Part 7 (1/2)
The guard looked skeptical. ”Why would one of your kind want to do that?”
Adesina frowned in confusion at the way he asked the question, as if there was more to it that what she was aware. ”My kind? Do you mean a northerner?”
Before the guard could reply, he was distracted by someone below him on the other side of the wall. They conversed for a moment before the gate slowly began to rise. An elderly man dressed in a simple black uniform and a light blue sash greeted her and showed her through the gate.
”Come along, young one. Do not dawdle.”
Adesina did as she was told and walked through the gate. Ravi followed her quickly and silently. The large room on the other side of the gate was filled with tables and chairs, but was otherwise bare. The old man led Adesina to the center of the room, but Ravi seated himself by the wall where he could observe more easily.
The man offered Adesina a chair and sat down across the table from her. ”Please forgive Nordin. He has a strange fascination withathe north.”
The man noted Adesina's bewildered expression and asked, ”You are from the north, are you not?”
Adesina nodded slowly. ”I was raised in the Northern Tribes.”
The old man's wrinkles became more p.r.o.nounced. ”Well, I a.s.sumedathat is to sayayou bear an unusual likeness to a certain group of northerners of which we in the High City are rather wary.”
Her curiosity was immediately piqued, but she did her best to keep it from her face. She had never borne a ”likeness” to anyone before. She made a mental note to find out more as soon as she was within the city.
”I am an orphan. I have never met anyone who looks like me.”
His face cleared with this information. ”Ah, I see. What is your name, child?”
”Adrie.”
He leaned back and rested his fingertips together lightly. ”As I am sure you know, Adrie, we of the High City are very selective of whom we allow through that door.” He pointed to the door on the far side of the room, opposite of the gate. ”You claim to be a member of the Northern Tribes, but even if that is true there is no way we can verify that story. Do you know someone within the city who can vouch for your character?”
Adesina shook her head. The old man smiled and spread his hands. ”So you see, there is nothing I can do for you.”
The young s.h.i.+mat did some quick thinking. She had to find a way into the city. ”Surely there must be some way that you can determine my character.”
The old man hesitated. ”Well, yes, we do have people who interview prospective immigrants, but that is only done after someone of established character vouches for you.”
Adesina carefully arranged her expression to one of disappointment. ”I have no family or friends.”
She saw his face soften with pity. Adesina lowered her glance and forced her eyes to fill with tears. The old man reached across the table and patted her hand. ”There, there, child. No need for tears! I am certain there are many other places you can go and find work.”
She made her breath shaky as she drew it in. ”But I will not be safe anywhere but here!”
He frowned in confusion. ”What do you mean, young woman?”
Adesina forced more tears out of her eyes and spoke in a quavering voice. ”Ours was a peace-loving tribe, but our possessions were coveted by our enemies. They attacked us and killed everyone! My mother, my father, my baby sistera”
The old man's eyes were filling up with genuine tears, but Adesina pressed on with her tale of woe.
”I suppose they only kept me alive because of how I look. They were going to sell me into slavery,” she sobbed.
He gasped in horror, and she hid her face in her hands, lowering her voice to a pained whisper. ”I escaped and fled to the High City. I knew I would be safe once I reached here.” She paused for effect before going on. ”If you turn me away, I will surely be captured again!”
The old man now had a firm hold on her hand and was squeezing it as if he would never let go. ”Now, now, dear. I am sure there is something we can do for you! I think we may forego that formality, if I get permission from my superiors.”
Adesina thanked him while wiping her already dry eyes. The old man excused himself and left the room. She glanced over at Ravi, who had an amused expression on his face.
”You are quite an actress.”
She gave him a sarcastic look, but didn't reply. She kept her focus on the information she had been given to prepare her for her entrance into the High City.
When the old man returned, several minutes later, he was followed by four more men in black uniforms with light blue sashes. They seated themselves across from Adesina and began asking her questions.
The man directly in front of Adesina seemed to be the one in charge. He had iron-gray hair, but his face was surprisingly youthful. His dark blue eyes had a very somber feel to them, and his thin mouth seemed to say the same.
”Your name is Adrie?”
Adesina nodded, lowering her eyes deferentially. The man looked pleased with her manner.
Adesina kept her face neutral as she watched the various hints of expression that crossed his face. He was the key to her entrance into the city, and she knew exactly how to manipulate this man.
”I am called Ston, and I am the head of the Entrance Council.”
She widened her eyes and looked at him with exaggerated respect and a hint of awe. ”I hope I have not inconvenienced you, sir, with my request.”
Ston waved a hand magnanimously. ”No, no. It is no trouble. However, we do need to ask some questions. We must be thorough, you understand.”
She nodded quickly. ”Of course, sir.”
The next several hours were filled with the drone of Ston's arrogant voice, the scratching of several pens, and the flawless performance of Adesina's facade. The questions began with Adesina's originsa”the type of family she came from, the occupation of her parents, her childhood, her education, and so forth. They took special care to make sure that her presence in the High City would not endanger any of its citizens.
When they were satisfied that her background was benign, they moved on. They questioned her on her opinion over various subjects, asked her reaction to hypothetical situations, and drilled her for details about her future plans.
Adesina answered in a way that she knew would flatter the self-importance of the man in front of her. She kept her expression one of youthful innocence, and her tone well mannered. When the question of her occupation was brought up, Adesina a.s.sured them of her skills as an apprentice carpenter. A gleam of excitement flashed through five sets of eyes.
At the end of the interview they excused themselves and left the room to discuss their decision. The young s.h.i.+mat sat motionless for more than a half hour, her mind going over several contingency plans. When the door opened to readmit the first man she had met, she had a number of ideas on how to get into the city if this course of action failed.
The old man gave her a grandfatherly smile. ”Well, I think we can find accommodations for you here in the High City, young woman. We have been looking for carpenters for quite a while. We have only one in the city now, and he is quite overworked. You will begin as his apprentice. When he feels you are ready, there will be other options available to you.”
He handed her a book of laws and social mores to study. ”We are contacting your host family right now, and it will probably be settled by morning. You may read this while you wait.”
Adesina took the book and followed him out of the room, with Ravi close behind. The man showed her to one of the small huts just outside the city in which she could stay the night. He offered his services, if needed, and bowed out of the room.
The young woman was unable to think of anything else to do, so she curled up on the simple cot and began reading. Ravi laid down on the ground and went to sleep.
There were many rules a.s.sociated with living in the High City, but Adesina was certain that it would not be a problem. Being raised as a s.h.i.+mat definitely had its advantages when it came to following outside rules, for there was no society more stringent.
When she finished reading the book, Adesina closed her eyes and tried to sleep. She found it strangely difficult and could not understand the reason. Perhaps it was her nerves. Perhaps it was the unusual silence. After all, she had grown accustomed to Ravi singing her to sleep.
In spite of these struggles, Adesina was finally able to get the much needed rest. Morning arrived far too quickly, but she skillfully pushed her exhaustion to the very back of her mind. A timid knock announced the arrival of her aged guide.