The Curse of Deadman's Forest by Victoria Laurie Page B

asleep. Carl had also dozed off and Ian was just thinking about doing the same when Theo’s murmurs became more agitated. He put a gentle hand on her shoulder and she brushed him off angrily. “Theo,” he said into her ear. “You’re dreaming.”
    Theo gasped and bolted awake. “No!” she shouted,and blinked rapidly while she looked about in a wide-eyed panic.
    “What’s happening?” Carl grumbled from the opposite side of their box compartment.
    “Theo’s had a bad dream.” Ian placed his hand on her arm. “You all right?”
    Theo’s breathing was ragged. “I’ve had the most awful nightmare.”
    “Theo?” said a voice, and they all looked up to see the earl staring at them from the open door of the compartment, his face concerned.
    “I’m fine, my lord,” she said quickly, but Ian noticed that she reached up to clutch the crystal at her neck. “Just a bad dream.”
    The earl smiled but the concern never left his eyes. “Well, I’m quite relieved to see you’re all right. We’re coming into Madrid in a bit. Might be prudent to look lively and gather your belongings together.”
    “Yes, my lord,” they all said, and for the first time in the two long days their journey had taken them, Ian felt an intense excitement build in the center of his chest.
    “I hope we get something to eat soon,” Carl complained.
    “I’ll just be glad to be off this train,” Ian told him while reaching up for his satchel just above their heads. “I feel like we’ve been boxed in for ages.”
    Carl suddenly pointed out the window and exclaimed, “Oy! Look over there! We’re coming into the city!”
    All three of them eagerly leaned forward and stared out the window as the first signs of Madrid came into view.
    Ian could hardly believe his eyes when the teeming capital of Spain unveiled itself in quick flashes of majestic cathedrals, gilded statues, beautiful old stone buildings, and more modern architecture.
    In some respects, Madrid reminded him very much of London; in other ways, it held fiercely to its own unique personality, and he could not wait to set off and explore it.
    Finally, the conductor made the announcement that they were coming into the Madrid station, and the three orphans gathered up their belongings. When the train slowed to a stop, Ian heard snatches of conversation coming from some of the other passengers and he smiled, because he could understand them all perfectly, thanks to the small pouch he wore round his neck and the tiny piece of magical opal tucked inside.
    Standing beside him, Carl must have been thinking the same thing, because he said, “Lucky for us Jaaved gave us each a piece of the Star, eh, mate?”
    Ian nodded and was about to turn to answer his friend when he felt someone staring at him. He looked up to see a woman with black hair quickly turn her face away. Ian would have thought nothing of it if he hadn’t noticed a man a few paces away looking from the woman to Ian and back again.
    The stranger held his attention mostly because he appeared to be the most physically powerful person Ian had ever seen. He had dark olive skin, black curly hair, and a well-trimmed beard. His physique was nothing short of intimidating as he all but towered over the other passengers, with his huge broad shoulders, and arms thick with cordedmuscle. The man also carried himself with the confidence and alertness of a warrior.
    His attire was fairly simple: he wore a white linen shirt, black trousers, and shiny leather boots. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal his strong arms, and around each of his wrists was a beautiful bronze cuff. The stranger’s face was square, broad, and handsome. His intense eyes suggested a keenness of mind. He stared without blinking at Ian, as if he were daring the boy to say something.
    Embarrassed, Ian nodded, and the stranger nodded back, but Ian’s primary attention quickly returned to the woman he’d caught staring at them. Her face was still turned away, and he