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When a loud noise came out of nowhere, Yusuf was thrown off his horse because it got scared. At first, Yusuf was happy about landing in what he thought was grass, but seconds later his skin started burning, and he got up in a hurry.
Nicoló: "Is that a new dance move?"
Yusuf: "I wish it were. What the hell did I land in?"
Nicoló got off his horse to take a closer look at it.
Nicoló: "You landed in nettles, which is a rather useful plant, so thanks for finding them for me."
Yusuf scratched his arm.
Nicoló: "If you scratch, you will make it worse."
Yusuf: "I will try."
Yusuf knew just as well as Nicoló did that Yusuf wouldn't stop scratching his arm.
Nicoló: "While I collect some nettles, you should try catching your horse because she is going in the wrong direction."
Yusuf turned around and saw that his horse was indeed going in the wrong direction.
Yusuf: "Mira, get back here. Verona is the other way, or so I think, well you have to ask Nico about it."
Yusuf knew he had the apple tree to thank for stopping Mira in her tracks, or else he would never have caught up with his horse. When Yusuf returned, he gave Nicoló and his horse an apple each.
Yusuf: "Don't look at me like that, Mira. You have already eaten your fair share today."
When Yusuf wanted to mount his horse, she started turning around on the spot with a smug look on her face.
Nicoló: "Is there a problem?"
Yusuf: "No, not at all, right, Mira?"
Yusuf finally got Mira to stand still long enough for him to mount the horse, but the second he sat on the horse, she bucked, which meant he landed in the nettles again.
Yusuf: "Don't say a word, Nicoló."
Nicoló tried his best not to laugh over the entire situation, but failed in the endeavour.
Yusuf: "Where did my horse go?"
Nicoló: "If I have to guess, I would say back to the apple tree because you two do have one thing in common."
Yusuf: "And that is?"
Nicoló: "You both sometimes think with your stomachs."
Yusuf: "Very funny."
It didn't take long to find Yusuf's horse, who indeed had walked back to the apple tree. What took longer was to get Yusuf's horse away from the apple tree, but in the end, they soon were back on the road again.
Yusuf: "You said that the thing I landed in was a rather useful plant. What did you mean?"
Nicolö: "When I was a monk, I trained in medicine, and one of the things I learned was that nettles can be used to ease joint and muscle pain."
Yusuf: "That is rather useful. Can you teach me how to turn the nettles into the remedy?"
Nicolö: "With ease. I can also teach you how to use nettles in bread."
Yusuf laughed, but Nicoló didn't.
Yusuf: "Oh, you weren't joking, sorry."
Nicoló: "That's okay."
Yusuf: "But if you turn the nettles into bread or a remedy, won't it sting like it did when I landed in them?"
Nicolö: "Not if you use it correctly."
Yusuf: "I trust you on that."
When they made camp for the night, Nicoló showed Yusuf how to turn the nettles into the remedy and bread.
Yusuf: "This bread smells amazing, Nico."
Nicoló smiled and watched Yusuf take a bite of the bread.
Yusuf: "Oh, this is one of the best breads I have ever eaten in my life."
While Yusuf praised Nicolós skills as a baker, he waved with his arms, which Yusuf's horse saw as a perfect opportunity to eat the bread he was holding in his hands.
Yusuf: "Seriously, Mira? That was my piece of bread."
Nicoló laughed over the look Yusuf's horse gave him.
Yusuf: "Well, at least I hope you enjoyed the bread."
When Yusuf looked at Nicoló, he gave him another piece of bread.
Yusuf: "You are the best."
Yusuf kissed Nicoló before eating his piece of bread. While eating, Yusuf asked what else Nicoló had learned about medicine back when he was a monk.
