Ursula settles in to life in the Clinic. Eriana seems a little calmer and recognizes that something must be wrong with her. Events mean that Ursula has to spend time talking to Hanida.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

106 - Explanations in the Wet

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2026 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Ursula awoke. There was a nearby noise of continuous drumming but it was sufficiently constant that it had not disturbed her sleep, in fact it had probably helped her to go to sleep the previous evening.

It must be like living in a house at the side of Niagara Falls. I suspect the volume of water here is considerably greater, though...

Above her was no ceiling but just the roof timbers, barely visible in the gloom of early morning.

If that is what time it is! With so much cloud cover how do they ever know the time of day?

There were skylights up there, originally installed to help give the weavers as much light as possible, but the locals knew what the volume of water would do to them and they were all protected now by stout hatch covers. The only light leaked in from the windows at front and back of the property. Since the Clinic had to rely only on its own resources for some weeks there was insufficient oil to have a lamp burning all night except around the patients' area. There was just enough light to see one's way around.

Beside her, on another mattress on the floor of the small office, Bennet still slumbered. One of the store-rooms on the upper level had held a stack of well-made canvas mattresses stuffed with pakh wool intended for patients and these had been doled out to the visitors, along with light blankets. Although it was high summer, the sunshine which would have made the Clinic uncomfortably warm during the day had shone impotently on the tops of the dense cloud cover, leaving a slight chill overnight.

I have to go. I do not want to wake Bennet up, since I do not want to disturb her much-needed sleep, but I have to go.

For the night just ended all had decided to sleep fully dressed because they were all so tired from the exertions of the previous day. That would change for future nights, once they had determined more permanent sleeping arrangements. For now, Ursula still wore the day dress she had changed into after bathing the previous afternoon.

Can I take this dress off by myself? I don't want to struggle and I don't want to wake someone to help me. There is only one way to find out, I guess. Very well, no more delays.

She carefully and quietly stood, avoiding Bennet and opening the office door as silently as she could, slipped outside into the corridor and closed the door behind her. A ghostly half-light was all that illuminated the space, but there was enough to help her on her way. She moved to the rear of the building, carefully avoiding the ramp down to the middle floor.

The toilet and bathing chamber on this floor were smaller than those below, since it was expected that they would only be used by healers and any other staff. Still, they were adequate and Ursula slipped inside the toilet to relieve herself. There were some tense moments as she reached behind her back to loosen the laces but discovered that attempting to do so as a female was easier than she anticipated. Completing her business, she tidied herself as well as she could and opened the door.

"Kaldar! You gave me a fright!"

His response was as hushed as her exclamation. "Sorry, Mistress, I heard you moving and thought to make sure I used the toilet before anyone else awoke."

"Of course. Go on, then. While you are in there I will go and fetch my basket so you can have your morning dose without too many questions being asked." She jerked a thumb in the direction of the Operating Theater as they passed. "We'll do it in there, there is more light."

"Aye, Mistress."

When Ursula opened the office door Bennet was half sitting up, looking at her sleepily.

"Director? Is there some alarm?"

"No, just a toilet run. Now I have to see to Kaldar. Nothing for you to get up for. It is a while before dawn, you could sleep another bell or so if you wanted to."

Bennet yawned. "Unh. Now that I am awake, talk of toilets has caused a need to go myself, Director. As you suggest, I will likely come back and lie down for a while afterwards."

Ursula moved inside, fetched her basket and retreated. When she reached the theater she found Kaldar looking about himself with interest.

"A curious chamber, Mistress. If I may ask what is done in here?"

As she found and opened the medications he needed she explained, "Originally this chamber was where they had their weaving looms, Kaldar, to have the most light while they worked. All of the other buildings either side of this street are weavers' lofts like this one was. This one became available and the healers of Joth decided to have it made into a central point where many of the more difficult tasks could be done. You have seen downstairs?"

He knew what she meant. "Aye, Mistress. Beds for sick and injured to recover."

"Up here are mostly offices and store-rooms but this chamber is set up for... awkward tasks, like straightening broken bones, fixing serious injuries and, in time, perhaps much more, like going inside patients' bodies and correcting serious problems."

His eyes were round. "Going inside patients' bodies, Mistress? Is this something that is done on the other world?"

"Yes, we have been doing it for a long time now, but it requires detailed knowledge of what is inside and how it is supposed to work. Okay, here is the first spoonful."

She gave him the first potion, then looked at the spoon and realised it would have to be rinsed before giving him the next.

"The first time I had to do something like that," she continued, "to save somebody's life, we had to use a side chamber in the kitchen at the Duke's Mansion, and I did not even have any tools so we had to invent or borrow things as we worked. But the operation was successful and the patient is, I hope, still alive."

"What was wrong with him, that you had to do such a thing?"

"Do you have an idea what happens inside you when you eat food?"

Ursula explained in simple terms how the stomach, intestines and bowel worked, then added, "I have to go and rinse this spoon. Wait here a moment."

When she returned Bennet was there as well. "Director, I decided that I was unlikely to get more sleep even though we have woken early. As a guardswoman we begin our shifts early and must dress, break our fast and prepare ourselves before we do so, so this is not a problem for me. I will doubtless have a longer nap after lunch to make up for it."

Ursula nodded and reached for the second jar, looking at the low level of the contents.

"That is no problem, Bennet. With that outside," she gestured at the windows, "I doubt we have any reason to rush today. Let me just - ah, it looks as if I'll need to make up some more of this later. Here you are, Kaldar."

Hanida is almost certainly going to ask me what I am doing and she might already know about tsuft root. Looks like I have an awkward conversation ahead of me, but it could be said that I am educating the local healers, if they do not already know about tsuft root.

But Kaldar is a different matter. Will she approve or disapprove?

As she packed things away Bennet remarked to her, "I have not been up here before, Director. Is this where you would have brought Mamoot if it had existed then?"

"It is. We managed at the Mansion, I was just telling Kaldar what happened and why the healers of Joth decided to create this space. I do not know if they have used it for much since we departed before, though at least downstairs seems to be in use."

Bennet nodded. "In many ways it must be like the business of the Palace Guard, Director. Most of the time our activities are of a small and steady nature and then something unpleasant happens and we suddenly discover how well our training has been done. At least your patients are not threatening your life."

"Actually, Bennet, that does happen from time to time. Other times it might not be the patient but someone who is with them. People can have very strange ideas sometimes, when faced with their own deaths or that of someone close to them. We do what we can, but sometimes the situation can be... not ideal."

Bennet gave a twisted smile. "Understood, Director. If I may suggest, we might go below and begin the process of making breakfast? I am sure that Healer Hanida will appreciate a little help."

"A good idea. Let me stow this basket in our room and we'll follow you down."

Both ramps went downwards towards the front of the building, so when they reached the middle floor it was necessary to turn and walk to the rear to reach the main kitchen. This meant that they walked past their patients and naturally Ursula gave each a glance as they passed. The woman was asleep but Beresan was already attempting to hoist himself up into a comfortable half-sitting position. She paused.

"My Lord, good morning. Do you require anything?"

"Good morning, Mistress Ursula, or should that be Director?"

"The situation is complicated, Milord. I am called various things from moment to moment but Mistress will be good enough while you are here with us. You are not one of my military patients."

His eyebrows rose. "Military? Do you tell me you are one of those strange women who fights?"

She replied primly, "Indeed I am not, Milord. I am a healer and my job is to put people together, not take them apart. I leave that to people like you."

He grinned. "Ouch. I am answered, Mistress. As to my needs, I will shortly have to attend to my bladder and then I expect that I will be delivered some kind of breakfast."

"We're on our way to help with breakfast. As to your bladder, I saw some urinal bottles on a shelf near the toilet, so you can pee without having to hobble there. Where is your manservant? I do not think you would be happy if one of us helped you to use it."

He jerked a thumb to his right. "Mistress Hanida told him to make use of the bed in the next cubicle, Mistress, that he might be close at hand should I require - Ah, here he is!"

Mordon shuffled into view, apparently roused by the sound of voices. He yawned. "My Lord, good morning."

"Good morning, Mordon. If you would go with these people and fetch some kind of bottle, I anticipate I will shortly need to relieve myself."

The manservant bowed. "As you command, Milord." He blinked, still only half awake.

Ursula told him, "Follow me."

She set off towards the back of the building. Near the bathroom and toilet doors were some shelves which held towels and bathing necessities on upper shelves and urinal bottles and bedpans on lower ones. She picked up one of the bottles, handed it to Mordon and he nodded before turning and retreating forward. Ursula followed slowly, since she had spotted movement in Eriana's cubicle. When she arrived she found Bennet attempting to stop Eriana climbing out of bed.

"But I do not want to be in this place! Take your hands off me!"

"Highness," Bennet replied, "you are unwell. You must needs stay here until a healer comes. Ah, here is Healer Ursula."

Eriana turned to Ursula. "You are a healer? There is nothing wrong with me! Why am I here? What is this dark place? I do not know it."

Looks like she is either still under the influence or the damage is going to take time to resolve - and the results could cause us problems in the future.

"Your Highness, you must not get out of bed without a healer attending you. Do you need to go to the toilet?"

"I need to get out of this place! There is nothing wrong with me!"

Ursula came to a decision. "Very well, Highness. Come with me. Bennet, you should come as well."

Eriana climbed out of bed and wobbled for a moment before steadying.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked suspiciously.

"Outside, Highness, as you wish."

"Very well. Let me see what strange place this is."

Ursula led Eriana back towards the rear of the building, passing the kitchen area where Hanida had already begun preparing breakfast. She turned with surprise as the group appeared.

Ursula told her, "Her Highness wants to go outside. I am showing her the way."

Putting down the cloth she held, Hanida watched as Ursula opened the back door and walked outside. In the gloom of pre-dawn the rain still roared down making any conversation impossible. Eriana took one step outside onto the balcony and stopped, looking shocked. She mouthed something but Ursula shook her head to indicate that she could not hear and gestured inside. The two returned and Ursula thankfully closed the door.

"Gods! What is all that water? Are we at the bottom of the sea?"

"Highness, what do you remember last?"

Eriana looked uncertain. "I am not sure..." There was a long pause as she tried to recollect before asking, "Ursula? Is it you? Where are we?"

"We are in the Clinic in Joth, Highness, and you have been given too much of a potion which has affected your memory. We are trying to help you recover."

"Joth? Ah, I remember. Was there not a man there, one who came from the mother world? What was his name, I wonder?"

Ursula did not want that line of questioning to go any further. "Your memory, Highness. It is affected. It might be something you just dreamt. All should come back to you in time. Now, do you need to visit the toilet? It is just there."

Eriana's face went through some obscure expressions before she replied, "Aye. I do need to visit... what did you name it? The toilet, that is right. In my father's hall it has another name, not so polite."

Bennet said, "Director, I will help Her Highness. Highness, if you would come with me."

The two walked the short distance to the toilet and entered. Hanida looked at Ursula.

"What a strange conversation! Can I assume that Her Highness does not normally speak in such a fashion?"

"You assume correctly, Hanida. Good morning. She wanted to leave her bed and depart so I had to show her why that was not possible. Her mind is all jumbled up, fact, fantasy, the past, stories and dreams and you and I have not yet spoken about what tasan does."

"Ah, as you say! Her Highness shows well-known symptoms, so you'll know what to look for in future. Oh, if you would pass me that tray of rolls, please? Bennet made them to rise overnight and I know I could never get them to look like that! They will be hot and fresh for breakfast, I deem."

"I have to wash my hands first, Hanida. I can do that here?"

"Aye, of course."

With Ursula holding the tray filled with pallid rows of risen dough, Hanida opened the door of the range oven and, using a large wooden spatula, caught and removed two loaves of bread, placing them on a board to cool. She then used the spatula to feed the rolls into the oven before closing the door.

"There! Now tasan comes from the leaves of a certain wayside plant and, many years ago, farmers noticed that when their animals ate it, it sometimes caused them to stagger and behave strangely. When they tried an infusion of it themselves, in low doses, it proved to have numbing qualities which are useful to healers and suchlike. In higher doses it has those symptoms you have seen in Her Highness, that the mind becomes jumbled as if drunk, but too much can cause permanent derangement to the person such that they in effect become someone different in character. Thus we are generally very careful in our use of it. Were you not warned of this when you were given it?"

"Now that you tell me about it that way, yes I do remember, but there were a number of potions I was given at the same time that were new to me. I wrote everything down but perhaps I have confused it with something else. Hanida, you have my apologies for causing unnecessary injury to a patient."

"It is done, Ursula, and I have no doubt that you will not make that mistake again."

"No doubt at all. But to my mind, those effects are unusual to see from a plant. Is there anything special about it or the way it is harvested or prepared?"

"There is, the leaves must only be picked when they have a certain ripeness in the summer. The color changes and the surface gains a patchy bloom."

"I suspected as much. I believe this potion is nothing to do with that plant, or very little, and more to do with the bloom. You see, where I come from, the effects I have seen are similar to some that come from certain kinds of fungus. Those can definitely addle the mind."

"A fungus? I though all fungus were pallid sprouting things with a stalk and a domed hat, that grow close to the ground. We even eat some of them!"

"There are many different kinds of fungus and what you describe is just what some of them look like. Some are edible, others are poisonous. Others can look like fans, or a plush on woodwork or even a kind of network like some spiders weave."

"Do you tell me? Oh - the water is boiling, can you put six of those big spoonfuls of pel herbs into that pot? Thank you, mind the hot water."

"Yes," Ursula continued after the water had been poured. "I know of a fungus called ergot which can affect grains. People have to be very careful it doesn't get into a crop when it is harvested or there is trouble when the result is eaten."

"This is something we must needs be aware of, then. I will pass on this information to the others."

"Oh, and I have a warning, if you did not already know before. Low doses of some of these mind-affecting fungi can become addictive. Just as people drink to forget things or relieve an intolerable situation, so people use certain fungi the same way."

"Indeed. Do you think that we should not be using potions like tasan, then?"

"They can be safe... safer when dispensed by a healer who knows what they are doing, Hanida."

"And you did not? I cannot believe that of you, Ursula, not after what I have seen you do here, and what I have heard of your work before."

"I am still young and learning, Hanida. I specialized in emergency surgery, not general practice. I have learned much as we traveled from land to land, but I do not claim to be an expert at much except immediate attention to accident or other injuries."

"Yet your knowledge is already much better than my own in many ways, Ursula. There is much that each healer knows and much that we do not know and often the two are different in each person. I look forward to exchanging more of what we know, each to the other."

"As do I, Hanida. I think the difference is in the education we receive when we are younger. We begin earlier and by the time we leave school, at sixteen, we know most of what we need to be able to live in our societies. But to be able to change things, to improve our lives or invent new ways of doing things, we need to spend maybe three to six years more at somewhere we call a University. But this is something we should be talking about after breakfast, not before."

"Ah, as you say. So long learning? I have many questions."

"I know and I have much to tell you."

Hanida's eyes narrowed. "Does this mean - No. Later. If you will look in that cupboard, Ursula, you will find the slab of cheese we have presently started. We must needs slice some of it for ourselves and our patients. Ah! Here come Her Highness and her companion."

Eriana walked into the kitchen area and came straight to the point. "Ursula, something has happened inside my head. I have had many strange dreams recently and seen terrifying things which can not possibly exist! I accept your words, I must have some illness and you are the only person who can help me. What is it I must needs do?"

Ursula thought. "Highness, I do not think you need to remain in your bed, you are capable of walking around but this place can be dangerous for someone who is unfamiliar with the layout. If you need to go from one room to another then someone should be with you to protect you. These dreams of yours can happen again, while you are awake as well as when you are asleep, and can make you do things which could cause you injury."

She gestured. "Hanida is in charge here, not me, and if she tells you to do something I would ask you to follow her instructions. We will work out the best way to make you better but it could take you some time. Do you understand what I have just said?"

"Aye... but where are we?"

Ursula sighed. Again. "In the Clinic in Sabbar Street in Joth, Highness. The Visund is safe, all your men are safe and in good hands nearby, but because of the annual Rains we are stuck in this building for a while. We are making breakfast, Bennet will take you to the Common Room at the front and we will bring it to you there when it is ready."

"Joth! Gods!" Eriana pointed out the window beside the rear door. "Are we in any danger from that?"

"This building must have already survived a number of seasons of Rains, Highness, so I do not think we have a great cause to concern ourselves." Ursula looked at Hanida, who nodded confirmation. "Our main problem is that nobody can leave and nobody can arrive for a few days and that includes you." She turned to the Guardswoman. "Bennet, can you take Her Highness through to the Common Room and get her settled, someone will be along in a few minutes with a mug of pel for her."

Bennet gave a brief nod. "As you request, Director." To Eriana she said, "If you would walk with me, Highness."

As the two moved off Hanida asked, "If I may ask, Ursula, what are minutes? I do not know what that word means yet both Her Highness and the armswoman seemed to know already."

Oops. Yet Hanida is right, they do know. How? Is it something to do with these "new" clocks the people from Palarand were talking about? We left before I saw one but somebody mentioned "hours" when those people - guildsmen? that's right - when they were talking at that welcome meal.

Better be careful in future until I know what I'm talking about!

"I think minutes are something they use in Palarand," she replied cautiously. "I'm not certain how they work but I believe it is a small portion of time. I said it because I know Bennet would know what I meant."

"Ah, it would be like our moments, then. I understand." She turned to the others now standing in the kitchen area. "Goodman Mordon, I assume that you will take a mug to your master." He bowed assent. "Master Dilbenar, I will have mugs here for you and your wife, if you would take them?" The man nodded. "Who will take the other drinks along to the Common Room for me while I check how these rolls are cooking?"

Kaldar stepped forward. "If it please you, Mistress Hanida, I can take a tray."

"Can you now? What a polite young boy. If you would wait until I have poured the pel out into the mugs."

Mugs were distributed to Mordon and Dibenar, the woman patient's husband, for themselves and their injured companions, with instructions to come back later to collect breakfast trays. Kaldar was given another tray with mugs for the others. Pel dispensed, Hanida watched with a frown as Kaldar walked off.

Ketko asked Ursula, "Director, is there anything I can do to help?"

"There is little at the moment, Ketko -" Ursula had a thought, "- but Bennet may later come out here to help with lunch. Could you follow Kaldar into the Common Room and be available if Her Highness requires help? It would be safer if someone she knows is nearby."

He bowed. "Of course, Director."

He walked off and the two healers were left alone in the kitchen area.

"If I may ask, Ursula, do you know why that boy is with you? I do not believe that Her Highness is yet married or is of an age to be mother to a twelve-year-old child."

"I do, Hanida, since I was there when he came aboard, running away from his father. Since we are both healers and you will certainly ask me about such matters while we are stuck here together, and because Kaldar is actually my patient, I will tell you but it is privileged information. Bennet knows because she was there as well but no-one else does."

Hanida's eyebrows shot up. "Do you tell me? Your patient? Then we must needs find a quiet place for a chat, I deem. Is the boy in any danger?"

Ursula shook her head. "No, not of a medical kind. But there are other dangers... which means secrets that must be kept."

"Even more intriguing! Well! Not what I expected to hear this morning! Let us see how these rolls are doing."

* * *

Everybody agreed the warm, fresh rolls were delicious, especially with some butter and a slice of cheese or ham inside. Hanida did know what zurin was but had not considered that it would be suitable to put into rolls. There were, of course, none on the premises to make the experiment.

As they were finishing their pel the noise from outside suddenly stopped, making them all think they had become deaf, and then the sound of dripping could be heard. Several of them turned towards the window to see what was beyond.

"Oh, make yourselves ready, everyone! Don't look out the window!" Hanida called. "We are about to have -"

There was a very close flash and then an incredible BANG which made the previous rain noise sound like a single drip. Almost instantly the whole building shook as the shock wave passed over them. From above could be heard the faint sounds of items falling to the floor, but most missed that as their ears became overloaded. Few had been looking directly outside so were spared the direct effects of the flash but it was still some time before anyone could see clearly again.

"Anyone hurt?" Hanida asked. "Answer if you can hear me."

There were faint replies and it was a few moments before ears came back to near normal and eyes recovered from the overload.

Hanida repeated her question. "Is anybody hurt? Does your hearing sound as it should?"

There were shakes of the head to the first question. Ursula remarked, "Perhaps this is the right place to be if you had a burst eardrum. I'm not sure what we could do about it, though."

Hanida cocked her head. "Do you tell me that, where you come from, there is a way of curing such an injury?"

"Not really. Sometimes there is permanent injury, sometimes eardrum grows together again but some hearing loss is always expected."

"You know how the ear works inside, don't you?"

"I do, and I can probably draw you diagrams when we have some free time." Ursula gently snorted. "Assuming that ever happens, Hanida. It seems to me that we'll all be busy all the time until the Rains finally cease."

Hanida chuckled. "It seems that way, does it not? But the routine will soon settle down, I deem."

"I hope you are right. Tell me, when the lightning strikes like just now, is there much damage caused? Where would it hit, do you know?"

"There is damage, yes, but very often only temporary repairs can be contrived and proper repairs must needs wait until after the Rains stop completely - and the waters drain somewhat. From the closeness of that strike I would guess that it hit the tower above the Dock Gate, that being the highest point nearby. I imagine many blocks of stone will have been destroyed or thrown in every direction."

"Oh. And after the masons have spent many weeks repairing the wall and gateway, as well. But fortunately I do not think that anyone will try and invade Joth just at the moment."

"Fortunately! Although your own example shows us that it is possible to travel the river in such weather, even though I still find it unbelieveable that you all did so."

"We could not see anything, Hanida. That downpour hides everything, we could not even see the surface of the river. The only reason we got here at all was that we were almost here anyway, maybe two marks or three when it began, and the people here had set up two large fires, one each side of the entrance channel."

"Fires? Surely the rain would have put them out!"

"They were underneath some very wide roofs so we could see them from the river but they would be protected from the water. I suspect they were only put there because Joth had warning that we would be coming."

"Ah, as you say, so no-one else can possibly surprise us as those of Yod did. Good." Hanida stood up. "And now we must needs tidy breakfast away and attend our duties. Should I consider you to be one of the staff for now, Ursula, or would you rather remain just as a helpful guest?"

"I have a patient here so I must consider myself staff while I am here, Hanida. Do you mind?"

"No, indeed, Ursula! Every time we speak together I learn something new. If you would grab that tray, I will collect the plates."

* * *

"Good morning, Mistress Larna, Master Dibenar. I see that you have both had breakfast, did you have everything you wanted?"

Dibenar bowed to Hanida and then to Ursula. "Good morning, Mistresses. Thank you, the breakfast was good and fresh, we especially liked the rolls. Even our baker cannot make them taste like that! Have you come to examine my wife?"

"We have, but as agreed we will leave any close examination until the cast is removed. Mistress, are you in any pain or discomfort? I can provide a potion if it is needful."

The woman winced. "There is but a slight dull ache, Mistress, for which I do not think I require assistance. It itches, of course, but I know to leave it alone. However, other parts of me are becoming stiff from lying so long in this bed." She gave Hanida a knowing look. "You must know that most wives will have customary duties which mean that they are active all day and that keeps our bodies supple enough. My body is not used to this extended rest, I deem."

"As you say. We have some tidying up to do, after breakfast, and then we'll see if you can climb out and spend some time in the Common Room at the front."

"Ah, I do believe that I might need to wash myself sometime today. Would that be possible, do you know?"

"Surely, Mistress. All know that every woman requires frequent visits to the nearest bathroom! If your husband can help you there, you may attempt to wash yourself but you must not climb completely in. The cast on your foot must needs remain dry else it crumble and fail."

"Of course, Mistress Hanida. As you desire." She looked up at her husband. "If we could attempt the bathroom later this morning?"

"Of course, my dear," he replied. He looked at Hanida. "Doubtless the healers will let us know when the bathroom will be free, since there are others who might also wish to use it."

Hanida inclined her head. "It is true, Master Dibenar. We will bring you word when you may try the bathroom. By your leave, we must move on now."

In the third cubicle along Beresan was waiting for them with a smile.

"Good morning to you, ladies."

"Good morning again, My Lord. Do you also desire the use of the bathroom?"

He shook his head and laughed. "I heard what you said to Mistress Larna, I am a mere man and can manage without so many soakings as every woman requires. But it is true that I do take care of myself more than some other men might, mayhap I could find time later today, by your leave."

"I am sure we can come to some agreement, My Lord. If I may ask after your leg. Have you had any problems since we attended it?"

"None at all, Mistress. Whatever you did has made the difference, I deem. Uh, if I may also climb out and go to the Common Room today? I heard what the lady said, I notice that parts of my own body are also becoming stiff."

"Surely, My Lord. If your servant can help you there you may certainly go. You must be careful, though, that the foot on your injured leg does not touch the floor, else your calf muscles may break the stitching."

He nodded. "Ah, I understand, Mistress. Aye, we will be careful."

"Then we have other chores to do, My Lord. By your leave?"

* * *

"...And, so I was informed by those at Bibek, using this recipe makes an ointment which is more stable during the hotter days of summer."

"Ah, I see." Hanida examined the jar again, giving it another sniff to memorize the odor of the contents. "It is an interesting idea, I deem, and one that we might make good use of here in Joth. But... I did not think that summers in Bibek were so much hotter than those here? Surely the weather cannot be that different just those few marks away?"

They were sitting in a store-room on the upper floor, both chairs facing the open door in order to obtain the most daylight and so that they could see if someone climbed the ramp to disturb them. The noise of the incessant downpour was louder here than on the middle floor but not so much that they could not hear each other speak over it. The noise also served to muffle the private discussions which they were having from anyone on the other floor.

"I do not think so, Hanida. It might be that the weather has just been warmer this year than in some of the previous years. I have not been... in the Great Valley long enough to know what a normal summer is like."

"Ah, as you say." The other healer considered. "I do believe that it is warmer this year than recently."

She handed back the jar and Ursula stowed it in her basket. Hanida pointed to the four containers still on the small table.

"What of these? Are they what the boy must needs take?"

"They are. I make up that bottle," Ursula pointed, "with a carefully measured amount of powdered tsuft root from the big jar and some water, flavored with just a little fruit juice. The green bottle has a potion made from some herbs which like the tsuft root are only obtainable the other side of Yod. The potion in the brown bottle is made with aknil which grows everywhere along the riverside, so I was told." Now for the hard part. "But before I tell you about Kaldar and why he is taking these potions I have to tell you about myself, since the two have an unusual connection."

Hanida's eyes were bright as she leaned forward. "Ah?"

"Ye-es. You are aware that I was not originally born anywhere near the Great Valley."

"As you say. You speak our tongue very well but there is just a hint that you pronounce some of the words differently. But there are many who now reside among us who come from elsewhere."

"True, but I do not come from Alaesia or even Anmar. In fact, I was born on another world named Earth."

Ursula then gave Hanida a potted version of her story, omitting unimportant details like Russian mobsters and international flights. She finished by describing how she had been found by Eriana's crew on a sandbank in the Sirrel and her confusion when her memory returned and found that she was, actually, now a female. She also mentioned her medical abilities and how she had begun to introduce them in Joth before sailing away again with Eriana and her crew.

"That sounds so unbelievable! And yet, it explains much that has puzzled many of the healing sisterhood in Joth." Hanida stopped suddenly, her expression wary. "I assume from your expression that you do not want this information to be widely known?"

"That would be one way of describing it," Ursula's response was dry, "seeing as the existence of another girl from Earth has just caused a major war here."

"Another girl?! But we -" Her expression changed again. "That girl in Palarand, the one who married the Prince -" Her mouth became a big 'O'. "You surely cannot mean..." Her finger jabbed down below.

"Oh, Eriana? No, no, Hanida! She is a real Princess of a people who live a long way away to the south and east of here. But talking to people as we traveled I saw how easy it was for people to mix up the two Princesses. No, I am speaking of Princess Garia... whom I do not know and have never met. She, also, has come from Earth but from a completely different part of it many thousands of marks from where I lived.

"Hanida, Yod also had a traveler from Earth, a boy whom they forced to give them the secret of guns. Yod went to war, so I was told, to prevent anyone else gaining knowledge like that they had from the boy. It seems that on Earth it is as if we are some two hundred years or so into the future here so that, even though we are young and inexperienced we all know things that could change life here and... give advantage to someone who was ruthless enough to force that knowledge out.

"That is why, Hanida, this information must be restricted to only those who have a need to know and who can be trusted. There are still people out there who would take advantage of us if they could."

"Of course I will not speak of it to anyone... but some few must already know, surely? I cannot believe that you have done all you have and yet nobody has asked why or how?"

"Of course. Everybody aboard the Visund when I was found knows, and that includes Duke Wallesan and those with him. A small number of other people in Joth know including Senia. We have found it necessary to tell some other rulers in lands as the Visund traveled along the Sirrel but they all understand that it is privileged information and should not be spoken of in wider company."

"Senia? Oh, naturally, since you spent a lot of time with her when you were here before. Ah, do you know if there are any others here like you? I do not ask names or such, just if you are aware of others."

"Yes, there are a small number who have been found along our journey. Of course we do not know if there are any elsewhere on Anmar. Unlike myself and Princess Garia, most have not been changed from man to woman or woman to man but were transferred just as they were on Earth."

"This is fascinating! I would naturally like to learn more... but you also mentioned the boy Kaldar. Is he also from your other world?"

"No, he is a local and, I believe, was born and raised in Ferenis. Have you heard of a man, who might be a trader, named Denethar?"

Hanida frowned. "That name is known to me but that is all, Ursula. Do you tell me that Kaldar is this man's son?"

"Not... exactly. Those potions I give him every morning are what is making his body into that of a young man. He was born with the body of a girl but the mind of a boy, the opposite way around to my own situation."

Hanida's mouth was another 'O'. "But how did you come by the boy... child? Surely his father -"

"His father did not understand and beat him. As we were departing Ferenis Kaldar leapt aboard the Visund and claimed sanctuary. Once we discovered that he had been beaten Eriana was forced to give him shelter and bring him with us. She legally adopted him to prevent his birth father trying to claim him back - which did not stop Denethar, however, when we returned to Ferenis on our return journey."

"You had trouble, I deem."

"Oh, yes. Four men broke into our waterfront hostel room and tried to, I think, kill us all and kidnap Kaldar back to his father. He was safely somewhere else and the four men had a rude shock when they came in. Bennet accidentally killed one, Tyra poked a second man in the chest with her sword and another fell badly, injuring his back. That was why we were so late arriving here, dead bodies cause unwanted complications everywhere, it seems."

"Indeed it is so! Ursula, it seems that you find adventure wherever you go, often not of a pleasant kind. So Kaldar has the body of a girl but considers himself to be a boy, yes? These herbs, how did you even find out that they existed?"

"You would be surprised, Hanida. At every place we landed I learned that a very small number, maybe one in every hundred or less, might feel as Kaldar does, and so there is local knowledge of herbs which have certain modifying effects on the body. This one," she tapped the large jar, "is only available in countries the other side of Yod, which is why I have brought a large amount back with me. It is ground dried tsuft root, which must be mixed with water to be taken. It is very powerful and I would caution you not even to sniff it in case you take some in."

"Maker! What does it do, then?"

"Ah. I suppose this is the point in which I explain about hormones..."

There followed a bell of explanation with Hanida furiously scribbling notes on scraps of parchment.

"And that means... Oh, I see. How fascinating, to discover what makes a newborn grow in a certain way! Thus, I assume that this," she consulted her notes, "tsuft root provides a body with the hormone which our men normally have, is that right?"

"Actually, no, that would be the potion in the green bottle, the grennwort. Once his body has developed as far as we feel safe then the grennwort should provide enough testosterone to keep him stable. Grennwort should be available in many of the rough areas along the riverside, so I was told, but you may know it by another name here. The aknil in the brown bottle is used to reduce Calls to Kalikan. The tsuft root is used to suppress the female hormones his body would normally generate and it will eventually stop his ovaries producing any at all, which also means no more Calls of Kalikan. We can then stop administering it, the grennwort should be sufficient."

Hanida nodded. "Ah, of course. You need all three at the start, one to reduce what his body would normally make, another to replace it with what a man's body produces and the third to stop Calls."

"That's right. The tsuft has also reduced his breasts completely so that his chest is flat and very boy-like, the only difference anyone will see is that his nipples will be larger than usual." Ursula shrugged. "This happens to some men anyway so it should not cause too many questions to be asked."

"But what about what is between his legs? I assume that he must retain a woman's opening down there."

"Unfortunately, yes. He will always be at the same risk that all women face from men but at least, once we have finished the course, he would never bear another's child even if he was to be raped. He will be completely sterile."

"But he could not, say, give a wife his own child."

"Regretfully, no, but he understands and accepts that."

There followed a distant rumble which began to grow louder over the roar of the downpour.

"Looks like another storm coming," Hanida remarked. "We'll have two or three of these a day until the rain slackens and then, until it ceases, they come as they will, just as at other times."

There were two flashes which came in the front windows and leaked along the corridor towards them, then louder rumbles above. Since talking was impossible they simply sat and studied their notes as well as possible in the erratic light. The flashes began coming in through the Operating Theater windows, strongly at first and then fainter as the storm moved west across Joth.

"That's better, I can hear myself think! Well, Ursula, you have given me much to consider which is what I expected. These new potions of yours will have limited use, I deem, but it is well to know of them."

Ursula held up a finger. "I was told that you should already know about the aknil since it can be used to help women who have heavy or painful Calls."

"Oh! Yes, you are right, Ursula. And that salve, I will make some up to your recipe and try it, it may prove better than our usual mixture." Hanida rose. "I must needs stop now, since it will soon become necessary to think about lunch. Shall you join me?"

Ursula also stood up and tidied the contents of her basket. "Of course, Hanida. Lead the way."