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Earendil held back a smile. It seemed Andarien still was unaware when he was picking up what people said in other languages.

Andarien, for his part, nodded at Lin's question. "That it would take more than a century for one person or group to map the continent," he told her. "Is that true?"

"Yes, that's true," Kyrie interrupted, having overheard the conversation. "Trust me. I've been traveling the continent for a millennium. Simply traveling takes long enough. If you want to see most of each country, it's going to take much longer. If you want to take the time to map each country ..."

She shook her head.

"On the other hand," she added before the group could become too discouraged, "if you don't mind simply copying pre-existing maps, then traveling to each country will be both quicker and safer."

After another brief pause, she added, "But again, it depends on what other goals you might have in traveling."

Earendil smiled at Lin. "If the maps are already made, all the better," was his opinion. "Not that I wouldn't relish the challenge, but Kyrie's got a point. A century is a long time. She's graciously agreed to be our guide, despite the fact that I don't believe anything has been discussed on the subject of remuneration."

He glanced up at the woman to see what she would say, but she showed no reaction whatsoever.

Kyrie blinked, her eyes once more focusing on the here and now, and she looked over at Lin.

"I suppose," she shrugged, "the question is: what can you offer me? I seriously doubt any of you have much if any of the currency here, and to be honest, currency doesn't interest me."

Kyrie ran her tongue lightly over her upper lip as she thought about how to respond to that question.

"I've never been interested in money or possessions," she said quietly. "I've never really had either, and it's easier to travel without them. But when I travel, I have ... small matters of business to take care of now and again. So for now, why don't we say that my price is that, whenever necessary, we can pause our travels for me to conduct my business," she suggested quietly. "And if something else comes up, within reason of course, that I need something or ... whatever it might be, that we can do it, or at least take it into consideration."

Earendil looked at Lin. It sounded fair to him ... yes, he was slightly worried about what sort of situations might arise, but Kyrie didn't seem like the type of person to take advantage of them. And if she were, he was certain that Lara, Lily and Luk would not all have recommended her as a guide.

Kyrie nodded curtly. "Good. Then, considering now that you are willing to use pre-made maps rather than making your own, what other goals do you have for your travels?"

"Well," Shiro spoke up, "we hope to at least visit each country and learn something about it - its history, its people, its culture ..."

"And Lancaeriel is looking for her husband," Andarien added with a grin, remembering the tales the pale woman had told him when they had first left on their trip.

Kyrie blinked, showing surprise for the first time since she had first met the group. "Really?" She looked over at Lancaeriel curiously.

Lancaeriel smiled softly. "He was killed several decades ago, and since I have been unable to find him in the Four Lands, where we are all from, I thought that perhaps he may have been reborn on this continent instead. I have hopes of finding him, of course, but realistic hopes. I'm fully aware that he may not have been reborn at all."

After that revelation, Kyrie was silent for several long minutes, and it was clear that something was on her mind - though exactly what that might be was kept carefully hidden from the others who were watching her. The woman was inscrutable.

Finally, she murmured, "I suppose you'll want to see as many people as you can, then."

Lancaeriel nodded. "Yes," she replied softly. "Reincarnation is something we know so little about. In previous lives, he has always been a Dark Elf ... but there's no certainty that he will always be reborn as one. I also have always been born a Light Elf, though my appearance has changed slightly from life to the next."

Kyrie remained silent a moment longer, absently running one finger over a long scar that crossed her abdomen. Then she inhaled deeply and let it out slowly.

"I'll do what I can," she said at last, "but there are areas where it is simply too dangerous to spend time in."

Lancaeriel smiled softly. "That's all I ask."

Kyrie nodded. "All right. Anything else that we need to take into consideration? I hope you're all good walkers, unless you've got some horses somewhere that I don't know about."