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"So then I thought if Uncle Luk could get you some leather, you could experiment with the new methods you learned, and Miyuki could use your experiments for her own experiments and nothing is wasted and you both can learn from it," River beamed. "Isn't that a great idea?"

Jess laughed. "If you can convince your uncle, then yeah, I'd like to experiment," he agreed. "And Miyuki, you're welcome to whatever I end up with, though I promise nothing decent."

If he even got to that point.



Amanya nodded. "That is understandable. But as we are on the topic, I'll tell you. Elves may die of this disease, or they may be killed - murdered, poisoned, succumb to injuries or accident - or, and this is one of the more common ways for elves to die, unless there is a war going on - of a broken heart."

She paused for a moment, then added, "But, as I said, we elves here are immune to the disease, so we have only two ways to die."

She looked back at Earendil. "There are other differences, as well, and for this in particular, we are envious of your people. When elves of different types in your land marry, their magic flows together in the blood of their offspring, sometimes even more powerfully than in the parents. Here, when the blood of different elven types are mixed, or mixed with human blood, the magic is not passed on, no matter how magical the parents' abilities."

She spread her hands again. "My father, a dark elf, has enormous strength, and he is one of the city's main hunters. My mother, a light elf, can heal herself of any injury. But I have no magic to my name."

Jess chuckled. "Now you sound like Shiro. Well, River, if you want to talk to your uncle about it, I'm game."

River smiled innocently. "See? I told you you wouldn't mind." She turned back to Miyuki. "Did you want to look at more stuff in here?" she asked her. "I'm sure Jess wants to keep going with his conversation. Sorry for interrupting," she added, turning to the bronze-skinned shopkeeper.

The man chuckled. "No worries. I have to admit, I've been rather entertained."


"Though that also reminds me," Earendil added, his brow furrowing slightly. "Please forgive me if this seems too forward a question, but ... in our land, the children of light and dark elves ... well, their colours don't mix. Like you. But I've seen others in this city and other places, others of mixed blood ... and ... well, take our hosts, for example. Cantor's a fire elf, Lara is a dark elf ... and their children have dark red hair. But-"

Amanya held up one hand to stop Earendil. "I know what you mean," she told him. "And I take no offense, though I appreciate the thought behind your apology. You are right. There is something about light and dark elves that, though they may have children together, their blood does not seem to mix in their children."

She shrugged. "To me it is as natural as your dark hair and your brown eyes. And with each passing decade, there are more who look similar to me. I can't explain it, but ... well, that's life."

River grinned. "Yeah. Pretty amazing, isn't it?" She put one hand on Jess's shoulder and winked at him. "I'll let you get back to your conversation. I'm going to wander with Miyuki a bit."

Jess nodded, and River headed back with Miyuki to look at the other things in the shop. "Anyways, if you think about it ... the people here come from all kinds of different cultures," she explained. "So they've got a lot more inspiration to work from. And more tastes to please. You know?"



Earendil nodded. It was strange, but, well. As Amanya said, that was life.

"But you were going to tell us the history of Arkandia," he said. "Sorry, we distracted you from that."

Amanya smiled. "That is all right. When the elves were recreated here, they were different. The Valar had learned from their lack of interaction with the original elves, and several of them chose to mentor groups of the elves that were created here. Ulmo, Lord of the Seas, taught those who became the Water Elves, and gave them the ability to breathe under the water, as well as the webs between their fingers and toes, and the skin that becomes like scales when they are in the water. Aulë, Lord of the Land, taught those who became the Earth Elves, and gave them gifts to help them to control the very earth itself. Manwë, Lord of Lords, Master of Winds, guided those who became known as the White Elves, and it is his wife, Varda, who gave them protection from the cold. Tulkas the Strong and his wife Nessë guided those who became the Fire Elves, though it is not known whence they gained their abilities to use fire. They are a fun people, overall. The Light Elves were taught by four of the Valar: Oromë, Lord of the Forests and of the Hunt; his wife Yavanna, Giver of Fruits; Irmo, also called Lórien, who taught them of gardens; and his wife, Estë, the Healer."

Here she paused, almost as if she were hesitant to go into the history of the Dark Elves, the only elves of whom she had not yet spoken.

"That's what hired help is for," River grinned. Then she shrugged. "But I wouldn't know what they would need from elsewhere, if anything. They really do seem to have a lot here on their own. I haven't yet seen anything besides gardens for food sources, though. Well, that and fishing. I wonder if they hunt at all."



Amanya shook her head slowly. "No ... not wrong ... but there are some who do not like the origins of the Dark Elves."

Earendil set his jaw. "Well, considering you've named all but one of the Valar ... might I suggest, Námo?"

The scholar blinked, clearly surprised by Earendil's comment. "You know his true name," she murmured. "That is rare these days."

Earendil nodded, then turned to Lin. "You might have heard of him ... nowadays most people call him Mandos. Lord of the Dead."

"Of course, you've not left the city yet, have you?" River asked Miyuki. "Uncle Luk's taken us a bit into the forest. Not terribly far, but ... a bit. There are animals out there. I haven't seen any farms, though ... but of course we've only been in a small area, nowhere east or south."

She smiled. It would be interesting to see those areas too, but there was still so much more for them to see in the city - and there was no rush. They would be here for quite a while yet.


Earendil nodded. "I did a bit of digging around after the last time we were here," he told her. Quite fascinating, though I have to admit ... our resources are pretty empty. Nothing about anything outside of our own lands."

He looked back at the scholar. "So I was right, then?" he asked her. "Mandos was the mentor of the Dark Elves?"

She nodded. "Yes. And his wife, Vairë the Weaver. But in addition to being Lord of the Dead, he is also the one who knows all: past, present, and future. He shares some, hides more ... but if there are any Seers, it is thanks to his gift."

"Maybe that explains why some of our family have a habit of cheating death," Earendil quipped dryly.

River's eyes glowed at the thought of swimming. "Maybe I'll come with you if Jess is working," she grinned. "It's been a while since I've been swimming. Kind of miss it."

Suddenly she laughed. "Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, that's how Naida and I first met!" she giggled. "I was really little back then ..."



Earendil chuckled, and Amanya looked at the two curiously. "Second sight?" she repeated.

Earendil grinned at the scholar. "Yes. My family has a number of Seers. Generations of them."

Amanya's brow furrowed. "Really? Even with those of the purest blood, such a gift as that is extremely rare ..."

River stuck her tongue out at Miyuki. Miyuki hadn't known River when she had been quite that young, but she knew that she had still been just as excitable when they had met.

"Well then I say go for it," she grinned at her friend. "Nothing quite so freeing as swimming."



That seemed to give Amanya food for thought, though after a moment she tucked the information away for later so that she could continue with her tale.

"I would be interested in knowing more about that at some time," she murmured. "Although ..."

She paused and looked at Earendil thoughtfully. "You are a prince in your land, correct?"

Earendil nodded.

"Of the line of Aldrich, yes?"

Earendil nodded again. A slow smile spread over the scholar's face, and she nodded to herself in a satisfied manner. "Never mind then. That explains it all."