Princess Electra Book 4 School of Medicine

by Dory Lee Maske

  Chapter 7

  Helsop

  Notices of the new school's opening went out to Helsop, Henge, Fernland, even to Lands End far to the south. The notices said only that Princess Electra of Fernland and Helsop was accepting women students to her newly founded school of medicine. Food and lodging as well as instruction were to be provided for one gold piece per half year. Electra had been in a hurry to find students and sent the notices out before selecting a final name for her new school. She sat now with Isa, her first student, discussing that very subject.

  "Tandor offered to carve a board to hang over the door to the school," Electra began. "He is ready to begin but I'm still not sure what the name should be. I am leaning towards 'School of Herbal Medicine'."

  Isa shook her head vehemently. "You are a physician now. Surely you intend to teach much more—the setting of broken bones, midwifery, the sewing up of wounds—that sort of thing."

  "Yes, I suppose so. But if I'm to be the only teacher, herbs are the only things for which I profess any depth of knowledge."

  "You do not want to select a name that limits your applicants," Isa insisted.

  Both women looked up at the sound of approaching horses outside the school. They looked eagerly at one another.

  "An applicant, do you suppose?" Isa asked

  "One can always hope," Electra answered, smiling. "If so, I'll interview her in the dining area." Electra and Isa walked out to the school's entry hall just as someone knocked at the door of the school.

  Electra opened the door and was happy to see Haddad and his daughter, Laleh, standing outside.

  "Welcome, Laleh, Haddad. Please come in."

  Haddad entered first, frowning, and Laleh followed close behind, obviously very excited and happy.

  "Have you come to begin a course of study here at our school?" Electra spoke to Laleh as she come through the door.

  "Perhaps," Haddad answered for his daughter. "Might we have a tour of the school and its accommodations first?"

  "Of course." Electra moved ahead of Haddad and led them into the Great Room with the kitchen on one side and the dining area on the other.

  Haddad seemed impressed and a little surprised. "It would seem rumors of Helsop's poverty have been exaggerated. Where will the students stay?"

  Electra led them through to the dormitory.

  "Since you are my first student from outside Helsop, you may have your choice of rooms."

  Laleh clasped her hands together against her chest, her eyes sparkling as she looked hopefully at her father.

  "I find the accommodations better than I had expected," Haddad began. "Perhaps we could discuss the subjects you propose to teach."

  "Certainly. Let us return to the dining area. I will ask Isa to bring us some tea. You are perhaps hungry after your long journey? We could arrange a meal as well."

  "Tea would be appreciated, thank you." Haddad seemed to be softening a bit.

  After the three were seated in the dining area with tea and a spectacular view of the glacier, Haddad commented on the view.

  "We in Taz are well traveled, but such an ice mountain as this is new to me."

  "I could arrange an outing while you are here, if you might like to take a closer look."

  "Perhaps on another visit," Haddad said.

  Electra hid a smile. If there were to be future visits, that could only mean he had already made his decision.

  "I intend to offer personalized programs of study," Electra began. "If one wished to concentrate on some aspect of herbal medicine such as cultivation or preparation of herbs, she would be accommodated. If one wished to include a broader knowledge of herbs as cures for specific maladies, that could also be done. Some may wish a more general study of the healing craft."

  Electra turned to Laleh. "Had you a specific interest in mind?"

  Laleh looked at her father as if she required his permission to speak. Haddad gave a slight nod.

  Laleh smiled broadly. "I want to learn everything!" Then her smile vanished and she looked shyly at her father, perhaps doubtful he would approve of such unbridled enthusiasm.

  Electra nodded, as though learning everything were perfectly normal. "One often has to begin with a broad approach before finding her specific areas of interest."

  Haddad looked severely at his daughter. "I will expect you to remember who you are and what is expected of you. Any reports of unseemly behavior will not be tolerated."

  Laleh bowed her head, but a little smile escaped her lips.

  Haddad took a deep breath and blew it back out through his nostrils.

  "As you may have guessed, I have strong reservations about allowing Laleh this level of freedom. I suppose you and your students will be properly guarded at all times?"

  Electra had not considered the necessity of being guarded, but she supposed it might be something that should be considered.

  "Of course. You might wish to speak to Dagon about that. I could escort you to the command post."

  Haddad rose from his stool, draining his tea cup in the process. "That will not be necessary. I must head back to King's Lake if I am to arrive in two day's journey. Laleh's luggage is with her horse, which I will leave with her." He reached into the pocket of his tunic and pulled out a gold coin. "Here is her first tuition payment."

  Electra was surprised to see Laleh jump to embrace her father and even more surprised to see the tenderness with which her father returned the embrace. Tears gathered in Laleh's eyes.

  "I will miss you Father, but thank you so much."

  "We will all miss you, Laleh." He kissed the top of her head and headed out the door.

  Laleh hugged her arms around herself as if she were cold, then smiled at Electra.

  "I do not feel as my father does," she said in a soft voice.

  Electra thought about how many areas such a comment might refer to, and decided to wait for clarification.

  "I never thought it indecent that you lived alone in the midst of workmen and studied with a male mentor," Laleh continued.

  "I see," Electra murmured, wondering if that was the extent of her transgressions in Haddad's eyes.

  "I want to be just like you," Laleh gushed.

  Electra began to wonder if Laleh's coming to this school had more to do with freedom than the study of herbs.