Indeed. We could pretend that we think the leak is just "Maitimo has a gift for reading people", it is not obvious to me how we'd be caught out on that...

Case in point, I'm not a hundred percent sure it isn't just that.

That seems the wisest approach, then. We can even describe him for them so we can't be accused of withholding information that would make them not want to trust us.

The reason I bring it up is, they're probably growing things if anyone is. Somehow. Anyone short of the Enemy.

We might be able to do the same thing I did at the Feanorians' forges.

That would be tremendously valuable. Yes, let's try to find them.

Maitimo suggested giving them magic. Probably because the more we spread it around the more likely some of it reaches him. I'd rather not take his advice, but if they have usable plant spirits and it comes to an explanation of what we're doing in exchange for permission to do it....

Once we have a better sense of their character and priorities we'll be able to make a more informed assessment.

Yeah. Once we know more than...more than nothing, considering the source.

He would probably not tell any lies easily demonstrated to be so, Nolofinwe says drily.

Oh, he didn't. If the king turns out to be otherwise than xenophobic but well intentioned, well, the secondhand anecdotes must have been wrong.

Nolofinwe shakes his head. It's not a take on the king's character that serves any end of Maitimo's I can think of, but I agree that we should form our own assessment.

It's the "conservative" part that helps Maitimo if true. But we probably don't need to worry about that kingdom at all until there isn't a visit to the Feanorians on the calendar. Just so they don't immediately find out too much everything.

I agree. How's the Ice, looking passable?

Very. Well, relatively speaking.

Walking across it still sounds hard, but more because walking a few hundred miles of anything is hard and not because this particular hundred miles is trying to kill anyone.

We can definitely manage some walking.

And we'll have Macalaure's song, too. I'm liking our chances a lot better now.

As am I. Thank you. Have a restful few days until we leave.

I'll certainly try.

And that sounded like a dismissal, so she takes it as one.

The camp is still busy. Findekáno departs with her, though he's still speaking with his father. Anything else that ought to be done before we go?

I don't think so, not on this end. Picking up the song from the Feanorians and trying for ghosts?

I should not go. But yeah.

Agreed. I can do it myself, or Irissë can come or we can ask if Lalwen wants to awaken early, we're for once not low on practitioners. 

Think it was a mistake to go this time? I am not sure if he got the timeline for departure off me.

I'm not sure how he could have gotten it from either of us. Not a mistake, just that you clearly at least want to want to stay away from there. And this time that's easier.

Thanks.