Elisebeth found Martin beside Forest Hidden's west path after he had washed the freight dust from his face. She looked at his damp hair, reached up, and smoothed the part he had missed.
"You left half the basin on your ear."
"The other half went down my sleeve."
She checked the sleeve in question and laughed. Her staff was stored. He had put his sword away before leaving the infirmary, where the healer had checked his wrist and renewed the same restrictions.
Their first planned interval after Rivergate had survived the statements, the journey, and his examination. Ahead, a tiled roof covered a garden walkway, with climbing stems trained through the open sides. Elisebeth took his right hand and led him beneath it.
The path widened around a shallow pool. Someone had put a bench opposite the water, close enough that falling leaves collected beneath its legs. Elisebeth stopped there and tipped her head back, considering the branches overhead.
"This is where I wanted to sit."
