"On my world there's a common transportation device called a bicycle. I don't know how to build most of the things from there, but I had a three-wheeled version of the bicycle that was easier to balance, and I did a lot of its repair myself, so I know how it was put together. ...I probably can't draw, and verbally describing it would be hard. And they wouldn't be very useful in Orzammar with all the stairs. But they could be exported."

"I would be interested to hear about these bicycles," says Caridin.

"...I am going to make a diagram of a bicycle entirely out of words," says Annie, "be right back," and she goes and gets paper and writes wheelwheelwheel in a circle and geargeargear in a smaller circle and chainchainchain and so forth.

When Caridin sees the diagram taking shape, he laughs. Possibly for the first time in a thousand years.

"Is the contraption funny or just the way I have to draw it?"

"The method of drawing. I apologize."

"It's okay, I think it's funny too." Writedraw writedraw.

He studies the drawing as it continues to take shape. "Yes, I believe I see the logic..."

"The two-wheeled ones take practice to balance on even for people who aren't me but they have a very narrow profile, you can fit a lot of them on a street. And they're light and can be picked up over spots of bad terrain."

Nod nod.

"...Well, at least they're light if you have aluminum or something. I think it took a while for anyone to figure out how to get aluminum in quantity out of the ground. And I don't know how to do it. Do dwarves?"

"Not in my time, and if the advance has been made since, I've not yet heard of it."

"I think in theory you could make most of a bike out of, like, wood, and it'd still work heavy, it just wouldn't be as convenient. Anything reasonably light and workable into the shape should do."

"Something to think about. Thank you."

"You're welcome." She puts the finishing touches on the writedrawing. "I don't think there's anything else in particular to talk about today; when should I come back?"

"I believe I will spend the rest of today and tonight at the forge. I will return to this house tomorrow morning."

"See you then."

He nods.

And she goes to read books until Stalas is done with politics.

And eventually, Stalas comes home and takes off his golem suit and hugs Annie.

Eeeeeee hugs! "How was your afternoon?"

"Productive! I should be ready to appear in public as myself again soon. Depending how it turns out, I might need to fight an honour Proving to clear my name, but Bhelen won't push for it and there can't be many people who seriously think I'd lose one."

"Who would it be against?"

"Whoever decided they just couldn't believe I didn't kill my brother, or that person's champion or champions."

"Several champions?"