Chapter Two
"Are you going to pout all the way there?" Winry asked, slumping in her train seat.
"I wish you wouldn't have come." Ed's fingers dug at a loose thread in the worn red velvet seat cover.
"So you've said a dozen times or more in the last hour." Her lips thinned. "I'm tired of it."
Ed sighed heavily, leaning, shoulder to shoulder, against his brother. "Did Mustang give you any hints what we're looking for?"
"No. You've seen things designed to make a Philosopher Stone. What can you tell me?" she was curious about that, naturally.
"I don't know. Most of what Al and I have seen were things to work with red water to turn it into a stone. Mostly all the apparatus was comprised of were some alembic containers of the red water placed on alchemic circles. It would require an alchemist to use what little machinery there is. If Mustang thinks there's enough machinery that I'd need your expertise, Winry, it must be something entirely different," Ed replied, sounding disappointed.
"But we haven't see anything that looks much like a machine in our research, Brother," Al pointed out.
"Maybe it has nothing at all to do with the Philosopher Stone," Winry postulated even though she knew that wouldn't be a popular suggestion.
Ed nodded. "I've thought of that, too. People have died though, so whatever it is, if it's used to kill and process people, it has to be stopped." Ed scowled at her. "That's why I didn't want you to come, Winry. It's too dangerous."
Winry kicked him hard in the shin, catching the nerve precisely. Ed yelped, clamping a hand over the injured area as lightning bolts of pain shot up and down.
"You couldn't kick the other leg?" he moaned.
"I just fixed that leg." She stabbed a finger at him. "You're lucky I didn't kick higher and a little to the right."
Ed considered those coordinates then crossed his legs. He leaned over to Al and said, "Trade me places."
"No," Al said simply, about as tired of his brother's stubbornness and petulance as Winry was.
"Ed, have you forgotten that you and I have already faced one serial killer together? You saved my life that day, even though Barry the Butcher had taken off your arm. And you were a lot younger then. We'll be fine," Winry said, little lines appearing around her mouth as she thought about 'the chopper.'
Ed looked away. "I don't like thinking about that day." He hated it, in fact. He had stabbed his brother blindly. If Al had been flesh, he would have killed him. He had been so frightened that he woke up for months with nightmares. Ed had never thought about what that day had done to poor Winry. He didn't realize he was something of a hero to her.
"Neither do I, but my point is, you saved my life once. I'd trust you with it, always," she said softly.
"Winry has a point, Brother," Al put in.
Ed picked harder at the frayed velvet. "I know and you saved my life, Winry. Without you and Granny, I would have bled to death that night. I never stopped to think how that affected you."
Winry leaned forward, putting a hand on his knee and one on Al's. "It scared me to death. All of our lives changed that night. I nearly lost my two best friends. I've already lost my parents and your mom, too, and I'm not sure I could handle more. I was more frightened that night than I was when the Chopper had me because you were still clinging to life and if Granny and I made a mistake it would have been our fault you died." She held up the hand she had on Ed's knee to shush him then put it back. "I know why you're afraid now, Ed. You think if I die on this trip, it'll be because you didn't do enough to keep me safe. Now you know what I feel like every time you and Al disappear for months. I love you two, but you go off alone and I don't know if I'll never hear from you again."
Ed's eyes misted and he turned his gaze out the window.
"Sorry, Winry," Al said and Ed bobbed his head, not trusting his voice.
"We didn't mean to make you feel like this," Ed finally added, burying a finger in the hole he had worried into the velvet.
Winry sat back. "I know you didn't but now maybe you understand a little better. It won't kill you to drop a letter in the mail, Edward. I know you think if you don't let anyone close to you, there'll be no one you have to worry about letting down. You don't have to think about the fact that you're worrying them sick with the danger you're in. Well, it's too late for that. I will always be in the window, waiting for you two to come home."
Ed's lip trembled as he kept looking out the window. He felt Al's hand on his arm, knowing his brother could see him trying hard not to cry. "I don't know what to say," he said his voice cracking with emotion.
"You don't need to say a word, Ed. I just needed you to know that," Winry said, digging into her bag. She needed to get out her work so she would have a distraction from her train of thought. She took out her tatting shuttles and some multicolored threads and set her hands to working. Winry didn't like to leave her hands just sitting around doing nothing. It kept them nimble for working automail when she did other things, like tatting lace for her friends. She even used metal 'threads' to make some elaborate pieces. So long as her fingers were busy, she was happy. She could talk to the brothers or more likely change seats with Ed so he could stretch out and sleep, being the scintillating conversationalist that he was. So long as her fingers were busy, she wouldn't be tempted to wrap them around Ed's throat if he complained one more time about her coming along.
Keeping her seat since Edward was out cold reclining on his brother, Winry caught Al up on some of the things happening in Rizenbool. He had asked, probably out of sheer politeness. She wondered if he remembered any of the people she was talking about or was just trying to force memories that weren't there. She felt deep down that Al was really in that armor. She knew, of course, that he had been a real boy, no matter what trauma Al had suffered to make him think otherwise. It was frightening to think of him as only memories made up by Ed but even that wouldn't explain the holes in Al's memories. Ed knew the people Al couldn't remember. No, it was probably just the trauma of the whole process and not to mention Al had only been ten at the time. How much did anyone remember from when they were really young?
"What are you making, Winry?" Al asked.
"Earrings." She held one of the tiny lace snowflakes to her ear. "What do you think?"
"They're nice."
"I'm getting a jump on the holidays this year," she said then nodded at Ed who was slumped against Al, fast asleep. "How does he do that?"
"Brother can sleep just about anywhere," Al replied, glancing down at Ed.
"I think he's drooling on you." Winry laughed.
"Ewww, Brother. Wake up." Al flexed his arm and Ed slammed face first into Al's metal chest with a clang.
Ed sat back, holding his injured nose. "Owww, what was that for?"
"Maybe Al doesn't want drooled on, Ed." Winry's blue eyes flicked up from her bag as she exchanged the tatting shuttles for braiding leather. "And it's rude to fall asleep mid-conversation."
"Sorry," Ed said sheepishly as he stretched. "Trying to catch up on my sleep now since who knows when I'll get to do it again."
"I don't think you can squirrel sleep away like nuts, Ed. Sleeping now won't mean you'll be able to stay up all night tomorrow," Winry said, pulling strands of leather tight.
"Says you." Ed got up and headed off, presumably either after the lavatory car or hunting down the snack cart.
"Quick, Al, does Ed have any women he works with?"
Al was silent for a moment. "I guess Scieska or First Lieutenant Hawkeye, or Second Lieutenant Ross, why?"
Winry smirked. "Just play along."
When Ed came back with a snack and drink just for himself – no surprises there. The boy needed to remember he wasn't always the only person around who might be thirsty – he tossed himself down next to his brother.
"So Ed, what's this between you and Scieska?" Winry pouted, slipping on her best 'put out' face.
His pale brow beetled. "What are you talking about?"
"You were talking about her in your sleep, all smiles and giggles." Winry dropped the leather quirt into her lap.
Ed turned pink. "I did not!"
"Ask Al. You really know how to make a girl feel wanted." Winry pouted at him.
"I don't like Scieska. She's as insane as Hughes. I don't know how they work together," Ed said with a sharp shake of his head, his braid whipping.
"I don't know, Brother. You should listen to Winry," Al said, a hint of mirth in his voice.
Ed's eyes widened as he looked at his brother. "I was dreaming about Scieska? What was I saying?"
"Stuff that doesn't belong in mixed company." Winry couldn't contain a smile.
"Really, Brother."
Ed gave them both the gimlet eye. "Don't drag my brother into your web of lies. He's not good at it." Ed tapped her toe with his. "Tormenting me is no fair. I'm sorry I fell asleep, I'm sorry I complained about you coming along but I'm not sorry about being worried about you."
"That's okay. I'm not upset about that. It's nice that you care, Ed," Winry said, flipping the quirt at him. "Not enough to ask if I wanted something to eat or drink."
Ed looked at his cup then flashed her a sheepish look. "Sorry, Winry. Want me to get you something?"
"That's all right." Winry started braiding again. "Why did you find it so hard to believe you might have been talking about a girl in your sleep?"
Ed shrugged. "Don't usually have a lot of time for girls. I don't spend a lot of time thinking about them. You know how it goes."
"Not really. I mean, I'm busy but I do take time to think about boys," Winry replied, trying not to smile at the change that came over Ed's face, something feral and almost possessive. So he did notice her, after all.
"Who?" Ed's voice went sharp and jealous.
"No one you know," she replied, coyly.
"That's not fair," he said.
"Maybe if you wanted to know what's going on in my life, you and your brother would write a letter or something. Or stop in and see Granny. You're like her sons, you know," Winry said then winced. She sounded like she was hectoring them and she didn't want to do that. "Sorry."
"No, you're right, Winry. Ed and I will do better," Al promised.
"Thanks, Al," Winry said then just involved herself in her braiding. Maybe it was just better if she shut up and worked. Ed and Al still didn't look like they wanted to talk much. She remembered what Mr. Hughes had said about the boys needing her but like most men, might not be ready to talk. The trick for her was being there when they were ready. She only hoped she was up to the task.
"Winry, what's that?" Al said, thankfully changing the subject. "That doesn't look like jewelry."
"It'll be a quirt. I was chatting to Ms. Hawkeye about my hobbies and when she found out I braided leather, she asked for the quirt," Winry said.
"Why? It's not like I've ever seen her on a horse," Ed said, his nose wrinkling.
Winry shrugged. "I don't know but Mr. Havoc and Mr. Mustang seemed pleased with it. Given the look on the colonel's face, I decided I didn't want to know."
"Great, now I'm too disturbed to sleep," Ed moaned but he proved that to be a lie.
X X X
"Mr. Elric, sir."
Ed was surprised to see a young woman waiting for them at the station. Her dark brown hair was pulled back, making her look a little younger than he suspected she was. At least her greeting was sedate. The less who knew they were in town, the better. "Yes? Who are you?"
"Dr. Halia Endymion," she replied, surprising him a little. Ed wasn't sure what he was expecting but a doctor wasn't it. "Hughes asked me to meet you." Her hazel eyes flicked around as if afraid they would be overheard. Ed noticed she avoided giving out Hughes' rank and figured he had best do the same. "We can't really talk here." Her eyes settled on Winry uneasily.
"She's Winry Rockbell. Mustang sent her with us," Ed said.
Endymion nodded. "I can show you to your lodgings then we can talk."
Ed and Al helped Winry with her stuff and at this point, she was just as content to let Ed do some heavy lifting to make up for all the complaining he had done. She was just sorry she wasn't the kind of girl to pack heavy. It would serve him right for making her feel so unwelcome. The doctor led them to a house several blocks away from anything resembling the town center. It was at the end of a lonely road, small and ramshackle. The grey clapboards were in want of painting and the windows were hazed with grime.
"Who are you again?" Ed asked suspiciously, his eyes on the desperate little house.
"I know it doesn't look like much but there's a purpose to that." Endymion put a key in the rusty lock and the door creaked open. Inside the dimly lit house, they found that the walls were at least solid and the inside was more or less clean. "The landlady is rather elderly and this is the best she can do. She's guaranteed not to be in your way or in your business. She lives back in town. Hughes said he wanted something out of the way for you, something that would be overlooked."
"He's expecting trouble then," Ed said, his lips pulling into a grim line.
She nodded. "I'm afraid there are only two bedrooms." Enydmion pointed up the slightly dusty stairs. "The beds are hard but the linen is clean. Hughes said the brothers could share."
"Why is a doctor acting as a guide, Doctor Endymion?" Winry studied the woman intently.
"Please, call me Halia. I'm one of the lieutenant colonel's contacts in this region," she replied, casually. "I'm often in a position to know things he can make use of."
"He may seem a little scattered, Winry, but the lieutenant colonel has a whole network of contacts helping him with his investigations," Al said.
"Can we talk safely here?" Ed stowed the luggage in the little living room.
Halia nodded and went over to the hearth. She put a little kindling into the fireplace and started a small fire to take the chill out of the air. "It should be but I would be wary of what I say in town."
"Who don't you trust?" Ed sat on the threadbare couch.
Halia's lips pulled into a crooked smile. "Pretty much all of the politicians but for me, that's a natural distrust. Specifically, I don't trust our alderman, Nicholas Clayworth, the sheriff, Bart Leatherby or the military's attaché here, Lieutenant Tamar Dance."
"What are they doing?" Ed asked, a little surprised to hear three names so readily given.
Halia shook her head. "I don't know for sure. Maybe nothing but I wouldn't bet on it."
"Which of them is the alchemist, doctor?" Al asked.
"None of them and I'm not sure if they're involved. If they are and this is alchemy, then there is someone I don't know about," she admitted with a disturbed look in her eye. "Which is entirely possible."
"So what are they doing that has made you suspicious?" Ed wished she would just get to the point.
"We had a few disappearances several months ago, mostly vagrants so no one thought much about it. Leatherby didn't investigate it much but that was understandable. They wouldn't expend the resources on vagrants." Halia gave her head a disgusted little shake. "Then we found parts of Hutton, the town drunk, just parts and very little of those, just enough to know it was him. Neither Leatherby nor Mayor Clayworth thought it was worth looking into. That didn't really rouse my suspicions since no one thought much of Hutton to start with. But then other people started to disappear, no one prominent but decent people, woodsmen, laborers, people you'd see in the market place." Halia's voice grew more gravelly and annoyed with each passing moment.
"And still no one cared," Winry guessed.
"Oh, they certainly pretended to." Halia laughed bitterly, pacing in front of the fireplace. "But I was subtly told to mind my own business when I pushed for explanations as to what could have done the things I saw done when parts of those people turned up as well. Then more people went missing, including children. Lately when they disappear, nothing of them has resurfaced. Mostly all we see are some token investigative efforts and a lot of blaming of outsiders that no one has ever seen."
"How does any of this relate to people being processed in a machine?" Ed asked, perplexed.
"Zak, a kid I've patched up more times than I can count, used to love to run around in the woods. A few days ago he called me, very frightened, talking about a machine and people being put into it. He was cut off mid-phone call. I don't think they have any idea he was talking to my clinic or I'd already be dead." Halia rubbed her arms nervously.
"Where is this machine?" Ed pressed, an eager glint in his golden eyes.
Halia shook her head. "You know everything that I know now. I'd wager it's out in the forest but I couldn't tell you where. I'd be very careful in town asking questions because attracting attention could mean you'll be the next to disappear. I can point out who you need to avoid the best you can…which won't be easy. They'll want to meet you, being newcomers."
Ed scowled, thinking on all the things he was going to do to Mustang for sending Winry with them. No one was going to chop her into little pieces. "Winry, I think you should get back on the train."
Winry's blue eyes when hotter than Mustang's alchemy. "Ed, you're going to be glad Halia's a doctor if you say that again. You need my help, now more than ever. I have a perfectly legitimate reason for being here, if the sheriff or anyone wants to know. I bet Halia could pretend I'm here to see a patient." Winry turned to the doctor. "I'm an automail expert."
Halia smiled a little in agreement and this encouragement of Winry's involvement irritated Ed. "I have several patients you could be here consulting on."
"Then maybe Winry should stay in town with you so less people associate her with Al and me," Ed suggested, ignoring Winry's hot look.
"That wouldn't be good. I'm not sure my place is safe. Leatherby doesn't like me. I think he believes I know more than I do." Unease was blatant in the doctor's eyes. She was obviously afraid for her life.
"Brother, Winry wants to stay with us," Al ventured, hesitantly. "We can keep her safe but Winry, you might have to be with the doctor at her clinic while we investigate."
"I like leaving her behind even less," Ed said. "But if we don't want people to think you're helping us, that might be necessary." He wanted to tell her to go home again but he knew it was useless. "What else can you do for us, Doc?"
"I've stocked this place with some groceries and I can point out some of Zak's friends. They might know where he was heading and that could at least narrow down your search out in the words," Halia said. "I'd suggest telling anyone who sees you with Winry that you're her cousins and you didn't think it was safe to let her travel alone."
Ed nodded, grateful for the suggestion. "That makes sense."
"We're all really tired from all that traveling," Winry said, honestly. "I'm too tired to cook. Is there an inn or a restaurant in town where we could get something? Yes, I know it's risking being seen but that might be a good thing. Let everyone know I'm here to help Halia out and that you're just here killing time until it's time for me to head back home."
Ed begrudgingly admitted she had a point. He almost wanted to leave Al behind, not to protect him but to attract less attention but he knew from the moment they had stepped onto the platform at the station they had been noticed. In towns this small, everyone would already know there were strangers in town and who had met with them. Rizenbool had taught him that. "Food and bed sound good," he said, though he was less tired than Winry was. Catching naps on trains was a good thing, after all.
"I'll take you to Sabrin's. It's pretty much the nerve center in town. Luckily all her rooms were booked so it won't seem odd that you aren't staying there," Halia said, heading for the front door.
"This town has that many visitors?" Al asked, surprised.
Halia pointed to the snow capped mountains the little house had a nice view of. "People come to hunt and to play in the snow. Can you ski?"
"Tying boards to our feet? That will just give you more work, doctor," Winry said with a laugh. "I've never even seen it done. Rizenbool doesn't have those kind of hills."
"It's dangerous but it is fun. For Ed and Al's sakes, I'd suggest telling everyone their hunters. It gives you an excuse to disappear into the woods. I have a rifle, I'll lend it to you. I know you don't need it but you'll want to keep up appearances. It'll be up to you to decide if you want people to notice that." Halia pointed to the silver chain reaching up for Ed's belt loops.
Ed detached it and stuffed the chain into his pocket. His usual red cape with its symbol had been traded in for a more utilitarian winter coat before he had left the train. "If they know I'm in town, Leatherby and Clayworth will want to meet with me. Let's see if I can get in a day's investigation before I do that. Eventually I'll have to talk to them."
Halia studied him with a practiced eye, taking in his height and breadth of chest. "You look far too young to be a state alchemist. You can't be more than thirteen."
"I'm sixteen," Ed said through gritted teeth.
Halia's hazel eyes opened wide. "Really? But you're so thin through the chest and there are a few other missing developmental markers."
Ed made something like a growling noise, his face flushing.
Al put a hand on his shoulder. "At least she didn't say you were short, Brother."
"Al!" Ed whined, painfully.
"That's a touchy subject for him," Winry explained.
"Sorry." Halia shrugged sheepishly.
She led the way back into town to a large building that was very centrally located. It swarmed with people, still Halia managed to find them a table off in a corner. They probably would have gone almost unnoticed except for Al's sheer size and bizarre appearance. A stunning redhead came over to their table once they were settled in.
"Good evening, Sabrin," Halia said, glancing up at the proprietress.
"I see you have guests, doctor." Sabrin's green eyes took careful stock of the strangers at her table. Ed suspected she was measuring each of them with the practiced eye of someone used to dealing with people.
"Winry Rockbell, an automail expert. She's here consulting with me," Halia said, waving a hand at Winry. "And her cousins, Ed and Al Rockbell."
"Well, welcome to Waukrio. I'll send Vala over to get your orders. I'll get you something to drink. It feels like snow in the air tonight. Would you like some tea?" Sabrin asked.
"That would be nice," Winry said, thinking she could use something warm and sweet. "Thank you."
Ed watched Sabrin head back toward the bar area of her establishment then glanced over at Halia. "This place is busy. She knows everyone's business, doesn't she?"
Halia nodded. "But I'd take care in asking her for any information. She's just as likely to tell anyone who'd want to know that you're interested in those murdered people. Sabrin's a hard worker, started out with very little and she built this place by knowing how to handle people. Still, that's a blade that cuts both ways. Now look over there near the fireplace." Halia nodded to a tall, very broad man that reminded the brothers of Teacher's lover, a thick-looking, almost fat man who in reality was anything but. He was sitting with a petite blonde girl in a familiar blue uniform with second lieutenant insignia. "That's Sheriff Leatherby and Lieutenant Dance."
"It looks like they noticed us," Winry said, uneasily.
"And it's killing them not knowing who we are," Ed added, trying not to look at the couple. Leatherby didn't bother hiding his stare.
"Most definitely. Unless he comes over here, I won't bother introducing you tonight but I would suggest getting as much done as you can tomorrow," Halia said.
Ed nodded then turned his attention to the waitress who arrived at their table. He and Winry decided go for the meat pies, which Halia claimed were the specialty of the house. When the pies arrived, the meat inside the delicate crust was fork-tender and the sauce swimming with onions, herbs and root vegetables. They were so tasty Winry had to fork-stab Ed's metal hand when he tried to sneak some of hers. Sabrin returned just as they were mopping up the last of the gravy with pieces of crusty bread that seemed to be served with every meal they saw around the dining room.
"Did you like it?" Sabrin asked, a bright smile on her pale face.
"Yes, I've never had better," Winry said.
"If she weren't so tired and needing to go home, I'd have another," Ed added with a greedy grin.
"I'm so glad you liked them. You do look tired, though. Halia, you shouldn't keep your guests out so late if they just got into town," Sabrin scolded, lightly.
Halia looked sheepish. "Well, they did need to eat and I said you have the best food in town."
"Always glad to hear that. I'm sorry there was no room for you to stay here. We had a big turn out for the anticipated first snow fall," Sabrin said, waving hand at her crowded dining room.
"That's all right," Al said, glancing at his brother at the mention of snow. He knew it would only complicate things. "We're good but it does look like a very nice place to stay."
"Thank you for saying so." Sabrin grinned. "You must come back when you're more awake. You'll find the best food and talk here. We even have music on some nights."
"Sounds like fun. I guess we should be going," Winry said, stifling a yawn.
"Yes, of course, don't let me keep you." Sabrin headed off to talk with other customers.
Halia caught Winry's arm then nodded for them to follow her. She led them out a back door. "I didn't think we could avoid Leatherby and Dance if we went out the front. It'll be better if you get a day's worth of investigation in before you have to deal with them."
"Agreed," Ed said.
"Can you find your way back? If so, I'll just head home, because it is getting late and I have a lot of work to do to get ready for tomorrow." Halia pointed down the road. "See that blue building there? That's my office. You can come by tomorrow morning."
"We can find our way around," Ed said, starting off.
"Thanks for your help, Dr. Endymion," Al added, "Don't mind my brother, he's a little rude to everyone."
"He really is," Winry said, glaring after Ed who seemed willfully oblivious to it all.
"He should be a doctor then." Halia laughed. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Winry and Al took off after Ed. They hadn't gone a block before the sky let loose with flakes the size and consistency of smashed potatoes. By the time they had walked another block they were coated.
"When we were little, we would have killed for soft, wet snow like this," Winry observed, trying to covertly hold out her tongue to catch a flake. She stopped when she saw Ed looking over his shoulder.
"That was fun," Ed admitted.
"Until you put snow down Ed's pants, Winry," Al said. "He complained for forever."
"That was still fun," she retorted, remembering Ed's tantrums about that.
"It was not. It was damn cold," Ed said his eyes as hard as the metal they so resembled. It just made Winry smile more.
"Funny," she shot back, wishing the snow was already deep enough for a snow ball. Oh, well, there was always tomorrow. She listened to Ed grumbling all the way back about snow in the pants. She almost felt sorry about it, almost but not quite. Once they got back to the little house, Winry was ready to just go to her room and nod off but she was cold. Ed went over to the banked fire Halia had started and stoked it up.
"I don't think there's any other kind of heat in here," Al said, looking around for radiators and seeing none. "Oh wait, here it is," he added, stepping into the next room. "It's very small."
"Well, hopefully there're fireplaces in the bed rooms. Al, maybe you should…" Winry trailed off, an embarrassed flush creeping up her face. "Um, it's just maybe you should sit by the fire for a little while."
Al's head drooped. "I'm radiating cold, aren't I?"
"Just a little," she said softly, not looking at him.
"It's okay, Al. You'll be in my room and I don't mind," Ed said, hurriedly.
Al just sat next to the hearth. "A few minutes of this and Winry will be fighting you to have me in the room to warm it up."
Ed smiled faintly. "I'm sure."
"I'll go check the bedrooms and see how they're set for tonight." Winry picked up her travel case on the way up. The one light in the room was dim and yellow. There was one tiny radiator inconveniently near the window like an afterthought, but there was a stout brick fireplace with an old-fashioned metal bed warmer resting against it. She turned down the bedding to let it air out a bit. It was thinner than she might have hoped. She was spoiled, use to the hot steam heating of Granny's home and her thick, warm down comforter. A hand on the radiator found it to be cold but she could hear it banging loudly. Ed and Al must have found the controls and the steam was sluggishly moving through the system.
Winry headed to the boys' room next with the bed warmer in hand, finding it in similar straits. She turned down their beds, not even sure if Al would lie down but reasoned he'd appreciate the gesture. She snagged the bed warmer from there as well then headed down stairs. "It's pretty cold up there. I brought down the bed warmers but we should probably get the fireplaces going."
"We put on the heaters on but they're old," Al said apologetically.
"Like everything else in this place," Ed grumbled.
"We'll make do. I'll look at them in the morning. I'm sure I can improve them." She put the bed warmers on the hearth and the boys carefully scooped a few hot coals into either metal pan. Ed helped her carrying them back upstairs. Al tried to start the fire in her room while she and Ed tended to the beds.
"Watch my bed catch fire," he said, coming into her room.
"I know what you mean." Winry eyed the bed warily. "How's it coming, Al?"
"Halia made it look easy," Al said, frustrated with the fire's refusal to catch.
"Can't you two just...you know and get it going?" She clapped her hands together.
"If you want that, travel with Mustang," Ed said then his eyes widened as he realized what he had said. "On second thought, don't. I haven't quite figured out how he does that thing with the fire. It's simple in theory but it's not as easy as it looks. Guess they wouldn't have made him a State Alchemist if it was."
"I think I got it going," Al said, getting up. "I'll try our room, brother."
"Okay." Ed turned to Winry. "You really do look a little beat."
"I am. I'll get a bath then get to bed." Winry yawned.
"Sounds like a plan. Good night, Winry," Ed said, heading to his room.
"Goodnight, Winry," Al added, following his brother.
"Goodnight boys." Winry opened her travel case and took out her nightgown wishing she had brought a flannel one. She went into the shared bathroom and started the water. The pipes moaned like the dead rising then sputtered blasting black strands of mildew into the metal tub. The water was a noxious shade of iron orange. "Ewww, damn!"
"Is there a problem Winry?" Al asked on the other side of the second door.
"Rusty water. I'll let it run tomorrow. I'm in no mood to wait for it to clear tonight." Winry eyed the water which did its best imitation of being pumped out of a coal mine. "If it ever clears."
"Okay," Al replied and moved away from the pale white door that bore deep scratches on it as if someone had locked up an unhappy dog inside the bathroom.
Winry just washed up in the sink a bit and changed into her nightgown. She removed the bed warmer then slipped under the covers. Halia hadn't lied. The sheets were fresh but Winry wasn't used to sleeping with a fire in the room. Every crack and pop dragged her away from the precipice of sleep. She stared at the glowing coals, half afraid that a stray spark would catch her bed on fire. The fire dogs cast weird and frightening shadows on the walls. Winry closed her eyes, fighting for sleep. The sound of Ed snoring right across the hall did not help. She willed Al to go roll his brother over. He didn't. Winry settled in for a long night.