For one of the first times in her life, Rienye was close to being happy. She would have been singing had she not been in the presence of others. Her mother and sister were just across the room, preparing part of the dinner. Instead, she let the songs wander free in her mind as she cut the bright papsya into even cubes for dinner.

Tomorrow, she would be seeing her eighteenth Passing, and would have a coming-of-age gathering. Collecting all the sweet fruit into a porcelain bowl with a swirl of leaves molded into the sides, she let her eyes stray over to where her mother and sister were setting the table and making another salad.

She knew how much her mother despised her Miehnesla. If she could have, she would have sent Rienye away long ago, but nobody wanted her. Not even her family. She was a disgrace to the elves, with her too-curved ears, darkening hair and short stature. She was hardly ever even allowed out of their home. Instead, she was always chosen to stay and do chores at home.

Her heart darkened a little at the thought, but she could do little against the orders until her coming-of-age. Miehnesla meant freedom to her. Once she was past tomorrow, she would be free to move out, and create her own life out from the shelter of her family.

Her father Jayael came into the open garden and they all sat cross-legged around the low table in the center of the garden to eat. Rienya kept her eyes down, lest she show too much emotion, and by that, another of her faults. It was her mother�s words that made her look up, careful to keep her face a mask of serenity.

�I have spoken to Taen,� she said, referring to the king�s advisor. �He had assured me that Heredhan will be coming tomorrow.� Her face showed no emotion to this statement, but her voice betrayed her excitement.

Jayael cleared his throat and glanced at Aeleria in a silent suggestion she get herself under control. �That is good. We shall have to be sure nothing goes�askew.� His green eyes flickered quickly over Rienye before he continued to eat, his face unreadable.

Aeleria nodded her agreement. �Of course,� she said her voice level once again.

They finished the diner with nothing else said. By the time they were standing, each carrying a bowl and plate to the spotless kitchen, the sun had turned the eastern marble walls of the garden innumerable sunset colors.

Rienye woke early, as soon as dawn touched her face through the open window in her room and quickly rose. She went to the bath houses for her ritual bath not bothering to look for her mother. She knew she wouldn�t find her. Despite how Aeleria had been there every second for her sister�s Miehnesla, she was positive she wouldn�t help her at all.

She managed to calm her shaking hands as she slipped into the white silk dress made especially for her Miehnesla. She marveled at how well it was made. It gathered under her breasts, and again at her waist with a woven silver band. More silver clutched just above her elbows before the perfectly white silk draped outwards past her fingertips. She had to pull the silver slashed hem away from her feet to lace up the gilded sandals she was to wear.

She brushed out her pale chestnut hair until it shone and then took the appropriate temple hair and braided it back together to hold with her anuevn. She rose to check herself in the mirror.

A few wisps of hair had escaped the braids, but she only pushed them to the side of her face, making sure her hair was neatly parted and smoothly passed under the twin braids on either side of her face. Her dress gave her something close to an hour-glass figure, and the sleeves made her arms look slender � as an elf�s should. Her toes just poked out from the hem of her dress when she took a step, and she was careful to lift the silken material out of the way so it wouldn�t get dirty.

She lingered at her window, staring off across the distance to Shaengin, The Most Beautiful Place in the World. Her party was being held there. Rienye had never heard of a Miehnesla being held at Shaengin, but she wasn�t about to complain. After all, it was the most beautiful place in the world.

She arrived after everyone else, as was custom, just after midday in a white carriage pulled by white mares to symbolize her innocence and purity. The gardens had all been set up, with flowering vines strung about, and a golden weave along the paths to walk upon. Tables of drink and food had also been set up to take from at leisure. Everyone was already there, dressed in their finest silks. Rienye was the only one, by tradition, in white.

Her carriage pulled to a stop at a golden weave where she was offered an arm to help her down. Raising her blue eyes, she nearly flushed and looked down before completely loosing her mask of serenity.

Taen gave her the smallest of smiles before returning to his own natural serenity.

Rienye laid her palm on his fore-arm. Any girl in Raisheon would have given nearly anything to touch Taen.

He was the only elf Rienye had ever seen who kept his white-blonde hair pulled back to hang in a tail just under his anuevn. He wore a collared silver coat that made his impossibly blue eyes stand out all the more. He was close to the exact thing an elf should be; lean, tall, passive and remarkably intelligent.

He guided her to the foot of the Great Tree, behi

nd which stood the passageway between the worlds, where the king stood, waiting for her. If Taen was close to the perfect elf, King Heredhan was the epitome of perfection. He stood, hands clasped in front of his silver and gold worked over robes, his silvery grey eyes emotionless. His platinum hair flowed down his shoulders except for the pieces held by his gleaming anuevn. He had a strong jaw and broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow but strong waist. No one would have taken him for anything less than a king.

Taen let her go a few steps away from the king as he bowed and backed off. Rienye took two more steps before sinking to her knees before the king and bowing her head. His voice was immersed in her mind as he spoke the words memorized countless ages ago.

�My child Rienye, I welcome you to the world with an open heart and an open mind. You have passed the trials and tribulations of childhood and are ready to become an adult.� His words hung in the silent air. �The world and these people deem you ready, and if there are any who wish it not be so, let them speak now, or forever their peace they must hold.�

Rienye kept her eyes shut and her head bowed, but heard nothing in response.

�So be the peace,� King Heredhan continued. �In my power, I wish for you the knowledge, the reverence, the serenity, and the state of mind to satiate ashkatau and keep it within you and within your heart forevermore.� He paused. �Now rise my child-no-longer, and be at one with yourself and your ashkatau. Rise, and be anew.� His voice faded away and Rienye opened her eyes and looked up into the King�s stoic face, keeping her happiness inside, and her face a mask of serenity.

Smoothly she rose and the King placed a hand briefly upon her head in blessing. The crowd gave a polite applause before they were silenced at the king raised his hand. Rienye paused, confused. The king looked down upon her, his eyes odd, his mouth slightly twisted.

�It is now time for my gift to you, and my people. Taen,� he spoke the elf�s name like a command. �Take her.�

Rienye felt his hand close hard about her upper arm and felt herself begin to shake � this wasn�t supposed to happen. She glanced up at Taen, but his features were locked in stone and he did not look at her.

�You are to take the path of Shaengin. It had been decided.� The king�s words were harsh, a blow to her face and she went limp and numb from shock. Only Taen�s hold kept her upright. �You are banished forevermore. Return will only be on punishment of death.� The king�s voice was flat, and his eyes cold as he directed his stare at her. �Your departure will be now.� He stepped sideways, revealing the path of Shaengin, the path to the Human World.

�Taen,� he said it again, like a command.

Rienye didn�t remember her feeble struggle, or the steps of the path, or the onlookers gleam of triumph.

Taen suddenly released his grip on her, and she nearly fell to the ground before he caught her again, gentler.

She looked up at him, helplessly. �Taen�� She whispered, hoping it was a dream, hoping he could explain it all to her.

She wished it wasn�t tears she saw in his eyes as he embraced her tightly. �Even those who do not achieve ashkatau do not deserve this.� He whispered to her. �If it were so, every elf would have walked this path, the king included.� He drew back, and there was no mistaking the tears Rienye saw on his cheeks. She had never seen an elf sad, much less cry.

�I am sorry�� he whispered, and turned to re-enter Raisheon. He paused, once. �There is a pack, just beyond that tree. It was as much as I could do�� He turned.

�Taen�Please�don�t leave me�� Rienye choked out. She hadn�t realized she was crying as much, and more than he was.

He wiped a hand across his features and they became stone once more, sad, mourning stone. �I have already stayed too long. I must leave�Good-bye forever Rienye. May ashkatau find you peace�� He turned, straightened his shoulders and stepped down the path. Three to the right, seven to the left, and four in the center, and then he, and the Elfish world were gone.

Rienye let out a half sobbing cry and sank to her knees from where she stood.





She finally came back to reality near sunset, her eyes cried out and her heart hardening against what had happened to her. She unsteadily got to her feet, looking around for someone, anyone at all who could perhaps help her. The forest was unnaturally quiet. Not even a bird called in the dying light, nor did insects sing, or creatures move about. Shivering, Rienye wrapped her arms around herself as she remembered Taen�s words: �There is a pack, just beyond that tree. It was as much as I could do��

Biting her lip to keep her tears from falling again at the memory of him, she searched, and finally found the rough woolen pack nearly hidden between the tree and bush beside it.

She was surprised at how heavy it was, as well as what it was made of. Where on Raisheon had Taen managed to find a pack of such dark, rough material? She had only seen the color on trees, never in a clothes, or bags such as this. Everything in Raisheon was light, whites and silvers, pale blues or soft yellows. Such a color seemed impossible.

Fingering the scratchy material, she pulled open the ties and pulled out its innards, right there beside the tree where she had sat down, unmindful of her white dress. Soft material was the first thing that came to her hands, a dress, of a dark blue, and another, of brown. Underclothes, and necessities, and even, food! It was all there. Beneath everything, she pulled out a thick blanket, and a small piece of paper fell from its folds.

Dropping the blanket, she picked up the note to find a short letter, from Taen.

Rienye,
I wish I wasn�t writing this, as I believe this punishment against all of our morals. I have seen more elves sent through this path, than you have seen years, including your Miehnesla. I am sorry that I had to send you on this path, but it is a duty I undertook when I became the King�s Advisor. As much as I am against this, I must perform it without loosing my ashkatau, and return the same. The only thing I can do for those I send Beyond is instruct them in what I know of the Human World.

The Humans are portrayed in Raisheon with no knowledge of their real world. The only people who find their way here are beggars, thieves and those no better than them. They get lost and find their way upon Shaengin, and suddenly appear in our world, which to them seems a paradise. In other words, most everything you hear, about their dirtiness, their slovenliness, is a lie. Yes, there are some such as that, but not all are bad. Take heed, I do not say trust them, treat each as an individual, and be wary, before you trust any at all. Some may try to deceive you, but I believe your education as an Elf should help you notice this as humans are not as smart as Elves.

I have left you a bag, which if you are reading this, you have found. The human world is dark in color, unlike Raisheon. I will advise you to change from any clothes you wore in Raisheon into the ones that have been provided. Take off your anuevn, let your hair cover your ears. Make no one notice that you are, or ever were an elf. Forget Raisheon yourself, as you will never be able to return.

Do not show your valuables, especially your anuevn, and keep to yourself. Try not to act superior, or knowledgeable, as they will not like it. People will try and steal, especially if you get into their cities. You must try and find a job, to earn your own living. I suggest you go to Keidale, their nearest city. I have told the elves before you how to get there, and I hope with my heart that you will perhaps find one of them to teach you and protect you; because even as it is wrong to send an elf into the Human World, it is even worse to send a female alone.

I barely know you, and I know you know me even less, but this is as much as I could do. I could never say how sorry I am, and it never gets easier. Each elf I send makes it harder and harder to send the next. The only hope I have is that you will live happily in the Human World. I must leave you now, as we are going to depart for your Miehnesla, I wish you the best of luck, and may ashkatau always be in your heart.
Taen
There is a map on the back, of how to find Keidale.

Rienye swatted at hand at her eyes after reading the letter. She turned it over, and saw the map, scrawled in the same exacting writing that Taen had written in. Pressing the paper to her chest, she glanced up at the sky, finding the sun had nearly set. She wasn�t sure how she had read in such dim light.

Slowly, she pushed everything back into the bag, excepting the cloak and thick blanket. She wrapped herself in the cloak, pulled the hood over her head and then wrapped herself in the blanket, curling up midst the roots of the tree using the pack for a pillow.

She didn�t fall asleep for maybe an hour, but soon the silence and the memories overwhelmed her tired body into submission for the night.

She awoke early in the morning, when first light just brushed her cheek, and rose, shivering and afraid. Where was she? The forest was unfamiliar, the air harsh. Trembling, she rose, and a paper fell from the folds of her cloak as the event of the day before crashed in on her.

She sank to her knees pulling the blanket around her against the morning chill. It was damp with dew on the outside and she shivered when the coldness touched her. Mornings in Raisheon were warm; it hardly ever got cold enough to need a cloak, much less a blanket.

Slowly she raised her hands and unclasped her anuevn, the metal chill against her palm. Her temple braids fell down beside her face, and painstakingly, she unwound them and brushed them back with the rest of her hair.

Hiding herself within the blanket, she stripped down and shakily put on the dark dress. The material was strange on her skin, but she knew it as cotton. They used it sometimes for napkins at fancy parties. She sat down on a high root to unlace the gilded sandals, and replace them with low, dark leather boots that enclosed her whole foot.

Wiggling her toes she figured she could stand them as long as she didn�t have to walk all day in them.

She picked her way through a smaller bag that had been inside the large one, and found utensils to clean her teeth, and brush her hair with, and she did so. Putting the tools back in, she came across a silver chain. Unlike most silver, it hadn�t been polished, and was dark, and gleamed very little.

She gazed at it for a moment, before realizing what it was for. She strung her anuevn on it and hung it around her neck, tucking it under her dress. Fortunately the neck line wasn�t very low, and it didn�t show at all.

She shoved everything back into the bag and slung it over her shoulders, picking up the map in her hands. She wasn�t one to stick around and feel sorry for herself, and she figured she had done enough of that the night before. Hadn�t she been thinking merely two days ago that she wanted to go out on her own? Well, now she was, even if it was in somewhere other than she had planned.







Well, of course he was under nourished. What else would be expected from fifteen years of living in a tub in the unused attics of the laundry? He had a swatch of board straight brown hair dashed across his forehead pleading uselessly for attention, grey eyes that could change color with his mood, and a careful mouth that sometimes spoke too much.

At the moment, Tipk, for that was his self-given name, had just aroused from his half-slumber from the night before. Levering himself nimbly from the bottom of the copper tub, he steadied himself against it while his feet reclaimed their boots. He had only recently grown into them. His boots were one of the two things of pride he owned, well worn and soft, but loved because they had been his father's. The only person to have ever loved him - even if it was for only four years - before he died of Plague. Then the Red's had come, and the scared little four-year old he had been then, had hidden, clutching them to him for comfort as the Red's took the body, and almost everything in the house to burn away the Plague.

He thumped a hand against his chest to make sure his silver was there hanging on its rawhide string, his only other object of worth. It was a piece of silver, made of intricate leaves and vines, with a tiny pale sapphire in the center of it. Once there had been something connected to the back of it, but it had long since been torn off after catching on something. He wasn�t sure why he had never given it up, but it was probably because of his father. He remembered his father had one as well, and pressed on him the importance of keeping it, and making sure it was never stolen.

Boots on, ragged shirt straightened, he shook the limp hair out of his eyes and left the laundry via a window, and clambered over the neighbor's blue tiled roof careful not to slip or send any of them sliding into the street. No one need know about his hiding place, or how he got there. He then deftly swung down a small trellis, his hands and feet placed where he knew there wouldn't be flowers or vines he could possible squish. Over a wall, and he was into the city.

The people bustled about him in the market, elbows catching, kicks aimed toward the less fortunate, in attempt to hurry on their way. Tipk settled into a walk, searching for a person whom he could snitch a lunch from. He succeeded four blocks down, not in finding lunch, but something else that made him pause: a beating.

He watched, horrified, as a cook shoved the girl to the porch, her lash, a switch made of rose vine flicking her. She shouted unmentionable language to the girl, her whip flying to catch and tear the fair skin.

The girl stood numbly horrified, her face a mask of shock. She didn�t move to try and help herself, and Tipk bit his lip as the thorns caught on the girl's cheek and left a bloody smear behind. He couldn't have stopped himself if he wanted to - he had to help.

"Stop!" His usually softly spoken voice was shouted into the woman's face, as he shouldered his way to the girl's side.

Numb to the thorns snagging his shirt and dotting his shirt with blood, he shoved the shocked girl down the two stairs, and past the staring crowd. The cook, a nicely rounded, aproned woman stood dumbstruck at his boldness, before turning and smartly going back into her shop, �Girlie, your kind ain�t welcome, don�t you ever come back here!� Her words were punctuated by the door slamming shut.

Tipk pulled the girl into the nearest alley before stopping, his grey eyes green with anger and blue with concern. "Are you alright?" He asked, holding her nearly limp body up with an arm.

She couldn't have been more than fifteen, maybe sixteen, with pale chestnut hair, and the bluest eyes he had ever seen. She trembled under his touch, her eyes wide and afraid. She darted looks right and left, and then met his, and softly she whispered, "Help me..." Her eyes flew to the corner as somebody came around it, giving them a yellow-toothed grin. Tipk turned to face the man, his face a mask of annoyance and angriness. The yellow-toothed man held up his hands and his smile disappeared before he continued down the alley.

Tipk sighed and turned back to the girl, today of all days, it had to be the day he was actually hungry. He spoke gently despite his slight annoyance at the girl, but put his arm behind her elbow. �We can�t talk here. Come on, follow me.� The girl held against his pull on her arm, frozen to the spot. �But��

Tipk sighed, and turned to face her. �Look, d�you want help or not? I�m not going to hurt you, I�m not going to rape you and heck, I won�t even steal from you. I wouldn�t have given you another look except you were getting beaten by a thorn vine, and that�s just plain wrong. Even here there are laws. I wanted to help you, d�you want my help?� He hadn�t spoken that many words together since the last time the Red�s had thought he had stolen something. He�d had to talk very fast to get out of that one.

He looked at her impatiently, waiting for her answer.

�You promise?� She said softly, her chin trembling.

�I never make promises,� He replied shortly. �They�re too easy to break. D�you want help, or can I leave? I�m hungry,� he asked her again, his eyes flickered behind him toward the crowd, watching his back. The girl was pretty, even if she was with him, men would try and steal her. They wouldn�t be as nice as him either.

�I have food�� She said, �If you�ll help me.� He finally noticed the strange accent she held in her voice. She seemed to draw out each word to its full extent.

�Deal. Where is it?� he asked her, hoping she had something good.

�In my bag, oh, but that�s at the inn�� She made a half disgusted, half despairing noise.

�What room? I can get it.� He replied quickly, steering her out into the people, headed toward the inn she had come from.

�It�s in the back, in a separate building, the third room, it�s only a bag,� She explained, pressing a hand to the cut on her cheek to stop the blood oozing from it. �Wait�� she half stopped as they passed the entrance to the Rose Petal.

He cut her off before she could say anything else. �Trust me. I know where I�m going.� He pushed his way across the street and down an alley.

He counted off the buildings, and finally stopped about half way down the alley. Few people were back there, and that was all the better for what he was going to do.

�Room three?� He checked with her, and at her nod, he took selected a few of the vines climbing the wall and tugged on them, checking their strength.

The girl�s gasp was cut off by her biting her lip, and he turned to her, �What now?�

�Aren�t those�thorn vines?� She said as if she struggled for the right words to name them with.

Tipk frowned, wondering just how foreign she was. Pulling the vine he had further from the wall, he shook his head, �Not all of �em. They put rose vines to discourage people from climbing over and look pretty-like. These vines I�m using are just to make �em thicker.� The vines he held were about an inch thick at their slimmest point and smooth.

The girl�s mouth turned into an o, and she bit her lip softly again, her eyes leaving him and looking toward the top. He reached the top in little time, and once his boots were settled amid the thick vines, he took inventory of the small yard. Evidently the building she spoke of had once been a stable, and lucky enough for him, the loft window was near enough to swing into.

A short leap landed him cat-like on the roof, and he then swung down, using his arm strength to hold on to the roof�s edge, before swinging, and landing softly in the bare loft.

It still had the musty smell of old hay, but it was clean enough that he found the hole in the floor where a ladder should have been. He mumbled to himself about there not being a ladder, but continued to do his job. Sitting down, he swung his legs down through the opening and dropped to the wooden floor. He realized the building was dead quiet, and softened his steps a little. Should anybody need to come in, he�d be noticed right away.

Looking for room three � he hadn�t remembered who taught him to read � he found it, and found it unlocked. Snorting and shaking his head, he opened the door to find a tiny servants room, bare of anything except a bag in the middle of the bed. The rooms must have been two of the old stalls, with a wall knocked out and the stall door made into a one-piece door.

He quickly threw the strap over his shoulder, grunting at the weight he was surprised it carried. He nearly opened the door before voices drifted down the hall and he quickly shut it again.

The two people giggled loudly as they walked by and he heard a door thump shut and the lock click.

He stole out of room number three, and tiptoed down the hall past the locked door and shoved the bag up through the small hole to the loft. A small jump had him pulling himself up through the hole as well, pulling his feet up first, and after a small contortion he got the rest of the way through.

He dragged the bag to the window and heaved it out and over the ledge, and heard a soft thump as if fell in the alley and a stifled scream from the girl. He grinned to himself at her flightiness and quickly swung back up on the roof and then to the ledge on the wall. He climbed down the same way as he had climbed up and was soon on the ground next the girl.

�That yours?� He asked her, motioning toward the bag. As she nodded, he picked it up, holding out a hand to her. �I�m Tipk.�

She stared at his hand, and then slowly offered hers uncertainly. �Rienye�� Her voice lilted in the middle of her name.

Tipk gave a quick smile and led her back along the alley. He�d never heard a name like hers before.

He led her past the unguarded city gates and angled them to the left, helping her over the rough terrain until they reached a stream bed. The water was clear and cold and he squatted next to it and cupped his hands to drink from it.

Wiping a hand across his mouth, he stood up and motioned to her bag. �You said you had food?�

She nodded, settling herself on a boulder and rummaged in her sack and pulled out a wrapped parcel. �I�m afraid it�s a little squashed, it might be broken�but it�s edible.� She opened it and broke off part of what appeared to be a cracker, though it was much too large.

He bit into it, and exclaimed over the flavor that came from it. Crackers, and even bread were much blander, making him no longer sure what the substance was.

Rienye let a small smile slip at his surprise over the flavor and said in her foreign voice, �It�s called sariin. It�s made from the leaves of a sariina tree.� The foreign words flowed more easily than the common words off her tongue.

�Sariin?� Tipk questioned, he�d never heard of it before, and he had been in the markets enough to have heard of nearly every kind of food - even if he hadn�t tasted it. �Where are you from? Your name, your food, I�ve never heard of any of it.�



His question startled her, she hadn�t expected him to ask it, nobody so far had asked her where she had come from and everyone had taken her as a foreigner and left it at that. She bit her lip and looked down, her hand tightening against the cloth that wrapped the sariin.

Taen had told her to forget Raisheon, and neither did she want to bring it up. Not knowing what to say, she remained silent, her only action being to tuck her hair behind an ear unconsciously as it worried at her face.

She could feel his eyes on her without looking up, but she wasn�t expecting his sharply inhaled breath, or him saying, �So that�s what you are!�

She didn�t care how or why he knew, only feared what he would do. Her already white knuckles tightened even more on the cloth, breaking a piece of the sariin wrapped in it. She waited.

The same reaction had come from the cook, after only seven days of service. Rienye had quickly caught onto their routine, and had easily slipped in with the other girls. She had caused no trouble, and performed her part flawlessly. No reason had the cook to throw her out in such a fashion, no reason � unless it was because of her blood. Though her ears in Raisheon had been too-curved, cursed with the look of Humanity, and she had been shunned. Here in the Human World, they were still too-pointed, and here she was shunned because of their elongated arrow-shaped edges. The cook must have noticed, and though Rienye didn�t know why, hated her for it, pulling the thorn vine from a cabinet, lashing her out of the kitchen, and into the street where Tipk had found her.

She risked a glance at the male sitting across from her, his grey eyes scrutinizing her without a blink. She suddenly felt uncomfortable, out of place, and embarrassed. She quickly pushed the cloth back into her bag and said, �I�m sorry, I shouldn�t be here. I�m leaving, don�t worry.�

She made to pick up the heavy bag, but his hand reached out and stopped her.

�Wait-�

She jerked downward at the pressure he put on the bag, not expecting his motion. She reached out a hand to keep herself from completely falling over causing the chain around her neck to lodge free and her anuevn to fall from the neckline of her dark dress, sparkling silver in the sunlight.

She heard him catch his breath and she hastily stuffed it back inside her clothes, heaving the bag to her shoulder in a motion to quick for him to stop this time. Keeping her tears of fear and ridicule at bay, she quickly took a step away. �I told you I�m leaving, don�t worry, you don�t have to tell me.� She made to walk away.

�Tell you what? That I have one too?�

His words made her stop dead in her tracks, face stricken with inexpressible emotion. �You what�?� She whispered, her voice trembling.

He pushed back the piece of hair that covered his forehead and then pulled out a rawhide string tied around his neck. Dangling from it was indeed an anuevn, though slightly tarnished and with the clasp on the back broken off.

�Where�how�� She faltered, her eyes following the swinging motion of the piece of silver as if hypnotized.

Unconsciously, she fell back down on the boulder and sat there, staring.

Tipk shrugged, his grey eyes glancing from the silver to her astounded face. �I�ve had it forever, my father had one too. Do you know what it is?� He asked, and Rienye sharply turned her eyes on him, for the first time noting the ears that poked from beneath his dark hair.

�You don�t know? You don�t know anything?� She was so confused. How had he gotten that? If he�d had it forever, why didn�t he know? Closing her eyes, she buried her face in her shaking hands and slowly let out her breath.

�What? Tell me, I�m confused.� Tipk was clearly at a loss, and didn�t know what to say.

�Do you know where Raisheon is?� Rienye looked up, her face suddenly tired.

�What�s Raisheon?� Tipk asked, the word surprisingly easy to say, though compared to how she said it, he butchered the word�s beauty.

Rienye�s eyes suddenly took a far off look, though she was gazing at him. �Raisheon is the Land of the Elves, and my home, or was�� She said softly, �Yours too.�

�Was?� He questioned, saving her other words to worry about later.

�I was banished and am not allowed to return,� she said sourly, her gaze cast upon the ground. She wiped at her face with a hand, her mouth parted in pain as she rubbed the cut. Dried flakes of blood fell onto her skirt and she quickly pushed them to the ground.

�Why were you banished?� Tipk asked gently, fingering the leaf-work on his silver.

Rienye looked up at him, her eyes cold with anger, �Because I�m too human.� She said, and then dropped her chin and her defiance. �My hair is too dark, my ears are too rounded, and my height is below average�� She continued bitterly, �I cannot keep my ashkatau for even a day even though I have completed my Mienhsela, I am imperfect.� She finished, her hopeless blue eyes looking up at him, tears threatening to fall. �Even in this world, they shun me.�

Tipk remained silent, unsure how to react to her words. He didn�t even know what half of them meant, or what it mattered that she wasn�t tall. It was Rienye that broke their silence.

She took a deep breath and seemed to regain her composure. �How long have you been here?� She asked him her eyes falling to the clenched hands in her lap.

�My whole life, I�ve never known anywhere else,� Tipk�s grey eyes sought hers out, but she remained hidden behind the hair that fell in front of her face. �Should I?� He asked uncertainly.

She shrugged, finally looking up after seconds of silence. �I don�t know. All anuevns come from Raisheon, yours included � unless�did you steal it?� She asked, hoping he hadn�t.

�Anuevn?� His look was blank, plainly stating the fact he didn�t know what the word meant.

�That,� she motioned toward the silver on the string of rawhide, �They�re called anuevn. So did you steal it?�

He gave her an indignant look. �No, I didn�t steal it! I�ve had it ever since I remember. My father had one too.� He rested his elbows on his bent knees, watching her.

�Your father, he lived here too? What about your mother?� She asked quickly, her blue eyes sought his out and held them.

He met her stare flatly. �I don�t know who she was. My father died when I was three. He didn�t exactly get the time to tell me.�

Rienye looked taken aback by his abruptness. �Oh�I�m sorry��

Tipk only shrugged and looked down, his fingers still rubbing across the surface of his anuevn. Rienye watched him for a moment, her eyes traveling over his face and ears, seeing the resemblance between him and elves in Raisheon, though at first glance she would never have noted it.

His hair, perfectly brown, would never have been allowed in the perfect world of Raisheon. Luckily for him, it covered most of his pointed ears, and unless he pushed it back, they probably wouldn�t be noticed here in the Human World.

After a few more minutes of contemplative silence, Reinye gave a heavy sigh.

Tipk looked up, �What�s that other thing you said, Mie-something?� He asked her, tucking his silver back into his shirt. �Meinhsla?� She asked him, covering a small smile. Tipk nodded, settling his chin in a hand.

�It�s like a coming-of-age gathering. Only your parents decide when you are going to have it.� She screwed up her face trying to think how to explain it. �It makes you part of the �adult-world�. Before your Meinhsla, you have to live with your parents, after it, you�re allowed to move out on your own, find an occupation, a husband � or wife� She nodded toward him.

�How old do you have to be to have one?� He asked, curiously.

Rienye shrugged. �It depends on your family. Some are ready to move out when they�ve only seen thirteen Passings-�

He cut her off, �Passings?�

�Years,� She said absentmindedly before continuing. �Other�s wait longer. If you�ve seen eighteen Passings, your family is forced to perform one for you. If you are not ready by eighteen, something is wrong with either you or your family.� She spoke the words, realization hitting her. She looked down, blinking.

�How old were you? You said you completed yours,� He asked, watching her.

�Eighteen�� She said softly, a week and a half ago, she had turned eighteen and been banished. She saw him raise his eyebrows when she said her age and caught his eye, raising her own. �Is there something wrong with my age?�

Tipk leaned back, stretching his back and yawning. �No, no, you just don�t look it.� He held up his hands when she glared at him. �Hey, don�t get mad at me, I�m just telling you the truth. At least you aren�t a billion years old, covered in wrinkles and age spots like stories say.� He grinned at her suddenly as he imagined it.

She scoffed. �A billion years? Try a thousand. And we do not get wrinkles, or age spots!� She corrected him.

Tipk sat back up, �So elves do really live that long?� His grey eyes looked surprised.

�Of course! What, did you think we lived like Humans?� She asked him, not realizing how degrading her words were.

Tipk�s eyes grew stony. �As a matter of fact I did! You sure are acting like one now! Humans aren�t all bad, some are, granted, but most Humans are decent, and a good few of those are better than decent!� He crossed his arms in front of his chest, staring at her from behind locks of brown hair. His anger wasn�t detectable but for tiny sparks burning in the back of his eyes.

She recognized his ashkatau even if he didn�t. It must have been natural for him, most elves had to be taught to achieve ashkatau. She let out her breath and closed her eyes momentarily. �Sorry�I-I�it�s getting late.� She finished off, suddenly taking note of the sky.

Tipk glanced up, and nodded, �It is. Too bad I lost a whole day talking to someone who thinks she�s above the rest of us!� Despite the anger in his voice, his face was a stone tablet, empty of writing. �Come on, I said I�d help you, I�m not going to break a deal. Only a Human would do that.� He sneered, mocking her words. He stood up and began walking away, not bothering to look back to see if she was following.

Rienye swallowed a knot in her throat and quickly followed him back toward the town.

The light around them slowly faded, and by the time they reached their destination, it was more than half gone. Instead of leading her into the depths of the city, he immediately turned right on the second street past the gates, slowing enough that she could walk beside him.

�They close the gates at dark. Nobody goes in, nobody goes out. Remember that.� He said shortly, before striding ahead again, his face stony. Rienye nodded and quickened her pace so she wouldn�t loose him, trying to catch her breath as he stopped outside a moderate, two-story house.

Like some of the buildings, it had been built with the prospect of being an inn. There was a porch that spread across its front, and yellow light spilled onto the darkening streets. Tipk didn�t seem to take a second glance at the house, and quickly led her up the porch steps and inside.



He didn�t understand her! Her nerve at calling humans so...low class. Eyes narrowing, he let out his breath, she wasn�t all high and mighty herself now, she had even gotten herself kicked out of an inn. The Rose Petal at that; it was one of the cheapest and low-class places, which made it easy to keep a job there. He supposed she wasn�t to blame, she was a foreigner. His hand rose to his chest at that thought, to touch his silver � anuevn � he told himself.

She claimed to be of the Elfish Lands, Raisheon He wasn�t sure if he believed her or not. Of course he�d heard the stories, the legends of that place. Men said it was Paradise, full of beautiful women, good food and perfection. But someone to actually claim they were from their, and to be so�un-perfect. He shook his head.

He thought hard as he led her through Purlieu Lane and to Mistress Aedilwen�s inn. It wasn�t really an inn, more an apartment building. Most of the resident�s lived there rather than renting their rooms. The mistress had always been nice to him, given him shelter when storms were bad, or food if he hadn�t been able to find his own. She had in a manner of speaking been a surrogate mother. He hoped she would be as nice to Rienye.

He stopped just inside the door glancing around. He usually didn�t come in this way and wasn�t sure where to go. �Need something?� A man sat near the door, his nearly bald pate shining in the light. He felt Rienye press up behind him and the door shut after her.

�Uh, is Mistress Aedilwen ar-� His words were cut short upon the arrival of the woman herself.

�Tipk! Welcome!� Mistress Aedilwen wasn�t a large lady, but she had a great presence. She had thick golden hair and eyes that sparkled like black gems with kindness. �And who�s this?� She asked, after pulling Tipk forward in a one-armed hug to reveal Rienye.

Rienye suddenly grew quiet, and her hand went up to run through her hair � no doubt to try and cover her ears.

�Deary, none of that�s necessary, come now, I�ve seen �em before - got my own in fact.� She smiled warmly. �No doubt you two could use a meal, come, come, into the kitchen where we can talk!� She herded them like they were no more than small children into her kitchen.

Off to one side of the kitchen was a long scrubbed table half full of vegetables and stacks of plates and bowls. Mistress Aedilwen shooed them to the far side of the kitchen. �Now, set your bag down, dear, and go wash up in the yard, you�ll find the pump. Try and wash that cheek off too, cuts won�t heal properly unless they�re clean.�

Rienye bobbed a quick nod and once the door had shut behind her, Mistress Aedilwen turned on Tipk. �And just where did she come from?� She asked him. �Do you have a knack for finding these people, or did you fancy her?�

�Knack for finding these people? I-she-� Tipk stuttered, confused.

�Do you remember the man who called himself Ashfenam? Or the little boy named Jaem? Or the older woman you brought here? All of them.� She said.

Tipk wouldn�t have understood it had Rienye not explained to him what she had. �They were?� He said, astounded, but, I-�

�I wouldn�t have guessed it then either, but don�t worry, I explained everything to them. I think we should introduce her to them as well. Maybe they can explain things to her too.�

Tipk snorted to himself, �Yeah, she needs some things explained to her.� He raised his eyebrows, and then a question came to him. �Did you know I am one, from there?� He asked her.

She nodded and looked sad. �I did, I never told you though, I thought it would be better-�

Rienye�s entrance stopped her, and she quickly stood up. �Oh, listen to me chatting on; I should be getting you dinner.� She started bustling around the kitchen, bringing them plates and silverware, pausing only to tell Tipk to go wash.

Tipk went out into the yard, his mind reeling with thought as he washed. All those people he had suggested come here had been elves? He shook his head in wonder and began drying his hands on the towel that hung by the pump.

He walked back in the kitchen to see two bowls of broth steaming on the table and a partial loaf of bread in between them. He slid into his side of the bench as Mistress Aedilwen was called out to the common room.

�You sit down and eat now, I�ll just be in here, don�t worry.� She called to them, pushing past the door.

�So did you talk to her?� Tipk asked Rienye curiously, breaking the loaf of bread with his hands and offering her half of it.

Rienye shook her head. �She didn�t say anything to me�How do you know we can trust her?� She asked him softly, glancing up at him worriedly.

Tipk shrugged, �She�s always been good to me, I�m not saying you have to stay here, but it�s where I�d suggest � she�s been good to everyone I�ve brought here.� He began on the broth. It had been filled with beef and vegetables, and even though it was the bottom of the pot, still tasted good.

Rienye started her broth hesitantly, almost as if she were afraid of it. Mistress Aedilwen burst back through the door and Rienye jumped at the noise, turning to see what had caused it.

Waving her arms, she pushed her golden hair back away from her face, �Oh child, sit down and eat, I�m always in and out of the kitchen; you�ll get used to it!� She picked up a few bowls that were on the counter and was gone as quickly as she had entered.

Rienye went back to her meal subdued even more � if that was possible.

Tipk began to feel a tinge of pity for her. Her day had started with getting thrown out of her job, whipped with a vine, carted off by a strange boy who had eaten her food; he grimaced as he thought of himself that way. Then he had gotten mad at her for something she hadn�t even known was wrong! He watched her as she ate, her blue eyes carefully trained downward. His own eyes found his thick soup, and he watched it for a moment before looking up at her. �Look, I�m sorry I got mad at you��

Rienye bit her lip softly as she looked up and interrupted him. �It was my fault � Taen even told me I shouldn�t talk like that. He said not all Humans were bad and that I needed to judge them individually�� She seemed to be reciting the words from memory.

She looked miserably at her bowl and Tipk didn�t have the heart to tell her how right this Taen had been. Instead he tried to change the subject. �So who�s Taen?� He asked innocently.

�He�s the King�s Advisor�� she began, but didn�t seem able to finish what she was going to say. Rienye drew a shaky breath and closed her eyes, pressing her face into her hands.

Tipk stared at her, what had he said? �Rienye�I�m sorry�� He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He had never been around crying people, much less crying girls! �Don�t cry, what�s wrong? Rienye�?�

�Tipk!� He heard his voice being called from the common room.

He gave a last despairing look toward Rienye, but she hadn�t moved so he slid out of his bench and went to the door. Mistress Aedilwen pulled him aside as soon as he stepped into the room. �Now, did you two want the same room?� She asked, eyeing him.

Tipk stared at her incredulously. �What?� He managed to get out.

�Well? I guessed you picked her up because you fancied her. You�re old enough at any rate. Did you want the same room?� She repeated her question impatiently.

�No � I only helped her because she was being beaten! I don�t need a room any how � I have a place to sleep!� He said flustered. He hoped his face wasn�t turning red. His eyes flickered over the common room to see if anyone was listening.

�You sure? She is pretty�� Mistress Aedilwen searched his face. �You�re going to sleep here tonight whether you want to or not, it�s supposed to rain all night.� She informed him firmly.

Tipk crossed his arms over his chest. �Fine. But I want my own room.� He told her firmly.

�Alright, alright! You win, but I think you�re going to regret it. Go finish your dinner then,� She turned back to the common room.

�Uh�Mistress Aedilwen?� He stopped her.

She turned to face him again, her black eyes scrutinizing him most uncomfortably. �Yes dear?�

�Uh, she..er�started crying. Do you think you could come and help her?� He explained slowly.

�No I will not!� Mistress Aedilwen put her hands on her hips. �You started this, you�re old enough � you should be able to figure it out. I�m not your mother! Now shoo!� She turned around and then paused, glancing back at him. �I knew you cared about her!� Her eyes danced with victory as left him standing there.

Rienye hadn�t moved, so Tipk gently sat down beside her and hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder. �Don�t cry�� He started, but she only turned to him and buried her face in his shoulder.

He swallowed and awkwardly put an arm around her, shushing her, his eyes rolling toward the ceiling.

Mistress Aedilwen bustled in the kitchen again, and winked at him. He attempted to smile back, but whatever came out wasn�t more than a grimace. She just laughed behind her hand, picked up some plates and left.

Slowly, Rienye began to stop crying, and finally she leaned back, wiping her eyes. �I�m sorry�I shouldn�t be doing this�� She swatted at her face and Tipk thought to hand her one of the thin napkins on the table.

�Thanks,� she mumbled, wiping her face off as he got up. �Elves aren�t even supposed to cry, you know�� She said softly.

Tipk glanced down at her, raising his eyebrows. He�d never heard that before. Rienye didn�t seem to want an answer though, so he went back to eating. Free meals were highly taken advantage of whenever he could get them.

Later on, Mistress Aedilwen got them from the kitchen where they were drying the dishes they had just washed in payment for staying there that night. They hadn�t been made to � but Tipk felt better for doing it.

The rain was raging outside as Mistress Aedilwen led them upstairs into side�by�side rooms. Lightning flickered softly outside the windows, but the thunder hadn�t started yet, or if it had, wasn�t loud enough to be heard.

Rienye disappeared inside her room and Mistress Aedilwen followed Tipk to his. �Here, take these � I�ll wash your other stuff. Since its raining, we have plenty of water.� She handed him a just-slightly-too-big pair of breeches and an older shirt.

He took them and quickly changed within the confines of his room before handing her his own clothes. �Thanks,� he told her gratefully, his clothes needed a wash.

�It�s no trouble, and by the way, you did okay earlier in the kitchen, most boys wouldn�t have even thou-�

�Good-night Mistress Aedilwen.� Tipk said firmly and shut the door on her motherliness, shaking his head. You could only take so much of the woman a day.

He locked the door and turned around. The fireplace cast a warm glow over the bed, dresser and washstand. The shutters were closed tight to keep out the pounding rain.

Not bothering to pull back the covers, he laid on the top, hands behind his head. He watched the lightning flicker beyond the window, hearing thunder far off in the distance. He was glad Mistress Aedilwen had insisted on him staying. The attic of the laundry had holes, and he didn�t want to wake up in his copper tub as it filled with water.

He awoke later to a tremendous burst of thunder that seemed to shake the building. A soft urgent tapping followed it.

Lifting his head, he frowned and got up to check the window. The shutters were bolted in tight, both inside and outside. He heard it again � it seemed to come from his door. Frowning again, he went and unlocked it as another great clap of thunder shook the room.

He barely had a chance to open the door when a form burst through it, nearly knocking him over.

�Rienye?� He asked, as another peal of thunder sounded through the room. She buried her head into his chest, trembling.

Tipk glanced at the hallway outside his door and then locked it again. Awkwardly he put his arms around her. �Rienye, what�s wrong?�

She pressed closer to him as yet another burst of thunder echoed from the sky. �It�s so loud�� She whispered into his chest, shaking.

She was afraid of thunder. He could have shouted with relief, he thought something had actually been wrong! She reminded him quite a lot of Jaem, a little boy he had known who was afraid of thunder. Only Jaem could be convinced to �act like a man� and be brave. He doubted this would work with her, seeing as she had been reduced to a shaking little girl.

He gave her a small hug. �It�s only thunder.� He explained to her bent head.

�Thunder?� She repeated, looking up at him.

He swallowed and tried to take a step back, but she wouldn�t let him. �It-it�s the noise lightning makes. It won�t hurt you at all.�

�Lightning�s that flash of light?� she asked softly, looking at him again.

He nodded, �Yep. Do you-�

Boom. Another shutter-rattling bang of thunder rang through the building.

Rienye tucked her self into him again, trembling like a leaf.

�Shh�here, come sit down.� He led her over to his bed and convinced her to let go of his shirt and sit next to him. He got up again, and began to stoke up the dying fire. With the next clap of thunder, she was clutching his arm again, her face buried in his sleeve.

He didn�t say anything, but put an arm around her shoulders � he actually felt rather sorry for her.

�Do they not have thunder in � where you�re from?� He asked her softly, looking down at her bent head.

She shook her head, her hair falling disheveled over her face. �Or lightning.� She said in a small voice.

He convinced her to sit on the bed again, and was thankful when she grabbed the pillow to bury her face in instead of him at the next clap of thunder.

�How long does it go on like this?� She asked him, when the noise had finally subsided a little, hugging the pillow to her chest.

He shrugged. �I could rain for days, but I think the worst is almost over. When the thunder gets spread out like that, it means it�s almost done.� He explained.

�Good.� She said, inching closer to him though the next peal of thunder was softer.

�Do you want to go back to your room now?� He asked her lightly, hoping she would go.

She shook her head forcefully. �No, what if it comes back?� She asked her blue eyes wide and fearful.

He didn�t think it would, but he felt that it would be wrong to make her go back when she was so scared. He figured he could carry her back to her room if he fell asleep.

The rain continued to pour, and he watched her slowly drift sideways until she was laying down, the pillow firmly in her grasp.

He smiled to himself and gently pulled out the covers and then put them over her.

Settling himself on the floor, he squirmed until he found a comfortable position and finally fell into a much-needed sleep.

He didn�t wake as early as he usually did, probably due to the facts that he hadn�t gotten much sleep and that it had continued to rain through the morning and the sun never came out. The sky stayed a uniform gray, pouring rain or must ceaselessly.

He happened to wake first to the sound of his door shutting. Blinking slowly, he sat up and scrubbed his hands at his face yawning. Somebody had thrown a blanket over him � Mistress Aedilwen most likely, since his clothes had been hung over the washstand as well. He was glad for the blanket though, once the fire had gone out, it had become extremely cold on the floor.

He got to his feet and stretched, watching Rienye�s balled up form under the blankets. As quietly as he could he gathered his clothes and changed in what privacy the doorway offered. There was a short, five-foot entranceway into the room that was nearly hidden from the bed that he used. Throwing a fresh log on the fire from the small supply, he convinced it to relight from the coals of the night before he stuffed his freezing feet into his boots and silently let himself out into the hallway.

�So you regretted it anyway?� Mistress Adeilwen�s voice made him jump as he pushed open the kitchen door.

He looked at her blankly. �Huh?� he glanced into her huge cauldron hanging over the fire hopefully as he stood there, arms crossed, letting the heat sink into him.

�Well, from what it looked like, she made you sleep on the floor,� The woman pushed strands of her yellow hair behind her ears, staring at him while mixing something in a bowl on the counter.

�I chose to sleep on the floor,� he informed her as she shooed him toward the freshly scrubbed table.

�You chose � well! Was she that bad?� Her black eyes flashed as she watched him.

Finally, her meaning sunk in. He felt himself going red again. �No � it�s not like that�� He tried to explain. �She was afraid of the thunder and came in; I didn�t ask her to-�

�Ah, but she did go, didn�t she?� She eyed him her lips fluttering into a grin.

�Nothing happened!� He burst out, angry that she kept pressing the issue on him. �She was afraid of the thunder and fell asleep when the storm was almost over. I wasn�t about to carry her back to her room! So I just slept on the floor-� His tirade was cut short by a small boy of about twelve entering, carrying a pile of wood.

�Was the driest I could find mum � Tipk!� His perfectly green eyes landed on Tipk behind the table. He hurriedly pushed the wood into the box next to the hearth and plopped down at the table across from Tipk.

�Jaem! Did you survive the storm last night?� Tipk asked him with a smile. It had been years since he had found the little boy alongside the road into Kiedale, half-starving and afraid. Just like Rienye, he had take pity on the little boy and within a few days had brought him to Mistress Aedilwen.

Jaem stuck out his chest and gave a broad smile. �I sure did! I didn�t get scared � not even once!� He pronounced proudly.

Rienye entered the kitchen uncertainly, poking her head in the door and glancing at Mistress Aedilwen, and then Tipk and Jaem sitting at the table.

�Come join us! Jaem was just telling us his accomplishment,� Mistress Aedilwen nodded for her to sit down at the table.

Rienye and Jaem quickly warmed to each other as she sat down next to him.

�Hi. I�m Jaem.� He told her, �Who�re you?�

She smiled, �I�m Rienye. What great accomplishment is Mistress Aedilwen talking about now?� She asked him, giving him her full attention.

Jaem grinned. �I wasn�t scared at all last night!� He relayed the whole experience to her as Mistress Aedilwen brought them all bowls of this porridge.

�Did you fare the storm okay Rienye?� Mistress Aedilwen asked her, giving her a sly look that she didn�t see.

Rienye suddenly grew quiet. Her eyes flickered toward Tipk and she swallowed, �Umm, it wasn�t too bad�� she said quickly, immediately turned toward Jaem and asking him questions again.

Jaem was quick at noticing her and what she as though, and his first question was, �Were you scared of the lightning and thunder? I sure was when I first heard it � but Tipk told me not to be afraid. Did he tell you that too?� The little boy asked eagerly, pushing his nearly white hair out of his eyes.

Rienye�s blue eyes flickered toward Tipk again, who was determinedly looking elsewhere, having no idea what she should say himself.

�Well?� Jaem said impatiently before spooning the porridge into his mouth.

Tipk glanced at Rienye, wonder what her answer would be. He wasn�t sure if she would tell or not.

Rienye slowly turned a deeper shade of red, but was saved from answering by the arrival of yet another person whose presence seemed to make the kitchen go quiet.



He took a single glance around before walking over to the table where they sat; his glance took in everyone and everything, and most likely didn�t miss a thing.

Rienye stared and could not take her eyes off of him. His resemblance to Taen was so strong that she gaped at him speechlessly before he glanced at her and said curtly, �It�s not polite to stare.�

She hurriedly shut her mouth and tore her eyes off of him, instead stealing glances at him out of the corner of her eyes.

The man greeted Tipk with a silent handshake and ruffled Jaem�s hair, much to the boy�s dismay, before he sat down.

None of this seemed extraordinary to Rienye, except that his ashkatau was so strong she felt humbled merely by his presence. His face was a complete mask, devoid of any emotion, and his dark eyes so unreadable, it wouldn�t have mattered if they had been showing emotion. The others seemed to have the same reaction except for Mistress Aedilwen, who simply poured him a bowl of porridge.

The man nodded his thanks and took a bright green fruit from his pocket and began to neatly slice it with a knife he pulled out of seemingly nowhere.

Midway through a slice, he glanced up at and stared at Rienye with eyes so black it was hard to believe there was anything other than pupil in them.

�Girl, why do you stare so? Is there something on me? Do I look funny?� His voice was smooth as silk despite his annoyance.

Rienye shook her head, fumbling for words; she hadn�t realized she had begun to stare at him again. �Uh, ah, no�sir�� She stuttered finally, steeling her eyes onto her porridge.



He looked so much like Taen! So much! From the strong, saddened features to the way he wore his hair. Two braids tied in the back and then the rest of his hair gathered in a horse tail underneath it. His skin was barely tanned, just like Taen�s, and he even seemed to carry himself the same way. The only differences between the two men were that Taen�s hair had been nearly white, and this man�s was as dark as his eyes. It was then that she realized what he had been cutting up. �Papsya!� She exclaimed, making him look up from his work.

His brow furrowed in thought as he looked at her. �You know what this is?� He handed her a sliver and wiped his knife off on a napkin before sliding it back into where ever he had gotten it from.

She took the morsel from him and put it in her mouth with a sad smile. �It�s one of the things I miss most about Raisheon � unless they grow here?� She asked hopefully.

The dark-eyed man shook his head, dipping the pieces he had cut into his porridge before eating them. �The weather changes far too much for papsya to grow here.�

Jaem was watching with interest. �Can I try some?� He asked hopefully. �Please?� He added on as Mistress Aedilwen kicked his chair in passing.

The man gave a quick smile � exactly like Taen�s � and handed him a piece and gave another to Tipk.

�This is better than candy!� Jaem exclaimed, sucking on the piece in his mouth.

Tipk nodded, �You say this only grows in Raisheon?� He asked, watching the other carefully.

He gave a short nod and cut off Tipk�s next question with one of his own. �When did you get here?� It was directed toward Rienye; his penetrating eyes made her a little uncomfortable.

�Here?� she asked, unsure how to answer.

�The Human World - Meredda,� He clarified.

�Oh, about seven days ago�� she said and he nodded as if he had expected the answer. �What is�Meredda?� She asked, never having heard the word.

The man looked at her oddly, but it was Tipk who answered her. �Mereddan is the name of this country. There�s more than just this country too, like Jaroden, and Mylith. There�s more than that, but they�re really far away.�

�And they all have this many people?� She asked, astounded that there could be that many Humans.

Tipk gave her a look of warning before she could get the rest of her sentence out and patiently replied. �There sure are, some places more than others.�

�If you arrived seven days ago, then would I be right in saying this is yours?� The dark-eyed man interjected, and pulled a sandal from the depths of his dark attire, the lace-up straps wrapped neatly around it.

Rienye gasped, wordlessly taking the shoe. Where had he found it? She had figured one of the other serving girls at the inn had taken it. �Where did you��

He cut her off. �I got it at Shaengin,� he said quietly, his unreadable eyes watching her.

�Shaengin�but�you�ve been there?� She gripped the sandal tightly. �You�ve been back?� Her voice was almost desperate.

The random motions of Mistress Aedilwen in the back round paused at her question as if she was listening as well.

The man did not even blink an eye. �I was there when you went through, as well as Jaem, and Mistress Aedilwen,� He paused and Rienye bit her lip, not taking her eyes off of him. �It is called Shaengin on both sides � at least to those who know.� He concluded quickly, and blinked, looking down at the small pieces left of his porridge. Abruptly he stood up. �I must be going.� He said shortly and then left as quickly, leaving the four of them staring after him in confusion.

Mistress Aedilwen clucked her tongue, �Didn�t even take his cloak. Tsktsk�� She continued her kitchen duties after picking up his bowl on the table and depositing it in the sink.

�Who was that?� Rienye asked, realizing the man�s name hadn�t been spoken the entire time.

�Ashfanem,� Mistress Aedilwen spoke softly, picking up their bowls, and then in a louder voice continued. �Tipk, Jaem, why don�t you go fetch me some water while the rain�s paused. Rienye, come help me with the dishes - you�d best learn where everything goes if you�re going to work here.�

�Work here?� Rienye repeated, incredulous.

�At least until we can get you a proper place,� Mistress Aedilwen began stacking the dishes. �Come now, these dishes won�t wash themselves!�

Rienye was still at a loss. �You�d really let me work here?�

�Of course dear, I do the same for any of the Elfish who seem to be at a loss when they first get here. Come on, they�ll be back with the water before we get the dishes to the bucket!�