"I could tell you some words and phrases," she admitted. "But unfortunately elven is a mostly lost language. Years in slavery meant we lost most of it. I also wouldn't feel right teaching you our songs and what they mean, but anything an elf would say in normal conversation, I can teach you." The elves struggled to hang onto what little of their culture they had left, and tended to hoard it too. It made them isolationist -- something Ellana didn't like. And after the Keeper of the Ralaferin clan spoke of the elves' culture to scholars and it was published, many felt it was a betrayal. Yet now that that information is out in public, Ellana felt she wouldn't be doing anything wrong.

"To start, the way we elves greet others is: Andaran atish'an. It's formal. It means 'enter this place of peace.' With other elves, or those we feel close to, we use the familiar: Aneth ara. It means 'my safe place.'"