“Riding?” Sam laughed. “No, good God, Svana, of course not.”
“He’s not? But? But Mr. Evergreen is my instructor,” I said. “I need him. To… to instruct.”
Sam parted his lips.
I said, “You can’t be serious! We had plans, he and I.”
Evergreen patted the air. “It’s alright. Plans change,” he said.
Sam replied. “Dear, we spoke of this. I feel as though you seem confused.”
“Iamconfused,” I said.“Wetalked? You and I?”
“Yes,” he said. “Last night while we danced. You don’t remember?”
Cyrus looked at me.
I disagreed. “We didnottalk about frolicking to town.”
Sam hummed. “Uh, yes we did.”
“No, we didnot.”
“We talked about being seen together?”
“Seen?” I asked. “I suppose I vaguely recall your mention of being seen with me, but I do believe after I said go apologize to your mistre?—”
“Ahh—Shhh. Yes.Yes,Svana,” Sam said. He tried to nod to his friend undetected. “Such a fine memory you have.”
“Why are youshushingme? I know he knows about her!” I said. “We talk about you, you know?”
“You talk about me?” Sam looked to his friend.
“Leave me out of it, please?” Cyrus muttered.
“And me,” I added.
Sam tensed. “Regardless of if you remember our conversation or not, I’m here now so we might as well proceed,” he said. He dramatically gestured around. “And what a great idea it was, wasn’t it? Weshouldbe more visible as a pair. What do you say about me?” he asked his friend.
Cyrus shook his head.
“Oh, yes,” I moaned. “Phenomenal plan, Prince. Simply brilliant. And please, by all means, upheavemyday to exact your ideas into fruition! DismissmySword to what exactly is it you want again?” I asked.
Sam paused. “I want to take your Sword…sman—myswordsman, into town with us. I’m not dismissing anyone. Well, besides the other two. I think nowI’mconfused.”
Mr. Evergreen quietly knifed his hand between us, and stepped by. He handed Sameer a satchel off the ground, which the Prince put on.
He said, “Sameer asked us toaccompanyhim into town today, Svana.”
“See?” Sam said, happier. “I’m not chasing off your Sword. I—That feels strange to say. You Oreians and your Blades. You really interchange that stuff, don’t you?”
I looked at him, hesitant. Cyrus made a joke.
“You should hear it when she talks to knights.”
“Why are we going to town?” I asked.
Sameer put on a practice look. “I am of the mind that some of thediscontentamongst our lands may have been encouraged by the absence of our… romantic displays to say. So. You are to come to town with Cyrus and I, and thus allow the Empireto see our faces together, and then hopefully, those witnesses might learn and prosper from such a thing to apply in their own marriages, or such by our example.”
