Hmmm. I agree that the excerpt from Taltos doesn't really seem to mean anything, but Vlad's conversation with Teldra seems more important: 3)Vlad and Teldra "Oh." Teldra smiled. "Yes, that one is true." "Oh, to have been there to witness that conversation. I don't suppose you went along?" "Hardly." "Did he ever say what happened?" "No. But it can't have been anything too horrid; they've been friends ever since." "Oh yeah? Does she pay him tribute?" "I don't know," said Teldra, smiling. "I'll be sure to ask him...." (Issola, p. 138) I really enjoy the fact that Mr. Brust is often very subtle about how he uses language. Teldra does not respond by saying "Oh, she gave him Blackwand and that was it." It sounds to me that, whether Sethra and Morrolan are or aren't more than friends and allies, that Vlad is at least joking about something here. Notice Vlad's use of the present tense in "Does she pay him tribute?" Also notice Teldra's response: "I don't know," said Teldra, smiling. It just sounds like she knows exactly what he's joking about, and the fact that she's "smiling" as she responds suggested to me that she knows something more about it that she isn't saying here. Anyone else think so? Just a few thoughts. --Steve