Third Daughter (The Dharian Affairs, Book One) by Susan Kaye Quinn

climbed higher in the air, as if they would fly straight to the black-dagger mountain peaks in the distance. An infinite palette of green spread below them, a lush forest garden like the Queen’s, only it went on endlessly, broken only by a hidden stream peeking from the rocky bottom of the canyon. Past the receding trade station, Aniri glimpsed a sliver of golden fields: the plains of Dharia.
    She was flying so high, she could see her home.
    It was a wondrous feeling, and dizzying. Like she was a god—flying above the earth and surveying everything in it. What did the barbarians think, living here in the clouds and looking down on Dharia? She had pictured them brawling in dank caves and darkness, not here, perched in the blazing sun and blue sky, gazing at the fields below. Did they come down from their heights just to steal some of Dharia’s riches? Or did their mountain living make them dizzy, and they sought the sensible solid ground of the plains?
    Priya was similarly gape-mouthed and for once speechless. Even Janak seemed surprised, or perhaps alarmed, still gripping the carriage handles, even though their flight was as smooth as glass.
    The prince’s smile hadn’t dimmed. He edged closer, daring to let go of his handle. “It is beautiful, is it not, princess?”
    “It is astonishing,” she said. “Do you always travel like this, in the sky? Does it not alarm you?” Aniri stole a glance at Janak. He definitely was a shade paler than normal, and she took no small satisfaction in that.
    “We are a mountain people, your highness.” The prince leaned against the window next to her, quite close, their conversation clearly not private with nowhere for the others to go, but he acted as though they were alone. “We are used to high places and daring feats.”
    He was bragging now.
    “Well, in Dharia, we have many wonders as well,” Aniri said.
    “I’m sure that you do.” He smirked.
    The giant steel man with his pinched grip on the cable was suddenly near, hurtling toward them. “Oh!” escaped her, and she grasped her handle again. They quickly glided past it. A small thump rocking the carriage was the only note that anything at all had happened.
    She drew in a breath and frowned at the smirk that had grown even stronger on the prince’s face. “You must think I’m very pampered and naive, Prince Malik.”
    He looked contrite again. “Not at all, princess. But I do find pleasure in sharing the wonders of my country with someone who hasn’t seen them before. And it is soon to be
your
country as well. I hope you find it pleasing.”
    “I’m still working on wonderment and exhilaration. I’m sure pleasing will come eventually.”
    He smiled, and she managed to relax her grip on the handle, although she noted Janak still had hold of his. “Will this cable carriage take us to another trading station?”
    “Yes. And another one after that. But the trip will be short. We will be in Bajir before lunch. Which is good, because they are waiting for us.”
    “They?”
    “My people. Soon to be yours.” His eyes traveled the length of her outfit. “As much as I approve of your traveling clothes, you may want to change once we arrive. I’ve arranged for us to make an appearance.”
    “To announce our engagement.” The words, spoken aloud, made her stomach feel like a small flock of birds had taken up residence. Somehow flying through the clouds seemed less daring than publicly proclaiming her intent to marry the Prince of Jungali.
    “Yes,” he said softly, then peered down at the ground far beneath them, whisking by in a blur of leaves and sparkling gray granite boulders. He looked back to her. “Are you ready to meet your new subjects, future Queen of Jungali?”
    “I supposed I shall have to be.” She smiled to take the edge off her words, cringing at how easy her thoughts came out in her voice. She would have to play her part better than that, if the ruse were to hold long enough to complete her