Nephele's elves had lived for a long time in the shadow of their own extinction. Even dead and hollowed out as he was, Illarion couldn't help but feel a presentiment of that grim future in a world populated mostly by humans, and mostly by humans who'd come from worlds without any other kind of thinking being in them.

Finding someone else, anyone else who wasn't one felt like a spot of unexpected hope in the gloom. And this woman certainly was not human, Illarion noted, as she turned toward him and he could better perceive the differences in her. That, and her reply, brought a small involuntary smile to his lips.

"White gods and stars lead all to think so. There is need for more peace and beauty even in this world, for all we must fend off beasts and monsters.

"Though your orchard, this already does much to brighten minds and hearts. I am already an admirer."