There was something about Keiro that suddenly made her nervous. Not in his face, as he looked like he was merely enjoying the night. A mask, Shalan guessed. But his eyes. There was a glint in his eyes that hadn't been there before she'd answered him. Suddenly, she felt slightly panicked. Had it been a trick? How? He'd just asked about news from a city, and she had said she avoided it. How could that be misconstrued? 
Swallowing, she focused on her meal, trying to calm her mind. Surely, she was only imagining the sudden change. 

"My favourite?" She repeated slowly, half aware Korra had asked her a question. "Oh, well," He leaned on her hand, her long fingers folded under her chin, her eyes on Korra. "My mother used to tell me a story when I was a much, much younger elf." Shalan grinned shyly to the girl. "A story of people that were only as tall as the long tailed rodents in the forests. They were tiny. And they lived in the most peculiar places. In hollowed trunks of trees. On lily-pads that lazed on the calm waters of ponds. Beneath rocks in articulate underground mazes." 
She smiled. "I liked those stories. Now, I often look closely at odd looking tree roots, hoping to find tiny people."

Pushing her near-empty bowl away, she sighed. "Thank you very much for the meal," Shalan put a smile on her lips as she looked to Keiro. "But I feel the call of the bed, once more. If I may, I'd like to return to it for more sleep." She stood, clutching her sword, as if worried Keiro would take it from her. She bent slightly in a subtle bow as she stepped from the table. "Thank you for the conversation."