Potential future conflicts and problems in the rain wild chronicles] [spoilers]

[redchild]

'thul has understood it so that there are multiple ruined elderling cities in those mountains, but they doubt the river that Verity dipped his arms in is in kelsingra. They theorize that the silvery skill river is somewhere along the borders of the other branch, the acidic river...

Possibly. It might explain how there are so many people in the Rain Wilds and Bingtown that seem to possess a slight level of Skill ability, as they both share the same water source. I can't say this for sure, though, if Skill ability can be obtained by consuming Skill-laced water as not everyone has it. Both Rain Wilder and non-Rain Wilder humans seem to be injured by it, rather than gain any Skill ability, but seeing as Rain Wilders have adapted Elderling-like traits from exposure to the water for generations, there must be a connection between the acid and the Elderlings. The Elderling robe Leftrin gave to Alise protected her from the acid waters, so it's possible the Elderlings were familiar with the dangers of the acid/silver liquid.

If only Tarman could talk, he could explain why he chose to avoid that route. Did he avoid it because he sensed danger? Or was it merely because he remembered that it was the wrong way to Kelsingra? Maybe both?