13 February 1875 of the 6th Era, Quillivia’s Central Train Station, Commercial District

  “Is it coming? Is it coming?”

  “Not yet, but I think I can see the smoke from up here!”

  “Ohhh! Why can’t I levitate!”

  Antony and Dorian slowly made their way through the sea of people that surrounded the building of Quillivia’s Central Train Station. The blizzard from yesterday moved on towards Ledavia, leaving behind it knee-deep snow, uprooted trees, and debris that were now being dealt with by a small army of cleaning golems, the newest invention of the local Golemancy Union. But none of that deterred the crowd. Even were the blizzard still raging in the streets, Antony was certain that the crowd would have been but a fracture smaller.

  For Quillivia was the city of inventors. The heart of golemancy, mana crystal technologies, and latest advancements in alchemy. It was hardly surprising that The Iron Giant’s maiden journey garnered so much attention. It wasn’t the first train created, of course, as those had become a somewhat normal means of transportation in the past decade. However, it was the first one capable of intercontinental travel, and its luxurious interiors, the restaurant carriage, and its formidable size were all that the newspapers talked about. “A joint undertaking by Enua’s Continental Railroad Company and Lundhaven’s National Railways.” Truly a new page in the history of travel and innovation.

  The two of them finally reached the fencing that was temporarily erected around the train station and walked over to the member of the Royal Knights who was guarding the entrance. The woman sternly checked their documents, comparing the images in the passports to their real life counterparts. Dorian Holmes, moon elf, 678 years old, dark hair in the photograph, chestnut-brown and wavy in the bright light of the sun, with golden-green eyes, and a complexion that would make a vampire look rosy-cheeked in comparison. Next to him, Mr Simon Dahl, a dawn elf of over four centuries old, with fiery red hair and deep brown eyes. Quite tall, seeing that she, as a minotaur, was almost level with him. She made sure that neither passports were forgeries, then marked something off in her journal and waved them through.

  Antony calmly passed through several magic detectors – hardly surprising, considering who else was on that train. Neither he nor Dorian raised any alarms, and proceeded into the station proper, followed by envious gazes of children and adults alike.

  “Too bad this is getting demolished next year,” Antony looked up at the dark facade and the sturdy columns, then raised his head to admire the giant ornamental clock. The metal hands presently showed 9:54 A.M.

  “If things go well, this station will become the first large stop for international travel when entering Enua,” Dorian, too, looked at the building with a mixture of pity and nostalgia. “It’s just too small and too old to be able to fit in everything they want.”

  They walked through the doors, then through another set of magic detectors, and presented their suitcases for a second inspection. Having passed that, they continued their way through the halls onto the platforms. Antony duly noted that the station was swarming with agents of the State Investigation Unit and The Royal Knights. Some waited for the train to arrive, while others surrounded some officials.

  Huddled in a corner, stood a group of university professors, who were also invited to board The Iron Giant on the final leg of its journey.

  “Oh, and there’s Alex just like you said,” Dorian waved. One of the university people, an autumnborn sylph with flaxen hair and glasses just as thick as Antony’s, raised his hand in return and walked over to them.

  “Long time no see,” he greeted Dorian, then addressed Antony, “Alex O’Neill, Professor of History at University of Arts.”

  “Simon Dahl, private detective from Lundhaven,” Antony said in Enuan with a light accent, then leaned forward a bit and whispered something to Professor O’Neill, which made the other quizzically raise his eyebrow. He thought for a moment, then firmly nodded.

  “Pleased to meet you. I must say, this is quite a trek you’ve made to end up in Enua.”

  “Sometimes working on a case does that to a person. Thankfully, I got what I needed from Mr Holmes here, although it was in exchange for a rather unusual favour. Not that I mind. Boarding The Iron Giant is a privilege, in my opinion. Besides, I’ve never been to Stolberg, and they say its architecture is quite unique compared to the rest of Enua and more reminiscent of Nymea or, perhaps, even some cities of the Western Continent. However, I’d also have to visit these to be able to make a comparison.”

  “I’m glad you’re finding so much positive in the endeavour,” Dorian remarked as the three of them moved towards the platforms.

  “Train approaching, please do not cross the safety line! Mind the gap while boarding!”

  The Iron Giant truly lived up to its name, almost being the size of a two storey building. Yet, as large and as powerful as it was, it made surprisingly little noise as it slowly rolled into the station. The onlookers had ample time to enjoy the sheen on the black metal the locomotive was made of, the vibrance of the carriages painted in the colours of Enua’s and Lundhaven’s national flags, and the ornaments adorning every window and door. The breaks screeched, and the train came to a halt, its steam and mana crystal powered engine quietly humming.

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  The doors opened. The carriage attendants rolled down the stairs with well practiced motions, checked the handles, and ran whatever other procedures were required of them.

  “It’ll stay here for half an hour,” Dorian explained as they watched some people disembark the train and walk towards the exit. “However, I’d still suggest we don’t dally.”

  Professor O’Neill nodded, picking up his suitcase. For Antony though, his surroundings temporarily ceased to exist. His eyes were now fixed on the figures of two winterborn sylphs walking towards them, an elderly man and a younger woman. The latter looked almost ephemeral, the way she manoeuvred through the crowd akin to an exotic butterfly. There was a certain resemblance between them that told an attentive observer these two were probably father and daughter. Same unruly curly hair, same sharpness to their eyes, though the woman’s were bright blue while those of the man were a misty grey. And the same calmness in the tone of voice. Neither seemed to be in the slightest bothered by the crowd and the stares directed at the elderly sylph.

  “Simon! I wasn’t sure you’d be able to make it,” Charlotte addressed him in Lundish, and, it seemed, only then noticed the two men next to him, immediately switching to Enuan. “Good morning. Oh, Professor O’Neill. I didn’t recognise you. Even though I should have been on the lookout as I saw your name on the list of passengers.”

  “Please, you needn’t worry about it,” Professor O’Neill deeply bowed in greeting. “Wonderful to see you again following last summer.”

  “Seems we can forgo some introductions,” Antony placed his hand on his chest and nodded to Charlotte and Lord Dawntreader. “Good morning, Leopold.”

  “I believe none are required,” Lord Dawntreader heartily laughed, raising his hand in greeting, then addressed Charlotte. “Unless, of course, you and Mr Holmes haven’t met each other in the course of your work.”

  “It is indeed our first meeting,” Charlotte politely nodded, while Dorian deeply bowed. “How long have the three of you known each other?”

  “I and Professor O’Neill have been acquainted but for a minute. With Mr Holmes a bit longer,” Antony paused, giving Dorian a meaningful look.

  “A trifle longer, through a rather intensive letter and Sending spells exchange, but now also in person. I helped Mr Dahl with a rather complicated case. In return, he agreed to help me with something of my own, which required a trip to Stolberg. The fact that I had that additional ticket for The Iron Giant really came in handy,” having ascertained that they were not being overheard, Dorian lowered his voice and continued, “Though I cannot help but wonder if Mr Dahl here is the contact you were talking about.”

  “He is, indeed,” Lord Dawntreader nodded. “I am glad it worked out in the end and there was no mixup, although I wouldn’t have held it against you if you had invited someone else equally talented. After all, you are exceptionally well known for finding the right people for the right job. If the Queen trusts your judgement, so can anyone else.”

  “Splendid,” Dorian looked relieved.

  All this time, Antony noticed, Dorian was addressing Lord Dawntreader, but his eyes kept darting towards Charlotte. And was it just Antony’s imagination, or did he become even paler than before?

  Your reaction is much more reserved than mine, but you, too, are on the verge of either fainting or asking a thousand barely appropriate questions. Perhaps I should have been a bit less discreet with my warning.

  “Which carriage are you in?” Charlotte turned to Antony.

  He rummaged in his pocket and produced a large, exuberantly decorated ticket, “Third, number five. Mr Holmes is in the same carriage, room three if I remember right.”

  “Which means I am right between the two of you,” Professor O’Neill checked his ticket. “Number four.”

  “I happen to be in the same carriage, number six,” Charlotte pointed towards one of the windows. “We’re right next to the restaurant carriage, too, so expect to see people walk back and forth all the time. At least the sound proofing is good, and there’s carpets everywhere, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be disturbed by the steps too much.”

  “I expected you’d have an entire carriage to yourself,” Antony couldn’t hold back a grin.

  “I offered her half of mine, but she refused on the grounds of not willing to tolerate every single person on that train walking back and forth all the time to pay me their respects and… Perhaps it is for the better. There was additional company forced on me by Mr Perkins,” Lord Dawntreader gave a dry laugh to that, nodding at the two burly dusk elves that stood a dozen feet away, then straightened his back and continued in a calm, levelled tone, “I am staying in the ninth carriage, if that interests you. Number eight is reserved for Mr Perkins, who I saw boarding it as we were walking towards you, and number seven is for Ms Sharrock.”

  “She’s a very big name in mana crystal production. And, if memory serves me right, tightly connected to the creation of The Iron Giant,” Dorian frowned, looking at the ground for a moment.

  “Indeed. The engines powering The Iron Giant were designed and constructed by her company. Of the more prominent names you might be familiar with, there’s also Cardinal Whitesand from the Church of the Lady of the Dead Moon, who I just saw board the train. Mr Styles, too. The rest are actors, lawyers, and owners of different smaller companies. All of them have the same arrangements as you. I will also add that people Mr Perkins deemed to be more important are staying in the fifth and sixth carriage. Unless, of course, said people refused the offer, preferring a more colourful company,” Lord Dawntreader explained, looking at Charlotte, then at Dorian.

  “I feel more at home around the university people. You know that,” Charlotte stretched and looked at the clock at the far end of the platform. “Think we best return. Unless, of course, we want to get stranded here and possibly cause poor Mr Perkins and your bodyguards a heart attack.”

  The four of them followed the attendants onto the train and were shown to their respective carriages.

  Some time after, The Iron Giant gave a warning whistle and resumed its movement. The wheels churned faster and faster as it drove past the watching crowds, where some had climbed onto lampposts or even the roofs of nearby buildings to get a better view. Finally, it left Quillivia.