The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,102

like a successful festival to me. What kind of fanfare would you like as you arrive?"

"Oh, none!"

"There should be some announcement," Thao insisted.

I drew back into the carriage shaking my head. "I think it's going to be a little too obvious as it is."

"We're driving the carriage up to the princess's private tent where there is a platform she can greet the people from," Cresswell said. "When the excitement dies down, we'll see about taking her down for the dancing and food."

Suddenly, I found myself wanting a bit of fanfare. If only so I could walk through the market stalls and mingling people right away. Cosmo laughed at my face and leaned forward, distracting me with a gentle press of his mouth to mine.

"A little distance might suit the people fine to start with," Cosmo said quietly. "They won't know how to relax with you amongst them."

I sighed and nodded, falling back into Owen's arms as Cresswell fell back from the window, and I watched the slow roll of the countryside as we traveled closer. We were in the foothills of the mountains now, the view rolling around us slowly, vast potato and corn fields divided with thin tree lines. We passed a few houses, small and humble handmade buildings, but there was no one to watch us as we passed this time, everyone down in the valley for the festival.

"There's been one harvest crop so far this year," Owen said, pointing out the opposite window to a low cropped golden field. "Wheat is always first. My dad said when he was a boy, they still had the occasional Lammas festival to celebrate the first loaves made with the wheat harvests."

"That's what that sweet smell on the air is," Wendell said, blue eyes widening. "Honey and wheat. Our cook used to make fresh loaves for the staff, and she would always give me the first slice with the best portion of crust, all slathered with honey and fresh butter."

"You're making my mouth water for something I've never tasted," Thao groaned, his brow furrowing.

"You can see it now," Cosmo added.

I turned, swatting Owen in the face with a whip of my hair as I craned my neck to look down in the valley. "Oh! They've made it look so sweet!"

The large, low meadow designated for the night's merriment had been given a boundary made of tall wooden posts, twined with flower and wheat stuffed vines, crowned with wreaths. Strung between the posts were hanging ribbons of softly dyed fabric. But the boundary couldn't really hold the full mass of people on the ground, so many my eyes widened and I was suddenly glad to know that I wouldn't have to walk through the crowds. I'd never seen so many people in one place. There was a large raised stage in the center, a cluster of musicians standing—and sitting with their legs dangling over their edge—with their instruments, the music loud and playful. They were just tall enough to see over the crowd, and I watched as sunlight caught on a glittering flying coin that landed at the feet of one of the fiddlers who bowed and played even faster in thanks.

"I've never seen anything like it," Cosmo murmured.

"We have a great many festivals in Mennary," Thao began before stuttering and shifting directions, "And this one is just as impressive."

I snorted and granted him a brief teasing glance. I very much doubted the view below us was half as beautiful as one in Mennary, but that didn't stop my heart from racing as I turned back to the window.

"I see many smiles, Bryony," Wendell said, his hand finding mine briefly for a soft squeeze of my fingers.

I did see smiles, and laughter, and shouting, and snarling expressions that quickly melted back into a grin. And slowly, I saw faces raising at the sight of our procession, eyes narrowing in curiosity, peering through the glass as avidly as I was gazing back at them.

"I think I'm nervous," I whispered. I was absolutely nervous.

"One minute at a time, Mistress," Owen whispered back in my ear, and I softened in his hold, nodding.

We circled almost the entire festival on the curving road that led down into the meadow. I saw the backs of the vendors' stalls, the slow turning roasts of meat on low fires of the food stalls, and eventually, the small cluster of tents at the far end of the meadow. There was the shaded platform where I would appear, guards stationed around