“Listento her,” Asher says again. “She came here to help you.”
Their gazes snap to me again. A crowd has gathered as the others have made it to us, but they stop, too. More men, ranging in age, including one who can’t be out of his teens. Three women, one of whom looks so pregnant that she might give birth before we finish whatever we’re doing here. Also three children, none of whom are older than ten.
They all have stones in their hands.
It makes me swallow. Do theyhatehim? Do the Incendrians hate their king?
In a flash, I remember all the terrifying stories about Maddox Kyronan—and the horrors he visits on his citizens. It was one of the very first things I challenged him about. As I’ve come to know him, I couldn’t imagine any of it was true...but then we faced the Suross, and he didn’t tell them who he was.
And then I saw these burned fields, which are clearly growing no food.
And now we’re facing his people, who are armed and ready to fight.
“Tell me what you need,” I say again. I hope my voice sounds strong, but I’m worried that dismay has begun to creep into my tone. “I have come from Astranza to help you. Please. Tell me how.”
The women exchange glances. The men are still glaring. The oldest girl looks fierce, like she’s desperate to throw her stones atsomeone.
But no one is talking, and the air still rides a knife’s edge of tension.
So I take a step toward that little girl, and her fingers tighten on therocks. “We were heading to Lastalorre,” I say. “I’ve never been here. Perhaps you could show me the rest of the way.” I glance up, past her, at the rest of the people who are dubiously watching this exchange. “And maybe you could tell me why everyone is so angry at your king.”
Her face twists, like she can’t decide whether to help me—or to scowl. But she doesn’t move.
A younger girl with dark blond pigtails steps forward and drops one of her stones to take my hand. “I’ll show you,” she says, and I’m captivated to hear that lyrical accent in her tiny voice. “It’s not far.”
“Thank you,” I say.
That spurs the older girl into motion. “I’ll come, too.” She drops both her rocks.
A little boy of about seven walks up beside her. “Me too.”
I give him a nod. “You have my gratitude.”
The girl with the pigtails gives my hand a tug, and I begin to follow, but then I worry that I’ll simply be leading the children away while the adults finish trying to kill each other.
I look to my left. Callum still has weapons in hand. From the corner of my eye, I can see that the others still have arrows nocked. Ready for war, I suppose.
“Put up your weapons,” I say sharply, trying to fill my voice with the same effortless authority the king always seems to have. I remember the way his men hesitated last night, then looked to him. I don’t know if they’ll listen now. “They came with grievances first, not violence. If Astranza is to ally with Incendar, I will hear from these people.”
Ky’s citizens shift and exchange glances uncertainly, as if they’re not sure what to make of this. I hear a few muttered comments, but I can’t catch their words.
Callum hasn’t moved. He’s looking back at me. Weighing this.
He’s not going to yield to me. I can feel it. None of them are. Rage at their defiance and admiration for their loyalty go to war in my gut.
But then Ky says, “You heard the princess. Stand down.”
Callum slams the weapons home. So do the others.
“Good,” I say. “Charlotte, come along. The rest of you will follow at a distance.”
Charlotte swings down from her horse, but I don’t wait. I simply turn to obey the child tugging at my fingers. We stride into the sunlight, dried grass crunching underfoot.
The boy looks up and over my shoulder. “What about him?”
“I follow the princess,” says Asher, and he says it so simply that it makes something in my heart sing. Despite everything that’s changed between us during the journey to Incendar,wearen’t broken.
“Is he a guard?” says the older girl.
