"He was," the owl says a little wistfully. He knows people don't expect a speaking animal. Not away from his world anyway, but she doesn't seem frightened, so he continues. "And for many centuries that followed, but the end of the story is not a happy one. He is no longer with us, although his son is now my bonded protector."

He thinks for a bit, and then says, "I wish I could advise you on the matter of wine. The truth is, owls are ignorant on the nature of its flavour."