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"Now there's a tough question," Lancaeriel laughed softly. "Give me a moment to think about that."

She counted slowly on her fingers, counting them first by putting her fingers up, and then continuing by putting them down again. The higher the number got, the slower her counting went as she tried harder and harder to remember the different countries.

"At least twenty," she concluded at last, putting one hand to the back of her head and smiling sheepishly at Miyuki, "perhaps twenty five."

"It does seem so," Earendil agreed with Miyuki, his mind already trying to do the calculations to see how much time they might end up spending on the large continent.

Lancaeriel cast him a curious look, and he explained, "I am one of many princes of the Southland, and my job, which gives reason and purpose to my travels, is to map any lands which we might come across on our journeys, and to learn what I can about them, for my Great-Grandmother's archives. It also gives our country the option of trading with some of the countries we come across."

"Ah, I see," the woman nodded sagely. "That makes sense. It would indeed be a long and tedious task, too. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours."

"That I will not deny," Lancaeriel laughed. "The countries of Arkandia are so varied in their land and in their people and their customs ... I feel no shame in saying that they are far more interesting than any of the Four Lands, though I was born and raised here."

She smiled. "There are interesting areas in these countries, to be sure, but for variety and intrigue, I have to say that Arkandia is the best continent in the world, at least, that I have been to."

"I have personally been to almost all of the countries in Arkandia," Lancaeriel replied softly, "as well as Fëanaro, before it was destroyed, Valeria, and once I was in Amon Darthir. I have seen the land of Nauros, though I have never stopped there, and I have considered visiting Iceland, but ... I'm afraid the idea of such a cold place does not quite appeal to me."

As pale as she was, a Gaian might think she was born in a colder climate, but that was not the case.

"That is one thing of which I am not certain," Lancaeriel admitted. "As I said, I have not been there, nor have I met anyone who has. At least, not in a very long time. For all I know, the continent might be different from what it was back then."

It had been many Ages since then, after all.

Lancaeriel shivered involuntarily. "Then I recommend taking at least one person, preferably more, who has fire magic," she cautioned the child. "Without such a one, you would surely freeze before your first day there was out."

"I've never heard of such cold," Earendil commented quietly to Lin. "I know the winter in the Borderlands and the Northland can be harsh, but ..."

"That sounds uncomfortable," Earendil understated flatly. He half-frowned. "As much as my instincts tell me to stay away from such a place, I'm afraid Miyuki will end up getting her wish ... now that we know of the land, I do have the duty to at least try to map it."

Maybe he would talk to Shiro and learn what he could about the cold land Lin was referring to. Perhaps he could use the information to prepare them for the inevitable trip.


Lancaeriel tilted her head thoughtfully. "I suppose ... if you bundled up enough," she said slowly. "But ... even still, it would be extremely dangerous. I really do think that you should have a firecaster with you for safety."

She blinked at Miyuki. "You did say that you have been to Amon Darthir ... do you know anyone from there who might be interested in accompanying you? They are all firecasters, after all ..."

Plus there was the odd person here in the Four Lands who had the ability to use fire. Surely Miyuki would know someone ...