Page 120 of Cursed Crowns
Thea gathered her into a warm hug. “Rose, thank the stars you’re home!”
“I got your note,” said Rose, pulling back from her. “Your starcrest found me in the desert.”
“So that’s where you disappeared to after Ellendale,” said Chapman, whose moustache was twitching furiously. “You nearly gave us all a heart attack. Captain Davers wasdistraughtwith shame.”
“I sent word as soon as I could,” said Rose. “I’m sure you understand why I had to be discreet.”
“Well, I do hope your dalliance in the desert was worth it.”
Rose glowered at her steward. “It was hardly a dalliance, Chapman. Shen Lo and I went to unearth the lost Sunkissed Kingdom. And we succeeded.”
“Oh, some good tidings at last,” said Thea. She glanced at the door. “Where is Shen? He’s never been one to respect the private sanctity of the throne room.”
Rose sighed. “That’s another story entirely.”
Chapman sniffed. “Well, it will have to wait. We have pressing matters to deal with.”
“I’m aware,” said Rose. “I just rode through an angry mob.”
“Are you injured?” said Thea, taking her hand. “I told Captain Davers to frighten them away!”
“He wasn’t even at the gates when I arrived. And, yes, I’m all right. Just a little shaken.” Rose wrung her hands, the swell of her anxiety rising. “How bad has it been here? Barron seems to be establishing a firm grip on the south.”
“Our scouts have reported strongholds as far north as Norbrook,” said Thea grimly. “The Arrows are few but loud. As you see, they’re getting bolder.”
“And the witches here at Anadawn haven’t exactly helped matters,” said Chapman pointedly. “Your Ortha friends have been throwing their magic around, antagonizing the townspeople of Eshlinn as well asothers inside these very palace walls.”
“Someof the witches aren’t helping,” Thea corrected him.
Rose looked between them. “Who?”
Thea hesitated. “Rowena blew Captain Davers off the ramparts when he returned from Ellendale without you.”
“And when the Queensbreath scolded her for it, she went and blew over every stall in the town market!” cried Chapman.
“What?”
“Cathal got into a fight with a palace guard yesterday evening,” Thea added. “Bryony jumped in and enchanted the poor fellow into thinking he was a cat.”
“He nearly drank the kitchen out of milk,” said Chapman solemnly.
Rose gathered new breath. “Thea, fetch every tempest out of bed, and tell them to take care of the fire in the woods before it breaches the treeline. Send Rowena to the ramparts. If she wants to terrorize the Arrows, she can use her wind to keep them from climbing the gates.” She raised a finger in warning. “No harm. No killing.”
“Of course not,” said Thea, both healers seeing eye to eye. She bustled off.
Rose turned back to Chapman. “Any word from Celeste?”
“She’s still in Gevra, trying to corral your wayward sister into coming home, though I gather the Gevran king is proving rather obstinate on the matter,” said the steward with no small amount of disapproval. “Captain Pegasi is sailing back there as we speak.”
“Good,” said Rose with a sigh. “I don’t wish to face this rebellion alone.”
Chapman wrinkled his nose. “And in the meantime might I suggest you... well, bathe?”
Rose looked down at herself, bedraggled and filthy from her journey through the desert. She raked her hands through her tangled hair, feeling a million miles away from the prim and proper queen who had set out on the royal tour barely one week ago.
“I suppose that will take care of one problem, at least.” She wouldbathe, change, and then prepare for the day ahead. For everything to come. With Wren stuck across the Sunless Sea and Shen left behind in the Sunkissed Kingdom, everyone here was looking to Rose to rule. It was just as she had always wanted.
Only she never thought she’d feel so alone.