"Unfortunately I'm unable to pronounce the proper name for them, but a rough translation means 'The King's Guard," Bazel sat in his desk chair and took the proffered fruit, a decent sized apple that was a beautiful blend of gold and red, though he didn't eat it. His gaze met Emris' and a smile curved at his lips as he spoke, a joy that the prince had yet to show lighting his eyes and brightening the golden flecks. As though the sun was trying to break through the leaves, "They're truly amazing, and the man I got them from had no idea what they where. He simply thought them nice to look at, but they're much more then decorative. The leaves can be chewed or brewed into a tea to treat all manner of ills. I do recommend trying it if you get a stomach ache as just one leaf will help and they taste a bit like a sweet mint, so far better then most of the medicine I was forced to endure as a young boy. The bark is also good for detecting and neutralizing poisons. Amulets made from them sell for a fortune in Sunar, as even though they're native to the kingdom they're rare and only the noble house has access to them. Thankfully I was able to get to the two in your room before they met the fate of being butchered to make charms. They where rather grateful, though my father was less than pleased about how much coin I'd spent on them, given it was only a fraction of what it should have been but..."<br/><br/>His voice trailed off as he spoke about his father and he dropped his gaze to the apple turning it in his hands. The light in his eyes dimming and his smile fading, "but he was still displeased about me spending so much on a plant, especially when he found out I had no intent on carving it up,"<br/><br/>Bazel sighed and placed the apple back on the tray, shifting his attention to serving up the tea. His movements smooth from practice. As he placed a cup in front of Emris he answered the other man's earlier question, "and yes, I do take care of them all. I'm rather fond of plants and animals...well with the exception of dogs,"<br/><br/>Bazel reached up to the collar of his shirt, his fingers twitching before falling back to his lap, "I do not like dogs and they're not overly fond of me either,"<br/><br/>Nor was Bazel fond of hunting but he kept that to himself. For many it was a necessity and Bazel understood that, he had little doubt it was that way for Emris. Fur, hides, and meat sold to make coin so essentials could be purchased or used to ensure the lives of the hunter and their family. Bazel could no more fault them for that then he could a wolf. It was when it was done sport that Bazel found it stomach turning. Killing something just because they could, because they wanted a trophy. Because they got some thrill out of running a poor creature into the ground, tormenting it, that he couldn't stand. Still he said nothing, not wanting to further put off Emris. The man was already at the edge of his seat, as though uncomfortable in Bazel's presence.<br/><br/>He took a drink of his tea and reached a hand over to absently stroke the petals of the roses on his desk, before moving to the thin thorn covered vines. One of which seemed to curl around his finger, thorns pricking his skin but Bazel didn't notice.<br/><br/>"I...am a bit surprised that your questions are more about the plants rather than," Bazel moved his free hand from the rose bush, small beads of blood welling up from where the throne pricked him and the little vine almost seeming to move to fallow his hand, to gesture around, "well all of this. Witches are...not something people understand so having to face one...are you really not curious? About any of it?"