Welcome to Gaia! ::

Elros smiled. "But she is still a quick learner, despite not having the same mental capacity that you did," he said reassuringly. "I'm told that she learned the entire Common Elvish tongue fluently in the time that it took for your ship to arrive here. That is an accomplishment indeed."

He looked down at her and smiled. "But now that she is off with new friends, you must also find something to keep yourself occupied," he told her in a matter-of-fact sort of voice. "So. Where would you like to go?"

Elros couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Forgive me," he smiled bemusedly, "I could not help myself. I'm afraid that the best place to learn about the rocs is at the castle itself ... and that the two people who know more about them than anyone else are Aethos-sola and Captain Striate, or Roysen, the rookery keeper. Here you may find people who know something about them, or people who make harnesses for them, but only at the palace are those who take care of them."

Elros smiled softly at Lin. "So. Do you want to return to the castle to learn more about the rocs themselves? Or would you prefer to remain in the city and do something else until Miyuki finds her way back to us?"

He would leave it up to her. Miyuki would be safe here without Lin, yes, but he knew Lin would probably not be comfortable with such an arrangement, and would prefer to have her daughter with her when she returned to the castle.

"Perhaps," Elros said thoughtfully, "if you cannot learn directly about the rocs themselves ... perhaps you would be interested in some of their history? Or at least their history with the Sky Elves?"

He smiled. "I know of someone who might be able to tell us a bit of it."

Elros chuckled softly. "Somehow I knew you would," he grinned at her. "Come. He lives on the edge of the city."

He continued to lead her forward down the street.

"Bear in mind," Elros murmured as they headed down the street, "that he may ... ramble a bit. As it seems that all historians seem to do. His name is Astor, and he is quite old. A bit younger than Captain Striate, as I understand it. To be truthful, I've not yet met the man: but he has been recommended by Alena, who said that Rhea told her you might be interested in talking to him."

Of course, saying that Rhea told them explained it all.

Elros chuckled. "No, none of us should," he agreed. "At any rate, I must confess that since I began working with the rocs myself, I have been quite interested in learning about their history with the elves as well. So this will be interesting for both of us."