Azurite (Daughter of the Mountain Book 1) by Megan Dent Nagle Page B

flushing pink with shame.
                  “I’m sorry, Milo,” Zora apologized before he said anything.  “I overslept, and Arianna had to wake me.  I promise I wasn’t being indolent.”  Milo’s taut wrinkles lessened a little bit as he took the seat across from her.
                  “Are you feeling alright?” he asked. 
    Zora was busy pouring some coffee and nodded her head that she was.  Some of the hot liquid poured onto the table, soiling the parchment.  “I think so,” she said.  “Maybe I overdid it yesterday in the mines.  I was down there for a while.  I even ran into Master Leatherby.”
                  “Oh?  Did you find anything worth while?” Milo asked curiously. 
    Zora thought back to the strange cave painting of the winged monster with millions of eyes and gulped hard.  She didn’t want to tell him about such a frightening sight because she wasn’t even sure that’s what she saw.  With only the light of a lantern to go by, the mind can play tricks on itself.
                  “I found some new runes,” Zora answered.  “I’m beginning to learn how to construct the language through the sounds.  And I can write basic things as well.  I know it’s antiquated and useless, but I still think they are beautiful.”  Zora shrugged to herself.
                  “Use the tome well, my dear.  One can never know too much, for one’s knowledge of useless subjects may come in handy one day.  But we have two days of lessons to make up, so be prepared to work hard.” 
    Milo reached around to the bookcase behind him and pulled out an encyclopedia on the subject of herbalism.  “Have you been studying the healing properties of the plants in your book?” he asked as he opened the encyclopedia to his desired page.
                  “I have, and experimenting with them as well.”  Zora thought back to the mess in her bedchamber.  Perhaps she was taking on Milo’s lessons and the healing of her own insomnia a little too intently.
                  “Good.  Now tell me the healing properties of cinnamon bark,” Milo began as he read from the page.
                  “Cinnamon is used to promote good digestion.  Helps relieve nausea and vomiting,” Zora answered studiously.  Milo nodded then used his finger to choose another herb from the book.
                  “Chamomile?”
                  “Prescribed for anxiety and helps relieve the pain of childbirth.”
                  “Parsley?”
                  “Tonic, diuretic.”
                  “Valerian?”
                  “Sedative.”
                  “Snakeroot?” 
                  “Deadly,” she said cautiously, and Milo nodded.
                  “Moonflower?” 
                  “Moonflower isn’t an herb.”
                  “I know.  But can you tell me what happens if its accidently ingested?” Milo asked.  Zora thought hard, although Milo already knew she had the answer.
                  “Uh, upset stomach, vomiting, asphyxiation, eventual death by poisoning,” Zora replied slowly.
                  “And?” Milo pushed.
    “And what?” Zora replied shortly.  “I don’t know.”
    “Severe hallucinations,” Milo said severely, as if she should already know that.
                  “Oh,” Zora answered, and her face fell.  “Does anyone actually use it for that?”
                  “Some of the older tribes of Wayanee use moonflower for religious rituals.  There are a lot of plants out there that have similar properties, in addition to the medicinal ones.  I want you to be aware of which ones are good and which ones you should avoid at all costs.” 
    He was leaning in towards her, and his crinkled eyes drilled into