Page 35 of The Prince and His Stolen Throne

I frowned and picked it up. “What’s wrong with peanut butter, banana, and bacon?”

“The fact it’s all three of them together.”

Fine, it was the one I wanted anyway.I plopped down into my seat, unwrapped the sandwich, and took a huge bite. Big mistake. The peanut butter stuck to the roof of my mouth and the bacon was still piping hot.

Angelica continued poking through the sandwiches, still dissatisfied but less disgusted. Eventually, she chose one with ham and cheese. Fitz chose the turkey and cheese, and Maximus took the last one, which was beef and cheese.

“Get used to it,” I told Angelica. “This is the type of food you eat on a quest.”

“Not withpeanut butter, surely?”

The peanut butter had stuck my mouth together again, so I couldn’t answer until I drank some water. Any answer I gave would have been a lie. The combination was deliciously rich and greasy, and completely impractical for the questing life. What if I was the only one who saw danger coming, but my words of warning came out gummy and unintelligible?

Fitz finished his sandwich in a few bites, then asked, “How far down the list did you get?”

“We got all the potions and books,” Delilah began, “and clothes for ourselves, which should be refitted before we leave. If not, the shopkeeper said she can deliver everything to the castle tomorrow. Oh, and Angelica bought a rapier.”

Heart-shaped lips turned smug as Angelica drew the golden rapier from the little pink pouch. Golden loops wound together to create an intricate guard. Something she could easily snag her fingers in if she grabbed it wrong.

“Almace’s work?” Fitz asked.

“Of course, I only deserve the best,” she said, batting golden eyelashes.

I recognized the name from the apprentice’s muttering. “What’s Almace’s?”

“Almace’s Maces and Beyond,” Fitz explained. “The Plaza houses three armories, but the other two sell basic, ready-made weapons like daggers, arrows, and beginner swords. Things anyone can pick up and stab their eye out with. Almace’s specializes in higher quality blades and enchanted weapons. The three of us will go there after we finish eating to choose our own weapons.”

Somehow, I’d need to find a way to slip away from Fitz and Maximus so they wouldn’t catch me meeting with the apprentice. Though Iwondered how the apprentice kept tracking me down to the point he knew where I would be before I did.

The salesperson behind the counter of Almace’s was busy with another customer, so Fitz, Maximus, and I wandered through the displays. Glass separated the weapons from grabby hands, preventing any accidental eye-stabbing. We wanted only purposeful eye-stabbing. Of other people.

I perused the example swords, debating between the one-handed and two-handed varieties. On the one hand—pun unavoidable—the first option allowed me to keep my other hand free to carry a shield or open doors. The second option had more force behind it and looked more badass.

A long shadow blocked the shop’s light, drawing my attention to Maximus. He hovered near me, eyeing the same display. “So, you’re a swordsman?” I asked, happy to finally answer that question.

He shook his head.

My brow furrowed and I looked around at the other nearby options. “Battle axe?”

Another shake.

“War hammer?”

He shrugged his oversized shoulders.

“Crossbow? Flail? Glaive? Staff? Sickle? Halberd? Whips?” Each suggestion earned another shake or shrug. I was running out of options. Looking around the shop desperately, I asked, “Maximus, what have you been trained in?”

A light flush darkened his olive skin as he admitted, “I’ve done a bit of wrestling.”

I smiled, trying to hide my disappointment. The others all had formal weapon training of some sort—even Delilah couldn’t escape learning basic swordplay with Kit as a parent—so I’d hoped Maximus would have more to contribute during a fight. Strength had its advantages, but muscles were no match for a blade.

The salesperson finished with their other customer and bustled over to us. “Prince Fitzroy, we are honored by your patronage.”

Fitz nodded regally. “My companion and I are seeking new equipment, and we need it fast.”

“How fast?”

“Tomorrow.”