Page 59 of The Princess's Chosen

"How much do you know about apples?"

"I… Not very much, why?"

"Because apple seeds are unpredictable. They don't necessarily grow the same tree they fell from, and not all apples are very good to eat."

I frowned back at him and shook my head. "The palace orchard…"

"Was likely transplanted one tree at a time," Aric said, watching my face fall. "Sour and bitter apples make cider, but that won't feed the nation."

"Fuck," I muttered.

"How long do you have before you send the seeds?" he asked.

"Days. I suppose more if we delay, but it's getting late to start planning."

"If you grow the saplings with more control, they'll have a better chance planted in the spring. Let me see if I can't write a charm for them? We can use Bryony's magic to grow them, can't we?"

"Yes! Yes, I think so," I said grinning. "You think it could be done? It's a great amount of seeds."

"Bryony makes a great amount of magic," Aric murmured. "I noticed. I know a few others in the area who I'm sure have started to as well. If I can fashion the right charm to guarantee good seeds, I can get help casting it."

"Thank you, Aric," I said, and he shrugged. "No, I mean…I understand your initial suspicion but thank you for being willing to see her for who she really is. For being on her side."

Aric didn't look bashful, not really. He was probably too stoic or stubborn for that, but his gaze shied away as he nodded. "I'll go find her."

I glanced up to the near wall to check the clock and smiled. "Actually, I think I know where she might be."

* * *

Aric gapedas Bryony charged at Thao, blade drawn, expression ferocious, our lovers clashing together in a furious and brutal kind of joy. Thao's leg raised, ready to wrap around Bryony's and pull her down, but she hadn't missed the movement and her body created a beautiful arch as she butted her hip against his, knocking him off balance and making him scramble to roll back to safety.

"Emory didn't stand a fucking chance, did he?" Aric asked, grin growing wide. "We have ourselves a warrior queen in the making."

Next to me, Cosmo's pencil could barely keep up with his attempts to sketch quick vignettes of motion between Bryony and Thao.

"Are you going to sculpt them?" I asked him.

"Mm. But I think Thao might be replaced by the rogue."

"A making of a King of Thieves," Aric said from my other side. "It'd be a good title. Bryony would put it in the royal gallery."

She likely would too, in spite of her reticence to be sculpted thus far.

"He's a surprisingly good sport, considering this started off as him training her," Owen remarked. He sat on the floor at the sidelines of the training room, three kittens climbing over him.

"I think he's given up on trying to keep her an inukat purist and is more focused on trying to keep up with her," I said, shrugging. "Bryony's sabre fencing makes her a more aggressive opponent, and it challenges the way he's used to fighting."

Sure enough, with a few more twists and jumping steps, Bryony was at Thao's back, her blade turned flat against his throat in a quick tap of victory. Thao sagged and grumbled, but I caught the pride in his struggling smile. He liked being bested by her. I couldn't blame him, especially as I laughed and watched Bryony bouncing on the tips of her toes. She circled him, crowing happily, and Thao was ready to catch her as she leapt at him, biting roughly at his lips, making him stumble as she wrapped her legs around his hips.

A throat cleared in the doorway, and I frowned as I looked over and found not Cresswell, but Daniel.

"What did you need, Farraque?" I asked quickly, seeing Bryony sliding free of Thao's embrace from the corner of my eyes.

Daniel ignored me in favor of watching them. "Have another in you?" he asked, tense but calm.

"I'm done for the—" Bryony started.

"Not you, Your Highness," Daniel said, bowing to her and rising with a faint smile on his lips. "I already know you can easily best me."

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