Yet by and large, Pharmacopoeia was interesting and rewarding work, and
was pleasant enough to do. Work in the spice tent forbade the intrusion
of flies or bugs, and except for the sun-drying process, there must be
no direct exposure to the natural elements, lest the product become
spoiled.
A well-trained Pharmacopoeist was worth much money, and merited the
perpetual good favors of the Master for all of his or her days. Praise
for the worker would assure eventual success and praise for the work.
Compared to this, the backs of those working the harvest fields, the
threshing floor, and other more common or menial tasks such as
brick-making, invited the whip, because that could not impair the work
nor harm the product, and would only increase the yield of bricks or
harvest of grain.
Si'Wren was knowledgeable and proficient in almost every aspect and
phase of the work of Pharmacopoeia. She was well tutored in how to
recognize and gather fresh herbs on foraging expeditions with Nelatha
in the wilds, under the protective guardianship of an armed male slave.
Whatever other herbs were not found locally could be purchased readily
enough in the market place for a fair price. Even in this, Si'Wren was
becoming skillful in identifying, grading, and haggling over the prices
of herbs according to their several worth, and she had already gained
much knowledge and experience in this.
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