Neal looked terrified as he edged around the study door.

Alanna smiled. "There you are. Come and have a seat in front of the desk."

Neal obeyed slowly, looking as though he would rather be anywhere but there.

"We will be finishing our lesson from yesterday," announced Alanna as soon as he was seated. "First we are going to discuss a woman's monthly cycle. What do you know of this already?"

Neal looked at her blankly.

Alanna sighed. "We'll start at the beginning."

Twenty minutes later, Neal was staring at her aghast. "You-you mean that all women have blood pouring out of them once a month?"

"It doesn't pour, and it's not all blood," replied Alanna. "It's also-"

"I know, I know, you told me," interrupted Neal hurriedly.

"It's not all women either," continued Alanna. "Most women won't start until they're between about eight and fourteen, and –"

She was interrupted by Neal choking.

"What are you choking on?" she asked. "You weren't eating anything. Don't tell me you were stupid enough to choke on your own spit again."

Neal recovered himself and glared at her. "Kel's fourteen now. Does that mean she has blood pouring out of her once a month?"

Alanna shrugged. "Probably. And I told you, it doesn't pour."

Neal was beginning to turn green. "What about Daine?"

Alanna looked at him sharply. "Why do you want to know about Daine?"

"I-I…no reason."

"Pretty girl, isn't she?" asked Alanna conversationally.

"Yes…well, um no, I don't know…I never really noticed," stammered Neal. "She's always with that mage anyway."

Alanna smiled. "Ah yes, Numair. Another very good friend of mine."

Neal paled as Alanna grinned further. "Now what were you wanting to know about Daine?"

"N-nothing."

"Back to the lesson then. You need to learn how to take care of a woman when she has her monthlies. Luckily, you can learn the basics when I have my monthlies. As-"

Neal's eyes were widening. "You have blood –"

"Don't you dare say pouring."

"That thing, too?"

"Well, I'm a woman, aren't I? I'm not so old that they've stopped yet. Now don't interrupt me. As I told you before, monthlies are often accompanied by cramps in the lower belly, and sometimes sore or tender breasts and dizziness. Now, I often find that a massage in the afflicted areas helps to soothe the pain, -"

Neal leapt to his feet. "I am not doing that."

Alanna raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't want you to." She continued to talk as Neal tried to decide whether to be relieved or affronted. "As I was saying, I often find that a massage in the afflicted areas helps to soothe the pain, but I only let George do that, and it would be inappropriate for you to treat female patients as such."

"You don't say," muttered Neal.

"Therefore," announced Alanna, "You are going to learn how to make herbal teas to assist with this type of pain. Moreover, you are going to practice making this tea for me whenever I have my monthlies, which coincidentally, is now. Also, as we discussed, if a woman is very close friends with other women, their cycles will often run simultaneously. If I have my monthlies, and one or more of Onua, Buri, Daine or Thayet are visiting, you will also bring them a cup of herbal tea when you bring mine. Understood?"

Neal was silent.

"Neal?"

More silence.

"Nealan!"

Neal was gaping. "You-you mean the Queen has blood pouring out of her once a month?"