The greenhouse emptied gradually rather than all at once. One apprentice finished watering the herb beds before leaving with an armful of empty baskets, while another carried fresh cuttings toward the storage shed. A pair of handlers stopped to gather medicinal plants for the dragon yards, exchanging a few quiet words with the older woman before disappearing into the rain. By the time the fading afternoon softened into evening, only the older woman, Lexi, Rhaegar, and a sleeping Nimbus remained among the rows of herbs and flowering vines.
The older woman surveyed the cluttered worktable with quiet satisfaction before handing Lexi a damp cloth. "If you helped make the mess, you can help clean it."
Lexi accepted the cloth with a smile. "I distinctly remember someone else throwing soil," sh
