Page 17 of The Queen's Line

"I think we both know by now that my education has lacked a great deal of value," I said.

Aric groaned and stretched in the saddle, back cracking as he twisted. My own bottom was already sore from the carriage ride, and I couldn't imagine how his felt from riding for over a day. If I wasn't perfectly aware of how it would slow us down, I might've asked to walk on my own for a few miles, but I didn't want to be more of an inconvenience to the small collection of guards and staff or my Chosen than I already was.

"You have the ambition to learn, at least," Aric said, grudgingly and quiet. "And you appear to see things for what they are."

"Be careful, you're getting complimentary," I said, delighted to see his lips twitch.

"Princess, I promise to never compliment you where you don't deserve it," Aric said with a mocking kind of regality. "And to always tell you when I think you're doing a piss poor job."

We rode alongside one another, and it was the most companionable time I'd spent with Aric since he'd held me while I'd broken down on the night of my choosing.

He'd smelled like pipe smoke and plums that night, and no one had ever held me in such a way before. Not since I was a little girl at least. There was a complicated push and pull between us. I desperately wanted to prove myself to him, which I found equally and deeply irritating. And at the same time, I craved that brief softness he'd shown me. How could I show him my own strength when I wanted just as badly to have him scoop me up against his chest again?

"If you lack the Hunger, you may be the best ruler this country could see," Aric said. "You'd actually be focused on your people instead of your—" And then he stopped himself abruptly and cleared his throat.

I glanced at him, eyeing the flush spreading over his cheeks that he steadfastly ignored. A sharp pang struck me low in the belly, and I nearly swayed on my horse before whipping my stare away.

Ididlack the Hunger…didn't I?

* * *

We reachedthe edges of the northern city Rumsbrooke at nightfall. I'd napped in the carriage while the others rode the horses during the afternoon, and then returned to my gray gelding as the sun set.

If I'd hoped to see Rumsbrooke as an improvement on the crumbling towns between here and the sea, I was disappointed. The city was large and contained in an old stone wall that was giving away beneath dense vines. Even from outside, the scent of decay was on the air.

"I leave you here. You're only an hour's ride from the Winter Palace," Aric said, turning his horse away from our caravan. "If you make it into Rumsbrooke, you might find me at the Wing and Roost."

"I'll make a point of it," I said, my hands tight around the reins as Aric's head tipped to me and he nudged his horse to the city gates. "Aric!"

Thao was back in his tiger form, tongue licking his chops, and he padded up to my side as Aric paused and looked over his shoulder. I suspected Thao'd hunted his own dinner for the night, rather than dining on the scraps the rest of us had shared.

"You've promised to give me your honest opinion. I hope you'll come to the Winter Palace to see me. I'd hate to get spoiled without your tempering influence."

Thao huffed and twisted sinuously away, no doubt annoyed with my declaration. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared across the road at Aric. His face was in profile, one steel gray eye visible and holding my gaze. I wasn't sure who was in battle, only that I felt the struggle in my veins as he nodded once more and trotted to the gate.

"You should stay in the carriage for the rest of the ride, princess," Aric called. "The woods between here and the palace can be dangerous."

I wanted to leap down from my seat and drag him back, make him promise to see me at the palace, and I didn't even entirely understand why. Everything was jumbling together in my head, leaving a slow, pounding ache behind. Aric was not the noble gentleman, but he wasn't the coarse blade either. And it hardly seemed to matter because he was riding away from me.

Perhaps you are simply spoiled and don't like something being taken away from you, I thought. It seemed like something he might say.

Fabric rustled behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Thao standing by the waiting carriage.

"Come, Bryony. For once, the rogue is right."

My lips twitched, and I had an odd understanding thatthiswas the kind of tension between men that might be amusing. Or at least I found it so. I slid off the back of my horse and Thao took the reins, passing it back to the handler before following me into the carriage.

I moved to sit with Owen, fairly certain that his and Thao's shoulders would exceed the width of the carriage. Owen hummed as I settled in at his side, and Thao rapped on the roof, shutting the door as it jerked forward.

"I hope whatever staff was hired for the palace has prepared the rooms and baths before we arrive," Thao grumbled.

"I don't care what we arrive to. I'd sleep in the stable with the horses," Owen offered, his arm sliding over my shoulders and carelessly pulling me into his warm side. It was more comfortable than I expected, and I sank against him.

"How different would that be to your usual accommodations?" Thao asked, eyes narrowing, but he didn't seem to be vicious with the question, although Wendell shot him a warning look.

"Not very," Owen answered with an easy laugh.

"You are Chosen now," I said, reaching up to touch the hand Owen rested over my shoulder and finding myself happily tangling my fingers with his. "You should be able to sleep wherever you please, stables or suites."