This time when Avery scoffs, there's almost a laugh mixed into it, if you tilt your head and squint. "Between them and the horses, I know which would cripple our defenses faster if they went underfed. 'Trivial...'"

She considers it for a moment longer, then turns and grabs a few carrots that were waiting to be cut. She starts to hold them out, but stops to say, "Don't make a habit of this though." Then she holds them out. "And you're new, right? Talk to the horsemaster if you haven't. He knows what he's doing. Takes good care."

And he doesn't force Avery to make conversation when she visits the stables, which is pretty great in her books.