The trip back went smoothly. When they landed and Talsha asked Regal if he was tired, he snorted at her and flew off to find some dinner.
"I guess he told me!" the healer laughed.
"I know," said Brinn. "I think his ego is bigger than he is."
Over dinner, Brinn shared their day with Talsha. The healer was pleased. "Now, as long as my memory is correct and nothing has happened to the thistles, we should be in good shape."
"When do we go?"
"Soon. The thistles should be in full bloom in about one month. That's when they should be picked."
Time passed quickly. With summer coming, the garden needed to be started, the storage area needed a good cleaning, and an inventory had to be made of what medicines were still left. Talsha also had Brinn check each bottle of salve and tonic to make sure the seal had held. If she found a bottle with a loose lid or if a bottle's contents were off-colored, the contents were dumped and the bottle had to be cleaned and boiled before anything new could be put in it.
Also, with the warm weather came more visitors. It seemed to Brinn that at least once a week a hunter, traveler, or another healer would stop in for a chat.
The spring rains and warmer weather had crops starting and those with livestock had little ones running in the pastures and meadows. Even Talsha's doe was expected to have a baby soon. The bugs had also started coming.
About one week before Brinn and Regal were to make their trip, a young healer from a small village north of Sea View stopped in to organize medical needs for his town. Talsha asked each visitor innocent-seeming questions looking for signs of Sea Bird Fever or some other possible plague. This visitor had some news.
It turned out that a few dead sea birds had been found. He wanted to ask the healer if she felt it may be a problem.
"Have you had anybody with body aches and fever?" Maybe some dizziness?" Talsha asked.
"Yes, but that's not unusual," answered the young man, "is it?"
"No, but…" and Talsha explained her concerns and their plans to go to Lonely Island.
"Are you sure you can make that trip? Even seasoned sailors don't like to go." The young man eyed the old healer with a doubtful expression.
"Oh, no, I won't be going," Talsha told him. "Brinn, my apprentice, is going, but not by boat."
Brinn looked at Talsha who had a satisfied grin on her face. She looked at the young man. He was looking at Talsha as if she had lost her mind.
"Are we going to tell him?" asked Brinn.
"I think it's time to let people know what we're up to. Besides, if your trip turns out like we hope, other healers need to know that we will have Bird Fever medicine…"
"Whoa, there!" exclaimed the visiting healer. "You're talking around me. You haven't told me how your apprentice is going to get to the island yet to even get the thistles."
Talsha looked at Brinn and they smiled. "Follow me and I will show you Brinn's transportation."
After they got outside, Brinn called Regal.
"What,... are you riding a flying horse?" asked the visitor with a laugh.
"Close," answered Brinn.
It didn't take long for Regal to wing his way to his friend. Brinn watch as the visitor choked on his laugh and went into a coughing fit at the sight of the dragon.
Talsha helpfully pounded on the coughing healer's back. "You didn't think you'd be so close with your winged horse comment did you?
"But…but…but…" (cough, cough). "I've heard of… but I've never seen… wings?"