Loma smiled and waved for the girl to come out, seemingly unperturbed by the novice's sudden appearance. "Quit lurking. I've told you before you don't need to be so shy around me."
Mara hesitated, then crept out from behind the tree. She kept one arm locked around the trunk as if it were an anchor. "I'm sorry, Mistress."
"You know to call me Loma. I'm no one's Mistress. I've told you that before, too." Loma patted the grass between her and Rowan.
Rowan stiffened when he realized Loma meant for Mara to join them.
Loma turned her smile toward him. "Don't even think about leaving. Surely the Caretaker won't shun the company of such an eager, new bud."
The girl who was the new bud released the tree trunk, and lowered herself to the ground. Her large, hazel eyes stayed fixed on Rowan the whole time.
