"You could try."
Kitsara's ears lifted with interest.
"Hmm…"
Across the stream, their expedition leader was inspecting her reflection in the still water. She touched the circlet, adjusted a curl, then came back to find Celia laying out bowls on a clean cloth.
"Mine without those leaves."
The girl paused with the ladle in her hand.
"I'm sorry, they're already in the broth."
"Then pick them out."
Celia reached for a spoon, but Lucille caught the bowl before she could begin fishing through it.
"I'll have that one, sweetheart. It smells lovely."
"Thank you..."
"I'm sure Marielle can manage the leaves in hers."
"I didn't ask you."
Lucille smiled at the mage over the steaming bowl.
"I heard you perfectly."
Celia brought Quinlan his portion. She had tucked a slice of bread against the bowl's rim and wrapped a cloth beneath it so he could take it without burning his fingers.
His gauntlets made the precaution entirely unnecessary, but he appreciated it anyway.
"Thank you."
