We need a story set in Chalced. (Spoilers all books incl City of Dragons)

['thul]

That could be interesting, but these beings feel that it would not really add much to the grand whole to give an expanded story of Chivalry and Burrich.

[Luckheart]

True; but it'd give insight to everyday life in Chalced, or at least an insight to a protagonist within Chalced - perhaps if it were done it could include some Chalced history at each chapter beginning like the bird-keeper letters & Farseer/God Runes literature extracts from the Rain Wild books and Farseer books respectively ?

It'd also be interesting to see how widespread the old blood is in Chalced, and if it is thought of much the same as it is in the Six Duchies. I for one was surprised that the Old Blood is unheard of (as far as we know) anywhere past Bingtown - Surely it would be more widespread ? Especially considering some animals needs to migrate, etc.

['thul]

all the answers these beings think of right now delve deeply into details revealed in Blood of Dragons. 'thul could post a spoiler to hide it, but what is the point? It would be better to have discussion again once you have read that book.

[Luckheart]

Finished it night before last, so those beings may delve away

['thul]

ah. good.

If you look at the both the Skill and the Wit, both aspects of Elderling magic, you may notice that the abilities are utterly unheard of anywhere but the six duchies. Wit might exist somewhat in Chalced, but history indicates that practice of it is punished hard. The rulers of that place have never been friends to dragons before.

Because Elderling magic stems from this "Silver" there has to be some of that near enough to the people to trickle into their blood for such abilities to appear. In minuscule amounts of it, Wit/skill can take root. Since there is no mention of any Silver being found visibly throughout the six duchies (except what little has been fused into stone of ancient Elderling structures), it is clear that there is very little of it found in the duchies. To get any meaningful ability would then require generations of accumulation. If there are more sources used to accumulate it, ability becomes stronger. Thus, you can explain how Wit and Skill are typically hereditary abilities.

As for why it becomes stronger when bloodlines from different regions with it appear, that can have many explanations. One is simply that they accumulate more that way, but perhaps more logical would be that the Silver is found in nature in different ways. Perhaps in the water in one place but in the ground in another. These sources might then "stockpile" up in different parts of the body, so that when the two cross, they get a sum larger amount.

When something is seen as a crime, having it is considered something to keep secret. Thus, even if there is Old Blood in Chalced (which isn't completely unlikely) it is considered shameful to admit. With the new Duchess that might slowly change, but it will take years if not generations to have any real effect with the common folk.

These beings feel that its not unlikely that there will be more events featuring the Duchess in future books. Why? Because her story does not feel "done". She still has to get her reformations through and the people probably won't want to cooperate with them all.

Hmm... this post got a bit of length.