*Avis' POV*

I'm glad Jacklyn decided to take me to the infirmary, but I wish she could have come up with a better plan that didn't involve me falling. My ribs ached and it hurt to breathe as I walked briskly to keep up with Will and Jacklyn's quick pace. Goodness, they seemed to have forgotten that I was the one injured! We finally turn down a corridor that leads into the spacious infirmary. Beds are lined against the wall, and much light flows in through the windows. A physician stands with his back to us as he mixed herbs for a remedy.

"Hello, Physician." Will called out. The man turned around and smiled at the young ranger. He looked to be around late forties, and had graying hair that was about shoulder length.

"Good day, Will." He replied kindly.

"The Barons new wards, Physician. This little Lady, Avis, had a bit of a fall and hurt her ribs. We were wondering if you could take a look." Will said. The physician nodded and gestured for me to hop up on a bed, though I didn't do much hopping. He began to feel about my ribs, poking and prodding as I shifted painfully. Jacklyn was poking also, though that was to say, around the room. She held up vials and tinctures, examining them in the light, and messing about with the Physician's tools.

"What happened, Child?" The Physician asked me. He gestured for me to lay back on the bed so he could feel them better.

"I tripped over a tree root and fell on a rock." I lied. I hated lying, honestly I did. But I couldn't very well say that I had been sneaking out the of the kitchens by climbing down a three story building. The physician rose an eyebrow, seeming to catch my lie. It was probably obvious. The injury to my ribs probably showed and he could tell that I fell on my back from a fairly decent height. From the angle that I fell, I did land more on my left side then my right.

"You have two broken ribs. Both on your left side. I'll bind them for you so you can keep them stable." He said.

"No!" I said rather loudly. Will and Jacklyn paused, and the physician seemed put out.

"If you want to heal, then I must." He said firmly.

"No. Binding the ribs restricts breathing and increases the chance for the patient to get pneumonia." I said, spewing out the knowledge my mother, who is a nurse, and my medical teachers had all told me. In the olden days, by binding the ribs it sometimes made a simple rib injury, fatal.

"What kind of silly nonsense is that? I am the professional, Child." He scolded. I folded my arms, careful to avoid my two ribs, as I knew exactly which ones were broken.

"And where I'm from, you do not bind ribs. You'll do well to remember that, sir. I may as well just saved the lives of many patients of your in the future." I said standing. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of two measly broken ribs. I simply needed to know if they were simply bruised or broken. Now that I know why, I can treat myself just fine." The Physician looked angry and impressed at the same time.

"And how would you treat yourself, girl?" He asked, questioning me as if I was in a medical exam. At home, in our time period, I would have said Ibuprofen or Tylenol, and ice. Refraining from strenuous activities, and lifting. Give it six to ten weeks and they'd be fine. However I couldn't very well blurt out Ibuprofen or Tylenol to a physician who had no knowledge of such medication.

"Refrain from lifting or other strenuous activities. Keep ice on the swollen spots, get plenty of rest. At home we had medication for anti-inflammation, but we don't have them here." I said. Simple, yet accepted. The physician narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"What is this medication you speak of? What are it's properties?"

"It is called Tylenol, or Ibuprofen. I don't know the properties. They are rather complex for me." I said.

"Interesting. I would love to use some." The Physician said.

"Can she go then, sir?" Jacklyn asked.

"Yes, as long as she promises to do as she said. To rest and such?" I nodded.

"Yes sir." I said. I clutched at my ribs as we moved to exit the infirmary...right as Halt and Gilan entered.

"Wait!" Halt said sharply as we tried to ignore them and keep walking. "What are you two doing here?"

"Avis was injured during free time." Will explained. "I showed them to the infirmary."

"I need to ask you two some questions. Stay put while I talk to the Physician." Halt demanded. Gilan glared at the two of us and they moved to speak with the Physician. Though they tried to be discreet, we could hear a couple of words such as "Physicians Salt" and "drugs". The Physician looked as confused as they were. Soon they made their way over to us, Gilan once again looking irritated with us.

"We must speak to you about this so called 'Physicians Salt.'" Halt said. I rose an eyebrow and chuckled slightly, wincing as I did so. Jacklyn let out a full blown laugh. This only deepened their confusion.

"It's called Dr. Pepper." Jacklyn said laughing. "And before you ask, it's not drugs. It's a drink, non-alcoholic. It bubbles when you drink it, and occasionally the pressure builds up if shaken. This can make it explode. That's what happened yesterday with ranger Gilan." Jacklyn explained calmly, still smiling. Halt furrowed his brow as Gilan blushed, looking embarrassed.

"Alright, then I see no need for my experience anymore." The Physician announced. He turned to leave, thought otherwise and turned back. "Do you know much about medicine?" He said looking at me. I nodded.

"My mother is a healer of sorts, and I wish to be a Midwife." I said to him. He rose an eyebrow.

"Curious. I do not know of many women physicians." He said thoughtfully. I glared at him.

"That doesn't mean we aren't capable. Where we are from, many Women are doctors and nurses." I said, almost sharply. Something I had forgotten about this time period. They thought women were dainty, fragile things. Besides the Ladies Pauline and Alyss, and the Princess Cassandra. Women were expected to raise a family and do the housework. And though in our time I would love to have a family and keep a house, but I would also like to have a career.

The Physician and the rangers looked thoughtful as they pondered my answer.

"I suppose you're right." The Physician said. "When your choosing comes around, I may just have a look at potential apprentices." I felt a small grin creep onto my lips as I thought about being an apprentice Physician. I nodded thankfully.

"It's be fun to have women on the Corps as well." Will piped up, smiling. Halt and Gilan rolled their eyes.

"That's preposterous, Will." Halt said seriously.

"Could you imagine a woman trying to pull back our long bows!?!" Gilan laughed gleefully at the thought. I glance over at Jacklyn and we give each other a knowing smirk. Just wait about seventeen years, Will. Just you wait.

***

Heyo! So when I thought up this whole, Breaking the ribs thing, I had been rock climbing the day before and fell thirteen feet landing wrong and straining a rib. Wasn't fun, but I thought it was a good idea for this book. Any who, love you lots!

~Avis