Page 84 of The Lost Art of Seducing a Mage Warrior

“That’s what I thought,” Brannal said with satisfaction. “It’s at four. Shall we meet here?”

“Yes, that sounds good,” Perian agreed.

“And then perhaps a ride in the evening?” he proposed.

“Yes, please.”

And like that, their day was sorted, and they went their separate ways. Perian could get used to this. Without him totally realizing, Brannal had kind of… become his person. He liked him so much, and he couldn’t imagine being with anyone else like this. Perian hadn’t expected that. He thought of his father, who’d always told Perian how much he loved his mother, and who had chosen to raise his son alone. He’d still found companionship in the city, but Perian had known his feelings were not involved. His father had been nothing but honest with him.

Perian was quite sure his connection to Brannal had veered well past the physical. He wasn’t totally sure how you got from that feeling to anything else. He knew his father had loved him, and Perian loved him back. Perian had read novels, and his father had explained the concept of romantic love. But Perian was pretty sure it wasn’t until now that he actuallyunderstoodwhat romantic love was. He might not be there yet, but it felt like that’s what it could turn into. He’d come to the city expecting he’d have new experiences, but he had not imagined anything like this.

It was a little bit scary and entirely awesome.

Before he knew it, it was time for his picnic with Renny. Thankfully, it wasn’t quite so obvious today in the kitchen that everyone was looking at him. He thanked Alona who brought the basket again, and headed out to the quadrangle. It was a bit overcast today, and he hoped it wasn’t going to rain. The now-expected Warriors were waiting. It was Delana today, with a Warrior Perian didn’t recognize, and he inclined his head at them.

“How’s it going?” he asked Delana.

She nodded. “Well. And you?”

He hefted the basket. “Ready for a picnic.”

“Enjoy.”

He passed them, slipped through the bushes, and found Renny waiting for him. She was looking at him a little anxiously, which he didn’t understand until she spoke.

“Mother said the meeting was fine, and she liked you, but are you fine? I mean, really all right? She didn’t do anything mean?”

Perian laughed and recounted much of his meeting with the Queen to reassure Renny that her mother hadn’t scared him off.

It was even more natural today than it had been yesterday to leave that space for Renny’s brother. Perian asked after both of them and learned that lessons had been boring but probably necessary because it was important that anyone who was going to rule the country knew geography and math and languages.

Perian laughed. “That’s very true. In fact, yours might be the most important education in the entire country.”

Renny stuck her tongue out at him, and this just made Perian laugh harder.

“Oh,” he said, as he remembered. “Uh, I’m not sure if anyone told you. I ended up riding Prince Horsey yesterday.”

Renny perked up immediately, looking intrigued.

He explained, “Prince Horsey decided he liked me and sort of insisted I ride him. But I don’t want to upset anyone.” He turned to look at that blank space where the Prince was apparently sitting. “Is it all right if I ride your horse, or would you prefer I didn’t? I’m fine either way. I mean, he’s a magnificent animal and I loved it, but I’m sure I can find another horse.”

If he went to another stable and didn’t let Prince Horsey see him ever again.

But Renny was smiling.

“Kee would love if you rode Prince Horsey. Truly, it’s so much better if he’s happy with someone riding him.” Her expression went sad. “Because you can’t ride a horse if you can’t touch anything.”

Perian was silent for a moment before asking carefully, “Did you try?”

She nodded. “I didn’t try to ride him myself. Kee said I was too little. But I sneaked out, just to see if Prince Horsey could tell that Kee was there. He didn’t make a fuss the way I hear he does for everyone, but he didn’t react like Kee was there, either.” She got that mutinous look on her face. “But just because he couldn’t see him doesn’t mean he’s not here. Other people don’t see him either!”

Perian could only nod. “That’s very true. And the fact he didn’t get upset might mean he recognized something about you or your brother. He really does make a fuss with everyone, apparently.”

Her head tilted to one side. “But he doesn’t make a fuss with you. Do you think it’s because you spend time here with me and Kee?”

Perian shrugged. “I don’t know. There must be other people that spend time with you, even if they don’t know Prince Kinan is here.”

She made a face. “I don’t know if they ever go to the stable or how Prince Horsey might react to them. And maybe Prince Horsey just found a second person he likes.” She tilted her head in her listening pose. And then snorted. “Or maybe he just got really bored and decided that someone would be better than no one.”

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