real, but it's also—"
"It behaves differently," I agreed with a nod. I focused on my plate for a moment, thinking, my eyes sliding to Owen on my left and to Cosmo on my right. "I'm more modest than my family, but it might help to be…"
"Demonstrative," Wendell offered.
Cosmo leaned toward me, his hand resting on my thigh. "If you're comfortable, it's easily managed."
"I won't make my pleasure a performance for the sake of the council, but I suppose we can stop trying to be quite so sneaky," I said, leaving Thao and Wendell scoffing to themselves.
"It won't take a great effort," Thao muttered but he flashed me a warm smile when he looked up from his plate.
"I've made another decision," I said, trying to change the subject but only finding myself blushing under the general attention. "I want to restore the harvest festival. It's short notice, I know. And usually managed by the people, but they have so little and they receive so little from the harvests—oh! I should've spoken to Lord Roderick about that horrible law."
"I think if you'd pressed another issue to Lord Roderick, he would've had a heart attack or started a rebellion," Wendell said. "A harvest festival is an innocent but symbolic gesture. The crown princess organizing it will imply your best wishes to your people."
"Exactly, and to be honest, I think I could probably… I think the magic of the Hunger could ensure a better harvest," I said, blushing and tilting my chin up.
Cosmo coughed, a wine glass raised to his lips, his eyes wide.
"You want to…" Owen's eyebrows waggled, and his lips curled up.
I nodded and resisted the impulse to giggle."I want a private tent at the festival. It should be out in the fields, or near them. I don't think anyone needs to know, well, aside from us, but since we don't really know the range of the Hunger's power, it might be better to be close when we…"
When we have sex. For magic. To ensure good crops.
It sounded like a ridiculous plan when I spelled it out in my head, but if it didn't work, it wouldn't do any real harm. It probably wouldn't do any real harm. I didn't really know for certain, but it hadn't done any yet.
"A trial might be in order in the meadow," Cosmo said, wiping his smiling mouth. I reached out and pinched his ribs, and his laugh broke free. "What? We should just be sure that you don't create giant ears of corn or wheat strong enough to break the scythes."
"A royal harvest festival it is then," Wendell said. "That should keep Farraque busy at least."
23
Daniel
“A festival?"
"A harvest festival," Owen echoed. He was big and handsome, and he reminded me of a stud in a horse stable. It was obvious by a glance at his trousers why the princess favored him. It was the same reason the council hoped she might favor me.
"There should be performers. Dancers and fire eaters and jugglers," Prince Thao mused, craning his neck to look around Wendell Pope to his lady, who beamed at him.
The princess and her Chosen had called on me from the greenhouse the next morning, interrupting my breakfast in my rooms. I was used to interruptions, to summons and dismissals. Lady Prudence was there already when I arrived, seated at the table with the princess as if she were royal or Chosen herself. There was a chair open for me too, although I had yet to take it.
"There is a budget, Thao," Wendell murmured.
I pulled the chair back from the table and lowered myself slowly, half expecting someone to correct my impudence. No one said a word.
"I know a few performers from Rumsbrooke. Let them hold their hat out for tips, and they'll attend for the joy of it. It's been a long time since the north has seen any celebration," Cosmo said.
Cosmo Pianetta was an artist of some kind from what I'd learned. He and Owen sat on either side of the princess, free with their touches, occasionally feeding her bites from their own plates. They were the favorites, and I needed to find my place amongst them. Two commoner favorites did the council no good in the princess's ear.
"The same might be done with food vendors. If the festival is free to the people and their coin purses are heavier without any recent taxes, there's bound to be cooks and craftsman who would be glad to put up a stall for the event," Lady