The Royal infirmary had that overly neat, disinfectant smell that infirmaries always had. Stepping inside made Zina remember Amare’s allergies, how scared it made her. Thinking about Amare though, made her cheeks hot. Master Poja didn’t want her to go with him to see Marjani, but she raced ahead of him and got there. Panting from the distance, she asked the first nurse she saw to point her to Marjani’s room and went straight in after receiving directions.
Jael was seated on a cane chair, holding a bowl of steaming herb soup, beside Marjani’s short bed. The room was small and the white curtains were drawn to allow light in. But wow, Marjani looked horrible. Her nose was swollen and dark purplish. Too swollen for her nose ring that was now on the small, square table close
