The children ate and chatted, though it was mostly Bryony asking Finn about his life at the castle, his life before, and the colorful market in the capital she’d only seen from the window of her carriage. Finn happily told her about the different stalls, some from other realms, some by elves who’d been honing their crafts for centuries.

“Your mother’s a healer?”

Finn nodded, eating his bread slowly to make it last. “Not as good the Queen, of course,” he added quickly; Tabetha was often called for wounds other healers couldn’t tend to, though she knew when to fold to the only elf healer in the capital. “But people came to her for little cures or emergencies. She mainly washes laundry for rich ladies. Sometimes my sisters help.”

“How many siblings do you have?”

“Two brothers and two sisters. Fredrick was the oldest.” That made Finn sad, so Bryony changed the subject.

“Mother tried to teach me healing but says I don’t have the patience for it.” Shrugging, Bryony nibbled on an apple Finn helped her knocked down. “I’m terrible at remembering all the kinds of herbs and flowers to use. It’d be easier if we still had magic.”

Finn nodded in agreement. Magic vanished centuries ago; with only rumors of someone born with it that were always proven false. Only elves and other various creatures still had magic, which included the monsters from beyond the mountain.

Tossing the core, Bryony said abruptly, “My mother named my sisters after flowers, except me.” She frowned. “She named me after dumb vines instead of something pretty like Buttercup.”

“I like your name,” said Finn carefully, afraid to upset her. “I knew a lot of Buttercup’s back home. And I don’t think Bryony is so bad, um, Princess.” He flushed after being so formal.

“You don’t have to call me Princess. I know that I’m one, but…” It made her feel like was a gap between them. Shaking her head, Bryony said instead, “Do you really want to become a royal knight, Finn?” When he nodded, she asked, “Why? Is it only because of your brother, or…?”

Finn took his time answering, momentarily making Bryony wonder if she asked the wrong thing. “To protect people. Maybe even from the monsters in the Other Forest,” the place beyond the Imon Mountains, where all the monster came from, “like my master. He once went up against a dragon!”

“Dragons aren’t around anymore.” Yet even as she said it, Bryony thought of Gwenyth’s story again.

Soft footsteps in the grass were the only warning they had before a blond boy, closer to Finn in age than Bryony, came around the tree and stopped before them. Holding back a flinch, Bryony averted her gaze as Sedrick hesitantly said, “Hello, Bryony.”

Bryony nodded shortly. “Hello, Sedrick.”

Realizing he was in the presence of yet another royal, Finn scrambled to his feet and rushed to bow. “Pardon me, Prince Sedrick, I didn’t realize-”

Ignoring Finn, Sedrick took a step forward towards Bryony, blue eyes filled with worry. “I didn’t see you when my family last came to visit.”

“I was sick,” Bryony reminded him as she stood, brushing off the front of her dress in an attempt to hide her trembling hands. She stepped passed Sedrick, not meeting his gaze. “Mother said I wasn’t well enough to leave my room,” she finished with more space separating them. Finn looked confused but stepped with her, perhaps remembering his earlier promise to stay by her side.

“Right.” Sedrick paused. “I… just wanted a chance to say sorry.”