The grassy plains before them were a welcome relief from the stench of fish and Llam ale. They were bursting with life; the last winter wildflowers were in full bloom among the timid stems of spring bulbs, and everything was covered in fresh dew.
‘I have never seen such a vibrant orange before,’ Xanna said, pointing at a flower with a round, bobbled head. ‘We have flowers that bloom a similar colour in Earthias, but this one looks just like fire.’
‘They grow everywhere in Xya; in fact, they’re mostly considered weeds. The palace gardens get full of them, until the gardeners decide they’re ruining the borders that they spent weeks planting,’ Yusumi said, fingering the delicate petals of one. Pollen fell on her new tunic, and she brushed it away with a light flick. ‘I’m surprised that they
