The Queen's Line (Inheritance of Hunger #1) - Kathryn Moon Page 0,23
into Rumsbrooke, you might find me at the Wing and Roost."
"I'll make a point of it," I said, my hands tight around the reins as Aric's head tipped to me and he nudged his horse to the city gates. "Aric!"
Thao was back in his tiger form, tongue licking his chops, and he padded up to my side as Aric paused and looked over his shoulder. I suspected Thao'd hunted his own dinner for the night, rather than dining on the scraps the rest of us had shared.
"You've promised to give me your honest opinion. I hope you'll come to the Winter Palace to see me. I'd hate to get spoiled without your tempering influence."
Thao huffed and twisted sinuously away, no doubt annoyed with my declaration. My heart pounded in my chest as I stared across the road at Aric. His face was in profile, one steel gray eye visible and holding my gaze. I wasn't sure who was in battle, only that I felt the struggle in my veins as he nodded once more and trotted to the gate.
"You should stay in the carriage for the rest of the ride, princess," Aric called. "The woods between here and the palace can be dangerous."
I wanted to leap down from my seat and drag him back, make him promise to see me at the palace, and I didn't even entirely understand why. Everything was jumbling together in my head, leaving a slow, pounding ache behind. Aric was not the noble gentleman, but he wasn't the coarse blade either. And it hardly seemed to matter because he was riding away from me.
Perhaps you are simply spoiled and don't like something being taken away from you, I thought. It seemed like something he might say.
Fabric rustled behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Thao standing by the waiting carriage.
"Come, Bryony. For once, the rogue is right."
My lips twitched, and I had an odd understanding that this was the kind of tension between men that might be amusing. Or at least I found it so. I slid off the back of my horse and Thao took the reins, passing it back to the handler before following me into the carriage.
I moved to sit with Owen, fairly certain that his and Thao's shoulders would exceed the width of the carriage. Owen hummed as I settled in at his side, and Thao rapped on the roof, shutting the door as it jerked forward.
"I hope whatever staff was hired for the palace has prepared the rooms and baths before we arrive," Thao grumbled.
"I don't care what we arrive to. I'd sleep in the stable with the horses," Owen offered, his arm sliding over my shoulders and carelessly pulling me into his warm side. It was more comfortable than I expected, and I sank against him.
"How different would that be to your usual accommodations?" Thao asked, eyes narrowing, but he didn't seem to be vicious with the question, although Wendell shot him a warning look.
"Not very," Owen answered with an easy laugh.
"You are Chosen now," I said, reaching up to touch the hand Owen rested over my shoulder and finding myself happily tangling my fingers with his. "You should be able to sleep wherever you please, stables or suites."
I shared an apple with Owen, watching the woods pass outside the carriage window for the hour. I saw at least three herds of deer as we traveled, and heard a whole cacophony of other animals calling to one another.
"I didn't expect to see the woods so well stocked," I said, watching three rabbits race out from under brush near the edge of the woods. "Does no one hunt here?"
"No one is allowed to hunt in the queen's woods," Wendell said.
"Why? It's not as though court has come up north in ages!"
"It's an old law, but one that's never been lifted," Cosmo said with a shrug.
Wendell's lips twisted into a frown and with a nudge from Thao, he added, "Some of the local lords prefer it that way. Easier hunting when they come up for a party."
I hummed and turned back to the window, eyeing a brave doe through the trees. It was beautiful to see the woods so full of life, but I wondered if it might be manageable to give some of this abundance back to the people.
"I need a diary to make a list of all the things I want to fix," I murmured. "I'm afraid I'll forget something, and there's so much to do."