The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,104

to. It might be different, I'd known I wasn't in serious danger from Daniel and that he wasn't in real danger from me, but I wouldn't be too shy to draw my weapon.

"Your people await you," Daniel said.

"Are you ready, dear?" Lady Pru asked, smiling warmly at me.

I wasn't. Not mentally, at least. Wendell moved away from my side and Owen took his place, giving me his steady arm to lean briefly against.

"Ready," I said with a nod.

Cresswell was first, along with another guard, ducking into the tent, with Lady Pru and Daniel at his back. I followed, my arm linked with Thao's, Owen's palm warm on my back, Wendell and Cosmo close behind us. The tent was dim, especially after standing in the afternoon sun, and for a moment, I moved blindly through. Then someone flicked the flap by the platform open and I could see the space, full of comfortable furniture, including a small curtain on the far right that would lead to a private room where I could be alone with my Chosen. There was a table dressed with food and bottles of wine, but I didn't see anything that looked like a fresh rustic loaf or a stick of meat, so I planned on still exploring the food vendors.

"Just smile and wave and nod to start with, like you would to your people outside the southern palace. They'll be too loud to hear you," Thao said in my ear, and I nodded. "Remember what you've already done, what you plan to do, and show in your smile your love for them."

We were nearly to the steps leading up to the platform, and my fingers were digging into Thao's arm, he and Owen all but carrying me forward. I turned and looked at Thao, his chin lifted high and face relaxed. Today was not only a familiar process for him, but also possibly less pressure since these weren't his citizens. His confidence and calm radiated, and I did my best to take a deep breath and share it with him.

"Thank you," I whispered.

And then we stepped into the light, ascending the stairs. The sunlight was bright again, the quick transition from in and out again confusing my eyes, but I saw the dark blur before me and knew it was the audience.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Bryony of Kimmery," some booming voice announced as I stepped onto the stage.

I couldn't feel my feet beneath me, but Thao and Owen were careful in their guiding, taking me down the steepled platform to the bottom level.

The crowd was silent, or not quite, but they weren't cheering, just staring up at me, muttering to one another, and it took me a moment to remember to smile, the expression fragile and shaky.

It was as if we were trapped on two sides of glass, as if I were an object displayed for their curiosity. I couldn't greet them from here, not in any real way that mattered, and they couldn't know me from where I stood on the stage. Sudden humiliation rushed through me. I wished there had been some way I could've mingled with them, unknown as Bryony.

My knees wobbled and an unconscious impulse struck quick. I pulled my arm free of Thao's and stepped forward, looking out over the vast crowd, the musicians who'd turned on their stage to watch, the vendors and cooks who watched from their stalls.

I fell into a deep curtsy, my head bowing low, my hand over my heart, and listened to the soft rush of collected breath.

A roaring cry of cheers followed, thunderous and shocked, lewd and happy words thrown in my direction that made me rise with a laugh and giant smile to match the faces that stared back at me.

"Make merry with your princess, people of Kimmery," the crier yelled, but it was lost in the din.

27

Bryony

“It’s the best cut, I kept it fresh just in case you might stop by, Your Prince—princess, highness— Your—”

"Thank you," I pressed, smiling at the short, heavyset man who stumbled over my title. I bounced on my toes as I waited for the quiet taster Cresswell had found for me to take his bites, before finally passing me the skewered, still steaming meat.

Fat and salt struck my tongue first, making my eyes widen with the first bite. The meat was crispy around its edges and perfectly tender inside, hot and seasoned with a hint of unusual spice. I hummed my pleasure, eyes falling shut, and the cook in