can wait outside with Pennynail.”
“He recognized me in the palace, in palace clothing. A little dirt, a lack of insignia, and they won’t see a princess because they don’t expect to see one.”
“You can’t know that, coz, even after this long.”
“All right, then. I’m in charge, and I don’t want to wait outside. If anyone asks, I’ll say you’re the princess.”
“I could play princess.” Maia scrunched her face as if confronted with a horrible smell. “Crowe, Brutal, kill that man, he’s in my way.”
“Rubbish!” Katya said. “If a man was in my way, I’d kill him myself.”
“Thank the spirits we raised you right,” Crowe mumbled.
They fell to good-natured bickering, and in the wake of it, Katya relaxed a fraction. She allowed herself to think of Starbride standing in the soft light of the ballroom balcony. Alone, Starbride still hadn’t pleaded her case, whatever her case might be. She had expressed sadness for Katya’s sick friend , and her feelings had seemed so genuine, so without guile. Katya had wanted to tell her the truth, and that desire was more perilous than any machination of Lady Hilda’s.
Still, she smiled as she touched the spot on her clothes under which her pyramid necklace rested. It had a companion today, a butterfly hairclip threaded through the chain. She’d have to think of something better to do with it.
They reached Longside at midday, and it proved even smaller than Katya suspected. It was only a few acres of fields with a cluster of buildings in the center. Pennynail left them early, staying inside the forest, and Katya brought her horse into line with Brutal and Maia. Crowe took the rear so no one could be sure who led the small group. The largest building bore a sign of a foaming mug, and eight horses had been hitched out front. Judging by the noise inside, it was a busy afternoon in the small community. “Good place to start,” Katya said.
Brutal took a deep breath. “There’s a sense of chaos to it.”
“Good for a fight?” Maia asked.
“Without a doubt.” Katya dismounted and stretched. “No one as large as Brutal can walk into a small town without stepping on someone’s toes.”
Crowe snorted from behind them. “Local bullies, young bravos, someone always has to test his luck.”
Brutal opened the door. “Suits me fine. Everyone involved gets closer to enlightenment.”
Wooden poles held open long horizontal shutters along the sides of the tavern. Specks of sawdust, stirred up from the floor by so many feet, floated through the bright sunshine. The tables were small and square and sat scattered inside with no discernible order. Katya waved in front of her face, but it didn’t do much to dispel the smell of wood and beer.
Dusty farmers in homespun occupied most of the seats, spending the hottest hours of the day out of the sun. Among them Katya noticed the hardier leather of a blacksmith and a few more well-dressed patrons, tradespeople or travelers. Longside was a busy little crossroads, even if the only people who lived there were farmers and their families, plus the few who sold to them. Katya’s party took one of two unoccupied tables, a rickety square near the short bar at the back that seemed only for keg storage. Barmaids and servers hustled in and out of the doorway next to it, their pounding steps just audible above the drone of conversation and the occasional burst of raucous laughter.
Some of the burlier farmers nudged their companions, grinned, and gave Brutal challenging looks. “Won’t be long now.” Katya gestured at the burly farmers with her chin. “Watch for anyone familiar.”
Crowe ordered a round of the local brew, nothing fancy that would give away expensive tastes. A few of the patrons glanced at Katya’s party out of the corners of their eyes. These Katya made note of along with those who didn’t look at all, especially the travelers.
Ten minutes after they sat down, a big farmer stood from an
“He recognized me in the palace, in palace clothing. A little dirt, a lack of insignia, and they won’t see a princess because they don’t expect to see one.”
“You can’t know that, coz, even after this long.”
“All right, then. I’m in charge, and I don’t want to wait outside. If anyone asks, I’ll say you’re the princess.”
“I could play princess.” Maia scrunched her face as if confronted with a horrible smell. “Crowe, Brutal, kill that man, he’s in my way.”
“Rubbish!” Katya said. “If a man was in my way, I’d kill him myself.”
“Thank the spirits we raised you right,” Crowe mumbled.
They fell to good-natured bickering, and in the wake of it, Katya relaxed a fraction. She allowed herself to think of Starbride standing in the soft light of the ballroom balcony. Alone, Starbride still hadn’t pleaded her case, whatever her case might be. She had expressed sadness for Katya’s sick friend , and her feelings had seemed so genuine, so without guile. Katya had wanted to tell her the truth, and that desire was more perilous than any machination of Lady Hilda’s.
Still, she smiled as she touched the spot on her clothes under which her pyramid necklace rested. It had a companion today, a butterfly hairclip threaded through the chain. She’d have to think of something better to do with it.
They reached Longside at midday, and it proved even smaller than Katya suspected. It was only a few acres of fields with a cluster of buildings in the center. Pennynail left them early, staying inside the forest, and Katya brought her horse into line with Brutal and Maia. Crowe took the rear so no one could be sure who led the small group. The largest building bore a sign of a foaming mug, and eight horses had been hitched out front. Judging by the noise inside, it was a busy afternoon in the small community. “Good place to start,” Katya said.
Brutal took a deep breath. “There’s a sense of chaos to it.”
“Good for a fight?” Maia asked.
“Without a doubt.” Katya dismounted and stretched. “No one as large as Brutal can walk into a small town without stepping on someone’s toes.”
Crowe snorted from behind them. “Local bullies, young bravos, someone always has to test his luck.”
Brutal opened the door. “Suits me fine. Everyone involved gets closer to enlightenment.”
Wooden poles held open long horizontal shutters along the sides of the tavern. Specks of sawdust, stirred up from the floor by so many feet, floated through the bright sunshine. The tables were small and square and sat scattered inside with no discernible order. Katya waved in front of her face, but it didn’t do much to dispel the smell of wood and beer.
Dusty farmers in homespun occupied most of the seats, spending the hottest hours of the day out of the sun. Among them Katya noticed the hardier leather of a blacksmith and a few more well-dressed patrons, tradespeople or travelers. Longside was a busy little crossroads, even if the only people who lived there were farmers and their families, plus the few who sold to them. Katya’s party took one of two unoccupied tables, a rickety square near the short bar at the back that seemed only for keg storage. Barmaids and servers hustled in and out of the doorway next to it, their pounding steps just audible above the drone of conversation and the occasional burst of raucous laughter.
Some of the burlier farmers nudged their companions, grinned, and gave Brutal challenging looks. “Won’t be long now.” Katya gestured at the burly farmers with her chin. “Watch for anyone familiar.”
Crowe ordered a round of the local brew, nothing fancy that would give away expensive tastes. A few of the patrons glanced at Katya’s party out of the corners of their eyes. These Katya made note of along with those who didn’t look at all, especially the travelers.
Ten minutes after they sat down, a big farmer stood from an
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