Mericlou suspected that perhaps Alaema was becoming wise to her relationship with Aldrec, even though they had both taken great pains to keep it secret from her. Perhaps Skori was protecting her; perhaps he already knew of Alaema's true reason for her desire to stay, and it was because of this that he forbade it. He respected her desire to be with Aldrec, and her right to privacy in this affair. He was always so kind to her; he might have made whatever woman he had been in love with very happy, as hard-nosed as he could be.
Alaema was so immature sometimes; Divine only knew why she wanted to stay so badly. But for all she knew, her deductions could be dead wrong. If only she knew what was troubling her. Mericlou loved her sister dearly, but sometimes Alaema's personality defied even her logic.
***
Alaema's resentment was even more evident even on the day they left. She boarded the transcon without waiting for the goodbye kisses that Mericlou gave. Though Mericlou could understand why she refused to be civil even in this, it still hurt inside. She fought back the tears as she saw the transcon speed off on its magical railing.
Perhaps Alaema did suspect that she and Aldrec were now a couple. Both Skori and Sedriil swore that they had never revealed it to her, but still, the suspicion remained. But it was not Alaema's nature to not blab something like that to all of Lusea if she found out. It pained her to not be able to tell her sister, but common sense knew better than she did, the resulting weeks of immaturity that it would bring forth if she did.
She returned home to a pleasant surprise. All the assignments on the schedule paper in the kitchen, save the care of Aldrec's garden, had been marked as complete.
There was writing below the schedule. In red, a large, smiling face had been drawn, and below it was written:
We love you, sister!
We'll miss you at the ceremony!
Enjoy your time with Aldrec!
-Skori and Sedriil
Having no partner with which to dance out her joy, Mericlou chose Needles, who had just crawled up towards her. Taking the ferret into her arms, she twirled around and around in the middle of the kitchen floor, laughing with almost childish gaiety. Immune to dizziness herself, she watched the ferret crawl away afterwards, squeaking reproachfully as she skittered drunkenly across the countertop, and nearly fell into the sink.
***
Mericlou was so excited over this turn of events that the next day, she almost forgot to use Aldrec's potion on the way to Skainhart. Fortunately, the transcon station was empty.