Back in the maiden's quarters, Josa closed the door behind her and leaned against it, releasing a shaky breath. Gods… how handsome could a man be? Her heart still pounded like a war drum in her chest.
"What happened to you?" Lora asked, glancing up from her seat. She dabbed a salve on the dark bruise blooming around her eye and hissed in pain.
"Did someone bother you?"
No response.
Lora's patience bubbled, "Hey, stop standing there like a statue. Come, read this, then burn it."
Lora nodded toward a wax-sealed letter lying on the small wooden table. Her voice was casual, but her eyes flicked warily toward the door. She resumed tending to her wound.
Josa approached without hesitation and picked up the envelope. It bore no crest, no symbol, no name, just blank red wax, smooth and cold.
"Who brought it?" she asked quietly.
Lora shrugged. "It was here when I came in."
