to the family. “Do well, Ashleigh. Thank you for your service to our family,” she said. It was probably the kindest thing she has ever said to me, but the gesture left a bad taste in my mouth.
I turned to Josiah, and my stomach dropped, but I refused to let any tears fall on his behalf. I was determined to detach myself from the grief that filled me. I resolved that the last of my tears were shed last night when he kissed me. When I walked near, Josiah brushed the imaginary dust off my shoulders, an act that almost broke me. Then I noticed him slip a tablet into my small messenger bag of belongings.
“Keep in touch, Ash,” he whispered affectionately, just low enough so that only I could hear.
“Yes, Master Stonewell,” I replied robotically. His eyes flashed at the verbal distance I placed between us. It was the last axe upon our relationship. He was bound to his duty, and I was determined to recognize that he chose that over me.
Cyler grabbed my elbow with one hand and nodded at Josiah with an award-winning smile.
“Thank you, please take proper care of my sister. I’ll see you again at the wedding,” he said hurriedly. He yanked me towards the transport at a brisk pace. I couldn’t tell if he was trying to spare me the pain of saying goodbye, or if he was worried that I would change my mind.
We then made our way to the transport that would lead us to the train station. I stole a quick glance back at Josiah, but he was absorbed in conversation with Jules. I looked away and sat in the transport, willing the pain in my heart to disappear.
As soon as the door shut, Cyler released his hold on my arm and dropped the easy-going smile he held. I noticed that his entire body seemed to relax.
“If you’re going to cry, please get it over with. We have four days of traveling ahead of us,” Cyler said in a bored tone.
“I’m done crying over Josiah Stonewell,” I replied with more force than necessary, which awarded me a curious stare from Cyler.
“It appears you’re stronger than I thought. Good–you’ll need it where we’re going,” he replied.
We rode to the train station in silence. It was a short drive, and Cyler spent most of the trip typing furiously on his tablet and making brief phone calls, updating whoever was on the other line of our itinerary and delivering orders to prepare for my arrival.
When we arrived at the station, four dozen or so Walkers were lined up, receiving shots of the Influenza X vaccine in their necks. There was excited chatter amongst them, and I was surprised to find that there were a large number of women in the group that appeared to be my age.
“I thought you needed soldiers and workers?” I asked no one in particular.
“Our female population has dwindled significantly, too,” he replied simply. “We need women for other tasks.”
I prayed that those other tasks didn’t involve forced companionship. Cyler seemed respectful enough, but desire and need can make people do harmful things.
I watched in awe as the line of Walkers boarded the train. Cyler monitored them as a large, wooden chest was given to the Galla guards that stood watch over the transaction. Cyler guided me towards them and opened the chest, revealing an insane amount of gold. I dropped my mouth in astonishment.
“We had over three hundred applicants.” Cyler said with a hint of pain in his voice. “This was all we could take right now.”
Cyler then walked towards the Governor’s Guard that stood watch over the entire ordeal.
“This should cover the cost of the vaccinations and Walkers. The Dormas province thanks you for your cooperation.” Cyler bowed while throwing a wink in my direction.
Slowly, the Walkers boarded the train in hopeful anticipation. Cyrus led me towards the front of the train, into the first class cabin.
“Oh, I don’t mind sitting with the other Walkers, Master Black,” I said.
“Oh hush, I don't bite." Cyrus gathered my curly, light-brown hair with his large hands into a thick bun on top of my head, revealing the tag placed on my ear, signifying my role as a Walker. He glared at it and motioned for a member of the Guard to come and remove it. A beefy man with an angry expression strolled over with apparent disdain and clipped it off quickly. The tag fell on the ground, and I gripped