Arven's wild ramblings, published though they were, stood not necessarily at the highest quality around, and nor were they very famous. But they brought in enough gold for his exploits abroad, and they attracted the eye of interesting people. That was one of the first, happy things Arven had discovered about being a writer; his readers were of a particular type, and none of them dull. Kindred spirits he didn't even know he had.

Speaking of kindred spirits, it was pleasant news to learn that Miss Dempsey was also a writer (though he would later decide it was not at all surprising). "What form does your writing take?" he asked with interest.