“I have spentmonthstrying to find accord with Astranza,” I say, speaking into their scowling silence. “I yielded everything I could to satisfy Prince Dane. I know our fields are nearly bare. I know our food stores run empty. I know you have heard stories from Netherford and Covepoint about the barren crops. I know you aredesperate.” I look fromface to face, making sure they hear me. “But know this, too: Draegonis waits at our eastern border, watching for every sign of weakness. You have heardthosestories, too, from every soldier who comes home. If you think you can rip me off the throne and solve your problems, the Draeg army will be happy to give you a new one.”
They’re frozen in place. Some appear chastised—while others look more angry. Behind us, Sev and the rest of my soldiers have drawn closer, and it does nothing to dispel the tension. I have no idea how to unravel anything that’s happened here. I certainly don’t think I’ve made anythingbetter.
I look at Jory. “Princess, you have my gratitude for keeping this conversation civil.” I look back to the people. “The next time you wish to air your grievances, approach me with fewer weapons and more consideration, and I will listen.” To Jory, I add, “We have neared the city of Lastalorre. For your safety, you and your lady should ride.”
Now it’s her jaw that’s set, and I’m not sure what part of that earnedherire.
“Fine,” she says. Her eyes are still cold.
At her shoulder, Asher is studying me, too, but his gaze isn’t cold at all. Instead, he looks curious, intrigued, like he’s stumbled upon a puzzle he can’t figure out.
I can’t make sense of that, and now I’m too twisted up and angry. I turn for my horse.
Someone in the crowd mutters, “We’d be better off if Victoria took the throne.”
No, I want to snap.You wouldn’t be better off at all.
But I can’t say that. Not now. Maybe not ever.
So I set my jaw, give the horse a nudge with my heels, and we set off.
AS WE RIDEup the hill and into the city, my soldiers hang close. No one is speaking, and the tension between me and the princess isthick. It’s clear she has thoughts—but she either doesn’t want to voice them or she doesn’t think I’ll give her honest answers. I remember what Sev said right before the people approached us, and I’m sure she does, too.
Ky. You need to tell her something. Or they’re going to do it for you.
He was right. They did.
Shame won’t stop curling through my gut, hot and unpleasant.
Welcome to Incendar, Princess. Everyone feared me in Astranza, but everyone hates me here.
It wasn’t like this when I was young. When my father would return to Lastalorre, people would line the streets. He was welcomed like a hero. When my mother died, the people grieved with him. When he died, they grieved withme. It wasn’t until the weather began to shift, leading to the dry months, that people began to worry.
It wasn’t until fires began to spread that my people began toblameme.
But as Jory discovered, my magic can only call fire. Once it begins, it burns everything in its path. I can’t stop it.
Now I dread coming home.
Dozens of citizens have gathered, but they yield a path as we ride through the gates. I hear muttered comment, but no one says a word to us directly. My people stare—or worse, they glare.
I know the princess sees all of it. Asher rides behind us, but I’m certain he does, too.
My soldiers, of course, are used to it.
Maybe Lady Charlotte can’t take the silence, because she begins chattering to Sev.
“Ah...Captain,” she’s saying. “The architecture here is so unique. Our buildings are not so high in Astranza. Do you have many stonemasons?”
Sev is never one to shy away from attention from a lady, so he navigates his horse closer to hers. “It’s not the stone,” he says, “it’s our iron. All the buildings are fortified with it. They have been for over a century.” Sev points to the corner of a building, where brickwork has chipped away, revealing the ironwork below. “The wind through the mountains can get fierce. Our cities can take a lot of damage without falling.” He pats the leather armor on his chest. “Iron plates are stitched into the leather, too. Impervious to arrows.”
This seems to have caught Jory’s interest, because she glances at Sev. “Why not steel armor? That’s what soldiers wear in Astranza. Surely it’s simpler to forge.”
“Simpler, yes.” He glances at me. “But if you’re surrounded by fire, plain steel gets hot fast.”
Her eyebrows go up. “Ah.”
“This moves a lot better, too,” Sev adds. He pats his armor again. “It takes longer to make than a plate of steel, but we have no shortage of metalsmiths here.”
