Page 25 of The Queen's Line
"Actually, I think I'd like to go and see the city for myself and speak to her there," I said.
"I know where the Sanders house is," Cosmo offered. "Rebecca took pity on me and bought one of my first pieces."
Wendell leaned forward and added softly, "We should at least send word. A royal visit would catch anyone off guard, especially since it's still so…new to have you here."
I looked back to Cresswell, aware that he'd watched every detail of our interactions with keen interest. I was probably not what he'd imagined when he'd heard a princess was coming with her Chosen. And no doubt dismissing Sir Hubert and taking a trip to speak to the local magistrate—honorary title or otherwise—would fracture any attempt to appear as if we were all playing along with my Hunger. But after our travels, I didn't want to waste any more time playing pretend.
"I'll have word sent down to the city, and if you don't object, I think it's best if I and some of the guard attend you on your trip, Your Highness," Cresswell said with a respectful bow.
How eccentric would I appear if I asked my royal guard to dismiss with my title and bowing as well as my Chosen? Probably a little too much so.
"I defer to your judgment in this," I said, and Cresswell bowed again before leaving.
"I don't think a local magistrate is worthy of house calls from the crown princess of Kimmery," Thao said, taking a cake for himself and raising an eyebrow at me.
“The crown princess thinks she is," I volleyed back, and Thao's smile fractured and he dipped his head. "Cosmo, will you come and help ease the introduction? Wendell, I think you might be best prepared of all of us to help me navigate subjects like a new steward and lowering taxes and hunting licenses."
Wendell's eyebrows shot up, and he looked to Thao in a reflex before realizing that it wasn't up to his lover to decide. "I…I will do my best, Your—"
"Bryony," I said before he could finish.
"I will do my best to help, Bryony," he said, nodding and ignoring Prince Thao's stare.
"Prince Thao and I will explore the palace while you're gone," Owen said, turning a grin in the prince's direction.
Thao made an uncomfortable face, but nodded in agreement.
* * *
Rumsbrooke didn't improvefrom inside the gate. The buildings were close and almost universally in disrepair, at least at the edges of the city. I was glad that Cresswell had insisted on not only the guards, but also a more modest black carriage, and I felt guilty that I was relieved to be tucked away from my own people.
Wendell looked equally grave at my side as he stared out the window. "You may have to decide between forgoing their taxes and repairing the palace, Your Highness."
"Forgoing the taxes, obviously," I said, and Wendell's head turned to me, his gaze softening.
"If you can spare taxes and some of the upcoming harvest, you'll do better for these people than they've seen in years," Cosmo said from across the carriage.
As reassuring as it was probably meant to be, his words only left me queasy. No wonder Aric hated me and the palace and the choosing. No wonder men submitted themselves to the humiliation of the process if it offered relief from a life of scraping by on nothing. Kimmery was broken, and I didn't know if I had the power to fix it. Not fully, not with my position of inheriting the crown at risk.
"It…itwillbe temporary unless we can do something about the legislations in place that prevent economic growth for the masses," Wendell said, shifting nervously in place.
"You don't need to be ashamed to tell me the truth," I said, catching Wendell's pale gaze. "You know more on this subject than I do, and I hope I've made it clear that I'd like to learn."
I liked Wendell's smile. It—like the rest of him—was gentle, but full and warm and focused when he granted it. "I wanted a seat on the council, I wanted to make changes like these for Kimmery," Wendell said softly.
"Why didn't you take one?" I asked.
"The council votes on new members, and I had no connections within its circle. When they offered me the position of ambassador, it was too good to refuse, but I knew it was to keep me from campaigning for one of their seats. And then…"
And then in Mennary, he met the love of his life. Wendell smiled and shrugged, and I reached over to squeeze his hand.
"As much as I wish you were on my council, I'm glad for the way things worked out," I said.
"We're here," Cosmo said at the same time the carriage rolled to a slow stop.
We were near the heart of Rumsbrooke, dark buildings tall and narrow and made of large stone. It had the look of a once wealthy and now dilapidated neighborhood, but it was an improvement on the lean-tos we'd passed on our way. I stepped out after Wendell, and he was quick to catch me by my waist, lifting me over a little running mess of refuse and water that ran at the edge of the sidewalk. My breath caught in my chest, caught off guard by the gesture and the absolute ease with which he managed it. Wendell was very tall, probably as much as Owen, and while he wasn'tslimby any sense of the word, he appeared so in comparison to Owen and Thao's muscular bodies. But he was strong, and he set me down on my toes as gently as if I weighed nothing before offering me his arm to hold.
Cosmo's hand touched my back as he leapt over the gutter, and I returned to my senses, staring up the narrow, crooked stairs of the building we were in front of, my eyes landing on the woman waiting for us. For a second, I had the strange impulse to curtsey to her, but she beat me to it, bending low. She reminded me a little of my grandmother, tall and thin, with a firm and examining expression. Her features were softer, however, and there was still some brown in her hair. Her dark grey dress was frayed at the hem and discolored at the cuffs, but it was tidy and the lines were pressed smooth, and when she pushed herself up by her dark polished cane, she stood straight with pride.