Xermes Grass

Shirini handed Astra a small, worn basket, and placed another around her arm. Astra followed Shirini toward her destination.

"What are these for?" asked Astra.

"We are going to pick some flowers and grass on our way to the Pond", replied Shirini. "It is a custom here, at the meals, for everyone who partakes of the meals, even if he or she is a child, to bring something to the table."

"We do not do that back home, and I did not see this while I visited Corona. It is a nice custom, though. Will filling the basket with flowers be enough?"

"Yes. I do not look upon it as an obligation. Your contribution allows you to show your skill. For example, I expect that Nanva will bring us some of his sweetly spiced cracker bread. Darkub will probably bring skipping stones that we use for a game that some of us play by the pond. Bakhtar will probably bring some little trinket from his travels. Oh, and Bella has the nistle."

Astra and Shirini had come to a field. Before Astra could ask about the nistle, Shirini told her, "A hairy grass with red veins grew here." Shirini handed Astra a rag and then placed another rag in the palm of her hand and pulled at it.

"The Xermes grass makes for a pleasant scent. Be careful that you do not touch it, as it will cause your hands to itch for a while," said Shirini.

Astra found that she could pluck the grass easily out of a sheath that it grew in. The scent was unusual in Astra's experience. It was similar to that of pipe tobacco, although neither she nor Shirini could have made that observation, with tobacco being unknown in Hespan and Aqualaria. Shirini made suggestions as to what flowers and grasses were favourites, and Astra followed them as best she could.

"Is any of this edible?" asked Astra. I am afraid that I have a bit of a headache, and I think that it may be because I have not eaten since I got landed here."

"Good heavens! Why did you not say so? I would have taken a little bread before giving it to Mary. There is not much edible between here and the Little Pond, which is quite close. Can you hold off until then?"

"I will," said Astra. It was not that she had much of a choice.

As Shirini and Astra approached the Pond, Shirini noticed that

1. Bakhtar had arrived.
2. Bakhtar had not arrived.

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