Page 22 of The Crownless Prince

If all of that wasn’t enough to shout his wealth, they were currently in the largest single-bed lodging in the White Swan. The room boasted its own table and chairs and a wardrobe. It had to cost a hefty sum—to say nothing of paying for wherever the rest of Thorne’s attendants were staying.

“Yes, you’ll do. Much better chosen this time, Talwen.” Thorne gave a satisfied nod. “I was beginning to worry. I couldn’t possiblyarrive with insufficient staff. Usually I like a few reliable servants, but with my new status, that simply won’t do. I have expectations to meet—which means you do as well.” He sniffed and waved at their clothing. “This disheveled mess is unacceptable. Steward, find these men some less travel-worn clothing.”

Steward Talwen bowed, and Marcus and Edwin followed his lead before trailing him out of Lord Thorne’s chamber.

“We’ll get several garments ordered and tailored to you both after we arrive at Thorne’s castle, but in the meantime, we have some extra clothing that should suffice until you get your own things washed.” Talwen led them to a large room with ten cots, on a few of which lounged men of varying ages in the fine but simple clothing of servants. “These are some of your fellow servants.”

Talwen waved in the general direction of some of the other men. They returned Marcus’s polite nod. The steward directed them to several trunks in the back of the room. They found long-sleeved undershirts and tunics that weren’t much too small and that satisfied Talwen.

“Good. Add those to your belongings and try to keep them looking fresh so you can change into them when we arrive. If you have any other belongings, get them here quickly. We’ll be packing up within the hour.”

A couple of hours later, they were trekking through muddy slush along the road. Four knights rode horses, while their new liege rode comfortably inside a carriage. Steward Talwen must have been inside as well, because Marcus didn’t see him. But Marcus, Edwin, and the otherservants—five men and four women—were stuck soaking their boots and tiring their legs.

Marcus drifted closer to another servant, a middle-aged man whose long blond hair was neatly pinned back with a wooden clasp. “Hello. I’m Marcus.”

The man inclined his head. “Roger. Nice to meet you.”

“So…perhaps an embarrassing question, but where exactly does Lord Thorne live?”

Roger raised an eyebrow. “Desperate for work, eh?” He shrugged. “I understand; I’ve been there before. Lord Thorne’s castle is on the western side of what used to be Nydellan Principality. Haven’t heard what it’s called now.”

Marcus frowned. That didn’t make sense for the road they were traveling, which passed Faine Castle on the route north. He’d been disappointed when he realized which road they were taking, but maybe this meant they’d turn before they reached the castle. “Then where are we going now?”

“Where…” Roger laughed. “Oh, son. Are you in for a surprise. We’ll be staying in the king’s castle for a few days, until after the wedding. Then Lord Thorne will take us and his new bride back home. Steward Talwen is on his way to Lord Thorne’s estate to prepare it for the newlyweds’ arrival.”

A sinking feeling settled into the pit of Marcus’s stomach, and when he spoke, his voice cracked. “Bride?”

“Aye. Lord Thorne is marrying Princess Adriana Faine.”

Dazed, Marcus drifted over to Edwin, whose face had gone whiteas the snow blanketing the surrounding hills.

“What do we do?” Edwin whispered.

He shook his head, too in shock to begin to formulate his fragmented thoughts into coherent speech.

Whatcouldthey do? They didn’t have any gold to give Lucien Thorne to break their contract and no idea what would happen if they tried to run away. Likely the mounted knights would drag them back, and Lord Thorne could punish them however he liked—and they didn’t know the man well enough to know what that might look like. Perhaps they could even be imprisoned for reneging on the contract while unable to pay the debt. Could a man be hanged for such a large debt? It wasn’t a concern Marcus had ever had before.

At least King Mortimer was highly unlikely to recognize him, but Adriana would. Her handmaiden, Leena, almost certainly would as well. What if one of them said something? And what about Darius? If the assassin lived in Faine Castle and spotted him, Marcus’s life would be over. Perhaps running was the safer option, even if it came with uncertainties.

Still…

If he stayed, he would get to see Adriana. He could watch her interact with her bridegroom and maybe, if he saw her happy, it would ease some of the pain in his own heart.

But he couldn’t stay and watch her be married to another man for the next five years.

Gradually and hopefully imperceptibly, they drifted toward the rear and side of the small procession, hopefully out of earshot, butMarcus still whispered. “Do you think they’d notice if we ran?”

“Probably,” Edwin murmured. “Maybe not right away, but soon enough those knights could easily run us down. I fear we have no choice but to wait to escape from the castle and hope we can get enough of a head start they won’t catch us quickly. Surely they’d abandon the chase so as not to distract from the wedding, and we can be long gone. Maybe even go to Eynlae or Talland.”

Weddingwas like a punch to Marcus’s gut, but somehow, he kept walking. “For today, we’ll simply have to stay in the background and avoid Adriana and Leena as much as possible.”

“And hope to the ends of Miraveld that Darius isn’t in Faine Castle,” Edwin muttered.

Marcus stared at the sludge-filled ruts and bits of murky ice in the road. Some part of his mind suggested he give up and collapse. His emotions were too tumultuous, his desires too scattered, and all the bad news from the last week piled onto him, pressing him toward the dirt. A numbness spread through his body, and although he kept putting one foot in front of the other, it was without conscious thought, as if something else was making his limbs move.

Something bumping against his shoulder and Edwin’s voice startled him back to the present.

“Are you going to be all right?” Edwin whispered.

---