"Oh, I suppose they're not in your world, then," Yuyan said. "I'll try to explain this as best as I can, but I don't think I'll be as good as you were. Let me know if there's anything you don't understand."

She took a deep breath.

"Serpent Folk are half-human and half-snake, but they're also much stronger and faster than normal humans. Like me, I guess. They have...well, magic is the best way I can describe it--they can control plants and earth and metal. And normal humans don't like them at all--they're scared, I guess, that they'll hurt them, and in their churches, well, over in the West, that is, they say they're demons and monsters, and if they find one they'll burn him or her. Well, most humans except the ones I'm with."

Yuyan paused. That had been a lot to say.

"And you know, some Serpent Folk are bad. One gave me this, even." She pushed up the sleeve of her chemise to show Gina the scar Tesni's bloodthorn had left on her. "But some humans are bad, too, and I know more good Serpent Folk than bad ones, anyway--some of them are my friends, and one of them even took me in as his younger sister." She smiled. "I'm really very lucky."