Page 99 of The Kingdom's Crown

"I had every intention of returning home and urging my father to declare war on Kimmery in retaliation for the crimes your daughter committed against me, but it was Princess Bryony who pulled me to safety, and it was she who convinced me that you would hear reason and take measures against Camellia."

Bryony pursed her lips together, a slight pinch of annoyance on her brow, but I thought Holden was playing his part admirably. He spoke without the same shame Atticus and Sam had, and his threat was clear. Handle Camellia, or Noren would demand reparations for his experience.

"This is…this is…" But Thomlinson didn't seem to be able to decide what it was, and his stuttering melted back into silence.

And in the silence, the sound of voices filtered from outside, through the closed windows of the room. One of the queen's Chosen turned, staring outside for a long moment as Queen Peony remained staring at each of Camellia's former Chosen in turn.

"Peony…there's something happening outside."

Bryony's gaze met mine as Head Guard Amos moved away from Atticus to go and look out the window. I nodded at her, ready for our moment. Against the wall, Aric was moving slowly in my direction as the rest of the room turned toward the window.

"I think you should stay back, Your Majesty," Head Guard Amos said.

"No, open the balcony, I want to hear them," Bryony said, wiggling through the crowd, Thao and Wendell close to her side.

"Your Highness," Head Guard Amos snapped, but Bryony was already turning the handle of the thin doors, and the roar of voices rushed into the room with the cold air.

Aric traded places with Cresswell, taking a baffled Darby's arm in his hand.

"Wait until—"

"I know," Aric said, arching an eyebrow at Cress.

It didn't matter. The rest of the room was too distracted by the scene outside of the gates, and even Bryony's mother was wiggling her way through the men to join her daughter on the balcony.

Aric's hand covered Darby's locked wrists, and Sam stirred anxiously at my side.

"Your Majesty, it appears to be some civil unrest, surely you should—"

I watched, a little jealous to be waiting inside, as Bryony reached the banister of the balcony and the volume reached a fever pitch outside the gates, drowning out the question Queen Peony asked Bryony, or her answer.

My heart hammered in my chest, and Bryony looked back over her shoulder briefly, through the open doors and right at me. She nodded, smiling faintly, and then turned away again. The woman vanished, replaced by the massive orange and white tiger, soon joined by Thao and Wendell's beasts as well.

"Now," Cress said.

Bryony's head tipped back, and a thunderous roar echoed out, chorused by Wendell and Thao on either side of her. The crowd answered, and then the unified shout of human voices broke apart into hundreds of animal cries. Beneath it all, lost in the chaos, the lock clicked, and Atticus Darby's chains dropped to the floor with a muted rattle.

Aric yanked on Darby's arm, and Sam nudged my back.

"Time to run," Aric hissed.

25

Bryony

Time to run, I thought to Wendell and Thao, jumping deftly up onto the edge of the balcony and then down to the roof below with a thump of my paws.

"Bryony!" my mother cried.

"Your Highness!" Head Guard Amos bellowed.

I felt a little bad for not warning the man of what was coming, but it was in the two-natured's best interest for the castle guards not to be prepared.

From one roof to the next, I jumped my way gracefully down into the front gardens. Rabbits and cats and foxes and mice were swirling around the castle gates, not running in but calling to one another. Overhead, songbirds and great massive hawks were flying together. And outside the gates, the great beasts stamped their feet, stags and bears and wild hogs and dogs all howling and growling up at my mother. The two-natured would turn away soon, march through the city together, but first they made the queen look upon them. Hundreds of them.

It was chaotic but careful. The two-natured had promised to do no harm, only wanting to make themselves known, but there was something horrifying about the strange collection of creatures who had suddenly appeared. Animals that would've naturally been hunting one another were now standing side by side. I roared toward the gate, and the animals there answered back, one horse kicking roughly at the metal bars before he was shuffled back by the others, temper in check.

We needed to get to the staff yard, I remembered, fighting off the urge to chase down a bunny leaping past me. I'd promised to meet Cress there and let him accompany me out into the city so he would trust I was safe. I padded around the castle, finding guards rushing out of the main doors, looking wildly about, not entirely sure what to do. Head Guard Amos followed close behind, but his stride was more determined, heading directly for me.

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