“You said was?”

His face fell, and Finn looked away. “He was killed earlier this year. He tried to protect someone and… All that training, he was taken away with one blow to the head.”

Bryony squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged as if it didn’t bother him, but his eyes were filled with pain. “Without my brother’s pay, I needed to get a job. I could’ve been in the kitchens or stable boy.” He cheered up a little. “But I’m lucky, a friend of my brother vouched for me to serve the knights instead.”

“Wait, a job?” Bryony didn’t understand. “You can’t be much older than me.”

“I’m old enough,” retorted Finn. “And without that pay, my parents couldn’t afford to take care of all of us,” He shrugged. “And Tristan and Fredrick’s former master have been kind to me.”

“Is this master going to train you?” Bryony led Finn into the fruit grove, all the branches heavy with fruit yet to be picked or blossoming flowers.

“No, it’s only been a month. He’ll start in a few more years,” Finn stated proudly.

“Sounds amazing! I wish I could learn to fight. Oh, here.” Pulling her new friend under an apple tree, Bryony let go of his hand and plopped down with her basket, rummaging while Finn sat near her with caution. “I haven’t eaten since this morning, so I’m starving!” Bryony glanced at him. “Are you hungry, Finn?”

“Um…”

“Take this.” Bryony handed over a napkin that contained a hunk of bread, a wedge of cheese, and strips of dried meat, which almost slipped from his unexpecting hands. “The kitchen gave me extra.” They probably thought she’d be eating with Sedrick.

“Servants don’t eat with royalty,” Finn protested even as he looked at the food hungrily, and Bryony swore she heard his stomach rumble.

“Eat,” urged Bryony as she placed a napkin across her lap. “I don’t care.” When he still hesitated, she sighed. “Do I have to order you? That’d be a waste, I want my first order to be something special. So just eat.”

“You don’t have to be so bossy,” grumbled Finn, but none the less dug in quickly as if afraid Bryony might take it back.

Frowning, Bryony turned to her meal, suddenly hesitant to eat. She rarely thought about commoners; were there really people who didn’t eat enough? Who send their young children away because they couldn’t take care of them? To her it was horrible, but Finn acted like it was normal.

Biting into the bread and cheese, Bryony decided to ask Gwenyth about it later. Even if she wasn’t going to rule, it didn’t mean she shouldn’t care about the people. No matter what Anya said.