I think the Kaled language never met a hard consonant it didn't like. Perhaps biichan is thinking of Gharman?
And yes, the story is in fact 25,000 words; I only wish I could have gotten all that out of me in 2500 words! That would have been a story like a diamond, I think, every word a new sharp facet.

I certainly thought of 'Ender's Game' while writing this story, but while young Ender Wiggin has the hope of being someone special someday, Nyder does not.