Part 13 (1/2)
After a few blissful moments, they parted. Kendan breathed in the scent of her hair and murmured, ”Be careful.”
Adesina wasn't sure what she said in return, her thoughts were so muddled. She turned and crawled out of the cave, stumbling more than once as she got to her feet. Unable to express her happiness with a shout, she settled for running through the trees.
She could see nothing but Kendan's face before her, and could not force herself to think of anything else. She ran in circles for a while, reveling in the giddiness she felt. Unfortunately, such self-absorbed elation could not last in her s.h.i.+mat-trained mind. She turned in the direction of the High City and began running, this time to make up for the time she had wasted earlier.
The cool air helped in settling her thoughts back to the task at hand. Dreams of Kendan would have to wait for after her a.s.signment.
This was a mission that would require particular care. Not just because her target was so dangerous, but also because Adesina had to find a way to capture this man without being seen by the people who were supposed to be serving as her alibi.
She slipped through the grate and rushed to the school, arriving just in time for the lunch break. Her friends waved at her with expressions of relief on their faces.
”Where have you been?” demanded Gainor.
”We were deciding whether or not to come after you,” said Deasa.
”We were so worried!” added Rina.
Adesina gave a careless laugh. ”Why were you worried? It is not as if anything could happen to me while in the High City.”
The girls exchanged glances. ”Well,” muttered Rina, ”it is the spring.”
Adesina frowned. ”What do you mean?”
Gainor got the look in her eye that said she was about to share a juicy piece of information. ”Spring is when the traders come to the High City.”
”Traders?”
Gainor nodded. ”Yes! Outsiders that come into the High City to trade!”
Adesina had noticed that, in spite of the High City's aversion to Outsiders, they did a lot of trading. In fact, they relied so heavily on outside resources that they probably could not survive at all if that trading ceased.
The young s.h.i.+mat had a sudden realization. She had wondered about the description of the man she was to kidnap, but now it made sense. Her target was an Outsider.
Rina misinterpreted the expression on Adesina's face and placed a comforting hand on her arm. ”You do not need to be afraid, though. They are not allowed beyond the Square, and they are watched very closely.”
She was spared the need to answer by the approach of Aleron.
”Adrie! Are you going to the shop today?”
Adesina nodded absently. ”Yes, of course.”
His face lit up with his sunny smile. ”Great! I will meet you by the gate after school.”
She tried to ignore the significant glances pa.s.sing between her friends as Aleron walked away. Apparently it was impossible for them to imagine a normal friends.h.i.+p between a boy and a girl.
The bell rang for them to return to cla.s.s. Adesina sat at her desk for the remainder of the school day with her mind far away. She went over all of the information given to her and coupled it with what she knew of the High City. A number of plans began forming in her head, each with back-ups and variations. Some she had to dismiss due to a lack of time and materials, others proved too complicated. She was still filtering through them when cla.s.s ended.
Adesina met Aleron by the gate, and they began walking towards the Square. He chatted as they walked, but Adesina had a hard time paying attention.
”Adrie, did you hear what I said?”
”What?”
Aleron laughed. ”I thought not.”
She forced a brief smile. ”I am sorry, Aleron. I am a bit preoccupied today.”
He grinned. ”Yes, I noticed. I could have blurted out my deepest, darkest secret, and you would not have even reacted.”
The s.h.i.+mat rolled her eyes. ”Even on a normal day, I doubt you would have any secrets that merit a reaction.”
Aleron looked skeptical. ”I am sure I could think of something to shock you.”
Now Adesina's smile was unfeigned. ”You really think so?”
He appraised her with a glance. ”I can see that you do not.”
She shrugged. ”You have lived in the High City your entire life, Aleron. Your life experience is limited. What could you possibly know about deep, dark secrets?”
His earnest brown eyes searched her face. ”Do you?”
Adesina immediately became wary, but she kept her voice light. ”Do I what?”
”Know about life's deep, dark secrets?”
She gave a careless laugh. ”Well, I definitely know more than you.”
Aleron looked as if he were about to pursue the topic, but changed his mind. ”What a surprise,” he said jokingly. ”You always know more than me. No matter what we are talking about!”
Adesina shrugged again. ”I cannot help that I am smarter than you.”
They both laughed, and the subject was dropped.
”How is your mother?”
Aleron looked surprised at the new direction their conversation was taking. ”Fine,” he replied automatically. After another moment he added, ”As always.”
She gave him a questioning glance. ”You say that as if it were a bad thing.”
He quickly shook his head. ”No, of course not. It is justa”
”What?” she urged.
He sighed heavily. ”I feel so restless here. Day after day, month after month, year after year, everything is the same. I suppose it is not so difficult for someone who has grown up here, but you have seen all that the world has to offer. Do you not get tired of the monotony?”
Adesina's cover story automatically formed into a response. ”Yes, I have seen what the world has to offer: murder, slavery, hatred, corruptiona”