After the initial onslaught the Rains gradually slacken, though only partially. The patients in the Clinic are examined and released, but it will be a while before they can return to their friends and family. Ursula discovers that while Eriana's behavior is seemingly normal now, she has lost some important memories.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

109 - The Storm Slackens

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.

---

By the time the initial deluge slackened, two days later, there were five buckets under as many leaks in various rooms in the Clinic. Fortunately none had caused too much inconvenience other than some hasty rearrangements of the various categories of stored items.

It was just after breakfast on that sixth day. Hanida and Kaldar had taken the last of the breakfast things out to the kitchen area. Eriana and Beresan were deep in yet another conversation while Ursula had been talking to Ketko about various weather-related phenomena - which, surprisingly, he seemed to understand despite never having experienced them himself.

He paused, alert. "Mistress, do you notice the difference? It is quieter now than when we sat down to eat."

Ursula blinked and listened for a moment. "Yes, you are right, Ketko." She turned, looking at the windows of the Common Room. "The rain does not seem to be hitting the windows so hard. Maybe a change in the wind direction?"

He pointed a finger straight up. "Possible, but I think it sounds quieter from above as well. Did not Mistress Hanida speak of a change in the rain after so many days? Perhaps this is of what she spoke."

Ursula cocked an ear to listen to the sound of water hitting the building. "You could be right. If it is, then I have no idea how long the change might take or what happens once it has done so. Do not forget, this weather is supposed to last for several more weeks before it eventually ceases altogether."

"What happens after it does cease, Mistress? Do you know?"

"Asking me, or Her Highness, will be of no help since we have never experienced the Rains before, or what happens afterwards. One of the others will know, though."

"Yes. I forget that your own origins are as strange as my own." He looked at Eriana and Beresan, engrossed in comparing something or other. "Her Highness would not know and I would not want to interrupt Lord Beresan 's conversation. Maybe -"

Hanida came back into the room, wiping her hands on a towel. "Ursula, if I may ask your assistance again. It is three days since we last examined Lord Beresan or Mistress Larna, I deem it is time that we should be replacing their dressings."

Ursula stood. "You are correct, Hanida, I should have thought of it myself." She considered. "It is possible that one or both may need no further dressings but we will not know until we have unwrapped everything."

Larna looked up at this statement. "Do you tell me? Then, by your leave, I look forward to using my ankle again. There has been almost no pain since you wrapped it the last time."

Hanida inclined her head. "It is as you say, Mistress. If you would ask your husband to help you into the examination room."

As Larna was helped to stand by her husband Beresan looked up from his conversation. "What of me, Mistresses? I chafe at having to lie here but I understand the need. How much longer do you think it will take my own leg to heal?"

Hanida looked at Ursula, who replied, "Yours is a different kind of injury, My Lord. I will assess it once we have unwrapped it again and cleaned it up. Judging by similar previous injuries I have treated it may be healed enough for the air to finish off the process - but I would still be careful putting your weight on it."

"Ah, as you say, Mistress," he nodded. "I will await your summons."

With Larna on the examination couch Hanida carefully unwrapped the bandage and cleaned the old salve away. The two healers examined the ankle all over and Ursula repeated her touch examination which resulted in very little discomfort to the patient.

"Mistress, I deem that you might try to stand upon your leg as it is," Hanida suggested. "That will tell us how much the healing process has done so far. If you would try not to put too much weight on it to start with."

With Dibenar's help Larna stood and tentatively began to try putting weight on her injured ankle, moving it about to see what the limitations were. Apart from one minor twinge there appeared to be little to concern the healers.

"I regret that we do not have any crutches in the building," Hanida told her. "Almost all the building materials and other stuff was cleared out of here to prepare for the Rains. Still, if your husband helps you, you may chance to move carefully about this level since movement can only help the healing to continue."

"Mistresses," Larna replied, "thank you for your attentions. If I may venture, what I most presently desire is a bath! It has been awkward being half in and half out of the tub since coming here."

"As you say, Mistress!" Hanida responded. "All know that such matters are more difficult during the Rains but you need wait no longer to venture a proper bath." Her eyes flicked up at Dibenar. "Shall you require assistance, or..?"

Larna blushed. "Aye, I would welcome female assistance today for such a purpose. But who may I ask?"

Hanida looked at Ursula for inspiration. She replied, "We have Lord Beresan to inspect yet so perhaps one of the other women? Bennet, perhaps?"

"As you say. I would not care to ask Her Highness to do such a duty and I am not sure that either of her two maids may yet attempt such a task. Bennet present washes the breakfast dishes, I will go and ask her."

Hanida stood and walked out. Ursula looked at Dibenar. "Master, I'm sure you understand the reasoning."

"As you say, Mistress. I have helped my wife attend such tasks at home but would hesitate to do so in such a place as this. Besides, I do know that women may be of such help to each other that few men may equal. I am not one of those men, I regret."

"Do not concern yourself, Master. Men and women are different and have differing needs. I know that there are things which men do together which most women would not find of interest. While there is someone here to help, why not make use of them?"

"It is as you say, Mistress." He looked uncertain. "Ah, will I be sufficient on my own to help my wife to the bathing chamber? Do you think that would be wise?"

Ursula nodded. "You will only know by trying, Master. If it proves too much then a shout will bring help. I'm sure Mistress Hanida and Bennet are not too far away."

Dibenar helped his wife out of the chamber and Ursula began tidying up after them, making ready for the next patient. She was surprised, then, when Beresan appeared, supported by Mordon on one side and Eriana on the other.

Ursula raised an eyebrow to which Eriana replied, "As you have reminded me several times, Ursula, it is my mind which suffered the injury, not my body. I am certainly capable of helping Lord Beresan to travel this short distance."

"As you wish, Highness." Ursula considered. "Help him to the couch, please. After we have seen Lord Beresan then I should probably have a talk with you next."

"Of course, Ursula. I am feeling much better - but that can wait until later, I deem."

Both Eriana and Mordon turned and departed. Ursula had unwrapped the wound by the time that Hanida reappeared, but the former had paused there so that Hanida could view the exposed injury.

"That looks as if it is knitting together well," she remarked. "Do you plan to remove the stitches today?"

Ursula examined the wound. "It is healing very well, Hanida. I am always surprised just how good the salves are that you use in the Great Valley. Yes, the stitches can certainly come out today."

Beresan looked apprehensive. "Mistresses, should there be pain when you do that?"

"If everything works as it should, My Lord," Ursula replied, "then you should not feel anything. It is possible there could be some slight bleeding, that is all."

With Hanida watching the process carefully Ursula pulled tweezers and scalpel out of her tool roll and wiped them with a little alcohol.

"I would normally boil these before use," she explained, "but the stitches are on the surface so these won't be going into his body. The healing looks good enough that there should be little risk of further infection."

She lifted each stitch with the tweezers and cut them, then pulled the stitch out of the skin.

"There. Did you feel anything?"

"You have done it? I did not feel a thing!"

"That is how it should be, My Lord. Now, can I ask you to sit up, turn and put your feet on the floor - gently."

Beresan sat up, turned and cautiously placed his feet on the floor.

"Mistress, I do not wish to break anything. How should I move? If I stand, surely I will open the wound!"

"It is difficult, My Lord. The muscles in your calf are used to adjust your feet to different angles so some of them will be in action almost all the time you are standing or walking. The best way to prevent too much movement is probably to make sure your heel is always on the floor and to make sure your put your weight on the heel as you walk."

"Ah, I understand, Mistress."

Hanida asked, "Ursula, is this what you would recommend to a patient, ah, where you come from?"

"Back there we would use something like a plaster cast to prevent the foot from moving, but instead of an actual cast it would be something like a rigid boot. That means that it could be taken on and off for cleaning and for bathing."

"Ah? Could we use boots the same way here?"

"You'd have to ask the bootmaker to arrange a stiff ankle joint and I suspect many would find that unusual, Hanida. Maybe sometime in the future. I doubt that you'll have too many injuries like those we have in the Clinic today to make it worth while."

Though about half the injuries I have encountered so far on my journey have involved feet, ankles or lower legs. I wonder if that is culture specific, or just because they are at a particular stage in their development? Only time will tell.

"As you say. Well, Milord, shall you attempt a short walk to test your progress? You may ask one of us for assistance to keep your balance."

Beresan limped several short steps, favoring the injured leg and using the heel. He did not ask for help.

"That feels better, Mistresses! You have my thanks for attending an injury that should never have happened."

"Take it slowly, Milord," Hanida instructed him. "You will need several more days of careful movement before either of us will consider you healed enough to depart."

"Hah! As if I could depart with all that happening outside!" Beresan paused and listened. "Though the Rains slacken, I deem. Mayhap the first heavy fall is coming to its end. If someone may call for Mordon to help me back to the Common Room?"

Hanida was nearest so she summoned the manservant. The changes and limitations were explained to him and he helped the young nobleman out of the treatment room, leaving the two healers to do the small amount of tidying up. Cleaning the tweezers and scalpel that she had used with more alcohol, Ursula reassembled the tool roll before replacing it in her bag.

Hanida sighed. "That is done and our two patients are recovering well. Your help is greatly appreciated, Ursula. Oh! I have forgotten your own patient, haven't I? Will you be speaking to her now? I regret that I must needs spend some time in the kitchen thinking about lunch, particularly if Bennet should be elsewhere, so I could not stay even if you desired it so."

Ursula shook her head. "Thank you, Hanida, it should be fine with just me. I think a quiet talk is what is needed now. From what I have seen the last few days it appears that Her Highness has almost completely recovered."

"As you say, yet occasionally she still grasps at some forgotten memory. I watched her do so during breakfast earlier."

Ursula grimaced. "Yes. Something is not as it was before, though she seems to talk to Lord Beresan easily enough."

"And he has helped her recovery greatly, I deem. Well, I must depart to attend lunch."

Hanida bustled off to the kitchen while Ursula asked Eriana to join her in the treatment room. The Princess looked more alive than she had done for a long while and Ursula put this down to her engaging in conversation with the others. But something still didn't feel right.

"I feel much better now, Ursula," Eriana said. "The extra few days of rest can only have improved my recovery, do you not agree?"

Ursula nodded. "I do agree, Highness. But memory can be a strange thing. Can I ask you some questions about your past to see if there are any gaps remaining? After all, you do not know what you do not know."

"Why of course, Ursula." Eriana looked attentive but somehow... softer than Ursula remembered. "What did you desire to know?"

"Well, let us begin with what happened when the Visund first spotted me on that island in the Sirrel. Can you tell me what happened?" Ursula smiled faintly. "My own memory of that time is very poor so I would be interested in what you and the men saw."

"Of course! Let me see... I do not recall who saw you first, but -"

Ursula's questions revealed that Eriana remembered almost all that she was asked about but some of the episodes were oddly light on detail in certain respects.

There is definite problem here, but I do not know enough to narrow it down to specific reasons or areas of memory. What she has told me sounds good enough that she can be released back to crew when outside conditions permit.

I must continue learning about problem! If she has forgotten her men or which court she now belongs to there could be confusion - and trouble.

"You sound as if your memory is recovering, Highness. On that basis I think you can rejoin your men when the weather permits."

"You have my thanks, Ursula," Eriana replied with a smile. "I will be pleased to see them all again." Her next words derailed Ursula's thoughts completely as Eriana gestured. "I notice you have flaps upon your shoulders as the local armsmen do. What do they mean? Surely you are not a military person?"

Oh, dear. I never thought to ask about military matters, I assumed that she had full grasp of what happened including her own position!

"Um, Highness, you do remember that you are actually part of the same organization that I am in and that you are the head of it?"

Eriana shook her head. "No... Ah, wait!" She concentrated. "The Federation, is that right? I remember talking with Garia and Maralin about something to do with ships and other vessels... in Dekarran? Is that what you mean?"

"I do, Highness, and it looks like you may be missing part of that memory. Since that meeting, which you recall was before I was found, you have spent time beginning the organization of the Federation Navy. When we reached Faralan... Do you remember that?"

"Faralan, aye. That was where we met a Count who could not tolerate bright light, I recall. Is that where you mean?"

"That is correct, Highness, but there were waterborne troops there both from Faralan and from... Faral. With the commanders of those troops we spent some time laying out the topmost parts of the organization, with you at the head as First Director and myself one level down as Director of Welfare."

Eriana looked shocked. "Do you tell me? I do not remember any of that! But if it is so then I must believe your words, Ursula. What must I do? Shall you explain it all to me?"

"Of course I can and I will, Highness, but you spent a number of weeks on our journey to Bibek and back in planning the future of the Navy. I am not sure that I can tell you everything you knew and did before. I might be able to recover some of your own memories by recounting to you what I remember but if the memories are not there they cannot be recovered."

"Oh, as you say, Ursula. This is a surprise!" Eriana thought. "Is there anyone else here who may be able to help? Lord Beresan, for example, would he know about the Navy?"

Ursula shook her head. "He only knows what I have told him, Highness, which is little more than a brief description. There may be one or two others with better knowledge who will be with the rest of our crew in Foti Lane."

There is potential crisis here. Who might be able to help? Maybe Lord Kalmenar? He has copies of treaties we have signed. Maybe those will help her understand position.

"Foti Lane? Where is that?"

Ursula pointed through the wall in the right direction. "About three or four streets that way, Highness. It might be possible to get there if the rain should slacken some more. I don't know if anybody has made any plans for what happens when we can get out of this building."

"But before then you will tell me what you know of this... Navy, then."

"Of course, Highness. This is going to sound somewhat odd, since it was you who explained it all to me in the first place!"

"But it is I who needs that knowledge now. Begin."

Ursula took a deep breath to stifle any feelings of frustration. "As you wish, Highness. First, I think we will have to go back a little to explain why all those rulers were in Palarand in the first place."

"Oh, I remember that! Keren was getting married to Garia. Some numbers of rulers from nearby and far away attended the ceremony." Eriana frowned. "But I do not think I remember all their names, Ursula. Are they important?"

"Not really, Highness. It is what they did after the wedding that is important. You see, many of their countries had been at war with Yod for a while and -"

* * *

Eriana closed her eyes, concentrating. After a while she opened them and said, "Aye. Much of what you have just told me is there, but as seen through a sea-fog. Is this what you meant when you told us that your first few days after we found you, before your own memory returned, are similarly misty?"

Ursula nodded. "Yes, that's exactly how those days seem to me now, Highness. But there is an important difference between our two experiences, since they were caused by different reasons. I now have all of my original memory back and it seems even better than before but I do not know if yours will ever return the same way."

The Princess nodded. "As you say." She smiled. "But I will always have you beside me to advise, shall I not? If I may not rely on my own memory then surely I may rely on yours."

"That seems likely, Highness, but as you know the future is unknown and may change everything. I think that I can release you back to normal duties now. Returning to Foti Lane and mixing with your men can only help your memory recover faster."

A smile. "That will be good! Aye, some casual talk with my men will be good for me, I deem. Oh, there is a small request I would make, Ursula."

"Oh?"

"If Lord Beresan can join us there. You mentioned that he appears to have some abilities of use to us, I desire to test him and discover what he may do for us. Will that be possible?"

"Hmm. His leg is recovering but he should not be walking around on it as he would normally do." Ursula paused and stared through the wall at where the front windows would be. "It may depend on how they decide to fetch us, Highness. If we have to walk through that then no, but if they send that wagon then of course he can come - assuming there will be room for him somewhere in Foti Lane."

"Agreed."

Ursula gestured. "Perhaps I had better see you settled in the Common Room, Highness, and then go and see if Hanida needs any help preparing lunch."

"As you wish, Ursula."

Ursula watched Eriana return to the Common Room where the Princess sat down beside Beresan in her original seat. She then went to the kitchen area to discover Hanida busy preparing lunch.

"Your talk went as you expected, Ursula?"

"Ye-es. Mostly. Her Highness appears to have recovered enough of her memory that she should be able to function in a normal way with the rest of the ship's company," Ursula reported, "but there are still a number of disturbing gaps. I'm guessing that some will come back naturally, some will come back if we help her remember but a certain proportion will have been permanently lost. The problem, of course, is that she will never know what is missing until she needs it. I still feel bad about having to do that to her -"

"- But your situation was desperate, Ursula. If you must needs admit to any fault it would be that your basket did not have appropriate potions available when you needed them."

"Anoteris root."

"As you say. We of Joth have less need for such immediate remedies, I deem, but your circumstances are different. You attend a whole ship's company on a working river craft and there is always the chance that some severe injury may be caused for which you need a suitable potion. If we may compare baskets, say, after lunch, and I may suggest certain herbs and potions which might be more appropriate."

"You are right, the work I do is going to be different than what is customary around here. Yes, that is a good idea, Hanida. Now, what would you like me to do today?"

"There is the last of a cooked zinakh joint in the meat locker, it needs slicing for lunch today. And there is always cheese and fruit to select."

"Of course."

* * *

Kaldar turned from the window. "Mistress! There are people outside!"

"Oh?"

Ursula rose from her seat, where she had begun to doze following lunch, and walked over to join Kaldar at the front windows. Outside there were three yellow-clad men who appeared to be navigating along the flooded street on outsize paddleboards, the only difference being that they used poles instead of paddles. The men were going along the center of the street and looking upwards at the roofs of the buildings as they passed.

Of course. If they can now get out and about, even though it is still raining, then they need to check for any damage, especially to buildings which would normally be unoccupied.

One of the men looked up at the Clinic and Kaldar waved back. The man turned and shouted to his fellows and the three promptly turned around and headed for the Clinic doors.

Ursula turned. "Hanida! We have company calling!"

Hanida rose from her own seat and headed for the corridor. "I'll light some lanterns, it will be dark down below."

Ursula called after her, "Can those men get in?"

"Aye, of course, the doors are closed but not locked. A patient may arrive at any time."

"I'll join you."

Each holding up a lantern, the two carefully made their way down the ramp towards the lower floor. There was water there but it was not obvious how deep it was, so they stopped at the margin. The man-sized front door in one of the big double doors was open and a man was poling his way across to the bottom of the ramp. The other two hovered just outside.

"Hello, there! We thought all these buildings to be empty. If I may ask what you are doing here? Were you trapped when the Rains began?"

"Indeed not! I am Healer Hanida and this is Healer Ursula. This is Joth's Clinic and will remain open during the Rains should anyone suffer such an accident as would require our attention."

"Clinic? Healers? Ah! I ask your pardon, Mistresses, we had forgotten that any of these buildings would be occupied while the Rains fell. Fare you well?"

"Aye, we do, we were well prepared."

"If I may ask how many of you there are here? Do you yet have any patients?"

"There are us two and... ten others above, three of whom are patients. Know you that one of our patients is her Highness Princess Eriana of Palarand, whose ship arrived at the docks maybe a bell after the Rains began. All are well and we have enough provisions for some weeks, but Her Highness and those who came with her may be returning soon to join the rest of her entourage who presently shelter in Foti Lane."

"Highness? Princess? Ah, her ship has returned! That is good, His Grace will be relieved, I deem. If I may take word of this to the Mansion? He will surely wish to know they are all safe... They are all safe?"

Ursula replied, "We have some with wounds, since we have given and received battle along our journey to and from Bibek. Apart from Her Highness, all the others have been attended to and do not need to be brought to the Clinic. Um, I do not know how to describe this. As we returned past Boldan's Rock and the Cauldron Her Highness had a... panic attack, shall I say. It has caused some mental disturbance which has required a period of calm here."

Hanida added with a nod, "Aye, you may let His Grace know that all is now well. Her Highness may remain here for a day or two more before she rejoins her men, do you know if it is yet safe to travel about the city?"

"At the moment it is only us few who go about looking for damage, Mistress, when we can. It may be another week before all can move around more freely. Ah, battle?"

Ursula replied, "We called at a number of different ports and there were some... incidents. If I told you everything that happened we would still be here when it gets dark." The man looked disappointed, so she added, "It is possible that the story of our voyage will be written down so that everyone can discover what happened to us. There are no secrets here, just too many incidents."

"I look forward to that telling, Mistress. Well, we have a task to do and must return to it while the downpour relents. Ah, I will instruct that someone comes and checks on the Clinic at least once a week should you begin to suffer any shortages."

Hanida nodded. "As you say. Thank you. Have you discovered much damage so far?"

"The Dock Gate was struck and debris from that has damaged some nearby roofs. Other than that, only the usual leaks. If I may ask if you have had any leaks here?"

"A few small drips, nothing to concern anyone - so far. These buildings have proved their solidity, I deem."

"As you say. Well, we must be away, we have another street to inspect yet. Good day to you both."

"Good day to you, Master."

* * *

"Thank you for the anoteris root."

Hanida and Ursula were on the uppermost floor, the entire contents of Ursula's basket filling the small table in the 'office' they were using.

Hanida shrugged. "We had a small stock of the root here, it made sense to make you up a bottle of it for your own use."

"And you'll take the tasan off me in exchange."

"If you so desire, Ursula. It does have uses but if you feel safer with it here then I will take it."

"Certainly, Hanida! Besides, to make room for the anoteris root in my basket I have to leave something else behind and it seems to me that I do not need the complication that tasan seems to bring."

"Indeed." Hanida glanced over the bottles, jars and pots on the table. Her eyes fell on a fat jar half full of something green. "Have you enough kredis leaf for the women aboard your ship? I know there are more than when you departed Joth but I do not know how many."

"That is a good point, Hanida. When we left there was me, Her Highness, Bennet, Semma and Tyra. Of course Her Highness already had supplies for the three of them but the presence of Tyra and myself meant we needed extra. I have been able to top up supplies as we progressed, after all every woman needs such stuff or suitable alternatives. Passing through Yod we gained five more women -"

"I remember you telling me."

"- so I made sure we had enough whenever we stopped after that. Then there was Kaldar, who did have two Calls before his potions began to work, and at Bibek we also took on Hashim's wife and two daughters." Ursula smiled. "I doubt that those will be the last women who join the company, the list just seems to keep growing."

"And of course their needs grow in proportion," Hanida added thoughtfully. "I can let you have some more kredis leaf though as you know our supplies are whatever we harvested before the Rains began. There should be enough, I deem. Of course you will also need poryne juice to make the leaves palatable."

"Ah, now beyond Yod they do not use poryne juice but something else they call ptash, which I believe is another fruit like an oval blue berry the size of a hawbrier fruit."

Hanida leaned forward. "Do you tell me? As a healer I would like to learn more."

There followed a discussion about fruits, berries and their juices which could be added to various potions. Some of those fruit juices were also active medicines. The lands beyond Yod were warmer and drier than those downstream so other herbs, fruits and vegetables began to predominate, which meant that preparation of remedies also had to change.

"Ah, I understand now," Hanida agreed, nodding. "I believe the lands this side are too wet for those to grow successfully here. Still, it is good to know that such recipes exist and of course we may come across them whenever a vessel comes to Joth's ports. I will write down what you have told me so that our other healers can make use of the knowledge."

"That is exactly the right way to do it, Hanida, one of the reasons I set up this Clinic in the first place."

"Good. I believe that might be everything?"

Ursula gave the contents another look-over. "I cannot see that we have missed much, Hanida. Thank you for the extra information."

"Thank you for your extra information! As you may be aware healers do not often travel very much, unless they are in the retinue of a noble or other such who is traveling. It is always useful to discover what is done in other lands."

Ursula began to repack her basket. "I do what I can. It seems to me that we healers need some kind of information sheet which passes up and down the Sirrel once, say, every so often, so that other healers can be kept informed about matters that concern them. Do you think that is a good idea?"

Hanida looked thoughtful. "That is an interesting thought, Ursula. But how may it be done? You propose something entirely new, I deem."

"I do, and Palarand may be the key to that idea, assuming I ever get there! I was told that there they have the means of... accurately copying, let me say, information many times without error onto sheets of paper. You know about paper?"

"I have seen some samples, aye, at the Mansion, when they held that exhibition."

"So every so often they would make copies of what might be called a news-sheet onto paper and dispatch them to healers in all the countries as far as, say, Ferenis to begin with. That means the healers of Joth would have their own copy to keep and could always refer to it whenever they needed to."

"Ah. This is something which happens where you came from?"

"It does. It is only a beginning but I think it is something that we could need in the future."

"Then you must needs present this thought to His Grace, I deem. Such a procedure will require consent from higher powers, it is always so."

"I'll do that, once we can move about the city more freely."

* * *

The evening meal was a delicious stew made from the remains of three previously-carved zinakh leg joints with vegetables and selected herbs which produced a thick tasty gravy and was enjoyed by everyone. Ursula was mopping her bowl with the last of her bread roll when she had a disturbing thought.

"Hanida, if the front door is always open, that means that anyone could just come in, doesn't it? Now I'm not suggesting that someone might come here with ill intent but I have had experience of the rougher side of the city. Suppose someone came in during the night? The noise from the rain means that we would never hear them. What is to stop them doing whatever they want?"

Hanida put down her spoon, alarmed. "I never considered that! What do you suggest?"

"I have only just thought of the idea, Hanida. I don't know enough about Joth to know how people secure their properties, or even if they have a need to."

"Aye, you are right, most folk lock their doors at night, we are a closely packed city as you know." She thought. "Of course, most of the rest of the year the Watch makes nightly patrols to deter such adventures but those must needs stop when the Rains come." A frown. "Aye, we could lock the doors below but then, how may someone in need of our services tell us they wait outside?"

Dibenar provided an answer. "By your leave, Mistresses, the answer is to do what we traders must needs do. When we close our stalls or counters at night no-one may enter, it is true, but we have a chain or cord which can be used to make a bell sound above or wherever we may reside inside. Could not something similar be done here?"

"Of course! We are overlooking the obvious. I will add it to the list of matters still to be done to the Clinic. I assume that someone nearby could provide such an arrangement?"

"I would think so, Mistress. After all, such bells are often installed in the larger dwellings around here. Surely you have smiths making parts for this building?"

Hanida glanced at Ursula. "Aye, we do, Master Dibenar. When the waters permit I will ask someone to propose such an addition to the Clinic."

* * *

Ursula lay on her mattress and listened to the noise from the roof, her thoughts wandering as sleep claimed her.

It is no longer a torrent but it is still more than just a light shower. This goes on for another month and a half? More?

I am relieved that it seems possible to move around in this weather. It is likely that most will stay where they are but getting help is at least possible.

I think I would like to get back to Foti Lane if it is possible. Staying here is good but I'm beginning to feel like most patients seem to do after a while, I want to leave the Clinic, return to the rest of the company and begin to look after them. I wonder how Tyra is managing?

I am pleased that Eriana seems to be out of that dark place but disappointed that all her memory could not be recovered. I am forced to consider the episode a failure of medical practice on my part. Of course, we will never know what would have happened if we had not subdued her. Perhaps we would all be at the bottom of the Cauldron now.

It looks like Lord Beresan could be a lucky find. He has certainly lifted Eriana out of the dark place and made her more like her old self. Only there is something different, she treats him as an equal and not like she would if he had been a retainer. Is that because he is a noble, if only a minor one? I don't know, I have met nobles of many ranks now but I still have trouble working out how the hierarchy works on a personal level.

Speaking of personal levels, Eriana has made no mention yet of our own relationship. Is that something that was lost, or is she just waiting until we can find somewhere more private to talk about it?

Only time will tell.