"How old are they?" she whispers, but despite her best efforts the bookwyrm kits open their eyes and look at her. "A week," Tiero murmurs. "They mustn't be disturbed." His eyes are alight with pleasure. "I see." "Kasivelieth." A new voice, and she stands up to see the strange allochthene with greenish skin. He smiles. "Kasivelieth Eyn-Dariyavis?" "Oh - yes," she says, realising too late that it's the wrong particle. But how would he know, either way? "Someone has come," he says, pronouncing the words very carefully and still they come out oddly distorted by his accent. "He wants to talk to you." Her heart sinks.