Page 61 of The Kingdom's Crown

"Are you getting comfortable?"

"Are you complaining?"

"Weren't you just saying you felt like a useless princess?"

"Ah, thank you, my love, for reminding me."

Aric laughed again and sat up, jostling me. "While you've been moping, I've been sitting and having a think."

"You really are too sweet," I snapped, sitting up, annoyed by how Aric's humor seemed to infect me even when it was at my own expense.

"Are you feeling well-stocked on magic?" Aric asked, and I nodded. "Good. I'd like to take you to speak with the mages."

"The royal mages?!"

Aric gave me a wry look. "I could take you out into the street to find some local ones, but I doubt it'll do us much good."

"You're in a rare mood, you know that?"

Aric grinned. "Maybe the rich food agrees with me. Come on. We'll grab Cress so he doesn't feel left out."

Meaning we'd have to take Cresswell anyway or he'd panic when he realized I wasn't in the suite. "Is it safe for me to go near the conduit you found?"

"I think so. I resisted its pull. I'm assuming you can too. But if you feel the slightest bit uncertain, we'll leave."

I stopped my feet as Aric tugged me toward the door. "Wait, I'm not dressed to see royal mages."

"How on earth should you be dressed? You're not indecent," Aric said, frowning as he looked me up and down.

I laughed. With high mourning at an end, I had a little leniency in what I wore, and I'd given up the heavy black gowns and underskirts in favor of the simpler clothing I'd worn in the north, still in black. To Aric, there was probably only a distinction between my being dressed for public and being dressed—or undressed—for my Chosen. He might've been right too, more formal garb would be a reminder to the mages that I was their princess, rather than someone they might safely discuss magical theory with.

"Fine, you're right. Let's go."

We'd moved bedroom furniture out of one of the spare rooms, creating a sort of office for Cresswell and a bit of a break room for the guards assigned to me. We found my bear there, playing cards.

"Aye, of course you leave now while you're winning," an older man griped, but he stood and bowed to me and shook Cresswell's hand before we left.

"The mages might not let you in," Aric warned him. "They'll have enough complaints about Bryony and I barging in."

"They will if I tell them to," I said, lifting my chin high as we marched to the far wing of the castle near my mother's suites.

"You trust these men?" Cresswell asked Aric.

"Stars, no! Well, with Bryony's safety, yes," Aric rushed as Cress bristled. "With Kimmery's magic…no. Two of them don't even trust themselves with it. But Simon will be there today. He's a halfway decent magician and curious enough that he'd be willing to listen."

I couldn't remember ever coming to the mage's hall before, at least not intentionally, and before my own Hunger had grown, I never would've noticed the slow pulse of magic that echoed from the large double doors.

"You feel it?" Aric asked me as my steps slowed.

I nodded. "I don't get much tug, though. I'm just very aware. It's funny to me that I never felt these things before."

"Most Kimmerians wouldn't. The first step of learning to use magic is learning to sense it, and your Hunger creates your advantage," Aric said. "Now, let me see what they've tried this time to keep me out. Feels like Nathan's work…ahh, and a bit of knot this time?"

I turned and shared a private smile with Cresswell as Aric brightened over his puzzle.

"This might take a bit of time," Aric warned.

"May I try something?" I asked, smiling and trying to appear innocent.

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