Thanks for answering my question, Steve. Actually, it did make perfect sense and it was rather satisfying, if only in that I my assumption was at least marginally right. :) (A rarity, indeed!) It's difficult for me to think along non-abstract lines, so saying that it just "felt" right is sufficient fuel to sate my curiosity. (To this point, I'd say "Athyra" is my favorite of the Taltos novels. I literally couldn't stop reading it on my day off last week and just keep reading and reading and reading. I can't quite figure out why, but I really, really liked it a lot, and it was definitely worth $20, even in paperback, while I prefer anyhow.) Just proves a point: Intuition is a better guide than logic. (Or is it really subconcious logical processes that lead us to have instantaneous, gut feelings, or intuition? Ack, why does everything have to be so damn grey??) 'Tis all for now, Steph