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Lancaeriel smiled again at Lin, and then she turned and looked into Iorlas's eyes. For several long minutes, neither of them moved, saying nothing, and the only indication that something might be happenings was a faraway, unfocused look that appeared in Lancaeriel's eyes.

After only a few minutes, she blinked and released Iorlas's hands.

"Well," she murmured. "I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing."

Lancaeriel laughed softly. "I apologize," she smiled, "but I suppose I'm just not used to telling others what I've seen yet."

"You could give it a start by telling us," Iorlas suggested, trying not to sound too impatient.

"Of course, yes," Lancaeriel smiled ruefully. "Again, I apologize. She is still in her cell. As I said, this could be a good thing or a bad thing. Good because she can't sneak up on you, can't surprise anyone here, can't pretend to be you - as I know she's done in the past; but bad because ... well, if she's stuck in a cell she can't come here to end things, can she?"

Iorlas frowned gently. "True ..."

Lancaeriel nodded. "Yes, though even if she didn't have to, the bond would still be broken if I were to change her now. And as an elf, neither she nor anyone here nor even a combination of everyone here would stand a chance against Ioreth. The only choice Iorlas has is to wait until her sister comes and things are ... settled between them before it would be safe to change her."

Iorlas was already thinking ahead. "Maybe we could send someone with a message to let Ioreth go free," she murmured. "She would find me soon enough, I'm sure, she always does ..."

Iorlas nodded. "I know. But if she does not show up before we leave, I will stay behind, if Gion and Nadya do not mind. I would not want to endanger Tor Karad, which, I believe, is our next destination? A plantation, as important as it is, is not nearly as important as the capital city, and from here it would be far easier to see when she comes, and to take her out into the desert where no damage can be done rather than staying where it is not safe for others."

yes, she was being selfish in all of this, and she would freely admit it; but at the same time, she was well aware of others, and property.

Iorlas smiled at that. "Thank you. Now, that's about as much as we can do about Ioreth for now ... why don't we see about getting you what you need for Andarien?" she suggested. "That was after all why you came to me today, yes?"

Iorlas climbed to her feet again and smoothed out her skirt. "Thanks for your help, Lancaeriel," she murmured softly. "And thank you for helping me to be completely honest."

The other woman smiled back at Iorlas. "For you, there is little I would not help you with," she replied warmly. "See you later."

Iorlas returned the farewell and headed off with Lin to find a small vial or a cup or something similar. Then it was a small cut, collecting some blood, and Iorlas entrusted it to Lin's care.

"Make sure he drinks it soon, while it's still warm," she cautioned Lin, holding a towel to the cut to stem the bleeding. "Otherwise it will lose its usefulness. I leave it to you whether or not to tell him what it is."

Iorlas smiled. "Yes ... I've seen him all around the plantation, always looking at some bit of machinery or other. That's one thing that really makes him happy, I think."

She waved Lin off. "But you'd better go before it gets cold. I'm going to find Daeron. I think we need to talk ... again."

Earendil and Andarien were working on arithmetic, something Andarien seemed to really enjoy (as it was something that came naturally to him), while Earendil kept an eye on Miyuki as she did her work. They were in the living room, where Laer had set up a small table for them to work since their tents had blown away.

Andarien looked up when the door opened, and he grinned at Lin. "Look, Nana!" he beamed at her, holding up his slate. "I finished my sums!"