Celik smiled at her simple, defeated response.

"Thank you, my love."

The rothank's gaze casually followed an elf that was passing the three.

Shall we begin?

Sheem's question held a note of amusement.

"Oh, wait one moment, you. You have still yet to explain how you know that the lupak is...well, a lupak and not a horse."

Though spoken in a whisper, her response held all the darkness of the anger and mistrust she was feeling.

"What?" Celik's reaction was laced with surprise.

"Hmm, yes, about that. Well, I am an elf of the rare sort; I possess more than one Gift."

"Isn't it rare to possess a Gift, at all?"

"I would say it's uncommon. But to have two Gifts; that is rare. While I am sufficient at mind-speaking, my true gift lies with hannolle.

"I could see a sort of haze around your 'horse' and 'wagon'. When I inspected them further, I saw them for what they truly were; though I did not know what the lupak was."

"Enári!"

Edileth cringed at Yena's exasperated tone. As she turned around, she saw the stern look in the elder rothnak's eyes.

"I thought I instructed you to look after–"

"I know, I know; I'm so sorry, dear Aunt. You see–"

"I don't want your excuses, Enári. I simply want you to do as I've asked."

Abashed, Edileth hung her head, trying to disappear into the hood of her cloak.

"Yes, Aunt."

As she walked away from the others, Edileth heard Sheem's voice in her mind, once more.

Your lessons begin to-night.

Great; I am to receive lessons from a boy no more than thirteen summers, who thinks and behaves as though he was ninety.

I am fifteen summers. And I lived with an elderly couple for many summers and had never been around children until I joined Jich's company.

Edielth pulled her crossed arms tighter to her chest, a hint of a growl rumbling within her.

Oh, get out of my mind already, you inconsiderate ballyvarringatt.

She heard the boy's laughter.

I suppose I could be called after a toad instead of a hound. I am not entirely sure which is more insulting.

Edileth could not help but smile at Sheem's response. Shaking her head, the rothnak moved with haste toward Marrik, lest she be admonished for sloth.

As Edileth drew up beside him, Marrik gave a small sniff of mock indignation.

"So, you finally decided to return to the ailing brother-in-law..."

"Brother-in-law-to-be...and I am sorry for abandoning you, Fendrith. It shan't happen again."

"I suppose that's apology enough. Right, then, you are forgiven. After all, I expect I can't blame you for wanting time with my brother."

Edileth assumed a somewhat girlish smile. As another gust of wind buffeted against her, Edileth leaned toward Marrik.

"Are you warm enough, or do you need more coverings?"

"I'm quite comfortable. But I appreciate your concern."

Edileth fell into silence, allowing her mind to wander from one train of thought to another. Three quarters of an hour later, the rain began.

*                       *                      *

Sodden and miserable, the elves halted for their mid-day meal. The Ferlians formed a tight circle; huddling together to gain any warmth possible. The rain had pounded down incessantly, and the wind had only worsened the situation; sending the icy-cold drops of precipitation beneath skirts and capes. Even as the elves began eating, the sky released a steady drizzle.

Yena fussed over Marrik, making certain his wound stayed dry. She continued worrying over him; hovering about and tut-tutting the predicament.

"Why don'na yeh jest cover 'is stitchin's?"

"Oh goodness, no; that simply won't do. His incision must stay clean, dry, and uncovered."

Appearing rather like a drowned rat, Torben moved close to Yena and Marrik. Careful to keep his actions out of sight of Adhraena and the elves of Jich's party, the aged elf held his hand parallel with Marrik's incision; rainwater dripped from his palm. As Edileth was sitting directly to the "patient's" left, she could hear the barely-spoken words that the hannorim chanted.

Once finished, Torben stood, and Yena followed suit.

"That should at least help."

"Thank you, darling." Yena moved to the tips of her toes, and kissed Torben's wet and weathered cheek.

Edileth gazed at Torben's face, truly noticing – for the first time – just how aged it was. Elves, by nature, aged quite gracefully; even the oldest having only the faintest lines of wrinkling. Edileth was aware that Torben's face had its own share of wrinkles. However, she had never realized the amount was so great. Being an elf, the lines and small creases in his face were not horribly noticeable.

Yet, as Edileth studied his face, she thought that she had never seen an elf with so much sign of old age.

The young female had always thought Torben had seen just over sixty summers, but now she felt unsure. Edileth decided the hannorim must be quite a bit older than she had suspected.

As if feeling her gaze upon him, Torben turned to Edileth.

"Enári?"

"Forgive me, Uncle. I was rather lost in my thoughts."

"Don't get too lost; we still have need of you here on Naine Mithale." Torben smiled, and Edileth returned the gesture.

She tucked her head farther into the drenched fabric of the hood. Quivering with chill, she began eating. Trying not to seem too conspicuous, the blonde glanced at Torben, once more.

He is rather old, isn't he?

Edileth flinched at Sheem's voice. When she felt a gentle tap on her right shoulder, the female turned quickly.

If Torben had looked like a drowned rat, Sheem looked ten times worse. His partially-braided, mostly-tangled hair hung at odd angles. His fair-skinned face seemed paler, still. His clothes, which she now realized were too small for his still-growing body, clung to his lanky frame.

A deep sense of pity washed over Edileth and she blinked back the pressure of threatening tears.

"What's this?" Torben's voice brought Edileth back to the others around her.

Without thinking, she grabbed hold of Sheem and pulled on his arm, forcing him to move into the circle and sit beside her.

"This is my new friend, Varrin."

She glanced to the boy with a mischievous grin. She saw a hint of surprise in Sheem's eyes, and then he, too, smiled.

Edileth looked back to the others and saw expressions of bewilderment all around. Joenek was the first to recover from the shock.

"Varrin? He told me his name was Sheem."

"Oh, that," Edileth smirked. "Sheem is what Jich calls him. And Varrin...well, it's a jest shared between us."

"Oh."

"Welcome to our humble little group, Sheem." Yena smiled warmly.

"Thank you."

Edileth pulled her pack onto her lap, as the others went back to eating, and took out an extra woolen cloak. She proffered the item to Sheem. He accepted the gift with gratitude evident even in his posture.

Thank you, Edileth.

The lad wrapped the cloak about his shoulders, closing his eyes in appreciation of the slight reprieve it provided. He began pulling the hood over his head, until Edileth stopped him.

"Wait a moment."

She offered him a decent portion of Vaile, and then retrieved her comb from the enchanted pack. Sheem took the comb, appearing somewhat confused.

"Your hair is a mess. I thought you might like to get some of the knots and tangles out; it might be more comfortable that way."

He blinked twice and glanced at the comb as though he had never seen one in his life. Then – using one hand to eat the Vaile and holding the comb in his other – Sheem attacked the ratted disarray that was his hair.

Edileth watched on in astonishment, and then stifled a laugh. The youth "combed" his hair with all the delicacy of an executioner beheading his prisoner.

He may be terribly brilliant and mature in some regards, but he is still a boy.

"No, no; let me show you."

Edileth took the wide-toothed comb and held a small section of Sheem's knotted hair. Then, using small and gentle strokes, she began running the comb through, holding the locks to the side so he could watch.

"See, the trick is starting at the ends and slowly working your way up. When you do it this way, you won't have to pull so hard and you'll lose less hair."

She offered to let him continue on his own, but Sheem shook his head.

"Could you do it for me? Just this once?"

Edileth paused.

"O-of course."

She shifted so that she could tend to Sheem easier. With an odd feeling stirring within her, Edileth took the wet tresses in her hand and set to work. It was difficult with the numerous intricate braids that had come together and were now an untidy conglomeration. After some time and with a bit of struggle, Edileth could run the comb through Sheem's hair without coming across any knots. She then turned back to her pack, taking out a strip of spare, dry fabric. The rothnak used it to soak up some of the excess moisture.

Next, she began gathering Sheem's hair and made a simple braid. By the time she had finished, the Vaile she had given the boy had been devoured and he sat with a contented expression.

"There, now; all finished."

A warmth filled Edileth as she smiled at the indigo-eyed boy. He gave a small smile in response, pulling the hood over his head.

Suddenly feeling self-conscious, the young female found that the Ferlians were again watching her in apparent bafflement. When Edileth's eyes met Yena's, the healer gave a smile of warmth and pride.

As embarrassment coursed through her, Edileth ducked her head and began nibbling her own piece of Vaile.

Are you typically unkind?

"Hmm?"

Edileth glanced at Sheem.

Everyone seems rather shocked by your taking me under your care. So, I assume that you must not be very kind, ordinarily.

Edileth sighed, choosing not to respond.

Very well, do not speak to me. But that's going to change, starting this evening.

Again, the female did not reply, instead focusing on eating.

Celik was right. You are quite stubborn.