Made to Order [open]

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

WHACK! The iron tip of a capped wooden staff cracked down on a fragile stool, breaking it in two. Without a pause the long staff was whirled up and over the head of a tall, willowy figure. She held it securely in both hands, weaving a blurred pattern of shining metal in the air. Around and over her shoulders it flew at dizzying speed, creating a satisfying hum in the air. Behind dark, unbound hair, green eyes smiled. The tall figure turned gracefully with the spinning staff, making her movements into a sort of dance, deadly and beautiful at once.

Here and there the tip seemed to brush the ground, the quickness of the strikes making them seem deceptively soft. Only the sharp sound of breaking wood showed the true strength behind the blows. Each kiss of iron to wood left a dent in a floor, a wall, the solid oak counter. And still the woman spun, lazily almost, her luminous eyes locked on her staff happily. None of the blows were unintentional, and each elicited a small nod as she struck at different angles, with different amounts of force. She was testing the staff. By her side, a long sheath hung from her belt- her sword, unused in such a confined area. It too, however, had been rigorously tested for balance, speed, keenness, and strength. It was nigh unbreakable and could split a hair, and that was how she liked it.

Eventually she judged the staff well put through its paces, and gradually slowed her movements. She swung the staff to a graceful halt, slipping it into a long holster that was slung lengthwise across her back. Her green eyes found those of the openmouthed blacksmith who watched nervously from a corner. It was he to whom she’d brought her sturdy staff, asking him to cap it on either end with iron and run bands of the stuff from one cap to the other, strengthening the wood and readying it for battle. This he’d done admirably and beautifully, working flowers and vines into the brace-lines and decorating the caps with intricate designs. Rhian had been well pleased, but hadn’t been willing to pay for his services until she’d tested the job. The splinters that littered the smithy floor now attested to her efforts.

With a smile that made her eyes glow, Rhian pulled a sack from her pocket and placed a handful of coins on the counter. "Enough for the metalwork and repairs to your shop, smith," she said in a quiet voice, "as well as a stool, since I’ve cracked yours.” Without waiting for a reply, she turned and strode out into the sunlight of the street, whistling cheerfully.

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Lafali pranced eagerly over the mountain terrain. She was eager to be able to run somewhere where the air was fresh and there were open spaces. The beautiful blue roan horse was more accostum to the city, but that didn't halt her excitement. Konstantine kept easy control over the mare, though. Lafali might have been excited, but she still was an obedient mount. Konstantine had her well trained.

The woman herself was pretty excited. She was going to the elven city after recieving a letter had alerted her a rare book had come to the posession of an elven friend. He'd invited her to the elven city to see. Unlike most, Konstantine knew where the city was. Even though she was half human, she had managed to wiggle into the elfs good graces. It was certainly an amazing achievement, even for her.

Konstantine rode through the mountains without a second thought about the dangers of dragons and barbarians. That sort of thing didn't concern her. Everyone would die at some point so it was no use fretting over the dangers in life. It didn't take long for the woman to find her destination. Soon she had arrived in the elven city. It was a beautiful place. Much better in comparison to Dantalon. The woman was hadly paying attention to her surroundins, except for to pay attention to where she was headed. A dreamy haze covered her eyes as she thought about the book she was about to get her hands on.

Suddenly, Lafali let out a loud whinny and jumped back, prancing lightly. Konstantine grabbed a handful of her mane to steady herself. "Well I say," she gasped to herself. The woman looked down to see what had startled her horse. An elven girl had just walked out of a nearby shop. "Girl you ought to watch where you're goining," Konstanine scolded the other woman. "I could have run you over."</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian had only just stepped out into the street when a clatter of hooves and the very alarmed thoughts of a surprised horse alerted her to sudden danger. Immediately she ducked back into the smithy’s doorway, out of the way of the blue roan mare who cantered to a stop in front of the startled elf. She looked up to see a small blonde woman with delicate, angular features. She looked small to Rhian, anyhow- the woman was tiny for an elf, especially when compared to Rhian’s 5’11. Something else was off about her, but Rhian was distracted by the mare’s profuse apologies in her mind. She was explaining that her rider was new to the city and had not been paying attention to where she was going. The tall elf reassured the horse gently and silently, telling her that no harm had been done or offense taken.

When the rider spoke, Rhian was a bit taken aback, but let none of it show on her face. This tiny elf woman had nearly run Rhian down in her own town, with no warning, and was telling Rhian to watch where she was going? Rhian had only stepped into the street, and when she had there had been no horses in sight. It was hardly her fault. The horse nudged worriedly at Rhian’s mind, trying to say that her rider was perhaps being rude. At this Rhian smiled softly, and idly put out a hand for the horse to smell. She stroked the long nose gently to give herself time to figure out what was ringing all of her danger bells about this elf woman.

She reached out with her telepathy and brushed the woman’s mind so lightly that there was no possibility she would feel it. What she saw shocked her- the woman was only half-elven! Instantly, she drew back and slammed all of her mental shields into place, effectively hiding her powers from any outside detection. She looked up into the angular face, noting now that the features were not quite fine enough to belong to a full-blooded elf. She cursed herself for not being more careful, and assuming that anyone in Stalaga must be an elf. This woman must have good friends in the city, in order to have been given directions. The elves were jealous in their guardianship of their beloved city, and even half-elven visitors were few and far between. And for good reason, Rhian thought.

Her face became a polite mask, shuttered and unreadable. She didn’t trust humans at all, after what they’d done to her father. The idea that an elf would allow him or herself close enough to a human to make a child was utterly foreign to her. They were untrustworthy and dangerous. A half-human with the powers of an elf was simply that much more dangerous. Still, Rhian was nothing if not polite, and she told herself that the species of her companion was not enough to justify being hostile. So she smiled up at the woman, determined to be friendly.

”I don’t usually have to watch for horses on the main streets,” she said mildly. ”Forgive me for inattention, please; I was preoccupied with the work I’ve just picked up from the smithy.” She stopped stroking the horse, only to have a velvet nose nudge her hand. She laughed lightly. ”You have a beautiful mount,” she added honestly.

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Konstantine watched the girl somewhat lazily at first as she began to stroke the horse. Surprises were not something Konstantine normally took so well. She could see that the girl was shocked at her rather angry remark, but the woman was hardly one to admit she was wrong. Suddenly, Konstantine's eyes sharpened in interest. It had been small, but she could feel this elf probing her mind. She quirked her eyebrows in curiosity.

"You are forgiven," she said smoothing, examining the girl's face with interest. "Though there is little to forgive. After all, you would have been the one that was injured, not me." She stroked Lafali's neck lightly in thought. "Forgive my outburst. I am far more used to the city of Dantalon, where one must always stay alert." Konstantine leaned forward, eyes narrowing. She realized with faint surprise that this girl seemed to fear her.

"Yes," she agreed absentmindedly to the elven girl's comment. "Lafali is quite lovely. I got her as a filly actually. Raised her myself." The horse pricked her ears, looking immensly happy. Then again, this particular horse always seemed to be happy. Konstantine's probing stare did not stop as she slowly built up a wall in her mind with magic so that this girl would not be able to read her thoughts.

As an extra precaution she decided to voice her preferance anyway. "And please girl, do not probe my mind again. My thoughts are my own, and you shant read them without permission." Konstantine gave a crooked smile to accompany her light almost careless sounding tone. The woman adjusted the reigns in her hand. Unlike most horses, Lafali did not need a bit on her bridle, so Konstantine did not use one. She had a special bridle that didn't need a bit, leaving Lafali free to eat even when tacked up. Knowing it, the horse moved to eat the grass near the edge of the roach. Konstantine pulled her back gently and Lafali obeyed happily.</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian saw the sharpening of the woman’s eyes in response to her mindbrush and cursed inwardly. Apparently she was not as good at subtlety as she needed to be. She reached behind the shields she’d hastily slammed up and set up other, more specific ones. If this half-elven woman was a telepath she wouldn’t be able to get into Rhian’s mind without permission.

Her companion was watching her with more interest now. No wonder, really, since it appeared to her that a random elf had tried to probe her subconscious. She hadn’t been - she’d only wanted to find out what was strange about her and had never been good with asking questions to strangers – but to another it would look like it. She blinked once, the only outward sign that her heart was suddenly racing. The horse could feel her panic and nudged her comfortingly. Rhian acknowledged her with a gentle pat but kept her attention on her rider.

She tried to gauge her reactions carefully, to judge how dangerous she was. Should Rhian be more afraid of the half-human? Less? She wasn’t sure. Humans murdered her father for being a telepath, and now this woman knew about it. Would she react the same way her father’s killers had? Or would she wait until Rhian’s guard was down? Rhian’s shoulders tensed defensively, and her free hand strayed to rest lightly on her sword hilt. She was in no way trying to be threatening- her posture was, if anything, threatened. Her face betrayed none of her fear, however, and she kept a gentle smile going as the woman forgave her for getting in the way. That was just a tad confusing, to go from being chastened for being uncareful to apologized to for not knowing t he city, but Rhian could see that perhaps that was simply her personality.

She inclined her head in thanks, but said nothing as the woman was continuing on to comment on her beautiful horse. The horse in question- Lafala, a wonderful name- smugly agreed with the compliments in Rhian’s mind. An amused grin twitched the corners of Rhian’s mouth, but she kept it in check, knowing how odd it would look under the current circumstances. ”I can tell you’ve raised her,” she complimented the rider. ”She behaves wonderfully, and she’s obviously devoted to you.” Lafala stated firmly that she loved her rider, though she could be temperamental at times. That only made Rhian more wary- tempers added to human blood were never a good combination.

When the woman commented on Rhian’s mindbrush, she flinched, and her shoulders hunched. Her long fingers tightened reflexively on her sword hilt. For a second her green eyes shone fear and her mind raced to try and figure out how to deal with the situation. The woman didn’t seem angry or on the verge of attack, but she was waiting for an answer. Rhian swallowed and straightened up, eyeing the rider warily. If she attacked, enough people knew Rhian that they should come to help. She knew she had to say something, and after a moment of uncertainty she decided to throw caution to the wind and tell the truth.

”I thought you were an elf,” she explained. ”Only you didn’t look like one, and I got confused. I’m not always good at controlling my telepathy, so it was sort of an instinct rather than a decision. It won’t happen again.” She looked up into the rider’s eyes, hoping she would see that Rhian was being honest. And scared. She wanted to add that she didn’t appreciate being called ‘girl’- after all, the rider had to be half of Rhian’s age of fifty-six – but instead she said, ”We seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Welcome to Stalaga. Please, call me Rhian.” She reached up to offer a hand that shook ever so slightly.

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Konstantine felt rather amused by this elven woman. The woman seemed unable to decide whether or not she could trust Konstantine or should be afraid of her. The woman's crooked smile held on her face, though her eyes were guarded in case Rhian tried to use her powers on Konstantine once more. Rhian looked ready to draw her sword if necessary. Though the elven woman's hand on her sword hilt might have been threatening to some, Konstantine seemed unconcerned.

Konstantine stroked Lafali's neck unconciously. "Well, I could have sent her to a trainer," the woman pointed out, amused. "But I see your point. I do love her so, and I sure hope she feels the same." The knowledge keeper couldn't help but to chuckle. Lafali had proven her devotion again and again when Konstantine most needed it. She had no doubt the horse loved her at least as much as she loved the horse. Lafali was quite an animal, only rivaled by Konstantine's great owl.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about it with me," Konstantine waved away the excuse, true or not. "There's nothing wrong with having powers after all. Just be careful about them. Don't want to get on the wrong person's bad side after all you know." Konstantine stopped petting Lafali to adjust her seating slightly to get more comfortable. "Anyway, I am at least half elf. Or so I'm told anyway. I'm affraid I don't know much of my parentage." Konstantine drifted off for a moment, trying to remember something of her parents. She wasn't successful, which didn't much bother her. After she'd been taken in by the thieves, she'd led a wonderful life.

"Nice to meet you Rhian," Konstantine respondded to the woman's introduction. "And thank you for the welcome. You may call me Konstantine, if you wish." The knowledge keeper reached and took Rhian's hand, though her action almost seemed reluctant. In Dantalon, handshakes were more of a dangerous thing than here in the elven city. Konstantine could not abandon caution that was now second nature.</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian smiled in relief when the woman waved away her mental transgression. Her hand relaxed off of her sword hilt and her posture straightened into a more comfortably standing position. It seemed she was off the hook, for the moment. She’d simply have to be more careful in the future, at least until she learned better control. It wasn’t that she was uncontrolled; her control tended to slip when she was nervous. And whenever it felt like slipping, really. 56 was young for an elf, and especially an elf with telepathy who lived as a hermit for much of her childhood. That was no excuse anymore, however, and Rhian knew she was going to have to shape up fast.

”You are half-elf,” she confirmed with a nod. “Your mental signature has enough elf in it to make that fairly obvious. Do you know if it was your mother or your father?” She tilted her head curiously. The woman was a puzzle, and Rhian had a deep curiosity streak that wasn’t easily sated. She wasn’t going to go poking around in any thoughts, but she wouldn’t mind knowing more. She liked to know things, and now that the woman had claimed not to be a threat Rhian could set about trying to learn. She wondered if the rider had any powers of her own, any grasp on elven magic passed down from her nonhuman parent. It was certainly something to think about.

The handshake Rhian received seemed a bit hesitant, but Rhian brushed that off as the uncertainty of meeting a stranger, in a strange city, under strange circumstances. It was the free offering of a name that threw her. Konstantine- a unique name, too, and it couldn’t be a nickname. It sounded, and felt, like a real name, and if it was, then she must have come from somewhere with no elves. Real names- true names, the ones parents gave children at birth- had power among elves. A real name allowed magic to work better on people, and allowed telepaths easier access into a person’s mind. No elf in the city would give a stranger their real name- Rhian was short for Rhiannon, as her mother Elen was called Elle, and her brothers Bradoc and Coran became Brady and Cory. ”Nice to meet you likewise, Konstantine,” she answered. ”Though if that’s your birth name, you might want to adopt a shorter version while you’re visiting Stalaga. If the wrong person hears your full name they can aim magic that can’t miss.” She paused a moment, feeling awkward, then added, ”Do you know where you’re going, or do you need a guide? I’d be happy to take you anywhere in the city.”

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Konstantine glanced to Rhian's hand as it relaxed some on her sword. It seemed that the knowledge keeper had won at least some of the elven woman's trust. Judging by the looks of this elf and the way she acted, she must have still been fairly young relative to elven years. Still, it had been surprising that she had so easily caved into her powers. Perhaps she, like Konstantine herself had not been given the extensive training most magic users were subjected to. Or perhaps Konstantine had startled the woman more than she'd thought.

"Oh I wouldn't doubt it," Konstantine said with a crooked grin. "Though nothing is for certain about my past, my information came from the most reliable source I know." The woman ran a quick hand through her hair and adjusted it slightly. "Quite the curious one aren't you," the woman mused lightly. "Nothing wrong with that I suppose as long as you don't let it get out of hand. I have no idea for certain which parent was elven," Konstantine shrugged. "For all I know, both my parents might have been half elf. I'm told it was my father, which is what I believe to be true, but there's no way to confirm it."

"Oh there's nothing for me to worry about," Konstantine mused lightly as she took her hand back from the hand shake. "My name is charmed so that it cannot be used against me." The woman winked. "It helps to know all sorts you know, especially when most of those you know are the criminal type." Konstantine didn't mind revealing she was part of the thieve guild. Once people knew who she was, they normally wouldn't dare mess with her. The few that did soon found themselves regretting it deeply.

Konstantine's eyes still shone brightly in interest, but she was no longer spending her time analizing the woman as she had before. "Oh, I quite know where I'm going," she answered the elven woman's question. "It's hard to miss. But you're welcome to come anyway if you wish." Konstantine adjusted Lafali's reigns so she was ready to go. "Perhaps you are interested in why I've come?"</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian couldn’t hold back an unabashed grin at Konstantine’s comment. “My mother says the day I run out of questions is the day the sun goes out over Stalaga.” Now that she had established that Konstantine was not going to attack her or do some crazy human thing, her usual friendly personality was reestablishing itself. Her smile now was easy, natural, and full of life. ”I stop asking questions when I’m told,” she said reassuringly. ” So I can usually stay out of trouble. Did your mysterious source of information tell you where your father might have been from? Stalaga, or another settlement somewhere?” She knew that was pushing her luck, but she had to know if her father might have known Konstantine’s. There had been a few of them who went out to live and work among humans; it was possible that Elen might even know Konstantine indirectly through her father. If he was from Stalaga, Rhian wanted to introduce the half-elven woman to her mother.

A charmed name was interesting, and highly unusual. It wasn’t necessary in Stalaga, where few people would be rash enough to say their true names, or use someone else’s in a magical working. The procedure was unneeded and expensive, depending on who you got it from. A botched charming could prove very dangerous. Rhian didn’t blink twice at the mention of criminal friends. She didn’t really care what side of the law people chose to walk on; it was the kind of person they were that mattered. Good people could be criminal, and horrible people perfect citizens. ”Sounds like you’ve got some very useful friends,” she commented lightly.

She actually laughed when Konstantine offered to take her along. ”It’s none of my business where you’re going and I’m not curious enough to care much. However, if you’re offering I will accompany you, simply because I’ve never met a half-elf before and I’m finding myself loathe to leave your company.” Her eyes danced with humor.

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Konstantine couldn't help but smile. Her mentor had told her similar things about herself, but had always encouraged her questions. She'd called them the key to true knowledge and told Konstantine to always ask them. "I haven't the faintest idea of where my father came from," the woman said. "I can't say I've looked into it much though. Its one area of study I've never found interesting." Konstantine picked a leaf off her saddle as it fell from a tree and landed there. "I only know that he lived in Dantalon when I was born. Then he left my mother to starve in the streets."

"Oh yes," Konstantine agreed with the woman. "Very useful. They're mostly scum but they're quite useful." The woman had no issue with calling her friends by the name they were usually refered to. She used it on herself as well. Did it really matter much? "Getting a name charmed is quite usually difficult to do I know, but I got it in exchange for information. I found it rather interesting and wanted to see what it was like." Konstantine looked down at Rhian. "Not that it matters. I never go beyond my first name. You need my entire name to have the affect of such powerful magic."

Konstantine nudged Lafali lightly with her heals and the horse happily began walking with a slight bounce in her step. "So it's not my reasonings that have you interested," the woman mused. "It's my origin. Well, I'm affraid there's not much to learn there. I might be half elf but I was raised by humans and criminals." She brushed some of her hair back over her shoulder. "I'm just a knowledge keeper. Nothing partiuarly interesting unless you're looking to find some sort of knowledge."</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

It was a disappointment that Konstantine didn’t know where her father was from. Any chance that Elen knew her was nixed if she didn’t know where he was from. Really, though, it didn’t matter in the long run. Rhian smiled sadly at the half-elven woman. ”There is evil in all races,” she said quietly. ”And there will always be people who treat others as trash. It’s the way of the world, unfortunately.” She could see, perhaps, why Konstantine didn’t care much who her father was. If hers had been such a bastard, she doubted she’d have wanted to know him either.

Rhian nodded. ”It’s not worth the cost having a charmed name around here; no one would dare use a name-centered magic in Stalaga. It’s too easy to trace and be punished for.” She shrugged. ”Smart to just give your first, though. You can’t be too careful, even here.” There were scum everywhere, and it wouldn’t take too much for some of the seedier residents of the city to decide the money offered was worth the risk. In a city full of elves, anything even remotely related to magic was guarded and kept close, including and especially names. A single elf with dark intentions could wreak havoc on a trusting city; therefore, Stalaga made it a point to be polite and welcoming but not totally trusting. The safety of residents came before the happiness of guests.

When the horse started walking, Rhian did as well. With her height and her long legs, it was easy for her to keep pace with the animal. She answered the half-elf’s musings even though they weren’t directly spoken to her. ”I am interested in why you’re here,” she said conversationally. ”I’m just not curious enough to follow you. I’m more interested in the fact that you’re a half-elf because I’ve never met one before.” She frowned thoughtfully. ”You were raised by humans? Has that ever been a problem for you, not knowing things about elves and half of your heritage? And what’s a knowledge keeper?”

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>"Of course there is," Konstantine agreed almost carelessly. "After all, we all have a little evil in us don't we? It's just which side we choose to expose." Konstantine really didn't care much about her parentage. It wasn't particularly important after all. It was a past that had nothing to do with the future. "Anyway, I didn't know either of my parents. My mother gave me up. Whether for her good or my own, I haven't any idea." Konstantine's slightly bored gaze hovered from building to building around her.

"It's not worth the cost having a charmed name anywhere," Konstantine shrugged. "But since I got it for free, I couldn't see why not." The woman yawned slightly, but then she smiled crookedly. "Yes, giving a full name is dangerous when you speak to magic users. However, human names don't have nearly as much power as elven names. That may be why humans sometimes seem careless about giving out their names. Lucky me, there is probably one person in the world who might know my name and he wouldn't tell. He knows it would be about the stupidest mistake he's ever made."

Konstantine looked down at the elf walking beside her horse curiously. "Never?" she mused slightly. "Have you never left this secluded city?" Her eyes moved to the sky. "No, I expect that's not too surprising." Konstantine was amused my the stream of questions given to her. "Yes I was raised by humans. Mostly by a wise old woman, the former knowledge keeper actually, and a group of thieves. It's never been a problem for me. Humans are facinated by elves, but most aren't hostile towards them without reason. Humans can scare easily sometimes you know. I can't say I care much about my parents, but I know quite a lot about elves. You'd be surprised. That's what a kowledge keeper does. It's my job to know just about everything. I could tell you almost anything that's going on in several different countries, and even here in the elven city. I've read every book I could get my hands on and learned quite a bit since I was only a child."</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian was a little thrown by Konstantine’s casual dismissal of the evil in the world. She was jaded, for such a young thing. Then again, she had been raised by thieves. Say what you like about thieves, but they were smart, strong, and anything but naïve. They saw the world as it was, good, evil, and all. And stole what they could, of course, but that wasn’t the point. They were usually rather wise people, in their own way. They had no illusions.

It surprised her that the woman wasn’t interested in knowing anything of her parents. It seemed that both of them had abandoned her, which was certainly unfortunate, but if that had happened to Rhian she thought she’d at least want to know who they were. Now, this was speaking from the experience of having a loving and supportive family whose closeness was really something special. Perhaps if she’d been abandoned she wouldn’t care either. Given her personality, however, that was doubtful. If nothing else, she would want to know who passed on their telepathy to her and ask them to help her learn to use it. She was glad to have grown up knowing both of her parents.

She grinned up at the mounted woman. ”Hey, a lot of things are worth it when they’re free,” she pointed out. ”And having a charmed name comes in handy, I’m sure. Only having one person know your whole name does, as well.” She hadn’t known that human names held less power than elven ones, but she didn’t comment on it; she simply filed the fact away for reexamination later. She could always ask Elen about it if she got curious.

Rhian nodded. ”I’ve never been out of the city,” she confirmed. ”Well, I’ve been in the woods around here, but never to another city. I guess there are two reasons. One, I’ve got everything I need here and don’t really want to leave anytime soon. I’m young, and I have presumably the rest of eternity to go exploring. And two, my family doesn’t allow our telepaths to leave the city until we learn really good control, and obviously I haven’t quite yet.” She smiled wryly. She listened with interest to Konstantine’s answers to her questions. She wasn’t sure she agreed that humans weren’t hostile by nature, but she could let that go for now. She knew they could scare easy; that was the last thing her father learned about them.

”So you just…learn things? And remember them. Were you chosen to be a knowledge keeper, because of your memory or something? Or did you choose to be one?” She was intrigued with the idea of someone’s job being the acquisition of knowledge.

[Konstantine Arthlaer Arosigil]

<sup>Konstantine was somewhat glad that this elf was not unnerved by the fact that she hung around with thieves. In fact, she seemed more put off by the fact that Konstantine didn't care about her parentage. When it came to the past, Konstantine was definately more interested in more of "the big picture" rather than one or two unimportant people. They were just people who'd lived and died without doing anything important as far as she knew.

"How very true," Konstantine mused lightly. "There are several things I'd do if they were free. Alas, they are not." The woman shrugged. It was true that if she could do everything for free she would probably do a lot more. Not that she was tight on money. That was never an issue really. "Yes, I suppose having a charmed name is useful, though it could be useless to a humans. Thats what makes them far less interesting then elven names. There are no meaning to them." It was true. Elven names were far more unique. Elves were often named more carefully than humans were.

Konstantine nodded. "As I though," she said. "Well, I suppose that there are elves who never leave this city or the surround area their entire lives. It is certainly a pleasent place to live. Luckily for you, most elven criminals run off to somewhere like Dantalon where crime is part of daily life. The woman knew a few elves who roamed the streets on Dantalon and beyond. There weren't many though. Most stayed around the city.

Konstantine laughed lightly at Rhiannon's confusion. "Learning things is exactly what I do," she mused. "I have sources all over telling me whats going on in the world. I can even tell you what kings are planning to do with their armies or if someone important has done something wrong." Konstantine tilted her head thoughtfully. "I honestly don't know exactly why I was chosen. I suppose since the last knowledge keeper raised me and saw my passion for learning. I sort of just took over the job."</sup>

[Rhiannon Na Farraige]

Rhian shrugged and smiled good-naturedly. ”I’ve never left because there’s never been a need to,” she said. ”I have two younger brothers, and my mother can’t take care of them by herself. If I wasn’t around, it’d be hard for her to manage. I’m sure I’ll leave eventually; there just hasn’t been a good time yet.” It was true- Elen needed her daughter’s help to raise the two boys and keep the house running smoothly. Rhian loved Bradoc and Coran dearly, and she didn’t mind watching them, but it meant she couldn’t just leave the city when the fancy struck her. Now, she didn’t really want to leave, either- the thought of being around so many humans made her uncomfortable- but the fact remained that she was needed at home.

”Oh, I know,” she continued. ”There are some elves living here who are over two thousand years old and have never left Stalaga. I can’t imagine staying in one place that long and never seeing anything else. It’s my father’s influence, I suppose- he loved to wander. My mother used to tease that he must have gypsy blood in him.” She smiled ruefully. Missing him was a part of daily life, but that didn’t make it easy. ”We have our share of criminals here, but generally elves are better behaved than humans- ‘life imprisonment’ means a lot more when you will never die.”

Konstantine’s…profession? lifestyle? Rhian wasn’t sure what to call it, but it sounded fascinating. To devote your life to learning as much as you can about…everything…it certainly wouldn’t get boring. Granted, most of her contacts probably lived on the wrong side of the law, but that didn’t detract any from the value of their information. It would be dangerous, she thought, but probably exciting as well. And it would put you in a powerful position, to know so much about what was going on. She looked thoughtful. ”I’m glad you seem like an…honorable person,” she said finally. ”With everything you know, you could be very dangerous if you wanted to be.”

She was about to say something else when an amused, sardonic thought-voice intruded into her thoughts. <My goodness, are you actually out of the house? And talking to someone who- oooh, she’s only half-elven! We are making steps, aren’t we?> Rhian looked down to see a thin, grey tomcat winding himself between her legs. She stooped to pet him. <Would you behave?> she asked him. <Konstantine is visiting the city. I’m just…passing time.> She stood up and motioned to the cat. ”This is Graymalkin,” she said. ”I’d say he was my cat but he’d scratch me. He’s….his own cat, I suppose. He just likes to follow me around.” As if on cue, Graymalkin lept up to Rhian’s shoulder and laid himself around her neck, purring. She stroked him gently.

”So…where exactly are you going?”

OOC: Konstantine can’t hear anything in <>’s- it’s going on in Rhian’s head.