As much as I had loathed Briar’s pain, I hadn’t gotten to finish my last joke whilst Old Jinny mended her. A tragedy, since I’d fancied speaking into the Royal’s ear, provoking chuckles between the tears. I had hated seeing her in pain. But I’d enjoyed making her laugh. It hadn’t been a chore to comfort her. Indeed, the latter had been a privilege. For a moment, knowing Briar needed me felt as extraordinary and agonizing
