I read the route packet, mostly because Elizabeth stood over me until I did. Apparently royal blood came with persistence.
The first Crown waystation sat beside the western road just before sunset: a square stone building inside a low wall, with two stables and enough guards to make the word waystation feel dishonest. It looked like a small fort pretending not to be one.
I was halfway out of the carriage when Elizabeth spoke.
"Packet."
I stopped with one foot on the ground. "What?"
"You said you'd consider reading it."
"I considered it."
"And?"
"I decided against it."
"No."
She held out the folded packet. I looked to James for help, but he was already walking away, which was cowardly of him. Sophie was helping one of the drivers unload something, and Daphne had vanished around the far side of the carriage. There were no witnesses willing to intervene. I took the packet.
"This is coercion."
"Read."
"I know where we're sleeping."
"Read."
"I know where we're going."
