Women Stick Together

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 3rd April 2016

Characters: Jisalle, Oyara
Description: Jisalle's job as an herbalist means making lots of tooth powder-- and sometimes other things
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 5, day 3 of Turn 8

**Ugh.** Jisalle leaned back on her stool and ran the back of her hand across her forehead, more because it was the acceptable method for showing weariness rather than because sweat was threatening to get into her eyes. The still room was cool compared to working in the garden, but the giant mortar and pestle between her knees was just as much work as weeding. Or maybe more. **I hate tooth powder day.**

A Hold like Amber Hills went through a lot of tooth powder. Granted, that was a good thing for everyone, but it meant that once every fortnight or so she was in the still room with the mortar and pestle between her knees, adding drops of mint oil to baking powder and crushing blocks of salt together before packaging it up for distribution. And that was if they _had_ any baking powder; if not, she'd have to mix that up first. Technically this was a job for first year Healer apprentices, but the apprentices at the Hold were too few to keep up with the job. So it fell to the resident herbalists - like Jisalle, with just enough training to make tooth powder and a few other cosmetics and potions. This arrangement kept the Healers free to do the real work of healing. **Just think of the good you're doing,** she told herself as she picked up the pestle again. **If it weren't for you, nobody would get kissed and everyone's teeth would fall out.**

She was just about to start up again when there was a tentative knock on the door. "Yes?" Jisalle called. She glanced at the candle in the corner; it was too early for lunch.

The door was pushed open and a young woman hesitantly entered. Her hair was pulled back under a kerchief and she had dark circles under her eyes. She was pretty in a youthful sort of way, but overall entirely unremarkable. "Umm... are you Jisalle?"

"I am she." Jisalle set her pestle aside and folded her hands in her lap. She had a suspicion about what her visitor wanted. "And you are?"

"Oyara." Oyara bobbed an awkward curtsey, which Jisalle waved away.

"Save it for someone who is actually important," she said with a smile. "What can I do for you today?"

"Well..." Oyara nervously twisted her skirts between her hands. "I was given your name by... Merique. From the laundry?"

**Gotcha,** Jisalle thought. "I know Merique. How is she? I haven't seen her in a while."

"Oh, very well. Her boy is almost two turns now," Oyara nervously chuckled. "He's such a handful! I think she gets more rest while he's in the creche and she's washing everyone's sheets."

"Boys can be a handful, that's for sure," Jisalle said, thinking of her own boy, who was now nearly twelve turns. They grew so fast...

"Well... she mentioned to me that you..." Oyara trailed off. "I mean, that is--"

"You're looking for tea?" Jisalle asked.

There was a small silence as Oyara turned a brilliant shade of red. The young woman couldn't quite meet Jisalle's eye. "Please... please don't tell anyone."

"A woman always knows. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." The widow slid off her stool and headed back toward the cupboard where she kept the pregnancy tea. It was a simple enough formula, simple enough even for someone with her own ad hoc training to make. The herbs were grown in the far back of the Healer's gardens and there was enough of it for Jisalle to tuck some away to keep the midwives and Hold women supplied. Better that than the alternative... "Are you married?" she asked conversationally. "Not that it matters, really..."

There was another long, telling silence. "No." Oyara finally said. "But there's this man..."

"There's _always_ a man," Jisalle said dryly. She pulled a nondescript bag from the cupboard and walked over to give it to Oyara. There were always women who wanted to have sex before marriage, and it was next to impossible to get the teas from the male Healers in the Infirmary. Some were allies, but often they were as controlling as husbands when it came to who a woman chose to dally with. At least Oyara was being smart about it. Too many girls just did it and regretted the consequences for the rest of their lives. "One cup, brewed strong once a day, ideally at the same time each day. The tea isn't perfect so count your courses. you have been counting your courses?"

Oyara nodded. "I'm fairly regular..."

"Good." Jisalle nodded approvingly. "If anyone asks, it's mint tea to calm your stomach. There is a lot of mint in there anyway to hide the taste. You like mint?"

"Well enough."

"And if you need to go to the Infirmary for any sort of treatments, you make _sure_ you tell them that you've been on the teas. Say you bartered with a dragonrider for it, though," the window added. "Don't get me into trouble."

"Oh, I'd never!" Oyara protested.. "But... why do I need to tell them about the tea?"

"Some herbs react badly with others. The Healers might frown at you for being unmarried and on the teas, but better their disapproval than getting sicker for being stupid," Jisalle said bluntly.

"I'll let them know," Oyara said softly. She clutched the tea in her hand, staring at the bag with a bemused expression. "This... this is it? That's all?"

"That's all." Jisalle paused. "Just... make sure that whatever man has caught your eye, that he's discrete. And that he's worth it." She put a hand on the younger woman's arm. "Be careful. Don't get caught. And don't let him pressure you into anything you don't want to do. Like I said, the teas mean that it's way less likely that you'll get pregnant, but it's not impossible."

Oyara's expression darkened a bit. "So... I could still get pregnant? How likely is it?"

"Chances are you won't," Jisalle said reassuringly. "The Healers say that it's about eighty to ninety percent effective, depending on how good you are at taking it. I know that they give it to women who shouldn't get pregnant anymore. I took it myself, after my son was born. It meant that there's a good length of time between my two children. Also... if you want to be doubly sure, make your man wear a sheath."

"What's that?" Oyara asked.

"it's a bit of hide that goes over _his_ bit of hide so that he doesn't spill his seed inside you," Jisalle said bluntly. **Sheesh, girls don't know anything these days.** "Just tell him to wear one. He will know what it is and how to use it, and if he doesn't, then he'll learn _real_ fast so that he can get into your bed. trust me on that one."

"Oh." Oyara's eyes were wide. "Ah... I'll do that?"

"Yes you will." Jisalle nodded approvingly. "And that's it! When you run out, come find me and I'll give you more. In a pinch you can ask the midwives... ask Ursoinne. She's sensible. Some of the others can be judgmental."

"I see." Oyara grinned broadly. "Thank you!"

"Any time." Jisalle smiled back. "We women have to stick together."

Last updated on the April 4th 2016

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Women Stick Together