Why wouldn’t the same apply to climbing onto the roof of the train?
The logic was a little iffy, but it was all I had.
It helped that Meria stuck her head out the window of her quarters a moment later and grinned at me.
Ready? she mouthed.
I nodded and sucked in a deep breath, then hoisted myself out the window.
Oh shit.
The wind was a hell of a lot stronger out here, and my hands were immediately sweaty from fear. I clung to the top of the window, my legs still inside the car. Memories of last night flashed in my mind—the man shoving me over the side, the ground rushing by beneath me.
No.
I was in control here. It was just me, and I wasn’t poisoned. Meria was making quicker progress, and the sight inspired me.
You can do it, nerd. I sucked in a deep breath, then scrambled out the window. Fortunately, there were decorative brass bars on the top of the train that I could use as a handhold. I dragged myself up, swinging a leg over the railing and onto the top of the car.
When I’d finally made it, I lay face down on the roof, clinging to the metal as the wind rushed over me. Panting, I tried to catch my breath.
“You okay?” Meria’s voice sounded to my left, and I looked up.
She’d belly-crawled toward me, her face bright with excitement.
“Yeah. Just scarier than I expected.”
“You almost died last night in a really similar situation, so I can’t say I’m surprised. But you’ve got this. You’re the freaking Queen of the Court of Starlight and Darkness, for fate’s sake.”
“Thanks.”
Eve reached us. “Ready?”
“Yeah. No way in hell I’m doing this on two feet, though.” I turned around on my belly and began to crawl toward the next car.
“Can’t argue with that.” Meria joined me, staying low to the roof.
I had to get to my feet long enough to jump to the next car—something I never wanted to do again—but I was back on my stomach a moment later.
As I crawled across the train, my confidence grew. I could do this. By the time we reached the last car, my fear had mostly dissipated. I was more interested in what I might find.
Fortunately, there was an open-air platform on the caboose. Meria, Eve, and I lowered ourselves onto it and peered through the windows.
“Empty.” I frowned.
“Maybe they aren’t here yet,” Meria said.
“Maybe.” I opened the door and slipped inside, the sudden quiet almost disorienting after the roaring wind on top of the train.
The entire car was a sitting area, with small couches and chairs clustered around little tables. Red velvet covered most of the cushions, and the dark wood walls gleamed from the sunlight streaming through.
I walked through the quiet train car, my heartbeat loud in my ears. “Shouldn’t the person who sent the note be waiting for us?”
“Unless it’s a trap,” Eve said.
“Uh, guys.” Meria’s voice sounded worried, and I turned to look at her.
She stood at the window, pointing upward. “Does that look like a landslide to you?”
I hurried over and looked up. Dust plumed overhead, obscuring the mountain. Boulders tumbled out of it, rolling faster down the slope.
“Shit.” They were coming right at the train. “We won’t make it out of here in time.”
“Take cover.” Meria dragged me toward the largest couch in the room.
Eve joined us, and we flipped it over to cover ourselves. I wedged myself beneath the cushioned velvet as the train began to shake, boulders slamming into it.
Eve, Meria, and I gripped hands as glass shattered and metal screeched. My heart lodged in my throat.
An enormous crash sounded as the car flipped on its side. I tumbled over, slamming into the window. The glass had shattered on the ground below, and pain flared where it cut me. Dust billowed, so thick that I couldn’t see two inches in front of my face.
Coughing, I pulled my shirt up over my face and tried to breathe shallowly.
“Meria!” I choked. “Eve!” Someone was pressed up against me, their body warmer than the cool air surrounding me.
“I’m here,” Meria croaked.
“You okay?”
“Mostly. You?”
“Yeah. Where’s Eve?”
“Eve!”
There was no answer.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
The dust was clearing enough that I could make out vague shapes. The couch had tumbled to the side, but it had blocked the worst of the rubble that had crashed through the window.
“Good thinking on the couch.” I staggered upright. “Eve!”