Gardener

Chapter 2

Twilight Peonies

"Lyssa if your dress uniform did not fit you as it did you would be the spitting image of your brother from behind." I smiled turning to find Dara glaring at me in all her aging glory, despite the fact that she was well into her fiftieth year she could easily pass for thirty. She was the Head Gardener, the Queen instructed her in what she wanted done and she instructed us. Well she instructed the other gardeners. Dara had trouble locating me at the best of times, though she would never admit that to our Lady Queen, but then again nor would I.

"Why Dara, you flatter me insinuating that I actually have a figure buried beneath all this fabric," Her simmering glare settled into a look of bemusement and I smiled more brightly for getting her to break her steely resolve. Though Dara could rarely find me actually dallying away in the garden, she knew my work, she knew the taste of my magic. As well she knew that I could easily steal her position from beneath her, but we both knew that though my magic was strong I did not want a high position or the power that came with it. We had an understanding Dara and I. So long as she left me be I would do my share of the work nothing more or less than that. After all, if I did everything where would that leave my fellow gardeners. No we rotated through the gardens littering the palace grounds. There were four gardens and five gardeners Dara at the Head instructing us. Every one of us had some sort of plant magic after all the Queen had wanted the best.

"You clean up quite nicely when you choose to," She stroked a streak of soil from my cheek I had missed in my haste to be here on time. "I see your brother delivered my message."

"Yes, he was quite adamant in my attendance." I raised my glass smiling softly as I took another teasing sip, the taste of Fae grapes singing across my taste buds. I knew they were ready to harvest. My gentle smile turned into a full blown grin, "You did threaten his manhood after all."

"Yes but I threatened your death, you'd think that would be of priority." She countered wryly.

"I love my brother, he is a hard worker, a great stable hand and the best Horse Master in the entire history of Angileri..."

"Bragging much," Dara added though she raised her glass in full agreement of everything I'd said.

"He also finds himself in more trouble than a grown man has a right to," Dara choked on her drink in startled amusement, turning away to clean herself up and regain her composure. I waited patiently.

"Sometimes I forget how harshly honest you can be; after all you so rarely grace me with your presence." She said by way of explanation tucking her handkerchief back into her pocket setting her empty glass on a passing tray.

"Yes, it's quite unfortunate." I set my half empty flute on another passing tray.

"Quite," Dara agreed lips curling slightly.

"All that aside at the end of the day my brother is a man, despite how much he loves me his manhood will always come first. As it does with every man it is often times their downfall." I waved my hand in my brother's direction just in time for him to get a drink thrown in his face.

Dara laughed heartily unable to contain her mirth at my choice words and perfect timing. Once she'd calmed and wiped the tears from her eyes she gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder. "I know that celebrations of this nature make you feel right uncomfortable but stick around for this one Lyssa it's important to the Queen and the Heir Apparent as well."

I bowed my head slightly deciding to stick around longer than I'd first planned if only to appease her Majesty. Dara left me as my brother had without so much as a backwards glance. I watched another tray pass me by before trying to find the buffet table littered with foods that would no doubt wet our appetites without actually sating them no matter how much we ate.