Chapter 5: The Garden Bench

I took Sabine to the garden behind the hall.

Osric followed without Corwin, which required stepping around his outstretched bell hand.

The bench beneath the apple tree held two people comfortably.

Sabine sat at one end.

The king sat at the other.

I prepared to leave.

"Please stay," Sabine said.

"I don't want my first conversation with him mistaken for a promise."

Osric rose immediately.

"I'll find another chair."

"There's room," Sabine said.

There wasn't, but he seemed reluctant to disagree with her first preference.

I squeezed between them.

His leg pressed against mine from knee to hip.

I could have stood.

Instead I adjusted my skirt and pretended to examine the apples.

Sabine waited until he had settled.

"What do you expect from a consort?" she asked him.

He looked toward the garden wall.

"Public appearances," he said.

"A position beside me at ceremonies."

"Do you want one?" she asked.

The king didn't answer promptly enough for either of us.

A pack elder appeared carrying a folding chair.

"I thought you might need this," she told me.

I thanked her.

She unfolded it facing the bench and sat down.

Sabine looked at the occupied chair.

I looked at Osric.

He studied an apple with royal concentration.

"We could move farther down," I suggested.

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