"Wow," he says, soft and awed. His eyes light up a little bit. "That's how old I am. Six and a half." A little more, even, because September is his half birthday. Maybe it's not that important but he likes knowing it anyway. "Do you think I could learn too?"

A shout goes up from the pirate ship, out in the harbor, and he looks over, wide-eyed and takes a half step closer to Eowyn. "I miss my brother and sisters," he mumbles a little and glances up at her. "Is yours here too or back at home?"