Someone New

Tyrian was taking a quick jog around the Orchard to see if it was clear before he and the herders brought the sheep and goats out to graze.  The grass of the Knolls was good and green, but as the saying went, variety was the spice of life. The sheep would enjoy the change of grasses, the goats would enjoy the chance to freely browse bushes and shrubs, and the fruit bearing trees would benefit from the plant-eaters droppings and having their bases freed of the seedlings and vines that sought to choke them out. In turn, next year those inclined to pick from the Orchard might enjoy a better harvest. In other words, provided they weren't besieged by raiders or some other unsavory would-be thieves, it was a win-win situation.

A spot of red at the base of a massive apple tree caught his eye. The young king slowed to a walk as he studied the striking figure. Her expression wasn't easy to place but at the very least he was willing to call it thoughtful. Briefly he wondered if he should let her be; after all he may have been a king but he didn't rule this land. He had no authority here. After a moment's thought he decided that no, even though he had no claim on the land that didn't diminish his duty to investigate any as the Orchard was both a neighboring place and a place he very soon was going to fill with livestock. He had nothing to lose by investigating.

"Hello there," he called as he approached. His stance was friendly, if a bit haughty, and once near enough to converse without yelling he would make a point to stop so as not to invade her space. Though the context had been different, his father had made a point to teach him the old idiom about catching more flies with honey than vinegar. It was a lesson he hadn't forgotten. "Forgive me for intruding, I couldn't help but notice you seem a bit...put out. Are you lost?"