“ The Nomin gypsies have a fiddling competition every year, known as the Danse de Velose. Beaters hit out the rhythm on taut drums and the competitors start to play, slowly at first. Youngsters can compete, but are soon pulled away by worried mothers, before the competition becomes too dangerous. After two hours the haunting tune has become dazzlingly fast. You can resign at any time, but the moment you make a mistake you receive an arrow through the neck. Strings may snap, but the players must play on. The whole affair never lasts much longer than three hours, and the last fiddler playing is crowned king of the gypsies.”
“ Elven Light Horse - a lithe and small animal well suited to the forest home of the elves. It has semi-cloven hooves, a longer tail, like that common to unicorn illustrations, and always a snow white pelt. Lives inthe forest, able to stand on back legs to crop leaves from the lower branches of trees. Shy and easily frightened, but at peace when around elves.”