<div style="text-align: center;">After all small talk and pleasantries began to slow, the group began to make their way from the table and finish up their preparations for their journey ahead.  The first to leave was Magnus, who was soon followed by his parents.  Anora watched as he walked over and introduced himself to a stranger, wondering who she was and how Magnus knew her.  Maybe she was a long forgotten lover?  Though she did not see Magnus as the type to fling around with random women.  A forsaken friend?  Anora thought for a second about this and soon dismissed this as well.  Anora knew better than to trust someone who just appeared in the midst of a tavern, offering help.  She knew the ones in this group she could trust were few and far in-between.  Anora made a mental note to keep an eye on her, among the others she was already going to watch.<br/><br/>“Deep in thought?”  The raspy voice of an old man asked.<br/><br/>“Yes, Cyrus.”  Anora responded as her head turned to face her new acquaintance.  He was one of the many she was going to watch.<br/><br/>“Not everyone is fighting against us.”  The judgment in his voice was evident.  “You must focus on our upcoming journey.”<br/><br/>Anora eyes darted down.  Was he suggesting she not watch out for this group?  Her wealth of experience had taught her a lot.  A Caravan always ran the risk of attracting unwanted attention, from raiders attack from outside and thief's stealing from within.  Her eyes always watched for anything that would threaten the group.  Her eyes looked up, eyeing up Cyrus once again.  “I am just watching out for an enemy I do not know.”<br/><br/>“Indeed.”  Cyrus responded.  “From what Ardur has told me your enemies have taken many forms.”<br/><br/>“Which is why I will continue to watch for threats.”  Anora responded confidently.  <br/><br/>Cyrus looked to her, then to Magnus's new friend, before back to her.  “If you so insist.”  He spoke as he leaned back in his chair.  “Though Magnus's new friend does not seem like a threat to my old eyes.”<br/><br/>Anora grinned as she leaned back in her chair.  Her eyes quickly darted to her left as the bartender brought two plates of food.  She did not realize just how hungry she was and now she was wishing she had ordered some food.  The bartender placed the first plate in front of Ardur, before placing one in front of her.  Anora cocked an eyebrow as she looked up to the bartender.  As she raised her head up high enough, her eyes locked onto those of the bartender.  Her other eyebrow quickly shot up to match, and her eyes quickly darted between the plate of food and the bartender.  The bartender raised a brow as well.  His eyes simply stayed on her own, not offering an clues.  Anora's eyes fell a little as she thought, until she had an idea.  Her head tilted to the side, somewhat pointing out Ardur in the process.  The bartender nodded.  <br/><br/>“You know you could just ask.”  Ardur spoke.  “It's not so loud in here you have to revert to eye gestures.”  The bartender gave him a slight nod as he moved away.  Ardur began to tear into the food with a frenzy much akin to him.  Anora watched in awe, as she usually did, at the speed in which this man devoured his plate. <br/><br/> After a minute of silence, Ardur looked up to see all the eyes were on him.  Anora watched with her curious eyes but the eyes of Cyrus and Selen were more akin to one who just witnessed a horrific scene in a theater play.  Cyrus slowly chewed his food now, eyes darting between the group.  “What?”  He asked as food spit out on the table.  “I'm hungover and hungry.”  His eyes darted over to Anora before darting down to her plate of food.  “If you don't start soon, I will finish it.”  <br/><br/>Anora once again cocked an eyebrow at the statement.  She quickly grabbed a nearby fork, and skewered a lonely piece of meat.  “I believe you.”  She said as she smiled.  She began to eat her food slowly.<br/><br/>Anora finished her food a few minutes later with Ardur looking on with hungry intent.  But they did not have time for seconds, in a few minutes they had all their possessions.  Soon they found themselves on their way to the station.  Anora had often wondered what the stations looked like.  From what the caravan masters had told her they were run down buildings, where cheap people seeking unskilled transport across the land.  Though she has seen their roads, she has never once seen the beasts that rolled on them much less the stations that house them.  Curiosity had started to get the best of her, and she turned her attention to Ardur.  Sitting beside her, with a bottle of mead in his hand, Ardur was enjoying the trip already.  His eyes strained as the carriage was never offered any relief from the harsh and ever present sun. <br/><br/> His lips curled upward as a weak grin appeared, his eyes had caught a glimpse of Anora deep in thought.  “What troubles you?”  He asked.<br/><br/>Anora eyes's matched Ardur's for a second before they darted off towards the traffic on the nearby street.  Her eyes darted from the random travelers to the shops stalls, keeping her eyes on alert for anyone paying too close attention to their movement.  She looked back to Ardur.  “Do you think what the caravan masters say of the railroad beasts is true?”  <br/><br/>Ardur almost missed the question with the hushed tone that she used.  “Possible.”  He responded as he himself was dragged deep into thought.  The only stations that he had seen were run down, rat infested dumps.  He himself had rode a train or two in his time, small and unimportant lines he traveled on board these beasts.  The rail line he would travel on now was going to be different, however.  From what he had gathered they were to travel to Marveila, which meant they were to travel on the Grand Line.  Ardur never knew which one was better.  Grand Line, Star Express, Kings Travel they all boasted the best service at a reasonable price.  Ardur personally tried the Star Experience on a quick trip from Belaron to Veldon, and it was by far one of the worst experiences of his life.  People who seemed to be homeless crammed in to a smelly cottage was further exasperated by the lack of windows or a moving breeze to air out the carriage meant he felt the furthest from a Star than at any point in his life.<br/><br/>“I know this experience will be different from my own experience.”  Ardur spoke as he tore the cork off the bottle and took a swig.  “Plus, as we round this corner we can begin to see..”  He was caught off guard as his eyes caught it's first glimpse of the station.  “You should see this Anora.”  He spoke as he pointed out the station with his right hand.<br/><br/>Anora's head twisted in a quick motion as she eyed up the station.  She was expecting something grand.  This was a capital city, and with a train line as royal sounding as the Star Express, and anything short of grand would be outrageous.  Yet as the sparkle set in her eyes, and her mouth dropped, she realized that this station was something exquisite.  Tall marble statues, one masked and one not, flanked the long stairway that ran up to the station itself.  The station was a building straight out of a book.  Large, stone pillars held up the roof of the building allowing an open air platform for the trains to arrive and depart in in style.  Each pillar was hand sculpted to allow the curving architecture to take form.  Each one was identical, each pillar.  <br/><br/>“This seems like a bit much.”  Ardur shouted out.<br/><br/>“A bit over the top.”  Anora shouted back.<br/><br/>“It is exquisite if I may say.”  Cyrus responded with a laugh.  “I think I will enjoy traveling by train if its anything likes its housing.”</div>