The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger #3) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,57

woman.

Morgan's face twisted uncomfortably—from what I'd seen of her so far, she was more interested in the magical texts Aric set aside, or Owen and Daniel's opinions on horse racing. While Nora was shy around most of us and so obviously eager to please and emulate Bryony, Morgan was unabashedly opinionated, noisy, boisterous, and thoroughly disinterested in every single one of us as any kind of sexual creature. I'd caught her eyeing Bryony and Nora with more interest than she had when Owen had jogged to breakfast shirtless, and aside from her connection to Sir Weston, it was obvious why Bryony was comfortable taking Morgan on as a lady-in-waiting.

"No, I'd like to be involved," Bryony said slowly. "It's something to do now, at least."

I reached forward and took her hands in mine, brushing my thumbs over the smooth backs and raising one to my lips until I had her focus on me again. "You'll make it a beautiful and appropriate occasion. And if you find a moment to speak…"

Bryony laughed and grimaced, but she nodded.

"You do give a compelling speech, Your Highness," Jack said.

I was perversely pleased that Bryony didn't grant him more than a glance. I knew seven was a low number of Chosen for even a princess, let alone one of our queens, but I was oddly jealous at the idea of Bryony taking more of us.

"I hope there was some good news to the meeting," Bryony said, sighing.

Jack's laugh cracked through the quiet, and Bryony's eyes widened on mine as I winced. "That was the good news, love."

"I'll deliver the bad, Pope," Jack offered, joining his sister on a bench facing Bryony. "Thomlinson wheedled permission from your mother for the council to legislate without seeking the crown's approval first."

"What?!" Bryony cried out, trying to stand up. Owen and Cosmo restrained her gently, soothing their hands down her arms.

'"Thomlinson said it was only fair if the crown was going to choose who sat on the council," I added, grimacing.

Bryony huffed and rolled her eyes. "One man. My mother put one man on the council. And you should've been granted a seat if you wanted one anyway! Oh, how could she?!" Owen's arm covered Bryony's shoulder as she pressed her face into her palms, hunched over with her elbows propped on her skirt. "Of course she did."

"I'm sorry, love," I said softly, for all it could change anything.

"For what it's worth, I do think Wendell's influence with us will carry more than just one vote," Jack said.

"Can't you just convince your mother to abolish the council? It's just a dusty old pack of perverts drinking their livers away," Morgan muttered, and then she shrugged as Jack shot her a look of offended amusement. "Aside from the two of you and my uncle, of course," she added half-heartedly.

"I'd turn every noble family in Kimmery against the crown if I did," Bryony murmured, lifting her face. "I have to… Stars, I don't know what. Get rid of Thomlinson and Roderick? Someone like them will just pop up in their place."

"They have enough support still that uprooting them will create waves," Jack said. "There's no one you could give their position to yet who would hold confidence."

I knew what Bryony needed to do. So did she for that matter. She needed to convince her mother to give the crown up to her so that Queen Peony couldn't grant permissions to the council that would carry serious consequences. So that the magic that was bound up in the castle's conduit might be resolved and allowed to soak back into Kimmery. So that her sister could face her crimes and be appropriately punished for them.

Bryony's eyes met mine, fear thick in her gaze, revealing the whites of her eyes. Her thoughts were in the same place as mine, and I knew perfectly by the slow paling of her cheeks that nothing any one of us might say would convince her she was really ready for that step. Truthfully, I wasn't sure Bryony was ready to carry Kimmery entirely on her own shoulders, even if they were the best pair for the kingdom. But she would be soon. She just needed us to push her those few inches further.

"Let me handle the council for you. I won't rest on an argument until I know Kimmery's best interests are safe," I said.

Thao squeezed himself on the stool with me. "If anyone can do it, you know it's our Wen."

Bryony nodded immediately, and I thought there was