"Deep?" Eshalu said, slightly confused. Figures of human speech were strange to her. But Aeryn had said the same when Eshalu had tried to describe her own native tongue. Perhaps true understanding of Aeryn's language, like the speech of the People, depended on knowing human myths and the stories of the spirits of their homeland.<br/><br/>"You will have to teach me the songs of your loreweavers, since I would like one day to speak your language well. You are a keeper of the stories and knowledge of your people and I feel that it is from you that I must learn." Though daunting to the wood elf, Aeryn's keen, analytical mind was fascinating. Everything needed to be ordered, categorised and understood. That was a drive to know and understand and to perfect one's craft that Eshalu admired. She never had much patience for the long, complex tapestries of tales and customs the druids of her Caern would sing. She preferred the simpler tales of great hunts, of warrior-ancestors, and the loves and exploits of the Lodge of Rangers going all the way back to the time when the world was young.<br/><br/>Ever alert to the ebb and flow of the milling crowd, Eshalu spied the human woman she had seen observing her from afar when they were still at sea. From her clothes, she guessed her to be of high status, though, on what grounds that status was based Eshalu had no idea. One thing was certain, the other human was no threat. Eshalu knew this by instinct. Each passer-by, each shadow was recorded and assessed for risk by her expert gaze. Aeryn with her meticulous ways would no doubt approve.<br/><br/>Eshalu reckoned the battle-hardened male humans around her, with their heavy metal armour and cruel blades, had the advantage of size and weight, but she was a hunter who had brought down cave bears and smilodons. It was all a matter of timing, positioning and tactics.<br/><br/>She sensed that her presence made Aeryn feel safe and that filled her with pride. It meant that they made a good band together. And it was abundantly clear that Aeryn, though a lorekeeper, had enough warrior auspice in her to take care of herself.<br/><br/>"Who taught you to shoot your crossbow?" Eshalu asked Aeryn, betraying her curiosity at a form of archery she had never encountered before.<br/>