"Basheda?" Harrow squints to drum up any memories of a Basheda. "That grey elf fellow you were at the costume party with? I think he and I had a conversation, but I blacked it all right out. I bet he's real old! I can ask him and tell you, if you want?

"And, bein' honest? Bein' human on a world full'a folks who live a real long time is the worst. It's like a parade of pity. If you're a poor worker, then you're just livin' up to human stereotypes of bein' a beast of burden. If you're a brilliant world-class mage then it's like 'Ain't that cute, that special needs monkey knows how to smear his poop to look like words.' Not tryin' to be racist here, but I'd give my left nut to have grown up on an all-human world."