“What are you doing?”

The trio paused, all surprised to see the Niobe princess coming towards them. Recognizing yet another member of royalty, Finn bowed and rambled a greeting. But Anya focused on Bryony.

And Bryony resisted sticking out her tongue.

“Hello Anya,” Sedrick greeted cheerfully while lowering his arms. “We’re playing Knights versus Dragon. I’m the dragon,” he said, puffed up with pride.

“I see. And you’re a knight, Princess Bryony?” asked Anya, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at the girl’s crude sword. “Not the damsel?”

Shrugging, Bryony said, “That’s boring. Knights have swords and get to fight.” She poked Sedrick in the arm to prove her point, and he made a noise in surprise.

“Yes, but your dress is ruined,” pointed out Anya, and Bryony looked down at herself to see it covered in dirt, grass stains, and several tears. At least it was a play dress.

“And who’s this?” Anya turned on Finn, tilting her head to study him. “I don’t know you.”

“This is Finn!” Bryony answered, seeing him struggling to speak, noticed by more royalty today than in his entire life. “My new friend. He’s going to be a knight someday.”

“A servant,” Anya said dryly. “Surely your parents object to you playing with one?”

“I don’t care,” said Bryony sharply, her anger at Anya bubbling to the surface. “He’s my friend, it doesn’t matter what they think.”

“Always disregarding the rules,” Anya said coolly, reminding her of their earlier conversation. “Never thinking about the consequences.”

“How can making friend be bad?” Bryony argued loudly, ignoring Finn’s gasp as she stepped towards Anya. “It’s what my parents want!”

“I’m fairly certain they meant with other royals. Not… him,” Anya pointed out while giving Finn another sharp look that he withered under.

Hand tight around her fake sword, Bryony asked lowly, “Why do you hate me so much?”

Anger flickered through Anya’s narrowed eyes before she answered, softly enough so only Bryony could hear. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“Anya, want to play with us?” interrupted Sedrick, a wide smile on his face as he stepped in between them, and Anya’s cheeks darkened at his attention. “You could be the damsel or a knight like Bryony?”

Thinking it over, Anya sniffed. “I suppose being a damsel is better than a brutish knight.” She went to a nearby tree and settling underneath, hands resting in her lap. “You may continue.”

Rolling her eyes, Bryony poked Sedrick in the arm again, this time harder.

“Ow! What’s that for?”

“Why did you invite her?” questioned Bryony as the other princess worked on smoothing out her skirts. “She hates me.”

“What? Anya’s always been nice if a little strict about rules. And now we have a damsel,” Sedrick pointed out.

Frowning, it took all Bryony’s had not to tell Sedrick about Anya’s crush on him, or why she was nice to him and not Bryony. Instead, she forced out, “You should tell her the rules before we start again.”

Not that there weren’t any rules for the damsel, but Sedrick shrugged before going to do that.