Steam curled off the palace guest springs while cherry petals drifted onto the water in slow pink spirals. Vella stood at the sliding screen in a single towel, a cup of sake balanced in her hand.
"Nobody enters," she told the row of palace healers lined up in the corridor, all clutching bowls and bandages.
"But, my lady, the Baron needs a proper physician—" the eldest healer said.
"He has one," she said, tapping her own chest with the cup, "she is slightly drunk but she is very thorough."
The healers retreated down the corridor in one rustling wave while the screen slid shut behind them.
Loccy squeezed through the retreating healers with an armful of blankets and a basket of rice cakes.
"I brought blankets, broth and a very small ham, in case he needs the ham," she said, holding out the basket with both hands.
"Leave them on the step, Loccy, and keep the wolf out of this room until I say so."
"She's already sharpening her daggers at the gate, I think it's how she worries."
