Bryony froze as the words sunk in before spinning back towards him. “What?”

“I’m sorry for leaving you in the maze,” Sedrick said in a rush, so jumbled together they almost became one word. “I knew it wasn’t right, but I let the others push me into it because they said I liked you.” Sedrick’s cheeks turned the color of apples as he clarified, “Even though I don’t. They wouldn’t let it go, and… It doesn’t excuse what I did, but… I’m so sorry.”

“You said sorry before,” Bryony mumbled. After finding out what happened, his mother forced Sedrick to apologize. But instead forgiving him, Bryony kicked him hard in the knee before hiding in her room till they left.

“I know. But I’m still sorry.” Sedrick looked defeated. “I don’t want to be like the other boys. I understand if you don’t talk to me again, I just… hope you can forgive me someday.”

Looking down at him, Bryony hesitated. Was it really all the older boys influence that turned him into bullying, all for their approval? She never considered that. But not wanting to be with them now meant he was truly sorry, right? Or was it a trick?

“I accept your apology, but I don’t forgive you,” Bryony finally said firmly, and Sedrick deflated as she added, “Not yet. Just because the others pushed you… You don’t know how scary it was.” Hugging herself protectively, Bryony took a deep breath. “So, until I forgive you, you must promise never to do anything like that again…”

Sedrick snapped up straight. “Of course I promise!”

“And, you must play with me and Finn.” Bryony nodded to the startled boy.

“What?” Sedrick tilted his head. “Play with a… commoner?” he questioned, wrinkling his nose at Finn, who was now red in the face. Sedrick wasn’t trying to be cruel – taking the time to get to know servants wasn’t something royalty did.

“He’s my friend,” Bryony declared firmly. “Don’t call him that.” She stepped forward and glared at a surprised Sedrick. “If you want to play with me, it includes both of us, alright?”

“Alright,” Sedrick finally said with a shrug, perhaps just to appease her. “What do we play?”

###

After some debate, which was mainly Bryony and Sedrick arguing, they decided on ‘Knights versus Dragon.” It was like tag, one person playing the dragon while others played knights trying to defeat it. Usually, there was a damsel-in-distress for them to protect, so Bryony appointed a nearby guard the “damsel” while she and Finn became knights.

The guards patrolling the nearby forest chuckled as the children charging each other, screams of delight piercing the air. One waved, and Finn returned it. “My master, Sir Arthur.”

“He looks like he could face a dragon,” Bryony decided gravely; even from a distance, she could see the scar that went from above his left eye to his chin and another crossing the first while following his cheekbone. He looked fierce.

“Rar!” Sedrick charged them, arms flapping to mimic dragon wings. He’d been hesitant at first but getting more comfortable the more they played. “I’m going to eat you!”

“Dragons don’t eat people,” Bryony said thoughtfully. “They’d set them on fire or bite them in half and spit them out. We probably don’t taste good.”

“How would you know?” Sedrick dropped his arms. “Have you seen one?”

Bryony huffed. “Of course not.”

“Then I’m eating you,” Sedrick declared before raising his arms again, roaring as best he could.

“To me, Sir Finn!” called out Bryony, raising her makeshift sword, Finn unsure as he raised his own. “We shall defeat this ugly beast together!”

“Ugly?” Sedrick sputtered. “I’ll show you ugly!”

“Come at me, beast!” taunted Bryony, jabbing at Sedrick and encouraging Finn to join her.