Trainversations

"And you'll be able to take care of the shop in my absence?" I was asking this of Tabitha even though she'd taken care of my shop before just not for a journey like this.

"You mean my shop when you die frozen and alone in the middle of an island? Sure I'll take care of it, have to change the name though, Lorentino part scares customers." Oh did I mention Tabitha was a bit of an ass? Yeah she kind of is, shocking I know.  I had a trunk packed with supplies and extra clothing, thankfully I was able to take a train to the dock so I didn't have to worry about trying to saddle my horse with all that crap (did have to pay a local horse cart to carry it to the train, because no way was I going to haul all that crap there by myself). At the trainyard I was met by Hanlon who handed me my ticket, it was first class (Like I deserve!).  I didn't see his two hired guards, but I'm sure they were around.  I was wearing a bit better atire, a long waist jacket some nice slacks and a button up shirt.  I had chosen to keep my sword in my luggage, because despite open carrying being fine on most train trips, I didn't feel it necessary and I thought it looked a little rougher than I wanted to present. My trunk was loaded in the rear of the train with everyone elses and a polite attendant showed me to the room I was sharing with Hanlon (no one else, first class passengers were normally afforded such fineries).  After the door shut Hanlon and I shared an uncomfortable moment of silence and then the train engines roared to life as the ticket takers barked out final commands to anyone nearby.

"It'll take a couple weeks to reach the port we need to get to." Hanlon spoke breaking the silence, he had informed me as much earlier, but I guess he felt he needed to say it again.

"That's fine the accomodations are better than the last time I was on a train." I rubbed my wrists, memories of shackles and whippings flashed through my mind.

"Couldn't afford a good trip?" Hanlon's voice was a polite gentlemanly sort, almost soothing, when he talked I had to be careful or he'd put me to sleep.

"Something like that." I didn't know how much he knew about me, and as someone with a line to the Imperial government I didn't exactly want to unload my whole life story.

"I hate Magic." It came out so point blank and fast it almost caught me off guard.  It was the kind of admission that someone wants to get out before the other person can fully digest what they said.

"I'm not really a fan myself to be honest." That disarmed him a bit, put him at ease.  I can see why someone without magic admitting to someone with it that they despise magic could make him a little worried how the sentiment would go over.

"That's why this factory is important you see."

"What did you mean by antigmagical weapons?"

"Metal with inscriptions make them completely immune to magic entirely.  You can't simply explode a magazine or rounds in the chamber, can't freeze the barrels or use some kind of wind or lightning against the user."

"I can see why that would be something you'd want to keep going."

"Indeed Mr. Lorentino, I'm sure as a user you don't see the need for us normals to worry about people like yourself, but I've seen the evil magic can do, I know its power and those who wield it are destructive forces, they must be kept in check!" His creed announced he laid down, our conversation was over.  He would do this to me a bit on our trip, announce something and then retire in front of me. Most of what he talked about was politics, hatred of magic, wanting to impose new restrictions, fear of the red hand that kind of stuff.  Hanlon was an interesting man probably hiding a couple horrible incidents in his past I never really got out of him.  I participated in conversations with him in as much as that he talked and I had to listen. For me it was a real change of pace I assure you! Still it was kind of nice for someone else to do all the talking, even if thats all he did for a two weeks as we got closer to his port, as we drew nearer I felt dread set in, I feared the train ride would be the only thing I'd enjoy and sadly I was very right...