Strange Noises Fiction by Rachel Greenham

It feels good to be back out in the light. I know it's a terrible cliché -- in both worlds -- about elves disliking being underground, but I really was starting to feel claustrophobic. It's funny, I don't get that belowdecks on a ship, where there's far less room. The afternoon lengthens into evening, and I try to round up Asuti and Ateis to see about getting them dolled up for the evening. Hajarean's other guests will be arriving soon. And Master Feran from the ship in the harbour. Ateis is easy enough to catch, having worn herself out from running around with the other little ones in the gardens in an apparent contest to see who can make themselves the scruffiest in such a short time. Asuti has other ideas. "Alison's got all these really nice dresses and she said I could have some of the ones she's grown out of for keeps, and she said there was one she's got that she really likes that I can wear tonight, and she'll do my hair too and, and..." She runs off the end in her excitement. "Oh," I say. I notice, belatedly, that Asuti is already wearing a pinafore-like dress I've never seen before, in a shade of green I would never have put her in. I'm sure it would have much better suited Alison's red hair. "It's all right, isn't it?" she asks. "Yes, it's all right," I say neutrally. "You'd better get going." Asuti grins, hugs me impulsively for a moment, then dashes off. "Don't wear green!" I call after her. I don't know if she heard me. "Why shouldn't she wear green?" Ateis asks, still holding my hand. "It's not her colour," I murmur. Then I shake myself out of it and drop down to Ateis's level to give her my full attention. "You, it must be said, badly need a bath," I tell her. She laughs at that. "Jallie's much dirtier than I am," she pronounces, with the air of a gracious loser. "Yes, Demele's going to be so thrilled when she finds out. Shall we see if we can get the bathroom first?"