(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

soon."
He chuckled, "No, no, my lady. I am much too old to change... all I have to
offer is dusty old words of advice to pretty young ones like you."
Annah seemed slightly distracted. It must've been strange for her to return
to the Hive... she'd clearly outgrown it like it was an old pair of shoes, and
the Clerk's ward didn't quite fit just yet either. A little time and maybe it
would've broken in enough for her.
"So how are the trees doing, Mourns?"
He clapped his hands together happily, "Oh well enough, lad, well enough!
It's a bit slow but I can't complain... especially since it's all thanks to you.
Look! New buds here and here, and the leaves are flourishing. Even the air
seems a little cleaner now."
I smiled, "Annah, could you help too?"
She blinked, "What? Yeh can't be serious, now!"
"I am, Annah. I'd be grateful if you could just see to give them a fair thought
or two... as a favor to me, if for no other reason."
Her smirk at last gave way to a smile. "Ah, ta Baator with it! If yeh're so
soddin' caught up in it all, why not? Sure, I'll 'care' about yer trees, cutter.
But yeh owe me for me time, yeh do!"
"Thanks. Grace, would you consider it?"
Grace nodded. "Certainly. I think that is an excellent idea."
Silently we waited beneath the branches of the trees. The shade seemed
cooler, as if the foliage had thickened to block more light. The burned sulfur
smell that permeated the ward was still there, but it was muted somewhat,
and the slightest of sweet nectar scents trickled through in a perfumed
undercurrent.
And there it was. One of the first buds was beginning to bloom. Slowly, with
the warmth of a cupped hand, the outer leaves began to peel back,
revealing a steadily growing edge of pink.
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