Page 65 of Enchanted Throne


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Krew and his Assemblage had one carriage, Keir’s another. The horses were commanded to begin walking, and we were off. We were told it was going to be like a five-hour parade. The people of every level in the kingdom would wave and line the streets as we came by. So though I was used to this trip at this point, I was not used to being made a spectacle of in front of every level of the kingdom. All in a day’s work.

I was on one side of Krew, Isla on the other, Renna sitting across from us. Were it not for Isla in the carriage with us, I would be able to use my magic out of view at our feet. As such, with Isla sitting right next to Krew, and the king’s guards all around us, I was just going to have to suppress my magic all day.

I hadn’t gone so long without using magic since the first days after I received it. I wasn’t sure how this would go. And losing control over my magic in a street full of people seemed like a bad idea.

Owen and I had trained hard that morning in anticipation of the tour and I felt fine for now. This trip took us between three and four hours when Owen and I normally traveled, but because of how slow we would have to drive through the groups of people, it would likely take five there and four back. We would stop in Nerede long enough to swap out the horses and then would head back.

It was going to be a long day.

I glanced over at Owen, riding horseback right next to my side of the carriage and he gave me a smile like he was channeling me luck.

I didn’t need luck, I just needed to not use my magic in front of a large amount of people today. Granted the king was going to figure it all out eventually, I just hoped it was going to be closer to his date with death than today was.

The first wall creaked open and I saw lines of Savaryn people, waving and cheering. Keir’s carriage was in front, and as soon as we slowly started forward, I saw Molly, Gwen, and Delaney wave at the crowd. People lined the road for as far as I could see.

It felt odd watching the Savaryn people cheer and be sofrivolous. These were the most powerful people in the kingdom. The Enchanted. The king’s army. And here they were, all smiling and cheering and having a good time. I’d seen these people at the balls often, but I’d never seen them like this. They looked so...normal. Because we were of course in Savaryn and not one of the lower levels, the Savaryn people had brought flowers with them, throwing them at the carriages as we maintained our slow speed. Normally I would judge them for being so wasteful, but they all looked like they were having such a great time, I couldn’t find it in me to be mad. I just knew in Rallis and Nerede we would not be getting any flowers.

“No one dare drop their smile,” Renna said through clenched teeth. “You know how Savaryn people love to talk.”

Isla snorted a laugh of agreement. I think that applied to all levels of the kingdom. And I was pretty sure my face would be sore by the end of this if I was expected to smile and wave for all of it.

Fortunately, though, after the first two miles or so, the lineup of people started to thin. The majority of people had lined up near the wall for the parade.

I saw Leon and Kallon Givicci standing in a clump of people. “Renna,” I offered. “On this side.”

Krew made the sign to the guards and carriages to stop, and the carriage had not even stalled before Renna was out of the carriage and hiking up her skirts to race to her family. They met her in a huge hug of smiles and limbs.

Guilt washed over me watching all of them in what appeared to be the front lawn of their home. Renna should be back here with her family by now. She and Jo both. But they were stuck at the castle for at least another few weeks, if not another few months.

But seeing their big family, and how genuinely happy her siblings all seemed to see her, it made me happy. I didn’t have siblings, but I always imagined if my parents had been able to have more children, we would have had a close-knit family like Renna’s.

Are you all right, love?

I looked at him where he was moving to get out of the carriage also and smiled through watery eyes.I just love her family. That’s all.I didn’t want to add that I hoped we could someday have a family like that. It felt like I was supposed to be accepting eventually becoming a widow, not dreaming of any futures.

“Jorah!” I spun to see Renna’s dad Leon walking over to the carriage. “Get your butt down here!”

Out loud, I asked Krew, “Do you mind, My Prince?”

He shook his head. “Of course not, love.”

He helped me down from the carriage, shook Leon’s hand, and then Leon was hugging me, twirling me around as he did so. Summer, Renna’s mom, was right behind him. And Renna’s sisters and brother.

“You are causing a scene,” I whispered to Summer as she, too, hugged me.

“Who cares!” Kallon boomed as he wrapped his arms around Summer and I both.

Krew got plenty of hugs too, and Leon even somehow snagged a hug from Molly.

The guards grew snippy five minutes later, so we all loaded back up to head further on the trail. Renna and I swapped positions, as to keep it fair for Isla. We were told to take turns sitting by the princes in our long meeting with the Assemblage advisor. Krew stretched his long legs out before him though, his ankles brushing up against mine. He was somehow keeping me within reach.

Ten minutes later, we pulled up outside Delaney’s house, and she took her turn with her family. Both she and Keir exited the carriage to greet her family.

When we stop for Isla’s family, try to use some magic to move your shoe.

That was a good idea. If I could do that now, somehow find a way to use it once and once later, I might just make it through the day.Okay.

We were stopped for what felt like a shorter time than we stopped for Renna’s family, and then both carriages were in motion again. The guards looked annoyed, as this was turning out to be the slowest trip through Savaryn ever, but the good news was that after Isla and Molly, there was only one woman in each of the lower levels of the kingdom. So we should be able to pick up speed after Savaryn.