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Silvyr frowned, but it was a thoughtful frown, rather than a doubtful one. "I suppose then they must be quite large," he murmured, "if people can ride on them ... I wonder what they look like ..."

The wheels in his head were turning, already imagining, thinking, planning a future project.

"Hold up there, Miyuki," Earendil spoke up from across the room, where he was sitting with Andarien. "Don't bring up things that will just need more explaining. He's not going to be able to meet Haldia in all likelihood, and regular rocs is enough for him to handle. Don't overload him with information."

Alassëa had both her hands on her staff now, and she was holding it tightly. She hadn't had a chance to meet Haldia at all yet, though she was well aware that the woman was usually a part of the group of travelers.

Silvyr glanced over at Lin, then turned back to Miyuki. "Well, I'll take your word for it," he told her. He wasn't about to go around and start touching peoples' extremities to see how soft they were.

"At any rate, Miyuki, we should probably let him get back to work," Earendil added. "We have taken up quite a bit of his time already."

"Oh, it's no trouble," Silvyr said quickly. "You really have no idea how wonderful it is to know that Alassëa is alive. When we came to the conclusion that she must be dead, the whole town mourned."

"If they remember me," Alassëa replied to Miyuki. "After all, I don't remember most of them. I am sorry, Silvyr, but until you spoke to me I could not remember your name, either."

"You didn't remember the healer at first, either," Earendil pointed out, "and he was the one who taught you."

Silvyr smiled gently at the blind woman. "Well, you remembered eventually, that's all that matters."

"That's true," Alassëa agreed with a warm smile.

"We really should keep going, though," Earendil chuckled. "Come, there is lots to see, and we don't want to keep Silvyr from his work for too much longer."

"I do hope that you'll come again," the woodsmith invited them all heartily. "And it really is wonderful to see you again, Alassëa. You just let me know if your staff needs any attention, or if you need a new one, and I'll have it for you! Any time!"

"Farewell!" Silvyr replied with a friendly wave before turning back to his work.

Earendil picked up Andarien again and reached for Lin's hand before heading out of the shop, fully expecting that Miyuki and Alassëa would follow.

Alassëa gripped her staff in one hand and with her other hand reached for Miyuki's shoulder once more. "Lead the way," she said softly.

Alassëa tilted her head thoughtfully as she followed Miyuki, one hand on the girl's shoulder. "I wonder if Aethos will still be there," she murmured. "He was going to get some things for my falcon there ..."

It wasn't a long walk to the tannery: as Miyuki had said, it was only a few doors down, on the other side of the street. The door to the shop was propped open, and already before they were even in front of the shop Alassëa could smell the familiar scent of leather.

"We must be very close," she smiled. "It feels ... closer than I recall it being."

Alassëa followed Miyuki into the shop and took a deep breath, letting it out very slowly.

"It smells so good in here," she smiled. "Yes ... it brings back memories."

The shop was nearly empty. There was one customer who was looking over some of the wares, but neither Aethos nor the bird were in sight. The shopkeeper was working at something behind the counter, and when he heard Alassëa he smiled widely at her.

"Good morning!" he greeted the group. "I was wondering when I would see all of you!"