Again, Ellana tries not to let the words sting. She's admitted that she's uneducated, and she's here to learn. It just worries her how little she's understood of the world up until now. She's sure city elves know so much more by virtue of growing up around these powerful and terrible humans. They know how to navigate the waters and not get caught in the rapids. Ellana wants to be that way too. She doesn't want to be the one who said the wrong thing and ruined everything for everyone.

Her eyes lower to the table, much as they've done during their meetings with the whole council. Ask her to build a fire, weave a basket, or tie the ropes on the aravel's sails and she's a natural. But understand a person? Build power out of cleverness? Ellana doesn't think herself very clever at all. How do people learn this stuff?

"I listen at the meetings, and I listen in general, but how do I understand what is behind their words without guessing?"