She tied her hip satchel about her waist, and prepared to open the front door when she heard Alaema's soft voice singing in the dark.
"I know something you don't know!"
Mericlou stopped herself just short of screaming.
Alaema giggled.
"Sister!" Mericlou hissed in anger, but still trying to keep her voice down, "What are you doing still up … and in the den, with the lights off?"
"It's the funniest thing," Alaema said airily. Mericlou could hear movement on the fabric of the couch. "I spent the night simply wandering the city, and when I came back, I found that Garen and Noroa had turned my room into a love nest. I guess that's the punishment Skori decided to give me for my behavior at the party?"
"I wouldn't know about that," Mericlou replied, though almost certain that Alaema was right. She quite well deserved it. "I'm going out to get some fresh air; what did you want?"
"I know where you can find you elf friend," Alaema said. "I saw him on the way home tonight, if you want to know."
"Go on," Mericlou said, trying her best to sound indifferent, although her artificial blood ran hot in her face when she heard the name.
"I actually saw him go into the Goblin Pot.It's an all-night tavern on the human side of the city. Elves usually avoid those places like a disease, but he just walked right in."
"How long ago was this?" Mericlou asked.
"About thirty minutes ago. If he went in for an actual drink, he might still be there." She giggled softly. "Go kiss-kiss with your boyfriend!"
Mericlou exhaled harshly through her nostrils, but did not feel like arguing. She left the apartment, forcing herself not to slam the door.
These were the times that Alaema really tried her patience. Still, she was her sister, and just as dear to her as Skori, Sedriil, and Noroa. She decided to take Aldrec's advice of going easy on her, but in times like these, it felt like her sister was purposely provoking her.
She managed to slough off her exasperation as she walked down the streets, now quiet and peaceful in the middle of the night. Elven cities were famous for their tranquility, as elves were less inclined towards crime or violence. And humans in elven cities tended to take after the elves. The purse-snatcher of a year ago had been one of those rare exceptions.
The night breeze carried a fresh scent of pine from the forest on Lusea's southern outskirts. It did much to ease Mericlou from the memories of earlier. Still, she could not keep her mind from wandering back to the conversation she and Aldrec had shared a year ago, and what he had said.