Jon Carey <greyw01f at hotmail.com> wrote: <By the way, I was always curious about the House of the Phoenix. It says <that a Phoenix is only recognized as a True Phoenix if a phoenix is seen to <fly overhead at the time of the child's birth. <1) What time frame are we looking at? From beginning of labour to end? <From the complete extraction of the child from the mother? Anywhere within <a week of birth? <2) What happens to those who do not have a phoenix do a fly-by? Do they <join the Jhereg, or do they become Houseless, or what? Well, the only word we have on the fly-by requirement is from Vlad, right? And we know that he is notoriously misinformed/makes stuff up. So, maybe the fly-by isn't actually a requiremnet. Although I also like Hans' theory of psionics being involved--that indicates the fly-by is an effect rather than a requirement. That's sort of like requiring an individual to be born with lungs to be considered human. There aren't a lot that are born without lungs. About Easterners mating with Phoenix--or any Dragaeran. I bet it happens a lot more than anyone lets on, but that most of the births to Easterner mothers and the offspring is raised as an Easterner. Probably isn't frequent, but with the recent influx of Easterners into the Empire, it's gotta happen if it is possible. Rachel