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Chapter 7

Garden Talk

She gave food to villagers to peasants! Servants and keepers a whole house of rice, cheese, fruit for children-peasant children ate well until Gregory found out.

The room decorated by real wooden furniture and gold designs surround Gregory, now king, and Emily, now queen. She defends herself shouting at Gregory, "They pay taxes they are people just trying to survive."

"Someone has to pay for our things. This war is not cheap."

"You don't even give them good armor!"

"Of course you and your knight. What's so special about her? The fling of having a knight, but you are better than street people."

"She cares. She cares about people. You don't care about the people!"

Gregory shouts moving to Emily, "I care about what's best for the kingdom! Only the strong survive."

"They all work hard, even the children. If you want what's best for your kingdom then you have to care for the people."

******

Okay, Ralph

Small corners, one room, a table, and a chimney is Spencer's and Ralph's house. Ralph's clothes are on the floor, beer containers on his side, and what appears to be women's satin colored drawers. Spencer folds what she can of her cottage. Puts her half dried clothes in a spot for sun. Spencer finishes the water from the pale and grabs it to go outside. Ralph stops her before she leaves. His arm around Spencer's shoulder in his undershirt and short trousers.

"So are you protecting yourself?" Ralph asks.

"Of course I can defend myself. I do it all the time."

Ralph chuckles, "Not that?"

Spencer exhales impatiently.

"Look girls can cause hurt too."

"You're not making any sense. You need to go back to sleep."

"When making lov—"

"No. Just stop," says Spencer.

"I've just seen ease in you since you been with her. Maybe do it. Make it hot, which I know you already are, but it doesn't have to be your everything." Spencer doesn't respond. "Is it serious?" Ralph asks.

"It is something."

Ralph goes to give Spencer a hug, but backs off by the deadly glare she gives him.

"Just have some alone time. Just with her...you know...you got to..."

Spencer grabs the pales, "Go eat some breakfast Ralph."

*******

The starry sky above them alive plants beside them Spencer walks with Emily in her garden.

Emily, "I gave food to peasants. So what? I made an army decision. I don't want to be the heartless queen. I'm not. I care about people all of them, I don't want to hide in the castle. I have to do something." Spencer walks with her hands behind her back. "I want my people to be safe and I want to be safe." Spencer doesn't say anything. "There you go. You're not talking again."

"I'm listening to you."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to hear what you have to say. What are you going to hurt my feelings?"

"It's not wrong. It's dangerous because the king is an ass, who doesn't deserve you, but sometimes his orders are...the...word like a question."

"Like questionable." Emily smiles. Spencer scratches her head.