<Auden snipped> > I don't know if this has been commented on yet, but at the end of > _TLOCB_ Chapter 64, Grassfog and Iatha have a conversation about > "the social niceties" and belonging. It occurs to me that while > Grassfog is probably male (pg. 161), and at least one of Thong > and Iatha is probably female (pg. 131), there's a fair chance that > Grassfog and Iatha are a same-sex couple. And maybe we have met > others who grammar veiled. Fascinating. I *had* taken that conversation to be about "reformed bandits will never *really* be accepted," but your reading makes better sense. Of course, they might just be a mixed-house couple, which would be, in some senses, simpler. But it wouldn't be as Cool, so by Brust's writing principles, I think there's a very good chance that you're correct. Alexx Alexx Kay Opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of my employers alexx at world.std.com http://world.std.com/~alexx 'Stifle' is the only word which is an anagram of itself. [Seen on a Nancy Button, http://www.nancybuttons.com/]