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"... No, I don't think it can. Valelldia and Oqaia do not manipulate the Meij - they allow it to flow through them, as it does all living things. In their case, I think, they are allowed to see into the Meij - they are more finely attuned than we are. They can glimpse the paths the Meij will take in the future. They may be able to see and understand some past events - I do not know.

"But I do know that they cannot change the future. With the prophecies we receive... some are possibilities, some are certainties. Even Valelldia does not always know which is which.

"If they cannot change the future, how would they be able to change the past? The past has come and gone - it exists only in our memories, the lasting changes it has made to us. It will never come again, whereas the future... the future is, at least, still to be seen."

She took a sip of her soup.

"... I'm sorry to be waxing philosophical," she said, smiling a little. "But I've had time to think - much too much time, I sometimes believe. This life, this attunement with the Meij is as new to me as it is to you. You have to decide, for yourself, how you will see it and live within it.

"But let me assure you - when your son comes into his own, you will find your place among us. You will truly become family."

She smiled at him. "You can repay me by telling me your name," she reminded him, laughing a little and blowing on her soup some more. "That's all I ask.

"I still remember - acutely - how alienated, alone, and confused I felt for the first months I lived here. Before I found my purpose.... my Vanna. And I'm still scared and confused, from time to time - it's only natural. Sometimes I doubt why I'm here. But the Meij has its reasons. Remember that. We've been brought together for a reason."

"DeArca, hm? I'll remember that." She took a sip of her soup.

Swirling it around in her bowl, she thought again. "I'm in search of somebody as well. I think... if the Meij wants you to find them, you will. Until then, all you can do is pray that they are fine.

"Perhaps Valelldia would be able to look and see how they are doing for you? I've been afraid to ask Val to find my dear Shamira... I'm afraid of what I might find. But you... you should know where your parents are."

She drank of her soup again. "I'm glad I've been of some help. And really, I remind you of your Illyana? I'm flattered!

"Though I assure you, I didn't grow up wanting to be a gypsy.

"Or... maybe I did. Maybe I just never realized that that's what I dreamed of. That freedom meant travelling the roads with friends."

"Oh, I couldn't - I can get back. I..."

But his persistence wore off, and she finished off her soup, setting it down on the ground.

For once, she was being invited into another wagon for the night not out of necessity, but out of hospitality. Smiling a little, she took his hand and clambered up into the wagon. "Thank you so very much, DeArca - I can tell that this is where you're meant to be. You'll find peace here."

And then she disappeared to settle and tend Vanna.

The next morning, Lorelei and Vanna said their goodbyes hurriedly - they were pulling out and back onto the road with the dawn, and Lorelei had slept easily- too easily - and had slept in!

Still, the parting was sweet and amiable, and Lorelei and Vanna were both in further uplifted moods from the encounter.

DeArca had enjoyed his time babysitting Varlan and now with things getting to be moving on, he had to prepare his next task, finding out about his parents and Illyana. Somehow, the answers would just come to him soon? Maybe like the Tellbook said. With hope, he would find what he was looking for.

Ash was enjoying how things were. He already had big success with Vanna, now he needed more work with Varlan. The friends seemed to be growing for him.

After several hours of searching for some of the answers to his questions, DeArca felt discouraged that he could not get any information about either Illyana or his parents. This was not a good sign at all. So, he had but one alternative...ask the TellBook. He knew this had to be used sparingly, perhaps because he felt that knowing the future was pretty risky. Maybe it would drain the magic?...No, no, that couldn't be right. Valelldia said that the book's magic was mysterious and powerful! Perhaps he would follow the advice from Lorelei and believe without a doubt that it will work. Entering a tavern, DeArca sat near a window, letting his TellBook rest on his lap as he stroked the pages with a pen.

I have searched for so long in the Port and couldn't find any information on my parents. I didn't see Illyana either. What must I do? What can I do?

He wrote and sighed a bit. Ash squeaked some as he jumped onto the floor, running in a few circles and DeArca looked down at him. "I can only hope that Illyana is ok! I just hope the TellBook wil give me an answer soon..." He said, looking out the window