The Kingdom's Crown (Inheritance of Hunger Book 3), page 14
Aric and Thao had accepted the brunt of Bryony's impatience and ire, but sometimes the shots bounced too easily off of them. After one snappish remark had left a stunned Owen pale and silent, Bryony had burst into a fit of weeping and locked herself in her private sitting room until hours later and with no apparent prompting, Morgan Weston had appeared.
"We are playing chess," Morgan had said to our princess, just shy of an order, and then she'd snapped the door shut on our stares.
There was another burst of giggles from the sitting room, one of them distinctly Bryony's, and I checked my appearance in the mirror one last time.
I looked sallow in black, but at least appropriate, and it was unlikely anyone would dare wear any other color at the council meeting.
"Are you nervous?" Cosmo asked, and I knew by his smile that the question was only meant as an invitation.
"I am."
"Why should you be? You have a better sense of justice than any of those fools and more right to be there," Thao said.
I blushed, flattered by his pride, although Thao was unlikely to think anything else. He loved me, and therefore I must be the best. His taste would allow for no less.
"Whatever Thomlinson or any of the others think, your presence on the council is Bryony's best coup yet," Cosmo said.
"Not more than her quashing the vote against the shifters," I said.
"You don't think so? She was lucky to even know to arrive for that meeting. Now, with you on the council, she'll always be on top of their schemes."
"You'll make a much better spy than Farraque ever did," Thao whispered, leaning in to kiss below my ear. "Much more handsome too."
"Thank you, my love," I said, trying not to laugh. "I'll be a late spy if I don't leave now though."
"Are you working today or playing games with the others?" Thao asked Cosmo.
"Games, I think. I haven't seen nearly enough of Bryony's smiles since we left the north."
"Save some for me. Hopefully, I'll bring her good news," I said.
We left the room together, and I paused to watch Cosmo and Thao join Bryony. She was seated on a carpet, Owen and Nora on the floor with her, a pile of patterned paper between them. Cresswell sat at Bryony's back, leaning over her like a great wall against anything that might harm her, and Morgan Weston sat on a couch opposite them, her legs folded carelessly under her. She looked up, finding me, and nodded briefly, awareness in her eyes. She must've known from her uncle that there was a council meeting today.
Bryony was lucky to have the two girls as companions, luckier even that they suited her as well as friends as they did allies.
"Wen, aren't you joining us?" Bryony called.
I shook my head, debating on my answer. "I'll be back after lunch though, for whatever entertainment you have then."
She frowned at me, lips parting to no doubt ask where I was going, when Thao picked up one of the folded messes from the floor and waved in front of her nose. "What on earth is this meant to be?" he asked, distracting her as I snuck out of the suite.
I would bring her back good news one way or another, I decided. I wanted to be as good an ally to her as I was a lover, her Chosen.
"There will have to be some kind of entertainment after the funeral. Something appropriate of course," Thomlinson said with a wave of his hand. "A feast, no doubt, to sate the nobles and our illustrious guests."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Thomlinson, from what I could tell from the droning and ambling conversation of the meeting thus far, was the kind of man who only took entertainment from gambling, bedding women—specifically ones who had little to say by his own preference—and feasts. Of the three, certainly the latter was the only appropriate offering.
"Speaking of the queen's line," Thomlinson continued, "I have spoken with Her Majesty. Seeing as how she is now taking it upon herself to appoint members to our numbers—"
Eyes glared in my direction, and I stared back at Thomlinson, my hands clenching against my thighs at his slow-growing smile.
"—she felt it would be appropriate to offer us more agency in managing new legislation."
"Meaning?" Sir Weston asked, sitting up sharply.
"Only meaning we need not seek her approval before presenting a bill. We have her trust to do the work we see fit. Obviously, if a Chosen may have a seat, we are here to serve our queen and princesses."
Well, fuck.
Two weeks, that was all it had taken. Bryony had taken dinner with her mother just five days ago, and I suspected Thomlinson had wrestled this permission sometime after that, otherwise Bryony probably would've heard about it. I'd wanted to bring my princess good news, and now I was going to have to tell her that her mother had given the council more freedom to do as they pleased. My single vote was not going to turn the tables. I would have to argue in Bryony's stead, and I wasn't sure I'd hold the same influence over these men as she could.
"It isn't a victory for Thomlinson and his ilk, not really," Jack McCallum reassured me as we walked through the castle halls toward Bryony's suite. "The vote Bryony roused is proof of that alone. The princess must have chosen you to be her mouthpiece."
"She did, but Thomlinson's move is just proof of how much influence the council still has over our queen," I said.
"Most of the men choose to side with whichever party of us is most likely to win the argument," Jack said wryly. "I find it surprising how many of them really have no opinion of their own."
"I find it disheartening," I answered, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye. The viscount was probably only a few years older than I, and there was a constantly shifting quality about him that I thought must've bared some resemblance to his second nature.
"You know you are the first openly two-natured member of the council?" Jack asked.
"It's not quite the same. My tiger is a gift from the prince," I said, shrugging.
"It doesn't make a difference to them," Jack said with a wave of his hand. "They're not likely to forget the size of your teeth the next time a vote comes up."
My laugh was nervous. I didn't want to intimidate the council into cooperation, but perhaps Jack was right. I needed to use every available weapon in my arsenal for Bryony.
"I don't think you'll be the last, either," Jack said, more quietly, wearing a half-smile on his lips.
I wanted to ask him more, but we'd just arrived at the suite doors, and there was an unfamiliar guard posted there—one of Cresswell's picks that we were hoping would prove loyal but hadn't really been tested yet. The doors opened, and I gestured for the viscount to enter ahead of me.
"Jack!" Nora McCallum leapt up from her seat by the window and ran for her brother, a beaming smile on her lips.
I spared them a brief glance, but my eyes were immediately caught by Bryony. She stood by the fire, eyes glinting with irritation, spine perfectly straight.
"How was your meeting, my love?" she asked tartly.
Thao was slouching in an armchair, fighting laughter and avoiding my gaze, and the others aside from Aric were all gathered in the room, their eyes flicking between us.
"I didn't want you to worry," I said lamely, crossing to Bryony.
She arched an eyebrow. "Why should I worry?"
I gave the rest of the room my back, shielding Bryony from their view and bowing my head so I could lower my voice. "I only heard this morning, and I didn't want to disrupt the peace you were enjoying. You've had so little of it lately."
Bryony's expression softened, humor bleeding through her annoyance. "Well, thank you, I suppose, although it didn't help when I did find out where you were."
I ducked a little lower, and Bryony sighed, lifting her face so I could kiss her. "Apologies."
Bryony leaned into the kiss for another moment, voices moving on with their conversations behind me as Nora caught her brother up on her entire week. Bryony's lids were heavy as she pulled away, and she softened into the circle of my arms around her, but her eyes widened expectantly.
"Well? You'd better tell me how it went."
I took a deep breath and drew back, tugging Bryony along by the hands and setting her down on the couch between Cosmo and Owen. I sat on the stool across from her, and she sat up straighter, bracing herself.
"Most of the meeting was spent discussing formalities for your grandmother's funeral," I said.
"The council isn't arranging it, are they?" Bryony's nose wrinkled, and she glanced between me and Jack.
I laughed and shook my head. "No, but we're expected to do our best to represent interest to visiting dignitaries on your mother's behalf."
Bryony's lips pursed, and her gaze drifted up with thought. "I'd like to know what interests they're representing and with whom."
I nodded and stroked my thumb over the back of her hand. "I'll go over it all with you. You'll make a stronger impression on other royals than any council member. There's to be a dinner too."
"It's almost certainly better handled in your hands than whomever Thomlinson would've passed the task to," Jack added.
Bryony nodded slowly. "I think a little planning might be a good distraction for me," she said softly.
"Morgan and I can manage the planning if you'd rather not," Nora said brightly, glancing at the other young 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 more gratitude than confidence in her smile, but I would prove myself to her. "Thomlinson will try and bar you as much as he can. And he can't be blind to the fact that we're gaining allies," Bryony said, turning to Jack. "Is there anyone who can be trusted to keep us apprised of conversations taking place outside of meetings?"
"Yes, there's a man I've been using for as much when it comes to two-natured issues," Jack said. "And as it stands, the council can't vote on new measures without every member given the opportunity to vote."
Bryony's smile was tight. "I'm beginning to see my mother's point about why I should rather have my Chosen at my side than chasing the council all around the kingdom."
As poorly timed as it was, Bryony's regret created warmth in my chest, and I tugged her out from between Cosmo and Owen and onto my lap. I rested my chin on her shoulder and let my lips brush against the corner of her jaw, my arms wrapping tight around her waist.
"I promise to serve you perfectly at every opportunity, including this one," I murmured, savoring the shiver of her in my arms.
14
Bryony
I paced the floor of my mother's sitting room, Daniel's eyes tracking the line my feet carved through the dense carpet on the floor.
"I don't think that woman even told her I was waiting," I muttered, glancing at the door again.
"We could come back," Daniel offered softly.
I shook my head. "She's just as likely to be occupied later as she is now. Or simply not in the mood to see me."
"I think you're making yourself more anxious, pacing like that," Daniel said. His voice was mild, and it occurred to me, a little late, that Daniel usually grew quiet when he was uncomfortable.
It was barely perceptible just by looking at him. If I hadn't grown to know the man from the past few months—his laughter and smiles and the easy drape of him in a chair when he was relaxed and not constantly judging himself and his place in our company—I would've said he was fine. I was learning that stillness and measured volume and tone were Daniel's way of hiding.
I slowed to a stop and then crossed to the armchair where he was seated, perfectly frozen in a tableau of patience. He stiffened as I helped myself to his lap, eyes on my face as I wrapped one arm around his shoulders and gripped at his collar with my free hand, flicking a button open and watching his throat bob with a swallow. He released a soft sigh as my forehead touched his, and together we melted into the cushions of the chair.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he answered immediately.
"Tell me. Or I'll start pacing again," I teased.
"What are you going to say to your mother?" Daniel asked, arms circling me in return, one hand sliding to cup my bottom.
I frowned and lifted my face to look more closely at him. "I…I'm not sure really. I just want her to know what a terrible idea it was to give Thomlinson that permission."
"Is it wise to question the queen like that?"
I blinked at the question, lips parting without an answer ready. It struck me finally that Daniel was tense on my behalf, afraid of what might come from this conversation I was waiting to have with my mother.
"I think…if anything, it might be a waste of time," I said slowly, frowning. I hadn't meant to say as much, but it wasn't untrue. "My mother is too agreeable. She'll agree with me just as she did with Thomlinson."
"Then why come here?"
I hesitated, one finger absently tracing a swirling pattern over the muscle of Daniel's throat. "My grandmother and I agreed that Kimmery's power was moving out of the crown's hands and into the council's. But I don't think she disagreed with the treatment of the two-natured. And I know we had different opinions in regards to Chosen."
Daniel sat up a little at that. "Did you?"
I nodded. "She thought of it as a duty that men should answer, and I think it ought to be something that a woman and her Chosen want equally to share. She believes—believed in the right of the nobility, and to be honest, I'm not sure I do."
"And your mother?"
I took a deep breath and lifted my head to gaze out the window. "I want to believe that my mother's gentle heart would mean that it was impossible for her to approve of the rights of the two-natured being impeded."
Daniel leaned in, kissing my throat, and it was that exact moment that the door to the sitting room opened. Michael—my father, although I wasn't quite ready to think of him as such—entered first, my mother flushed and smiling behind him with two more of her Chosen. They were the same men whom I'd seen with her most often recently, and I remembered Michael's warning about all the voices in my mother's ear. Were these two of them?
