Something I have been wondering about in the back of my mind is how old she really is. Yes, she *looks* 8 or 9, but since she's Dragaeran, that *probably* means she is in her 30s or 40s. Of course, the point may be moot. Since Dragaerans in their 70s-90s are physically and emotionally teenagers, she probably *is* an 8 year old for all practical purposes, and will appear that way for a long, long time. But it's interesting to think about, especially since it means she's a older than Vlad when she first interacts with him in the Paths of the Dead. I wonder if she'll get into great roaring hissy-fights with her mom? Aliera is probably not the easiest person to have as a mother. :-)