smear of light on the horizon, yellow and flickering, like a star in a sea of black. “That’s Freetown,” Elroy said. “It’s the largest city in the Territory, completely under company control. You’ll love it.”
Arlen’s mind moved to work. Familiar, and certain. “How will the governor’s reports be?” he asked. He didn’t care about the man personally. The accountant in him wanted to know what sort of mess he would be facing over the next few days.
“They will require minimal work,” Sterling replied. “From what I gather, Matthew wanted you to assess some of the reports, but your primary job is scouting.”
The textile mill. Yes, that was why he was really here.
“That’s good,” he said.
“It’s time for you to see what it’s like out here, Arlen. How can you run the company if you haven’t seen what the company does? If you haven’t seen the territory your father owns, and all the people who live in it?” Sterling’s voice was so moderated, so even. It sounded like he’d practiced every word a hundred times.
This scouting mission was incredibly important, not just for him, but for the company and the territory. It was the first factory of any kind in Shine Territory since the Shine Bandit burnt down the shine refinery all those years ago. A lot was riding on Arlen and this trip. Now, all the tension he’d forgotten during the journey was setting in again. He felt aged, somehow.
“Freetown! Ten minutes!” the conductor shouted. The train slowed, brakes grinding on the rails, squealing filling up the cabin.
“Thank the Fates,” Sterling said. “I could do with a good bath, a good whiskey, and a good bed.”
Freetown itself crept up on him like a thief. A hint here and there that something momentous was about to happen and then, almost before he realized it, he was there, in the middle of it, staring wide-eyed at empty cobblestone streets lit with brilliant shine-lamps. Ribbons fluttered here and there, colorful and lively, likely for Longest Day festivities. The buildings were newly fashioned and brightly painted, with glass windows and thick front doors with brass knobs. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but this could be any fairly well-to-do town. Not nearly as romantic or sweeping as he’d built the place up to be in his mind.
The train screamed to a halt. There was a lurch, and a jolt, and the ride was over. The conductor opened the door.
“I’ll get the bags,” Elroy said, standing. He gained his full height, then stretched his back and groaned. He reached into the overhead compartment and pulled down their three suitcases. The rest of their belongings were being sent and would arrive in a few days.
“Time to go,” Sterling said, grabbing his bag and stepping outside.
The night was warm and the air was shockingly dry, almost crisp. Everything felt harder, looked sharper. Arlen blinked at the light and noticed, to his right, a portly man standing beside a carriage, leaning on a pearl-handled cane. His dark hair was gray, but there was a tint of violet to it.
“Ah, Governor Harris, I apologize for the ungodly hour,” Sterling said. The two men shook hands as Elroy and Arlen followed close behind.
“Nonsense,” Harris replied. His voice was booming. “I stay up late. You know that, old friend! And who have you brought with you?”
“This is Elroy McGlover and Arlen Esco.”
“Esco,” the governor said, eyeing him. “As in, Matthew Esco’s son?”
“The one and only,” Sterling answered with a smile and a wink.
Arlen watched it happen. He’d seen it a hundred times before. All his life, in fact. The man sized him up, determined how much he was worth and found that knowing him was distinctly more profitable than not knowing him. Perhaps, if the money tree shook, the leaves would fall on those closest to him. And so, Arlen knew Governor James Harris would strive to be his friend.
“You’re starting to turn, Harris!” Sterling said, gesturing at a violet clump near the governor’s temple. “You’ve been out here that long?”
“I suppose so. My wife says she likes it. She’s turning blue. It’s quite exotic, is it not? I’ve almost forgotten what you non-shine people look like!” He opened the door to the carriage. “Come along, men. Welcome to Shine Territory. The night awaits.”
I see her standing on the small deck outside our room. The moon hovers in the sky, holding court in her onyx kingdom. Cassandra is shining, limned by the heavens themselves. Otherworldly.