It was an odorless, pungent paste in a wood jar. It burned Cara’s gums, but she was glad; she’d been feeling her gums itch in the tomb, although it had been one of the least of her concerns.

There was actually a tiny hand mirror that Idelt and Violetta shared; although no real sink. They had an outhouse. Outside the house. And it was used for only one thing, so Cara and Violetta had used water from a bucket to clean and freshen up.

What had made Cara want to hug Violetta was when, blushing, the young woman whispered if Cara needed something else.

By which she meant tampons. Which were pads, and which Cara had been sweating about the entire time she was with Dalius in the tomb. Because that would have been a fun conversation to have with the ghost.

The toothpaste impressed Cara, though. She held it up, grinning as she gestured to it.

“Ah. Does the [Alchemist] make other things your father buys? It’d be nice to have a healing potion, right?”

Cara grinned, jokingly. Violetta gave Cara a strange look and pointed to the mantle.

“We have some. Six. Did you lose all of yours? I saw you bandaged your cuts. You’re welcome to ours.”

That was when the [Singer] realized Ser Dalius’ information was at least partially out of date. Violetta assured her that healing potions were not only cheap, but affordable.

“We can buy the ones that heal a big cut. Father keeps more than most because he works with metal and tools, but every house has at least two or three. Are they that expensive in Izril?”

Cara improvised instantly, shaking her head and pretending to gesture to her side.

“Uh…no. But you know how it is. Travelling. Money’s tight. It was a bad idea not to carry one around, really, but I was trying to save a few meals…”

Violetta nodded understandingly.

“They aren’t that cheap. Father says in way back, potions were things only heroes and adventurers could even afford one of.”

“Right. You know, I’ve heard that too. Er, if it’s okay, I’ll take two of those pads. Just in case. It’s not time yet, but it beats asking, right?”

Blushing, Violetta nodded. That was what made Cara sure she and Violetta were both Human; it was too common an experience to be anything else. But even here, curiosity reigned with Violetta. The young woman leaned in to whisper.

“I know there are Drakes and Gnolls and other species abroad. And…half-Humans. Like half-Elves, but with scales on their faces. I wondered…”

“Violetta. Stop being rude.”

Her father had retreated once they’d started discussing menstruation, but he returned with arms folded. His daughter fled, and the [Blacksmith] gave Cara a look that said quite clearly he had no idea what to do with her.