Owen was already up and standing at the window when the morning light filled the room.
The lanterns he had watched the night before were gone. In their place, daylight showed him rows of elegant buildings, carriages rolling by below, and people setting out on their morning business. The rattle of wheels and the calls of coachmen drifted up to him through the glass.
He could see several shops along the street, and he found himself wondering what lay past this wealthy district. He thought of the market by the old bridge that Clara kept mentioning. The more he looked, the more he wanted to get out there and see it all for himself.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
Agnes stepped inside. "Good morning, Young Master."
She was properly dressed and as composed as ever, but Owen noticed at once that she was favoring her good arm. She closed the door carefully behind her, keeping her wounded shoulder still.
"Good morning," he said. "How are you feeling? Are the wounds healing all right?"
"Better," Agnes said. "The treatment helped. They still hurt, especially if I move too quickly, but I slept reasonably well. I feel a good deal better than I did after the fight."
Owen was relieved to hear it, but he watched how carefully she was standing. "Should you be up at all? You could have stayed in your room."
"I only came to check on you, Young Master," Agnes said. "To make sure you had everything you needed this morning. I haven’t touched any of the duties you told me to leave alone."
Owen let that pass. "How’s everyone else?"
"Hugh’s arm is still bandaged, but he was up early seeing to the escort’s arrangements. The young ladies have been resting in their rooms with their maid, and there’s been no trouble. The soldiers and the coachman have settled in." She paused. "Hugh was arranging the message to the Ashcombes’ father last night, after we arrived. I haven’t heard whether there’s been a reply yet."
"Good," Owen said. He was glad everyone had settled. Mostly, he was glad the people who had been hurt were actually resting rather than pushing themselves.
Agnes tilted her head. "And how are your ribs, Young Master?"
"They still hurt when I move the wrong way," Owen admitted. "But it’s better than it was in the carriage."
"The physician said no strenuous activity."
"I remember."
"I know you remember," Agnes said. "I’m wondering whether you’ll listen."
"I’m not planning anything strenuous today," Owen said.
Agnes gave him a look that suggested she would believe it when she saw it.
"What’s been arranged for today?" Owen asked.
"Nothing, Young Master," Agnes said. "The Princess’s ball is tomorrow. You don’t have any engagements before then. Hugh’s already seeing to whatever arrangements are left for our stay."
Owen’s face lit up. A whole free day.
For weeks now, his days had been nothing but cultivation, conditioning and training under Edith. Then the journey here had turned out far more dangerous than anyone had planned. He enjoyed getting stronger, and he still couldn’t think about Vapor Form without wanting to go and practice it. But ever since he had started travelling beyond his family’s lands, he had wanted to see more of Asteria.
One day spent enjoying the capital sounded a great deal better than staying shut indoors, or trying to train with bruised ribs.
"I’m going to explore the city today," he said.
Agnes didn’t look surprised in the least. "You spent half of yesterday asking Hugh about every building you could see from the carriage."
Owen didn’t deny it. "Do you know anywhere worth visiting?"
"The inn staff will know better than I do," Agnes said. "They can probably tell you which streets and shops are worth seeing. And Lady Clara mentioned the market near the old bridge."
"Several times," Owen agreed.
The market was the first thing on his list. He wanted to try the capital’s food and see the kinds of places he would never come across at home. He wanted to look at the weapon shops and smithies, too. He had spent most of his life with a sword in his hand, and he was curious what the capital’s smiths made.
"Do you have anywhere in particular in mind?" Agnes asked.
"Not really. I’d rather just walk around and stop wherever something catches my eye."
Agnes’s mouth twitched. "Hugh is going to love that."
"Will you help me pick something to wear?"
Agnes looked at the garments that had been prepared for his stay, most of them formal and very expensive. "Any of these?"
"Something less conspicuous," Owen said. "I’m not trying to look like a commoner. I just don’t want to spend the whole day dressed as if I’m about to walk into the palace."
Agnes considered the clothes for a moment, then picked out a few things with her good hand. A well-cut coat in a dark, plain shade, a good shirt, comfortable trousers and boots made for walking. They were all clearly expensive and clearly fit for a young nobleman, but none of them carried the Ferrers crest anywhere obvious.
"Not that one," she said, when he reached for a coat with silver trim. "You said less conspicuous."
"It’s only a little trim."
"It catches the light from across a room, Young Master."
Owen put it back.
He changed and looked at himself in the mirror. Comfortable, well made, and not obviously a Grand Duke’s son. He was satisfied.
"You know changing your clothes won’t stop people noticing you," Agnes said.
"I don’t expect to be invisible," Owen said. "I’d just rather not walk around the city looking like a parade."
Once he was dressed, Owen asked Agnes to send for Hugh.
While they waited, Agnes asked, "Will you be taking the carriage?"
"I’d rather walk," Owen said. "Where it’s possible, anyway. I want to actually see the streets, not watch them go past a window."
Agnes thought about that. "Hugh will have something to say about it."
Owen smiled. She was right, and they both knew it.
Hugh arrived a short while later. His forearm was still bandaged beneath his sleeve, but he was dressed and on duty as usual.
"How’s the arm?" Owen asked.
"Manageable, Young Master. I’m being careful with it."
"Good." Owen got straight to the point. "I want to spend today exploring the city. On foot."
Hugh was quiet for a moment, and Owen could practically see him working through it.
"Where are you planning to go, Young Master?"
"Around. Some shops. The market Lady Clara mentioned."
"Is there anywhere in particular you need to visit?"
"Not really."
"How long do you expect to be out?"
"Most of the day, probably."
Hugh did not look enthusiastic. "It’s hard to plan protection when I don’t know where we’re going, Young Master. This is a city none of us know well. You’re a Grand Duke’s son, and the escort can’t simply stop doing its job because you’d like a day of sightseeing."
"I know," Owen said. "I’m not asking you to drop it. I just don’t want a formation of armed Ferrers soldiers following me down every street." He thought for a moment. "Could some of them change into ordinary clothes? Follow us without drawing attention?"
Hugh considered it seriously. "They could. But a less visible escort still has to be close enough to act if something happens. And with your ribs as they are, I don’t want you any farther from help than you need to be."
Owen couldn’t argue with that. "Then you decide where they go. You know how to do this better than I do."
Hugh looked faintly surprised, then nodded.
They settled on it together. Hugh would walk with Owen himself. A few chosen soldiers would follow in ordinary clothes, keeping a sensible distance, and Hugh would be in charge of where they stood, moving them closer or farther away depending on the crowds.
"I’ll see to it," Hugh said, and turned for the door.
"Hugh," Owen said. "Is there enough money for today?"
"More than enough, Young Master. The travelling funds will cover anything you’re likely to need. Meals, purchases, whatever you find."
Owen was pleased. He had no intention of throwing money around, but it was nice to know he could buy something interesting without having to think twice about it.
"One more thing," Owen said. "Has the message reached the Ashcombes’ father? Any reply?"
"It went out last night, Young Master," Hugh said. "Nothing back yet."
Owen thought about the sisters. They were safe now, but they still had to recover or replace everything they had lost and get themselves ready before the ball.
"Would you invite Lady Clara and Lady Elise to join me for breakfast?" he said. "If they’re free."
"I think they’d like that," Agnes said. "After the journey they’ve had, a pleasant morning would do them good."
Owen agreed. He had enjoyed talking to both of them on the road, especially now that Clara’s easy chatter and Elise’s quieter, drier humor had started to come out. Clara had been to the capital before, too. She might have a few suggestions about where to go.
But he didn’t assume they would want to spend the whole day with him. They had their own arrangements to make, and that was up to them.
"I’ll ask them," Hugh said, and left.
Agnes moved toward the door as well, but Owen stopped her.
"Are you planning to come with me today?"
"I’d prefer to stay close, Young Master," she said. "In case you need anything."
"Agnes," Owen said. "You’re still healing. Walking around the city for hours is a lot more than coming upstairs to check on me."
"I’m perfectly capable of looking after you."
"I know you are. But Hugh and the soldiers will be with me. I’d rather you rested and let your shoulder heal."
Agnes didn’t look happy about it.
"It’s only for today," Owen added. "I’m not asking you to stop doing your job."
She held out a moment longer, then sighed. "Very well, Young Master." She looked at him. "Though I’d point out that the last time you went somewhere unfamiliar, you came back with bruised ribs and a carriage full of wounded people."
"Today I’m going to eat, buy things and look at buildings," Owen said. "I’m not planning on fighting anyone."
Agnes gave him a long look that said she certainly hoped he meant it.
Owen glanced around the suite. No engagements until tomorrow. Hugh was arranging a quiet escort, and the Ashcombe sisters had been invited to breakfast.
He was looking forward to the day more than he had looked forward to anything in a long while.
Hugh was back before long.
"The escort is being arranged, Young Master," he said. "The soldiers I’ve picked are changing out of uniform now. I’ve also asked the staff for some recommendations on where to go."
"And the Ashcombe sisters?"
"They’ve accepted your invitation. They mentioned they may need to see to their family correspondence and their clothes for the ball later in the day."
"Good," Owen said, pleased.
He turned to Agnes. "Rest after breakfast. Don’t follow us out."
"Yes, Young Master." She paused at the door. "And I expect you back without any new injuries."
"I’ll do my best."
"That’s what worries me," Agnes said, and went out.
Owen stepped into the corridor after her.
The inn was busy with its ordinary morning. Attendants moved between the rooms, voices drifted up from the floors below, and the smell of fresh cooking rose from somewhere downstairs.
A passing attendant recognized him and stepped respectfully aside. "Good morning, my lord."
Owen returned the greeting and carried on toward the stairs.
For the first time since he had left home, nothing needed him. There was no training to get through, no trouble to look into, and nothing to prepare for. He could simply enjoy himself.
Owen went down the stairs, eager for breakfast and his first proper day in the Imperial Capital.