"Hmm. I'm not entirely sure, but probably he's going to ask lots of questions about your intentions and goals in Valdemar. He may ask if you can do some helpful projects or something as goodwill before he's willing to dedicate a lot of resources. He's, er, likely going to be pretty alarmed about Sing and your world's history, mainly because last year he learned about Leareth's plan and it'll remind him. He'll ask a lot about that." Shrug. "I don't know." 

"I feel like Sing having already been around a while and demonstrated that it works right, and also it not requiring anybody to die, are both pretty important!"

"Yes, I know! I think it'll - sink in, and he'll at the very least think it's a better idea than Leareth's version. I do think it's - putting a lot of trust in one person and a world we've never seen and can't visit to check ourselves? And would need some time just for that reason. Hopefully not a lot of time - weeks, not years." 

"I guess that's probably still faster."

"I mean, if you get impatient with us you can just leave at that point, and be ahead because you know all the languages in the region. I can teach Page Hardornen too if you want, Van and I both speak it." 

"That would be cool of you!"

Then for the morning ride until lunch, Dara and Vanyel will talk to each other in Hardornen! They're both not as fluent in it as in their native language, and Vanyel seems a bit annoyed about it, but he complies. 

That evening Tarinda reminds Dara that she wanted to spar.

"Ooh, right! We should definitely do that. ...Actually, there is someone I wanted you to meet." 

She draws her sword. 

:I was informed that I oughtn't speak to you because it might scare you: a woman's dusty voice says in her head. 

"Whoa! Talking magic sword, cool."

:I'm Need. Until recently I was mostly just a magic sword, because I was asleep, but we had some adventures and I woke up. And then these two nearly trapped me in the buried remains of an ancient mage's basement for the rest of time, but fortunately we made it out. I hope you don't consider it cheating for Dara to spar using me?: 

:Gosh, I don't know, what advantages have you got?:

:Well, I can defend her against magic, which isn't applicable, and heal her if she gets hurt, which had better not come up. I can give her better senses and reflexes than humans usually have, which I feel might be necessary because I'm told you're very fast: 

:I am! And yeah, I won't hurt her. Let's play:

And out comes Tarinda's sword.

Dara grins and wields Need. "Ready?" 

"Mm-hm!"

Tarinda's very fast and very acrobatic. Her style is unfamiliar but it's clearly meant for flash and clang more than actually stabbing people.

It takes some getting used to but it's a very fun way to spar, really! 

Wheeee! Tarinda does a bunch of flips and jumping off nearby objects and rolling along the ground.

Coooooool! 

Dara can't pick that up on the fly, but Need is a magic sword with superhuman reflexes who can take over Dara's body (with Dara allowing it) as soon as she's picked up some of it, and now Dara can ALSO do flips! 

It's more fun that way! Tarinda can leave openings for Dara to flip in.

Need can also help Dara not get tired too quickly, and pick up more tricks as they go. 

Yfandes thinks this is very impressive and a lot of fun to watch!   

Dara does get tired before Tarinda does. "All right - that was great - need a rest..."