The Threshold Child (13 page)

“Good afternoon, Mistress Jelana,” he said, his eyes lingering on
Adesina.

Jelana smiled bravely. “Good afternoon, Master Quinlan.”

Quinlan ambled into the room, tugging on the edge of his leather
apron. “I do not believe I know your young friend.”

Horas stopped his frantic attempts to fix the mayhem he had caused
and listened intently for the older woman’s answer. “This is Adrie. She hails
from the Northern Tribes. Our family is hosting her for the duration of her
stay in the High City.”

Quinlan nodded thoughtfully. “I spent some time up north. They are
good people. Very hospitable.” He then switched to one of the northern
dialects. “Jeex mihe?”

He was asking if she was from a specific group of tribes. Adesina
shook her head. Her proclaimed tribe was from farther west, therefore, her
response was in a different dialect. “Peng vur zhe.”

Quinlan looked surprised at this disparaging reply. “Do you not
think well of the Quehe?”

Adesina raised an eyebrow and looked dismissive. Her assumed tribe
did not like the Quehe at all. “They serve their purpose.”

Quinlan nodded again and turned his eyes to his apprentice, who
was still frozen in place. “Pick up your feet, Horas. Fetch Mistress Jelana’s
order and then clean up this mess.”

Horas flushed crimson and stumbled to do as he was told. He
retrieved a fat leather folder and set it on the counter in front of Jelana. By
the way it jingled, Adesina assumed it was full of nails. Quinlan gestured to
the folder and then to the parcels in Adesina’s arms. “Will you need any
assistance in carrying your packages home?”

Jelana paused for a moment before shaking her head slowly. “No,
thank you, Master Quinlan.”

Both Horas and Quinlan looked a bit disappointed. As Jelana
gathered up the folder, the blacksmith began tugging on the edge of his leather
apron again. “This order should settle my account with your husband, Mistress
Jelana. Please thank him again for the cabinet.”

“Of course,” she smiled.

Both man and boy ducked their heads politely as their customers
turned to leave. Adesina followed Jelana and they passed back into the street.
The sun was now setting quickly, and the older woman looked anxious. “Fia will
probably already be home from school. I must hurry or supper will not be ready
by the time Hass returns.”

As they hurried through the Square and back towards the
residential area, Jelana threw Adesina a sideways glance. “Master Quinlan is a
good, honest worker. He is well respected throughout the High City…and he is
unmarried.”

A deep laugh rumbled in Ravi’s chest, and Adesina felt her face
flush slightly. She could hardly believe her ears. “Mistress Jelana!”

The woman patted her shoulder in an attempt to reassure her. “I
know you are young, Adrie, but it never hurts to be mindful of future options.
He seemed to be quite taken with you.”

When Adesina didn’t reply, she went on. “Women of the High City
are expected to marry young and start their families as soon as possible. Is
that not how it is in the north?”

The Shimat nodded reluctantly. She knew that if her stay in the
High City ended up to be long term she would have to deal with this issue.
However, she had not anticipated having to address it so soon.

Jelana could see that Adesina was uncomfortable and tried to shrug
indifferently. “I would not dream of rushing you into such an important
decision. That being said, remember that marrying a citizen of the High City
makes you one as well. You could belong here, Adrie. And after wandering for so
long, that must be a welcome thought.”

Jelana then changed the subject and began asking about Adesina’s
domestic skills. She seemed relieved to find that Adesina knew how to cook,
clean and sew.

“I
am
glad to hear that, dear. You would not believe some
of the young women one comes across in the outside. Not a single skill to their
name.”

Fia was waiting for them, playing quietly in the yard. She gave
Adesina a shy smile before running to open the door for them. Jelana
immediately began bustling about the main room. “Adrie, take your things up to
your room and then come help me prepare supper.”

She ducked her head meekly. “Yes, Mistress Jelana.”

Adesina’s years of living under strict Shimat codes would not
allow her to simply dump the packages on the bed. She put each item away
carefully and then hurried downstairs. Jelana was scrubbing potatoes when she
appeared. She indicated to the knife and cutting board next to her. “Adrie,
would you slice these potatoes?”

Adesina went about her task silently, as did Jelana. Fia stirred
the mixing bowl solemnly, taking her grown-up assignment very seriously. As
usual, Ravi seated himself out of the way, but where he could keep an eye on
Adesina. The finishing touches were just being completed when Hass walked
through the door. He greeted his wife with a peck on the cheek and patted Fia’s
head.

Supper was laid out with unfailing precision, with all the bowls
placed in front of Hass. They all took their places and began their meal. He
filled the first plate and handed it to his wife, next Adesina was served, then
Fia, and finally himself. They ate in complete silence. It wasn’t until Jelana
began clearing plates that Hass spoke.

“How was your first day in the High City, Adrie?”

Adesina looked mildly surprised at being addressed. “It went well.
Mistress Jelana took me into the Square to buy some clothes for tomorrow.”

Hass nodded amiably. “Well, you should probably get to bed early
tonight. You have a big day ahead of you.”

She hesitated before standing. “Mistress Jelana, do you need any
assistance with the dishes?”

Jelana smiled and shook her head. “Oh, no, Adrie. You go get some
rest.”

She was handed a small lamp to take to her room with her. Adesina
walked quietly up the stairs and down the hall to her room. She opened the door
to let Ravi in first, and then closed the door securely behind them. After
setting down the lamp, she moved behind the painted screen to change into her
nightclothes.

“What do you think of the High City?” asked Ravi as he settled
down for the night.

She sighed. “It is very orderly.”

He chuckled softly. “Yes, it is.”

Adesina stepped out, wearing a cream-colored muslin shift. She
folded her clothes neatly and placed them in the trunk. Her tightly braided
hair was unpinned and shaken loose, falling into thick waves. Adesina briskly
ran a brush through it, ignoring the way it glinted in the lamplight.

Ravi watched this process with a thoughtful expression on his
face. He did not speak until Adesina blew out the lamp and climbed into bed.

“Are you troubled, Ma’eve?”

Adesina sighed and pulled the quilt up under her chin. “No more
than usual,” she muttered softly.

Ravi sat up on his back legs and faced her, a strange shadow in
the darkened room. His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dim moonlight, and his
deep voice rumbled gently. “Speak more of these troubles.”

For several moments, Adesina considered brushing off her words as
nothing. But slowly, almost involuntarily, she answered. “At the end of each
day I feel a vague sort of discontentment. I have felt it since I was young.”

“Why do you think that is?”

Adesina shrugged, and even though the room was dark, the motion
was easily discerned by Ravi’s sharp eyes. “I do not know. I have never
understood.”

“Are you unhappy?”

This question caught her off guard. “I do not believe so. I always
associated it with some sort of self-dissatisfaction.”

There was a meditative pause. “What did you do in your youth to
dispel such feelings?”

A grim smile spread across Adesina’s face. “I would resolve to
work even harder the following day.”

“And what of when you could work no harder?”

She glared at the ceiling. “One can always work harder.”

She heard the soft sounds of Ravi settling back down. “So, what
will you do in this instance?”

Once again Adesina felt uncertain as to how to respond. “I do not
know.”

Ravi dropped his head onto his paws. “Do not worry, Ma’eve.
Tomorrow will dawn, and you will be shown your path.”

Adesina didn’t feel very comforted, but said nothing. The sound of
Ravi’s humming gently lulled her into a dreamless sleep.

Adesina rose long before the morning dawned. She reviewed the papers
she had already memorized, careful to make sure that she was not forgetting any
small details. Ravi watched impassively as Adesina created a strange sort of
morning routine. She grouped together a series of exercises that would keep her
physically up to Shimat standards, which were done silently and thoroughly.
Adesina also practiced her weaponry, but she wasn’t sure how helpful it would
be without a partner to challenge her.

When the morning sky began to lighten, Adesina hid away all traces
of her other life and began preparing for the day. She washed her face and then
confronted the arduous task of figuring out her new High City clothing.

There was no clear way to get into the simple brown dress. Every
seam was stitched up tight, and there was no sign of buttons or ties. Adesina
stood in her underclothing, staring at the dress like a frustrating puzzle.

A soft knock sounded at the door and Jelana appeared. “Adrie, it
is time to awake…oh! You are an early riser. That is good.”

Adesina’s irritation must have shown on her face, because Jelana
gave her a sympathetic smile and walked over to the bed. Ravi flicked his tail
out of the way just in time to save it from being trodden upon. Jelana picked
up the dress and showed Adesina how to put it on. Adesina also allowed her to
assist with the matching apron.

“This apron will be worn as long as you are in school. On the days
you apprentice with Hass, however, you need not wear it. On those days you will
wear the apprentice sash.”

Adesina nodded and shifted her feet experimentally. She felt a bit
stiff wearing so many layers of clothing. Jelana touched Adesina’s hair with a
wistful look in her eyes. “I do not wish to tell you how to arrange your hair,
but in the High City it is only appropriate for young girls to leave their hair
down. A simple knot is most common among women, but at your age a braid is
still acceptable.”

Jelana smiled again and turned to walk out of the room. “Hurry
down to breakfast. You do not want to be late on your first day.”

Adesina plaited her long silver hair into a basic braid and then
twisted it into a knot at the nape of her neck, where she pinned it in place.
She sat on the trunk and pulled on her new boots. “Ravi, what are you going to
do while I am at school?”

“I will follow you. Do you expect me to stay here all day?”

Adesina pursed her lips in exasperation. “I am not accustomed to
being followed by a giant invisible cat. How am I supposed to know the
protocol?”

Ravi snorted mildly. “I am not a cat. I am Rashad.”

Adesina rolled her eyes. “You look like a cat to me.”

Ravi was completely unruffled by this intended jab. “Cats do not
talk. Now go down to breakfast. I will meet you on the street.”

She scowled in annoyance and walked out of the room with a sharp
step. Breakfast was a silent affair, as all meals seemed to be. Fia was dressed
exactly like Adesina, with her honey hair neatly braided. She smiled shyly at the
young woman and was thrilled to get a smile in return.

Hass wished the two girls a good day as Jelana handed each of them
a lunch pail and shooed them out the door. As promised, Ravi was waiting for
them at the end of the walkway. Adesina wondered how he had gotten from her
room to the street without her notice.

These thoughts were interrupted when Fia looked up at Adesina with
imploring eyes. “Adrie, are you to be my sister?”

Adesina stared at this open devotion in bewilderment. “I…no, I am
not your sister.”

Fia’s brown eyes opened even wider. “Oh, I know that, but can I
say
that you are my sister?”

The bemused Shimat was spared the necessity of answering by the
approach of Gainor, Deasa and Rina.

Gainor was talking at full speed before the proper greetings were
over. “Oh, Adrie, I am so excited for today! I do hope that you like our
school. I do not know what kind of schooling to which you are accustomed, but
my father says that ours is the best system he has ever seen.”

They began walking down the street in the opposite direction of
the Square. Gainor linked arms with Adesina and led the group. Ravi walked at
Adesina’s side as soundless as a ghost. Rina followed close behind, but Deasa
hung back, taking Fia’s hand with a warm smile.

Adesina focused her attention on Gainor. “Does your father run the
school?”

Gainor laughed and tossed her head. “Goodness, no!
My
father
is one of the three Governors of the High City! In fact, he is the youngest
Governor to take office in a hundred years.”