“Yes! Apples!” I cried. “I’m—Wait...HaveI seen this stall?” I stopped. “Are thesedifferentfrogs? Did that one always have a cane?”
“I beg your absolute pardon?” he asked. “A cane? What cane?”
“The frog cane!” I whined. “That one. Right there!”
“What does his cane have to do with apples?” he asked.
“Nothing!”
“Then why, out of everyone in the plaza, did you choose me?”
I scoffed, then shelved the same hand at the bag to his side. “Oh, no reason, I suppose, just that you’re literally holding a bushel of Grannies.Oh wait, maybethat’swhy I asked.”
“These?” he said, showing them.
“I don’t see another bag, sir.”
“What about them, yeah?” he asked.
“Oh my—”I steeled myself to maintain my poise, though obnoxiously broke it down as basically as I could.“Sir. Where. Did you. Find. Your apples?”I asked firmly. “I am lost. Iam looking for the apple man. The man thatsellsapples. I assumed you would know, as he is likely the same man you boughtyourapples from. I’m very late. If you don’t know, say that, but I must find my knight now. So if you’ve seen him–”
“Sorry, knight? Then youarethe Princess?” he asked.
“I–” I touched my hair, looked at my gown with the giant horse on it, and realized I’d said knight. “I–” I stopped. “...Are you going to rob me if I say yes?”
“Robyou?” he spat.
“Ohhh, you’re… You’re a bit struck then?” I asked.
“Yes, I’m a bitstuck,”he said.
“Oi, I feel so silly. Relieved, but silly. Yes. Yes, sir. Iamthe Princess,” I replied. “I’m sorry. How disruptive all this must have been for you without a proper introduction.” I curtsied for him. “Princess Svana Eisson, my lord. Though, I must applaud you for your astute observation skills. Did you first gather my identity by the accent, the clothes, or the knight?”
“Is your knight is here?” he asked.
I motioned toward the crowd. “You tell me. He’s inthere,somewhere, I presume. Anyhow, might you tell me then? Since I am the Princess?”
“Tell you what?” he asked.
“The apples, my lord! What else?”
“I don’t know!” he said. “A minute ago, it was frogs.”
“Well. At the very least, tell me in which direction I should go!” I demanded. “Gah, this is fruitless.” I nudged him with my elbow. “Get it?” After another silence, I said, “Because apples are a fruit, sir.”
“I’m aware.” He inspected me. “You are quitetall,”he commented.
“I’m tall?” I asked. “Compared to what? A child? Or something else? ‘Cause you’re far taller, I’m afraid,” I said. “You easily tower over many of these men. Maybe even some trees.” I checked those around us to be sure and then found my eyes following his brutish frame as I connected the thought. “Yes, very tall indeed,” I said. I swallowed.
“I tower?” he said.“That’swhat you’ll say to me?”
“Yes,” I said. “Because you do.” I paused, replaying his response. “Are you… Never mind.”
“Never mind? Am Iwhat?”he checked. “Go on, ask me. I want you to ask me.”
I shook my head politely and moved to browse the other table.“Hi, do you know where I can find apples here?”I asked the seller.
“Ask me, Princess,” he pressed.
