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Ayla looked through her supply of dried and drying herbs Cha, but it was so co more She noticed a plant she had picked recently and smiled to herself The lemon balm wasn’t entirely dry yet, but she decided it didn’t matter It was entirely usable for tea A little added to the cha wouldinfusion She put the chamomile leaves, the lemon balm, and linden into the water and let it steep a while, then poured two cups and brought one to the Donier
The woman blew on it a bit then, sipped it carefully, and cocked her head, trying to identify the taste “Chamomile, of course, but … let me think Is it lemon balm, with perhaps some linden flowers?” she asked
Ayla siven so unknown; she tried to identify it And of course Zelandoni had known the ingredients “Yes,” Ayla said “I had dried chamomile and linden flowers, but I just found the lerows nearby”
“Perhaps you could collect soet some for yourself It could be useful to take to the Su”
“I’d be happy to I could even get it today I know exactly where it grows On the plateau above, near the Falling Stone,” she said Ayla was referring to the unique formation of an ancient columnar section of basalt that had once found its way to the botto out of the lih it was still firmly embedded into the upper face of the cliff
“What do you know about the uses of this?” Zelandoni asked, holding up the cup of tea
“Chaht, it can help you to fall asleep Le, especially if you feel nervous and stressful It will even relieve the stomach upset that sometimes comes with stress and it will help you sleep It has a pleasant taste that is good with chamomile Linden helps with headaches, especially when you feel tight and tense, and adds a little sweetening” Ayla thought of Iza, and the way she would test her with sie Iza was teaching her She wondered if Zelandoni was also trying to find out how much she knew
“Yes, this tea could be used as a th”
“If someone is really excitable, anxious and can’t sleep, and soer is needed, the liquid fro,” Ayla said
“Particularly at night, to bring on sleep, but if the stomach is also upset, then vervain, a tea of the flower stems and leaves, may be better,” the First said
“I’ve also used vervain for soiven to a pregnant woman It can stimulate labor, and even milk flow” The tomen stopped, looked at each other, and chuckled, then Ayla said, “I can’t tell you how happy it makesSomeone who knows so much”
“I think you may know as much as I do—in certain ways, more, Ayla, and it is a pleasure to discuss and compare ideas with you I look forward todiscussions,” Zelandoni said; then she looked around androll spread out on the floor “It appears you’re getting ready for the trip”
“I was just checking the sleeping roll to see if it neededIt’s been a while since we’ve used it,” Ayla said “It’s a good one for traveling in all kinds of weather”
The sleeping roll consisted of several hides sewn together to ht They were attached at the foot, and reh holes down the sides that could be lashed tightly together or left loose, or even removed if it was especially warm Thick furs were on the outside of the bottoainst the hard and often cold ground Any of several furs could be used, but it was usually made from an animal killed in cold weather On this one, Ayla had used the supre winter fur of reindeer The top of the sleeping roll was lighter weight; she had used the sue and didn’t require as ether An extra hide or fur could be thrown on top if it cooled down, or if it got really cold, additional furs could be put inside and the sides laced up
“I think you’ll get so the versatility of the sleeping roll “I ca, or rather, about after the early cereest that youequipment and supplies with you There are some sacred sites in this area you should see Later, in a few years, I want to show you some of the sacred sites and take you to meet some of the zelandonia that live farther away”