Verity sighed again. "Aeslin mice are pathologically religious," she explained, shaking her head. "My family discovered this colony a couple of generations back, worshipping my something-great-grandmother's chickens. Now they live with us and, uhh, sorta worship the family."

"Hail the Arboreal Priestess!" came a scattered cry.

"They have the ability to remember pretty much anything perfectly," she continued once the cheering had ceased. "And certain things will end up becoming holy writ and become liturgical celebrations." She shrugged at Liam, baffled. "We don't understand it either."