Zain studied Infinite Sky’s plans with an informed eye.  Magitech was hardly one of his areas of expertise, but he was learned.  “Many first age conveniences used the power of a manse without calling for the full dedication of its hearthstone.  While these were limited to the grounds of the manse, I’ve read of two minor manses used to empower machines emplaced on the dragon line running between the manses—much as a water wheel harnesses the energy of a river.”  He scratched his chin, then suggested, “If I were doing something similar to this with plants, I might create a life form that would turn the paddle wheel while in direct light, but not while heavily shaded.”<br/><br/>Zain pondered momentarily whether it became self-defeating understanding people’s motivations as well as Sky could.   For example, if she could tell that his interest in her project was motivated by his interest in her—not just as a person and companion, but as a woman—was it flattering to her that her femininity invoked his attention to magitech? Or did it somehow cheapen it?<br/><br/>The dragon king looked up then and quietly regarded the rest of the room.  Enough beauties were assembling that it looked more like a gathering in Yuu Shan than Creation.  He never could explain to his fellows his fascination with soft skinned women with mammary glands.  Maybe it was that there were so many more of them than his own kind—or that they were cross pleasurable but not cross fertile.  Maybe it was just that they were all people to him.<br/><br/>Some men might have been overwhelmed—or at least not known where to look.  Zain hadn’t suffered that problem since he cut a flower for the Maiden of Serenity—no one short of her could truly reduce him to a blabbering fool since.<br/><br/>He offered a smile to the one armed man.  “Little is so lost that it cannot be recreated, sir.  Think of a science like a tree.  One needs the seed before they can acquire the root, trunk, or leaf, though any one of these parts will suggest the others through sufficient study.”<br/>