Page 27 of The Queen's Line

I smiled at her, and she answered in kind, the first smile on her lips since our arrival on her doorstep. I wondered if Rebecca Sanders' late husband would've been as agreeable to work with as she was, but either way, I was glad to have her as a resource now.

* * *

We stayedwith Mistress Sanders for almost another hour, and it was Wendell and Cosmo who managed to lead the conversation after my initial planning outburst. Rebecca confirmed that as crown princess, I had the power to lift bans and rearrange my court as I pleased, it was just that I wouldn't be currying favor with the council for every change I made.

"I think I need to meet the council for myself," I said, frowning as we got into the carriage again. "But not just yet. I want to have a better handle on what's going on and what needs changed."

"You're doing good work already, Bryony," Wendell said, following me in.

"He's right. And Rebecca Sanders is closer to the collective ear of Rumsbrooke than any council member," Cosmo added.

Cresswell, who'd remained mostly silent and watchful during the meeting, was closing the door behind Wendell when I remembered there was one more stop I wanted to make while we were in the city.

"Guard Stark, will you take us to the Wing and Roost?"

"The—thetavern, Your Highness?" Cresswell's brow furrowed beneath the gleaming brass helmet he wore.

"And inn, yes," I said nodding.

"It's in a very unsavory neighborhood, even for Rumsbrooke," Cresswell said, standing at the open door.

"That's all right. You and the guards may remain with the carriage while my Chosen and I go in to speak with an acquaintance."

"An acquaintance…at the Wing and Roost," Cresswell said slowly, suspicion or something along those lines in his eyes.

I sat up straighter and reached for the door handle. "Yes, now please, so we may get back before dark." And then I pulled the door shut on my own. I leaned back to find Wendell and Cosmo smirking at me. "What?"

"I don't think Aric Martin was really expecting you to take him up on that offer," Wendell said with a shrug, his smile growing. I liked Wendell on his own. He was reserved around Thao in a way he wasn't when it was us together. I would have to keep my eye on that and be sure it wasn't a problem. Thao obviously felt himself above my other Chosen—hewasa prince—but I wouldn't allow it to make anyone uncomfortable.

"If Aric is there, I can guarantee he won't expect you to walk in. It's barely been a day," Cosmo added.

I sat back in my seat in the carriage and hid my fiddling hands in the fabric of my skirt. "I said if I was in Rumsbrooke that I would go. I am here, and I will."

"Of course, princess," Cosmo said, that glitter of laughter in his dark eyes again. It wasn't cruel—in fact, there was a fondness to it that made me want to squirm in my seat.

The ride to the Wing and Roost didn't take long, but Cresswell was correct that the neighborhood did change a great deal. The road grew narrow and crowded with stalls. There were plenty of people out, and they eyed the carriage with calculating stares, a few even spitting in our direction. Definitely Aric's people then.

"Are you sure we shouldn't take in a guard?" Wendell murmured, meeting the harsh stares above hollow cheeks through the glass of the carriage window.

"I don't want to attract too much attention," I said.

Wendell choked, and Cosmo grinned. "Bryony, you would do that anywhere. But I think you're right. The guards will rile up Aric's patrons. You… Well, Aric won't let anything happen to any of us if we go in, and I know a few of his crowd myself."

"You're well connected here in the north," I said, grinning back at Cosmo.

His brows jumped and his head tipped side to side. "Wellconnected? I don't know about that. But I grew up in the poor end of the city and made friends with the patrons. I know plenty of people here, that's true."

The carriage stopped, and this time, it was Cosmo who lifted me down. Perhaps I misjudged men's strength in general because he was the slimmest of my Chosen and he still handled me with ease. I hadn't had many occasions to be carried about in my life, but I was beginning to think it was something I would enjoy growing used to.

"You stay close to my side or at my back in there. And move quickly and keep your eyes off strangers, yes?" Cosmo murmured to me, his hands coming up to hold my chin briefly. His touch was rougher than I expected, and I remembered that his medium was primarily sculpture.

I reached for his hand as I nodded, and Cosmo's fingers linked with mine as Wendell slid his arm loosely around my waist.

"In and out if Aric's not in," Cosmo said, and then drew us forward.

With two steps into the narrow hall leading in the tavern, I was blind. It wasn't an especially bright day and Rumsbrooke didn't leave room for a great deal of sunlight to shine down on its residents, but in comparison to the inside of the Wing and Roost, it'd been positively sunny on the street.

Cosmo at least seemed confident in his steps, even as Wendell stumbled against my side. Slowly, my eyes adjusted, just in time for Cosmo to guide me gently down a set of narrow stairs into a stone cellar. A few candles were lit, only just enough for you to see the general layout of the room, and I barely remembered to keep my eyes up and off the hooded patrons at their tables. Wendell's fingers squeezed urgently against my waist.