Author's note: The session described in this feature has been edited slightly in the interest of the common reader. However, no words were changed, or misplaced out of context. Rather, only the unnecessary niceties were removed so that our readers might more easily 'get to the dirt,' as it were. Furthermore, as the reader might guess from the date given below, certain events involving the Moon Mage Guild hadn't yet occurred at the time of the interview, and so this document is perhaps a bit of a history as well as an insight to character.

With the death of Thorrick Tamim, the Moon Mage Council made a decision to allow one of the students of the guild to fill his place. After a long and arduous election process, one Khaman Vairson was chosen to represent his guildmates on the Council. On the 181st day of the 362nd year after Lanival's victory (following a calendar which is, to point out, loathed by a few of my Elven associates, but there really isn't anything to be done about it, and I, being human, don't mind it anyway), I took the opportunity to interview Master Vairson, hoping to find for our readers, if not startling revelation, then at least brief entertainment and the warm sense of knowing a bit more about someone, somewhere in the world, than they did the moment before.

Vital Statistics (if the reader finds his or herself too lazy to read through the rest of this):

Name: Khaman Vairson
Race: Elf
Guild: Moon Mage
Eyes: Violet
Hair: Black
Skin: Black
Born: Winter, 293, Ilithia, to mother Arara, of the Forest Elven, and an unnamed Mountain Elven father.
Favorite drink: Coffee
Favorite food: Light fish dishes, particularly in butter sauces (when he remembers to eat at all.)
Favorite restaurant: The Milene's Rose, in Shard, or more locally, The Unicorn Inn in Kaerna.
Favorite clothing article(s): Black moon-embroidered robe and platinum thumb ring (both of which he was wearing at the time of the interview.)
Favorite animal: Cats and shadowlings.

As I strode through the city on my mission to locate the address sketched jaggedly on my notepad, the streets nearly bubbled over with talk of a carnival on the island of Ratha. This, however, is a subject for another story.

The place I was looking for was located along Riverpine Way, of which I knew the general location, but finding the house itself was a bit more of a problem. It took several unnecessary blocks of walking and a small amount of discreet window-peering before I found the right one -- a rather unassuming grey matter in a hollow that looked familiar with the flooding season. I knocked.

A face peered out of the window briefly before vanishing again, and shortly the door opened. Out of it stepped a tall (as far as I, at least, can tell) Elven man, with attractive if somewhat angular features, dressed rather elegantly in dark robes and cloak. He bowed to me.

I smiled. "Master Vairson, I presume?" I asked, inclining my head.

"Indeed," he replied, nodding.

After a short exchange of apologies, me for my intrusion into his home, and he for the difficulty of finding said home, we went inside.

I won't bore the reader with a complex description of the house and all of its included draperies and stylings. Suffice it to say that it was of a suitably lavish and, to my limited world knowledge, fairly exotic decor, complete with plush cushions and lacquered lotus blossom table. If anyone requires further detail... well, they must then ask the appropriate sources.

In any case, we entered and sat down after of course paying respects to his ferret, whose name was Serenity. I settled myself on the cushions a bit and prepared for business.

"Very well, then," I said, glancing at my notepad. "We'll start with the generic questions... things that our readers can use to identify with you. Rather superficial means of determining whether or not you like someone, but..."

He nodded.

I smiled and, clearing my throat, began. "Where were you born, and to whom? And when, of course."

"Well," he said, "I was born in 293, during what was, I'm told, a very cold Ilithic winter, on a small estate some couple anlaen outside of Shard. Manor farm. Minor nobility; very, very minor."

I nodded in what I hoped was an encouraging fashion, and he chuckled faintly before continuing.

"My father was a Mountain Elf -- his name I'd rather not reveal at this time. My mother was of the forests. Her name was Arara." He smiled fondly, looking, I thought, a bit wistful. "She died when I was very young. Nine." He petted the ferret absently as she rolled around near his feet.

I told him I was sorry because it seemed the thing to say. I wish, however, that someone would inform me of a less detached way of expressing sympathy; it seems so brush-away. Perhaps I'm only not doing it right. Life in The Crossing is always bought on someone else's borrowed time, however, so I continued to pry where I saw an opening. "Were you very close to your parents?"

"To my mother I had been," he said. "My father and I...we have not spoken for near fifty years."

I frowned thoughtfully, nodding.

"Would you be able to say why this might be? Or not, of course, if you prefer," I added.

"I would say only it had to do with a deal he made for power, with me as the partial cost." He smiled faintly. "Sometimes I wonder if there can be reconciliation. Perhaps someday. Perhaps no."

"Lovely," I remarked.

"I assume he's happy," he agreed dryly.

I chuckled a bit. "One never can tell, after all..."

"Indeed. Perhaps he too harbors regrets," he said, looking thoughtful for a moment.

"Perhaps. In my experience, everyone likes to believe that he or she is a good person." I nodded to him, smiling slightly.

"True enough, and he wasn't a bad man, mind, just...well, I don't know. Focused, hungry, lost..."

"Undoubtedly his parental relationship wasn't the best, either."

"Perhaps not," he said. "His father was power hungry, died in a duel."

I toyed a bit with my charcoal stick, nodding to myself and pondering how to proceed. This was, as I may or may not have informed you, my first of these sorts of things, as I usually occupied (and perhaps, still do, as you are reading this) a position as an editor, a job which is, if I might say, perhaps perched a bit steeper on the chain of command, but set quite a lot lower as far as actual productivity requirements. While I had jotted down a list of possible questions for this interview, it had seemed likely that unfolding conversation might direct me towards new ones. Deciding upon one of those that sprang up in my mind, I asked, "What did you do then, after your mother died?"

"Well, I spent three more years at home, just being a child, trying to remember my mother. I played with the maid's children." He chuckled. "I read a lot. A very boring, introverted child. And I was very bloody short."

"Short?" I asked, surveying him as he was now and grinning. "Hmm."

"Oh aye." He chuckled again."That changed in my later youth, however."

"I could imagine one would go through a lot of clothing that way."

He grinned. "Oh, quite a lot."

I smiled. "All right, then..." I glanced at my pad. "I probably had these falsely named when I labeled them 'generic.' But moving along... What is your favorite drink? Although," I said, allowing my gaze to drift to the mug that he held now in his hand, amidst some other evidence, "I'm beginning to wonder if I needn't ask.

" He grinned, replying quickly, "Coffee. You guessed it."

"And favorite food?"

He grinned again, and took a sip from his mug before saying, "Ye gods... have to think on that one; I never remember to eat." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Not really a favorite food, but light fish dishes are good, particularly in butter sauces...With that in mind, good thing I live on salads usually.Those sauces would get me huge."

I didn't think there was any danger of that, at least at any time looming nearby, but I nodded. "What about clothing," I asked, or rather, stated. "Any particular outfit or article that you care for above others?Yes, we're a terribly superficial lot," I added dryly.

"I tend to stick to black; my favorite item of clothing probably remains, to this day, this robe. Though this ring of mine is coming close."

Since you, the reader, were obviously not there, I will do you the favor of describing both to you. The robe was a dark flat black, embroidered rather finely along the hem with a pattern of the three moons, waxing, waning, rising and falling. The ring appeared to be platinum, worn on the thumb, and was inset with some odd blue fragments. He informed me that he had had the robe made at Andreshlew (for the less informed reader, Andreshlew is a sunken city inhabited by the aquatic Merelew that rose briefly above the sea only a few years ago, initiating great festivity.) I told him it looked quite durable.

Then I asked, "Favorite place to eat?"

"The Milene's Rose in Shard is a wonderful place, if I happen to be down that way," was his reply. "Up here, I'm just often running up to the Kaerna Inn, mainly because she does the best cup of coffee."

"Savrin does make wonderful food." I smiled. "What about animals? Have you a favorite type?" The placement of these two questions happened purely by chance, I assure you.

He glanced at the ferret lying near his feet. "Serenity, don't listen," he told her. "I do have a fondness for cats, all kinds, and including shadowlings in that." He reached down and tickled the ferret. "So she's an honorary cat."

"I'm sure she's very proud," I told him.

"She's proud, and she lives up to it." He grinned, then added, "My friends like to make fun of me. I'll become an idiot over someone's feline familiar."

I chuckled, leaning back and glancing at my notepad. "Well, then... Any things you like to occupy yourself with during your spare time?"

"Mmmm... well, the usual hunting and studying apply, but often... I just like to visit friends. Or Leth Deriel." He smiled a little. "If I have time, I'm often found taking little pilgrimages there."

I nodded, and glanced again at my pad, marking off with my charcoal stick the questions just answered. "Ah, here we are... A bit more personal." I paused a bit wickedly, then grinned. "Nothing too terrifying yet, though." I smiled at him. "What was involved in your decision to run for the Council seat?"

He laughed. "Well, basically it boiled down to someone pointing at me and saying 'I nominate that guy.' After that, however, yes, it did become my responsibility. I could have withdrawn."

I nodded, then said dryly, "Then I suppose I needn't ask this next one, about whether or not there were outside influences."

"There were, however, above and beyond that," he said.

"Do tell, then." I smiled. "And explain, as well, why you didn't withdraw."

"I received a lot of support in my nomination, during those election times. I had so many come up to me and congratulate me and express their hopes that I would win. I very nearly did withdraw a few times, near the beginning. I am, however, a stubborn bugger, and a curious one."

"Understandable." I nodded at him.

He smiled wryly. "I wanted to know...could I do this thing I am nominated for? Others believe I can. Perhaps that is so. I like to hope it. I don't have quite enough in me to give a firm yes... But the support has given me a yes." He paused. "Slightly confused telling... I do not wish to, and I will not, let my guild down. Not if I can help it. As I say, I'm stubborn. And sometimes an idealist. I'd like to see things put right."

I nodded, and, since we seemed to be leading into it nicely, asked, "What, then, are your dreams and goals, having this position? If any." I smiled.

"Mmmm..." he said, "the obvious, public goals are truth and unity, and strength for my guild. I have a dream of seeing the Council someday perhaps become what the guild really wants, needs. I don't know if that'll happen; it's a hope. Less public...I suppose in a way, I am testing myself. For my own strength, and wisdom. It's a bit of an undertaking. Nothing like this has happened to the guild before."

"You feel that the current Council isn't doing an adequate job, then?" I inquired.

"The guild does not, but then, we have never observed the Council this closely before. There is a lot of mistrust. I am remaining without outward judgment at this time. I think there may be good in the council. But I still see much hidden."

I nodded.

"Some of it, perhaps, for good reasons, admittedly," he said. "Every guild has secrets. What if there were a secret that could destroy a guild? It's an ethical question that much of my guild has wrestled with."

"Mm," I said.

"Particularly during the election," he continued. "What price truth? Now, I don't know of any such secrets... yet." He sighed, whether for lack of knowledge or the ethical conundrum, I won't deign to guess.

I leaned forward a bit, stretching my back, and said, "Which brings us to, what has happened with you and the Council, since the election?"

"Thus far, only a little bit. My appointment is still a new one, and I mainly busy myself with bettering myself and maintaining contact with the guild." He coughed. "Though part of my duties involve guild leaders, I can't quite dare bring this up to Kssarh yet."

I told him I could understand some reluctance in performing those duties. He grinned. "Oh aye. The jests of being put out windows are no jests. He may not do such to me... but why test to destruction until I must?"

"Very logical," I agreed."What would those duties involve?"

"My primary duty is of guild and council liaison. That is a newer duty of my position, actually. I also, however, am part of the team that looks over guild leaders, scholastic requirements..." He paused. "Guild affairs, essentially."

"Which would, I suppose, only make sense." I grinned, glancing at my notepad. "How did the actual election process affect you, emotionally? Previous questions have sort of touched on this, but..."

"...There were times when it was very draining," he began, looking a bit hesitant.

"Any hard feelings between competition, that sort of thing?"

"No hard feelings. They were all very worthy of this position. But there were times the election felt rough. It smoothed out a great deal when Cloudcrest began commissioning over it. There were also other meetings that began to soothe things and sort things, as well. Led by others, often nominees. Fumus, Psychi..."

"What was it like before that?" I asked. "Chaos, I suppose..."

"It was considerably less organized, aye," he agreed. "There were many good tries, and some of them held quite well. Most of us did look to the voting commission rather quickly, however. And they rose to it wonderfully. What's more, a lot of that organization has stuck. The Gatherings, those weekly meetings, brought the word to many."

"What about this position do you like the most?"

"Well..." he said, "people have been staggeringly polite to me, which is rather nice. An actual like... well, I suppose that's still coming. I look forward to seeing more of Throne City, of exploring what I can do."

"You haven't attended any Council meetings yet, then?" I inquired.

"Only the voting in meeting. Normally, such meetings are once monthly, more often in emergency times. As it has been stated that the guild is in a higher state of alert, I find it probable there'll be another one soon enough."

"Ah," I nodded."Now, the other side... What is it that you like the least?"

"Well...the support for me remains," he said. "There are still many who stand with me, and many, many friends. There are those, however, who see me and know me only as a Council member, and thus, already someone to distrust. My occasions of that have been very, very seldom, however."

I nodded to him. "But they have existed?" I asked. "Care to elaborate?"

"In less than five instances, more like two or three, but yes," he replied. "No real need to elaborate; those instances were of brief note, and likely soothed over. Save the Grell incident." He paused briefly. "And that, I'm not sure if I care if he distrusts me or no. Grell is currently wanted by the Council as a major threat. The night Gylwyn was to be removed from office, Taramaine --the Guildmaster Prime-- himself went to her. Gylwyn is the Shard Guildmistress and Grell's lover. As a matter of council vote, she was to be banished. The night Taramaine went to her, Grell soon followed. Many of us were there or on the way, including myself. Taramaine and Grell... got into it in a big way. Championship fight." He shook his head. "Well, to sum up, Grell ran off, and I caught up, with a group, to try and smooth things out more peacefully. Worked about as well as the fight."

I nodded.

He said dryly, "I gathered he didn't care for me much, as I was pretty much viewed as 'someone else who can order around annoying Y'Shai.' I believe he referred to me as a puppy later on." He chuckled. "He made a lot of claims about secret seekers and not knowing truth if it bit one. Considering he's been just as secretive, I found that remark... well, not offensive, but ill-advised. And if all that's the worst I encounter, I'm well off indeed," he added. "Like the other question, the worst is perhaps on the way."

"For any good thing, there tends to be risk involved," I mused.

"And there are many who think I am at risk, yes," he nodded, leaning back into his cushions.

I frowned slightly, staring once again at my pad. "Since we're along these lines..." I began, "how, then, do the other Council treat you, at the moment?"

"They're as varied a people as any sort of gathering. Some have welcomed me with open arms, many are a bit more hesitant. There has been little open hostility, though there was some towards the idea of having a young one, such as me, on council. Not direct."

I nodded. "Was that before the election process?"

"Then too, as well," he said. "The open disagreement to the idea has, at least visibly, stopped. Mostly due to Taramaine's order to that effect. But aye, reservations to the idea were present long before the election completed."

For a supposed wise council of elders, they sounded to me rather like a group of schoolchildren. I thought for a bit, tapping my pad distractedly with my bit of charcoal before glancing over it. "Mm..." I said. "Well, that's all I have about those matters. Moving on..." I smiled.

He shifted his weight, rubbing a knee. His own, of course.

"Do you have a certain philosophy of living that you follow as each day passes?" I added quickly, "Or if you don't, that's fine as well, of course."

He smiled to himself. "I live each day in the search of knowledge, of who I am, of where we are. Another foolish Meaning of Life chap." He paused. "I seek to understand."

"Natural enough, for one of your guild." I smiled at him.

"Oh aye," he agreed, "and I'll take it to unnatural degrees. I've been known to be able to halt almost anyone with philosophical prattle." He smiled ruefully.

"There are worse things to be halted for, surely."

"Oh aye. I don't hurt anything, except maybe ears. And a brain or two."

I happen to be of the opinion that certain brains could stand a bit of activity in this direction, but I asked, "How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn't know you?"

He laughed. "I'd tell them, 'He's a nutter. Cover your ears and run away.' I have a rather odd self image, I'm afraid." He grinned a bit wryly. "People tell me that I'm charming and kind. Perhaps I am. But when I wake up and peer at the mirror, I see a rather odd person who needs to stop worrying at his hair so much and maybe stop talking to himself all the time."

"How often do you think about your hair daily, then?" I inquired, knowing that you, the reader, would of course be fascinated to learn this.

"These days, not so often. Is it clean? Is it tied back? Off we go. Lack of time. I used to be very vain about it. Now I'm happy if the shadowlings don't destroy it."

I smiled to myself, being familiar with that problem. My own hair is kept rather short due to the time constraints brought upon me by the necessity of feeding myself as well as keeping up with a job I love that, sadly, pays rather irregularly. The trade-off was, of course, more than fair, as I don't like fussing about my hair anyway, but still one always does like to have options. I shifted my position slightly and moved on to the next question on my agenda. "I'm certain that our readers will be burning to know this one," I began, smiling a bit wickedly.

"Uh oh." He grinned.

"Are you currently, or have you in the past been romantically involved with anyone?" He leaned back, taking a deep breath. "I should say, it's a harder question than some of the others." He paused. "In the past, I have had a couple of relationships. None that lasted. One that was... destructive, and that was a long time ago." He sighed. "Very long."

I frowned, nodding to him."Care to elaborate? Or not, of course," I added quickly. Not, you understand, that I don't desire to give our readers every detail possible, but there are some matters of courtesy that one simply must follow, particularly when one is to be making information as public as our good Waerd Aev tends to. Assuming, of course, that anyone has stayed with this rather lengthy document to this point.

"I am not in one now," he replied. "But the Gods know, for some odd reason, I am having a large problem with increased female interest." He grinned. "Problem's the wrong word, mind," he amended. "It's just been a startling thing."

I nodded, smiling to myself.

"But yes, there's a lady or two that has caught my eye. No real relationship, however, not with anyone. Friends. And as to the past one..." he sighed. "To elaborate it... well, it ties in to those years of Shard that I don't wish to speak on at this time. But it was why I had to leave the Empath guild, and eventually found my way to the Moon Mage guild."

"You were an Empath, then?" I inquired thoughtfully.

"For a few years . I had been happy. But with what happened, I was no longer able to continue." He smiled faintly.

I tried gently to coax a bit more out of him, but was unsuccessful. Which is really just as well -- as I've noted, it's a matter of courtesy not to publicly dissect a bit of someone's personal life that they'd rather not have dissected.

In any case, this rather personal matter was my last question. I informed him of this, and we exchanged a few conversational snatches and cups of coffee before we decided to part -- him to a walk, and myself to the joys of editing. I'm sorry if our readers find this an unsatisfactory ending; I'm afraid that such situations don't always conclude with a dramatic sunburst, whatever we might wish. I will say, though, that I managed to get quite thoroughly lost before a helpful citizen gave me directions out of the neighborhood. I also contracted a few shoe pebbles, which pained me greatly before I was able to find the time to remove them. Hopefully the reader will find that this information eases the pain of such a long document concluding with no climax whatsoever. If not, well, warn your friends so that they might not be as disappointed.

For a final conclusion, I'll say that Khaman Vairson is an excellent host, as well as a charming man, if an Elf, and I had a very good time interviewing him. I hope he's happy with the published outcome of said interview, should my editors decide it worthy of publication.

As for me, I'd like to ask that if you did, by whatever strange circumstance, happen to enjoy my work here, that you be so good as to write to our dear editors saying as much, so that they might be more willing to let me out of my cage to do more of these. Perhaps they'll even pay me a bit more. In addition, if there's anyone whom you wish to know more about, please inform us.

By my rather sooty and cramped hand,

C.L.