Firestone Hot Springs kutsurogi no jikan

he did not ask again. his assumptions are able to hurt kaede, or help her.

he talks of akashita masa and his disdain for the lord's intention with lorroakan is heavy. she wonders if he speaks to the other samurai himself in such a way.

but she has ascertained something here: masa keeps his own counsel. 

her head bows to indicate she has heard his raised voice, heard his frustration. "the berries are tart, but they will still your hunger," kaede says of the offering which shinjou has not yet recognized. "maybe our lord sees wealth in others."

it explains one reason why he has brought the young man. it does not explain the others.

her touch has been searching in the grass these moments. lemon balm and a scrubland mint are sprinkled into the hot water. 

a rising temper will heat shinjou far too much for the spring to be comfortable. she stokes the hunger of his belly with these herbs instead.