Page 76 of Thorns & Fire
Wren’s gaze flicked to where two adepts – men, of course – were talking among themselves, ignoring Farissa’s instructions.Wren had heard her former mentor’s voice dip like that several times over the many years they’d known one another, and it only ever meant one thing.
Farissa stopped before the adepts’ workstation.‘Leave.’
‘But Master—’
‘You sit here openly disrespecting my discipline, gentlemen.I will not stand for it.Leave.Now.’
Dessa exchanged a smirk with Wren as the two pricks gathered their things with narrowed eyes and left the workshop.
Farissa stared after them for a moment, shaking her head before she turned back to those who remained.‘As I was saying...One of the key ingredients is a tiny, icy-blue fruit called frostberry – usually found in high mountain regions.It’s known for its cooling properties and ability to “freeze,” or certainly slow, some of the body’s natural processes.We infuse this with crushed ginger and sliced whisper root, allowing it to ferment over several days.’
Wren was already finely slicing the whisper root.
‘How do you know all of this already?’Dessa hissed, studying Wren’s work intensely.
‘I used to make this a lot at Thezmarr, for the men and women there,’ Wren said quietly.‘The younger women would come to me for such things...Farissa taught me to make it when I was twelve.She knew that many of the girls would be too embarrassed to ask her, so she helped me learn, showed me how to distribute it safely.’
Dessa’s mouth hung open.‘Truly?No one spoke of these things in my hometown.’
Wren shrugged.‘Thezmarr is no place for infants, Dessa.’
‘Can you show me?’her friend asked.
‘Of course.’
Over the next hour, Wren showed Dessa – and Zavier – how to brew the contraceptive tonic.Farissa had prepared a batch of the fermented liquid earlier, so Wren was able to show them how to turn it into a tea to be taken monthly, and how to create a dose to be swallowed as a pill.As Farissa said, it was delicate work; the dosage of each ingredient was crucial to avoid nasty side effects like cramping or bleeding.
She glanced at Zavier, who was scribbling notes.‘I’m surprisedyou don’t know this one, Zavier, particularly with your affinity for unique plants...’
He didn’t look up from his notes.‘It wasn’t something I ever needed.’
Dessa’s mouth dropped open a second time.‘What do you mean?’
Wren shot her a look to silence her, but Dessa was oblivious.
‘Do you mean that you’ve never...’
Zavier did look up then, his chin lifted in challenge.‘Never what?’
Dessa scanned the cohort and lowered her voice.‘Never had sex?’
Wren nearly dropped her head into her hands, fully expecting Zavier to snap at their curious friend—
But Zavier barked a laugh.It was the first real laugh Wren had heard from him in a long while.
‘No, Dessa,’ he wheezed, his eyes bright with amusement.‘There’s no need to look so shocked.I’ve hadplentyof sex.Just never with a woman.Hence not needing this particular brew.But from what Farissa says, it’s a skill every alchemist should have...so if you’d be so kind as to continue?’
Wren smiled and went to do just that, but Dessa was shaking her head in disbelief.
‘Zave...’she murmured, forlorn.
Wren tensed.She hadn’t expected this from Dessa.
But Dessa grabbed Zavier’s arm, her eyes full of accusation.‘I don’t even know who your type is.’
An undignified noise escaped Zavier at that.‘You really want to knowthat?’he said, brows raised.
Wren watched as Dessa’s expression morphed into one of offence, a tic she must have picked up from Kipp.
