ve been running around coordinating everything and you’re still wounded.” She looked at his leg. Blood had seeped through his pants and she wondered if he’d torn the stitches she’d put in earlier.

  She picked up a glass and pulled water out of the air. Taking a sip, she nodded and handed it to him. “Drink this, it’s cool and clean.”

  Kayden accepted the water and took small sips. “Who else should coordinate everything? Should I just lie here like a good spoiled king and let others do the work?” He shook his head. “No, Arelyn, that’s not my style. Especially not when we’re alone in the desert.”

  Lyn pursed her lips, suddenly feeling like a child being scolded. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling but she pushed that aside—he was injured and clearly in pain—lashing out at him because she felt belittled wouldn’t do either of them any good.

  He finished his water and looked at her. “I have six hours before my shift starts. I’d like to get some sleep before that.”

  Lyn took the cup from him and quickly leaned down to place a light kiss on his forehead. Thankfully, he didn’t feel feverish. She stood up and said, “I’m sorry I bothered you, Kayden. Get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Filling his cup with more water, she gently placed it on the small table in the cabin, then she left without another word.

  Lyn moved down the hall and back into the dining car; people were pitching in and cleaning up. Some were preparing food, others were cleaning places for people to sit and enjoy it. They gave her small nods in greeting and she smiled, giving them encouraging words.

  Then it was time for her to find the older woman who she heard Kayden tasked with looking for water; since he was going to get some sleep, Lyn hoped the woman would inform her of what she found.

  Asking around, she was pointed to the side of the train. A woman turned toward her. Her skin tones were lighter than most of the people she’d seen on the train. The woman gave a small bow and said, “Lady Lyn.”

  “Have we met?” She was fairly certain they hadn’t.

  “No, we haven’t,” the woman’s voice was soft, “I’m Katherine Cole but please call me Kathy. Don’t worry, I’ll follow King Lionheart’s instructions.”

  “I’m not worried, he’s resting and I’d prefer he wasn’t disturbed. Will you let me know what you find?”

  “I will.”

  “I’m going to ask around about water wielders.” Lyn decided on the spot.

  “I already did. There are six in addition to you and Prince Lionheart. Seven if you want to include a ten year old boy who says he can help.”

  Lyn chuckled. “We’ll find a way for him to help safely. Thank you and may you return with good news.” She watched as the woman shifted and waited there for her return.

  As she stood there, a young woman came out with a plate of food for her. Before she took it, she asked, “Has everyone eaten?”

  “Yes, except King Lionheart, Prince Lionheart, and the men that are recovering from their injuries. We didn’t want to wake any of them but we have food set aside for all.”

  “Thank you, King and Prince Lionheart are resting before they take a guard shift and shouldn’t be disturbed. I’m sure they will be grateful for the food once they are awake.”

  Lyn sat on a boulder and ate her meal as she watched the sky for Kathy to return. She only ate a small portion of the meal and left the rest untouched. Perhaps the woman would be hungry after flying for so long?

  Her head was tipped back and she closed her eyes, getting a little rest. When she felt the air stir around her, Lyn looked up. The woman landed gracefully and shifted.

  “I found water though it might be a little difficult for some to get close enough to it to move it here.”

  The woman eyed the plate and Lyn handed it over. When she took it Kathy asked, “Was this your meal?”

  “Yes, but I’m not that hungry. I need sleep more than food.” And now that she had the news about the water, she could go back inside and wait for Kayden to wake so she could pass it on to him.

  “It’s a good thing I’m not picky,” Kathy said after swallowing a mouthful of food.

  They made their way back inside and Lyn grabbed a map from a conductor and brought it back to her cabin. She’d pass on the news to Kayden when he woke but for now, she planned.