Alanna cornered Neal after his mid-morning, post-training bath.
"Thayet, Buri, Sarge, Daine and Numair are here," she informed him. "I have my monthlies. You know what that means." At Neal's blank look she gave an exasperated sigh and rolled her eyes. "When you bring our lunch along, you will bring herbal teas for myself and the other women, as they have their monthlies too. We'll be in the downstairs parlour, the one next to the library." She glanced out the window before adding "And hurry up, it's not long 'til noon, and they had an early start from Corus." She turned back to head downstairs before he could get a word in edgeways.
"Hello Neal," greeted Thayet as he edged into the room carrying the drinks. He was followed by servants carrying platters of food, and drinks for the men. "I was wondering when we'd see you. How's she been treating you?"
"Well, I've had plenty new bumps and bruises to practice my healing on." Neal grinned as he put a cup of tea in front of her. "But Majesty, I'm afraid she'd kill me if I said any more of the truth."
Thayet laughed. "Thanks Neal, but why the formality? You've always called me Thayet in the past."
Neal smiled patiently. "I was but a child, Majesty. I'm now a squire, which calls for more…seriousness."
"You?" interrupted Alanna. "You serious, my –" George clapped a hand over her mouth and kissed her cheek.
"Lucky you've got me here to watch that mouth of yours, lass," he murmured in her ear, as he removed his hand. "Besides, at times that lad's so overly serious that it worries me."
"Neal, your father, along with Alanna, delivered every single one of my children," continued Thayet. "I think that justifies a reduction in formalities, does it not?"
Neal blushed, remembering Alanna's Extremely Detailed lessons on the Horrors of Childbirth, and decided to let the conversation drop as quickly as possible. "As you wish," he muttered, as he placed herbal teas in front of Buri and Daine. Buri looked at hers suspiciously, while Daine smiled at him warmly and thanked him, causing him to colour even further. He was just beginning to feel pleased with himself for not dropping anything as he placed the final cup of tea in front of his knight-mistress, when Thayet spoke up again.
"What is it, Neal?"
Neal blinked. "What's what?"
"This." Thayet gestured to the cup in front of her.
"Oh, it's tea, Majes- um….Thayet." He could feel Alanna's eyes boring into his back.
"Neal, you need to be more specific than that," she instructed from behind him.
"It's herbal tea," he expanded. He heard Alanna's huff and irritated intake of breath even before she began to speak.
"When giving patients treatment, you need to be able to tell them exactly what it is."
"Patients? Treatment?" asked Buri, eyeing her tea with further suspicion. "I'm not sure I like the sound of that…"
"But, my La-…er, Sir…" began Neal.
"No 'buts' about it. And these are my friends, Neal, you know that you're allowed to call me Alanna. Now you will turn back immediately and answer Thayet's question properly."
Neal blushed scarlet and gulped as he turned back to face the Queen. "It's a herbal tea for your monthlies, Majesty," he blurted out, and fled the room as they burst out laughing at his embarrassment.