The Threshold Child (19 page)

The bell rang for them to return to class. Adesina sat at her desk
for the remainder of the school day with her mind miles 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 class 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 Shimat 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 just…”

“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, corruption…”

Aleron looked troubled by her reply. “It cannot be all bad,” he
reasoned. “Surely there are things that you miss.”

She found herself thinking of all the things she had left behind
at the Shimat fortress. It was true that there were things she missed,
especially when confronted with the everyday drudgery of the High City.

He studied her face with his unnervingly perceptive gaze. Adesina
often had the uncomfortable feeling that Aleron knew more than what he let on.
Sometimes she was certain that he saw right through her disguise. This feeling
had become more and more frequent of late. His gaze was always open and frank,
but surprisingly difficult for Adesina to read, which disturbed her. She was
wondering whether or not to mention him to Kendan. If her cover was blown, her
Shimat contact needed to know about it.

“I suppose there are some things that I miss,” she said hurriedly
to hide her discomfort, “but I do not regret my decision to come to the High
City.”

Aleron shrugged, trying to appear casual. “I just feel that you
and I are meant for something greater.”

She couldn’t bring herself to argue with him when deep down she
felt exactly the same way. She thought about her response carefully before
putting it into words. “I am here because I need to be here. There are certain
times in life where we are required to give up what we want for what needs to
be done.”

He nodded thoughtfully but didn’t say anything. By this time they
had arrived at the Square. They parted and each went to their separate shops.

Hass was nowhere to be seen, but he had left a list of things that
he wanted Adrie to finish by the end of the day. Adesina looked around the
empty room. It seemed larger than usual, and unnaturally silent. She looked
over her shoulder, half expecting to see Ravi appear in the doorway, but no one
was there. She chided herself for being so foolish and went to work.

Adesina hadn’t been working very long in Hass’s shop before she
heard Aleron singing from next door. The sound was a welcome one, dispelling
the gloom. Adesina recognized it as an old folk song that was one of his
favorites.

In a golden land, over sapphire seas,

Lived a lily maid who once loved me.

Three times a day her soft sighs fell,

Three times a day she wished me well.

For o’er those seas, with danger
fraught,

I sailed away. To where, I knew not.

Three times a day I longed for her.

Three times a day my heartache did stir.

And yet, for all the pain we bore,

The tears we cried, the vows we swore,

My love and I were still apart.

Distant memories in each other’s heart.

Adesina found herself humming softly along as he launched into the
second verse. Her hands smoothed the board in front of her in a rhythm that
went along with the song. She found her thoughts occasionally straying to
Kendan, but forced herself to focus. Her mind relaxed and she was able to go
over her plans for her mission in a more orderly fashion. Ideas flowed with a
clarity that had been missing since Ravi’s absence.

In that golden land, over sapphire seas,

My lily maid, she waited for me.

Three times a day suitors did call.

Three times a day she denied them all.

And I, in turn, was ever true.

I, in turn, from temptation flew.

Three times a day I saw a fair face.

Three times a day I regarded it base.

And yet, for all the pain we bore,

The tears we cried, the vows we swore,

My love and I were still apart.

Distant memories in each other’s heart.

The soft sound of someone approaching jerked Adesina out of her
reverie. Keeping her eyes on her work, she waited for the knock on the door to
look up. Standing before her was the gangly figure of the blacksmith’s
apprentice, Horas.

He occasionally made appearances in Hass’s shop with small gifts
and stumbling compliments for Adesina. Aleron teased her about her young
“suitor,” but Adesina couldn’t believe that a boy Horas’s age honestly
considered her as a candidate for some sort of romantic relationship.

“Hello, Horas.”

“Hello, Adrie. How are you today?”

“I am well.” Adesina set aside her tools and looked at Horas
expectantly.

He dropped the small package he was holding in his hand and
hurried to pick it up again, bumping into the doorframe as he did so. “You look
very nice today, Adrie.”

She looked the same as she did every day. Adesina suppressed an
impatient sigh. “What do you need, Horas?”

His hand shot out, almost dropping the small package again. “I
made some nails. I thought you could use them.”

Adesina raised an eyebrow. “I do not think Master Quinlan would
approve of you giving so many gifts.”

Horas puffed out his chest, trying to show some bravado. “I do not
tell him. There are many things that happen in his shop that he does not know
about.”

Adesina was skeptical. “Really?”

Horas nodded, eager to prove himself. “There are many excess
materials that I can use without him noticing.” He lowered his voice. “I am not
like the other citizens of this city. I follow my own set of rules. Once I made
a dagger for an Outsider!”

Adesina studied the boy intently, focusing on his eyes. It only
took a glance to show her that he was lying. She smiled briefly and picked up
her tools again. “Thank you for the nails, Horas. I will let you know if I am
ever in need a renegade blacksmith.”

“Do you not believe me?” disappointment was written in his voice.

She looked at him earnestly. “I do not believe that your training
has yet made you skilled enough to make weapons.”

Horas was caught, uncertain how to react. “What…what if…what if I
prove it to you?”

Adesina shrugged and went back to work. “If it was proven, then I
would be wrong.”

She heard him hover in the doorway for a few moments more before
shuffling away. Adesina shook her head ruefully, glad to be alone again.

Her mind was now able to continue with the planning of her
upcoming mission. No one else disturbed Adesina for the remainder of the work
day. Aleron could be heard singing next door, Hass was in and out of the shop
doing business, but Adesina could have been invisible to the rest of the world;
as the world was invisible to her.

When it was time to go home for the evening, Adesina had decided
on a course of action for the following day. It was to be a simple plan, and
hopefully one without complications.

Aleron popped his head in the door. Apparently he was back in his
high spirits. “Ready to go?”

She nodded with a grimace. She labored to stand up and put her
tools away. Aleron was by her side instantly.

“Are you all right?”

She put on a brave face. “I am fine.”

Adesina pretended to stumble, and Aleron grabbed her around the
waist to support her. “You
are
not
fine.”

He sat her down again and held her by the shoulders. “Are you ill?
Are you in pain? Tell me your symptoms, and I can help.”

Adesina shook her head. “I just need to go home.”

He wasn’t sure whether he should press the matter of diagnosis or
hurry her back to her
house. He decided on the latter and helped her to her feet. “Put
your arm around my neck.”

She felt her cheeks get warm. She frowned at this strange
reaction. “No. Just lend me
your arm.”

She linked arms with him and leaned on him as they walked. People
stared as they passed,
scandalized that a young woman would be so forward as to take the
arm of a young man who was unattached to her.

Aleron was careful to keep her from pushing herself too hard, and
Adesina was intent on getting home as quickly as possible.

“Would you like to sit here and rest for a while?”

She shook her head. “No, I am fine.”

His face was brimming with uncertainty. “Are you sure? I do not
mind.”

Adesina resisted the urge to roll her eyes impatiently. “I am
sure. I do not want Jelana to worry about me.”

They were not far from a park bench. Aleron gestured to it and said,
“You could rest here while I run ahead to tell her.”

“No, that will not be necessary,” she replied firmly.

“I do not mind,” he insisted.

“No, Aleron. I just need to get home.”

After a few moments of thought, he asked hesitantly, “Would you
like me to carry you?”

She hastily shook her head. It was bad enough that people were
staring because she had a hold of his arm. If he carried her, there would
practically be an uproar. “No, Aleron, I can walk.”

He quickly let go of that idea, a little shocked at his own
suggestion. “Do you promise to let me know if you need to stop and rest?”

Adesina could not help but smile, even if it was a bit ruefully.
“I promise, Aleron.”

At long length, they arrived at the house. Jelana saw them coming
up the walk and rushed out to meet them. “Adrie! Are you hurt?”

Adesina was touched by the concern in her voice. “No, I am not
hurt.”

Aleron chipped in. “She is ill. She needs to lie down.”

Together they got Adesina upstairs. At this point, she couldn’t
get a word in edgewise. Aleron and Jelana were talking about possible ailments
and how to treat them. Fia was fluttering nearby, constantly asking Adesina
what was wrong and if she would be all right.