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The little boy didn't look away or show any signs of chagrin that she had seen him staring, but when Miyuki addressed him it did give him the encouragement to speak his mind.

"Are you really a princess?" he asked, his tone halfway between doubt and awe.

The boy blinked at her. "What country are you a princess of?" he asked as his mother returned to the room with paper, quill and measuring tool in hand.

She laughed at him and ruffled his hair on her way past him. "Of our country, Hathol." She knelt in front of Miyuki. "If you would please set your foot flat on the floor, your Highness," she requested, smiling.

Hathol wasn't finished with his questions. "But ... but you're not a elf, are you?" he asked, perplexed.

From the other side of the shop, where Daeron and Iorlas were waiting, came a soft snicker, almost inaudible.

To a boy as young as Hathol was, not knowing the 'facts of life', so to speak, the way Miyuki explained her parentage made perfect sense.

"Oh," he beamed. "Okay. I don't know Prince Earendil, he's been gone for more years than I've been born. But everyone says he's really nice."

He grinned at Miyuki. "You gonna be here very long?" he asked her eagerly.

The boy blinked at Miyuki as if he didn't understand her answer. "Huh?"

"I believe my son wishes to know how long you will be in the city, your Highness," Claress spoke up softly, making notations on the paper. "As he said, your father has not been in the city much of late, and we do all enjoy seeing him - and the rest of your family - about the city."

"I just want to meet them," Hathol pouted.

"Traveling?" the boy repeated slowly, clearly confused.

"Going to different places," his mother explained, taking another measurement of Miyuki's foot. She glanced up at Miyuki briefly. "If I am not being too forward, your Highness, where have you and your family been traveling? There are few travelers these days, and from the amount of footwear your father ordered, it seems as though you may be gone a long time, or going far away ..."

The little boy's eyes grew wide. "Sailing across the ocean?" he repeated in amazement. "Whoa ... you must really be going far! Papa says the ocean is bigger than our whole country!"

That was obviously a gross understatement, but to a child, that was the best frame of reference he could think of.

The concept of requiring more than a day to get anywhere was beyond the poor child's understanding, and his eyes grew so large that they no longer seemed to fit his head properly.

"Whoa ..." he breathed.

Claress stood suddenly, her equipment back in hand. "I am finished, your Highness," she said, bowing her head respectfully. "Would you like a change in the styles of your footwear? Or would you like to keep your original plans?"

Claress smiled and nodded again. "Thank you. Then I will bring these to my husband so that we can adjust our plans accordingly."

She turned to look at Daeron and Iorlas, but it was clear from her demeanor that she wasn't sure if she should address them or not. Daeron wasn't really paying attention, but Iorlas saw the unasked question in her eyes and was the one to answer:

"We are only accompanying our niece, thank you."

"Okay, bye then!" Hathol waved at the three.

Daeron eyed the boy. "Are you trying to get rid of us?" he asked.

The boy looked stricken with fear. "Um ... no ... but - but after Nana finishes measuring usually people leave ..."

Iorlas poked Daeron in the ribs. "Stop teasing," she scolded him. "You're so mean sometimes."

Daeron chuckled softly. "I apologize, Hathol. I didn't mean to frighten you. Can you forgive me?"

The boy scratched his head in confusion, spreading polish in his hair and making it shine. "Um ... I guess?"

Iorlas had to swallow down her laughter.