Bettina's day part 1

Mary felt excited the next morning, she was going to go with Bettina to her consultation today. She was looking forward to see what it was Bettina worked with. They were going to join a doctor to go to a woman that had issues with pain.

Once breakfast was over and Kopa had gone to work, Bettina brought out a small leather bag and put it on the dining table in the kitchen.

“I like to take with me some of the basic herbs and some that I think might be needed. It’s always nice to be able to help on the spot. But if it’s a complicated case, or if they haven’t been describing it well, we might need to come back here to get all the herbs needed.” she explained as she plucked jars and pouches from the cabinets and placing them into the bag.

“Can anyone be an herbalist?” Mary asked.

“Well yes and no. I think most people can learn the skill. But you need a license to practice it. It would be dangerous to let just anyone call themselves an herbalist. Some herbs are poisonous and can do great damage if used in the wrong way.”

“What do you need to do to get a license?”

“You become an apprentice to a licenced herbalist, once they think you are ready, it takes around two to three years, they will arrange for you to take the official test. It’s both practical and written and if you pass it, you are awarded the licence” Bettina explained as they got ready to leave.

Mary thought that sounded like a good procedure, especially if poisons were involved. In Dermes there were sometimes traveling merchants that would have miracle cures to offer. They would say it cured almost everything. But Mary had heard that on several occasions people had gotten sick by drinking them.

Mary and Bettina walked together through the city. They were heading into parts that Mary hadn’t been to.

“We will need to go to the other side of the river today” Bettina told her.

“Is there a difference between the two sides of the city?” Mary asked.

“No, not really. On the west side, where we live, there are the marketplace, the artisan quarters, and then mostly residential areas. On the east side there are the warehouses, the docks and most of the inns, and then residential areas.”

They continued walking and crossed a bridge to get to the other side of the river. On the other side of the bridge there were an older man standing. He was lean and tall with hair that originally had been dark brown, but now had silver streaks running through it.

“Good morning, Bettina” he said as they reached him.

“Good morning, Dr Genict” Bettina answered.

“How many times have I asked you to call me Jonhu, Bettina?” the man said smiling.

“Very well, Jonhu, this is Marry, she will be joining us today. Mary this is Dr Genict, we work together sometimes. It’s his patient we are seeing today” Bettina introduced them.

“Hello, nice to meet you” Mary said.

“Hello Mary, nice to meet you as well. So, Bettina, you have finally decided to take on an apprentice?” Dr Genict said with a smile.

“We will see if she enjoys it” Bettina said.

Mary looked at her, had Bettina actually been thinking that Mary could be an herbalist one day? Mary liked the idea, but she was unsure if she could take on the responsibly. She would have to watch Bettina and then talk with her.

The three of them continued walking together with Mary and the doctor on each side of Bettina. The doctor seemed nice, Mary thought, but she got the impression that he liked Bettina in a way that wasn’t just as a friend.

Mary didn’t like the way he sometimes almost flirted with her. But as Bettina didn’t object, Mary thought that maybe she was overreacting.

“Here we are” Dr Genict said as the came to a large house. As they went inside it turned out that inside the house there were several smaller apartments. Mary had never been to a place like that.

Dr Genict knocked on one of the doors and they stood waiting until a woman, maybe a year or two younger than Mary, opened.

“Hello Saira, we are here to se your mother, may we come in?” Dr Genict asked with a kind smile.

“Please come in doctor, she is in the kitchen. She is having one of her good days” the young woman said, takin a step back, letting them all in.

“Thank you” Mary said as she walked pass Saira and smiled at her. It was clear to Mary that the young woman was nervous, so Mary wanted to make her feel more comfortable.

The doctor seemed to know where to go and Bettina and Mary followed him, they came into the kitchen. By a table there was a woman sitting, around Bettina’s age. She looked worn out. Dark patches could be seen under her eyes and Mary thought she looked frail and thin. Her mouse blond hair looked lifeless.

The woman tried to stand to greet the guests, but the doctor showed with a gentle push on the shoulder that she should remain seated.

“Please, sit. Saira will bring us some tea” the soman said after Dr Genict had introduced them to each other. They all sat around the kitchen table and talked about mundain things as they waited for the tea.

“Tell us how you have been Mrs Waske” the doctor encouraged the woman as they sipped on tea.

“It has been a good week, I have only had two episodes of headache this week. I’ve been able to eat more as I haven’t been as nauseous, but it’s been harder to catch up on my sleep” she told them.

“Can you describe the headaches?” Bettina asked.

“It starts as a pressure behind my eye. Then, after a while, I see what looks like a light that surrounds everything, then there is a sharp pain in my head. Like someone has stabbed me with a dagger in my head.” the woman started.

“When the pain starts, it’s hard for me to be in light places, it hurts more. Same with noises, it’s easier to avoid the light, but living in an apartment, surrounded by neighbours with children there is almost constant noise” she continued, and Mary could her the sound of children playing and everyday sounds surrounding them.

“I get nausea both during and also after the headaches, which makes it difficult for me to have an appetite. I know I have more episodes when I have a lot of things to do or if I’m worried.” The woman finished, looking down to her hands that were tightly folded on the table.

“Mrs Waske has migraines” Bettina explained to Mary. Mary nodded and she realised that the symptoms were the same ones that Zerden’s mother had. Mary had always thought there were no name for it. The doctors that Anna had been to see had just said it was a woman’s issue.

“We have tried to reduce her triggers but living in the apartment and being a mother of four, it’s hard for her to avoid everything that triggers her” Dr Genict said. “I wanted to consult with you to see it there was something that you can offer her” he then said to Bettina.

“There are a couple of things that we can try. The best thing is to avoid the episodes, I don’t have anything that will take them away once they start. But I do have things that can help reduce the pain and help you in other ways” Bettina said, starting to go through her bag.

“Is there a bench I can use to work at?” she then asked the woman.

“You can use the kitchen bench if it will do?” Mrs Waske said.

“It will be perfect” Bettina said, giving the woman a warm smile. “Mary, can you help me?”