The two of them arrived at the apartment door one after the other. As usual, Hesta began fishing for her keys. In the dim light, she turned them over and over in her hand, yet she could not find the one for home.
"Is it this key ring?" Ligo began searching her pockets too. "Use mine—"
"Strange..." Hesta held the key ring up beneath the light. As it swayed, she suddenly remembered that there were two special guests in her apartment tonight—she had tossed her own key to Boheng earlier that evening.
Behind her, Ligo had already opened the door.
The living room was very quiet.
The children were already asleep. The table was a mess, covered with little pots used for cooking and bowls. Nearly every piece of tableware in the house had been brought out. Ende was keeping watch from the sofa, just as she had back in Tanyi.
She waved. "You're back, Eu—Jane."
"Good evening."
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
"It's that man," Ende said. "He said he was your friend and showed us your key and a note. But we didn't recognize your handwriting. Theresa said you were probably busy, so she wouldn't let me call and ask. She said we should wait for you to come back and confirm it."
"Yes, he's my friend," Hesta said softly.
Ligo froze for a moment, then quickly realized who Hesta meant. "The one who left you a message in Saint Lom?"
"Mm."
The bathroom door opened, and white light spilled from inside into the dim living room.
Boheng looked at the three Quicksilver Needles in the living room, then returned his gaze to Hesta. "...Did everything go smoothly?"
Hesta glanced ahead. "Let's talk on the balcony."
The two headed one after the other toward