"You're giving away a whole basket of Firstlove Fruit?"
Druids were an easygoing people. Unless they encountered someone who harmed plants, they treated every living thing, even wild beasts, with calm.
But right now, Dade badly wanted to take her anger out on Annan.
Annan had never seen Dade like this. He drew in his neck, giving himself a double chin. "I haven't given them away yet..."
"Can you take it back?"
"I'm the Lord of Free City. If I can't even keep a promise to children, do I deserve to call myself a lord?"
"No!"
Her anger was understandable. Free City had only the Firstlove Fruit that Irilanze had brought back. Dade kept them all for cultivation.
Giving away a few as rewards now and then was fine, but Annan had casually promised away a whole basket this time—
Annan said meekly, "If today's inconvenient, tomorrow works too?"
Dade said nothing. She just stared at him with wounded resentment.
"All right. Waiting a few more days is fine."
Annan didn't dare upset Dade. She was Free City's only Druid, and he relied on her to keep in touch with other Druids.
Looking at his face, which made it so hard to stay angry, Dade sighed. "All the Firstlove Fruit are needed to cultivate plants. I don't have any spare for you."
She did have some, but every one she gave away was one less to use.
"Have any sprouted?" Annan asked.
"I was going to check their Growth Condition tomorrow."
"I'll go with you," Annan volunteered.
"Aren't you judging the competition?"
"Oh, right..."
Annan had nearly forgotten what he was supposed to be doing. But then Dade said, "If you want to come, you can."
That night, Annan carried a Magic Lamp and followed Dade.
*Why did I