Keman groaned. "Don't remind me. I thought virginity was supposed to be a virtue!" Or it was in some cultures. Elves certainly seemed to have a strange double-standard about it, just like they did about everything else. Boys were encouraged to try out their fathers' harems to become "real men," but if a girl were to become a "real woman" before her wedding she faced a bleak future indeed. Once again, Keman was very glad that he came from a species that didn't really give a damn one way or the other. Certainly, monogamy was never very high on any dragon's list.

Once Valyn was finished with his boots, Keman offered him a hand up. His friend didn't really need it, but he figured it would be a nice gesture. "Ready to go?"