Poem: "If It Weren't For Her"
This poem was originally published in Flashing Swords #11. I'm reprinting here because it connects with " The Henchmen's Hitch" and "Following Along."
It's also interesting to compare this character with Fiorenza. Both are herbalists, and both are connected with a village. But this one is more tightly focused on healing, isn't into cooking as much, and also does some healing-related magic. Unlike Fiorenza, she has the further challenges of catering to adventurers and dealing with clients who aren't all human. She crosses paths with Nib and Brod later.
If It Weren’t For Her
They don’t sing songs about her,
but they should.
She’s the one who keeps the heroes
coming back for more.
You’ll find her high on the hilltops,
working alone.
Her grey cloak whips in the wind;
her brown hair snarls.
Her basket, already growing heavy,
swings from her hand.
She bends to pluck the bitter leaves
of healing herbs.
Oh, if it weren’t for the herbalist
there would be no heroes -
They’d all die after the first fight and
never live to gain their fame.