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"You know very well, good sir," the elf maiden replied, her voice subdued, but still as quick and snapping as a whip "You being with a certain young android fe now?"

"I don't knohat you mean by 'with,'" Aldrec said deter else And even if she were 'with' me, as you so eloquently put, what business of yours is it anyway?"

"Well why did that other android girl telleach other?" The elf maiden asked, still obviously suspicious

"Other android?"

"Yes, another one," she said with , black hair, and wore clothes that were as tight as rubber bands" She wrinkled her nose in disgust "She had nearly every hu it"

"Did she say her nairl you ith very well She called her 'sister'"

"Every android calls each other 'brother' or 'sister,' Aldrec said "And I honestly don't knoho it could be, but she's lying"

The elf maiden narrowed her eyes "Are you sure?"

Now, it was Aldrec's turn to be threatening

"Are you accusingto you?" He hissed His jaas hard and set in anger

"Forgive ood sir!" The elf maiden said with a quick, nervous bow "I didn't u, and … I couldn't possibly fathom an elf ould do such a …"

"Elves are free peoples of this world," Aldrec said, cutting her off "We're all free to less in the eyes of the Divine And if memory serves, weren't you here when her purse was stolen? You were even concerned over her when it happened, so why are you now so resentful ofher as a friend?"

The elf maiden, at his words, sat in appalled silence She probably had never heard any elf in his or her rightanyway He made a selection of a small bouquet of roses, and paid her She remained sullen and silent, but Aldrec felt that it was very much preferable to a stream of curses