He can't. He pulls on it just so, and sends the mental impression, but nothing happens.

So maybe something else is going on with your guy who talks to animals.

He certainly hasn't been able to teach anyone else the trick of it, not even my father who can generally learn anything.

So maybe he can servantmake and he's the only one, but all humans can if they try it... for some reason.

We could try him on the shadows. I do not know how urgently you desire to get yourself returned home.

I mean, people will be worried about me, but they will be worried because I got eaten by a bizarre snake monster in the middle of the street, not because I'm urgently needed for anything in particular. It only makes a small difference if I'm back in two weeks or twenty and this is interesting.

Alright. In that case once I've conveyed a request for the grace song to be copied for me we can go find my brother and see if he's our world's only shadowmaker, which would be very interesting. What all can you do with them?

Shades - and shines, which are the same principle but spots of light and are more popular because you can get them in colors - get used a lot in theater and art, and you can also program them to do things without being constantly puppeted and then you can use them to send long-distance messages or keep time and stuff. They're not my focus, I just made one as an example because golems require parts and are really time consuming.

It's useful and I can see how it'd be very pretty. Tyelcormo - my brother - is awake if you'd like to go talk with him, but it's hardly urgent if you'd rather go rest and get acclimated.

Haven't established where I'll be resting.

There is a guest room here for you! I sent Capuraldë to check and she confirmed it should be no trouble.

Oh, well, that's convenient. I don't need to crash right now, if your brother isn't a long way away now seems like a fine time to check his shademaking ability.

I shall tell him to walk in our direction and then he won't be a long way away. He gestures down the palace hallways and then sets off.

Follow follow.

He pauses at the door. Have your shades for back outside? Tirion is a very glittery city. We may have gotten a little carried away, building it.

Kib puts his shades on. It looks like the shadows that would be cast by tinted glasses, only without any glasses.

And they go outside. There are still very few people on the streets of Tirion. The ones that there are scramble to a respectful sort of attention. Maitimo picks a boulevard and walks down it.

So what's a brother, anyway?

...and those are?

The people who bear and raise you.

Apparently! I am also confused. Among every species that I have heard of, an adult male and an adult female having intimate relations can result in the female getting pregnant, and then some time later having children. Is that not a thing your species can do?

...Animals do that, if I remember right. Humans don't.