As they left the sea behind them. the scenery changed. Soon, their path was weaving around trees and large boulders. Brinn saw squirrels that were startled by the horses scamper up trees. The smell of the ocean was replaced by the smell of moist earth and green growing things.
They stopped in a meadow and ate their lunch. The horses were hobbled and turned loose to graze. "Remember," Brinn's father told her, "there are dragons in the mountains and the Living Forest. They don't usually bother people, but I still don't want you out roaming unless Healer Talsha allows it."
"Don't worry, Father. I promised Mother I would be on my best behavior." Brinn smiled at her father. "I'm sure I will get to explore enough while I hunt herbs."
Her father smiled back. "Go get the horses, Brinn. The healer's cottage is just over the rise, and she is expecting us."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When they arrived at the healer's cottage, they found her in her herb garden gathering leaves. Introductions were made, and the pack horse was unloaded.
After Brinn's father saw her settled in her room, he discussed a few details with the healer. He then turned back to Brinn. "She says we can visit anytime," he told her as bent to give her a kiss. "We'll bring you news now and then." He tousled her hair, smiled, and was gone.
Brinn stood in the doorway, unsure of what she should say or do. The gray-haired lady who was her teacher crossed the room to a chair and sat down. An orange cat hopped onto her lap and made itself comfortable. The healer smiled at her. "Come in and have a seat, Brinn. I don't bite." She waved to a chair beside her.
Grateful to be given some direction, Brinn sat. The cat on the healer's lap came over to investigate the newcomer.
"Now, where shall we start?" Talsha asked herself. "Maybe we should finish introductions. That orange lump on your lap is Mousy. That is her favorite food. As you know, I am Healer Talsha. While you are my student, please call me Healer."
"Yes, ma'am," answered Brinn.
"You must have many questions, yes?" asked the healer. When Brinn nodded, she added, "Ask away."
"Um... Healer,... when do I start my lessons?"
"First thing in the morning."
"Will I know all the herbs and roots by next summer?"
"My, aren't you ambitious?" laughed the healer. "You probably won't have them all down by then, but you should have a good start. Did you bring a notebook?"
"Yes, ma'am," answered Brinn.
"Yes, 'Healer'," responded Talsha. "Any female can be called ma'am. I've worked many years to earn my title. Someday, it will be your title, too."
Healer Brinn. Brinn liked the sound of that.
"Your notebook will be your life and could save someone else's, so take care of it. In it you will keep the information I will teach you over the next few months. Can you draw?" Brinn nodded. "Excellent! Whenever possible, draw pictures of the plants you are learning about. Pay close attention to leaf and flower details. Your pictures will help you identify the plants you don't use every day. "
Brinn's stomach growled, much to her embarrassment. Talsha just laughed.
"Why don't you go finish unpacking and get used to your room? I will get us some dinner." As she walked away, Brinn heard her say softly, "I will enjoy having company again."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
That evening, after a delicious dinner of rabbit stew and warm bread, Brinn offered to clean up. When she was done, Talsha smiled. "At least you know how to clean. That is important when you are making medicine. A little juice from the wrong plant can change the effect of what you are making."
Brinn yawned.
"Plenty of sleep is important for good health, too. Off to bed, now. Sweet dreams."
Brinn went happily. She lay in bed and listened to the breeze rustle the leaves on the trees. An owl hooted. She felt the weight of her quilt on her feet at the end of the bed, and she smiled contentedly.
Sleep came quickly with dreams of exploring the mountains. She saw deer, rabbits, and too many birds to count. She even saw a dragon. His scales glowed gold with a green tint in the afternoon sun. She and the dragon stood and stared at one another until the dragon nodded and moved on. Brinn nodded in return. In her dream, it seemed the most natural thing to do.
In the morning, Brinn learned where the food cellar was. "Today," Talsha informed her, "we will work on collecting more edible roots. I have many here in my garden, but some grow wild in the forest. Have you ever seen wild onions?"
Brinn was introduced to plants whose stalks made a bitter tea. She found wild onions in the meadow and learned that cattail roots from the marshes could be cooked like potatoes.
They traveled slowly because Talsha had Brinn draw each type of plant as she recorded them in her notebook. By the time they stopped for lunch, Brinn's hands were sore from digging and drawing.
"I think our bags are full enough for now," Talsha stated, much to Brinn's relief.
But the work wasn't quite over. Once they were home, Brinn had to learn the right way to store the food. Some had to be hung in the cellar to dry; others were put in containers in the coolest corners.
"Up in the mountains, when the winter snow comes, we have to be able to feed ourselves. We won't be able to get to the village to trade." That thought both excited and scared Brinn.
Before dinner, Brinn was introduced to the few farm animals the healer had behind her house. There was a nanny goat and her one kid. The nanny was separated for the day when they needed milk. She was milked that evening and turned back with her baby who would finish the job.
There was also a small chicken coop with 5 chickens. Brinn liked chicken eggs even if they weren't as good as sea birds'. At least chickens would lay almost year round.
Both pens had warm shelters up against the house where they could be closed in as needed during the worst winter days. Between the shelters was a small covered pathway that led to the house. One more shed revealed the dried meadow grass and seeds Talsha had stored up for the animals' winter feed. It also held a huge store of wood for winter heating and cooking.
"Do you have to cut and gather this all yourself?" Brinn asked in awe.
"Much of it, yes," replied Talsha, "but not all of it. Many people I help are happy to pay with labor, wood, grain, or animals. We even have some wheat for our winter bread and some maple syrup to sweeten things up a bit. Mind you, the syrup we will have to use sparingly."
That made Brinn feel a bit better. She couldn't imagine doing the plant hunting, preparing medicines, AND all the farming and gathering. The healer informed her that it wasn't that bad. You did some each day. It kept one from getting bored.
Brinn couldn't imagine being bored here. By the end of the day, she was exhausted. Sleep came as soon as her head hit the pillow.