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 Shimat 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 Shimat 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 Shimat 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.

"Come," he beckoned.

The old man led her and Ravi back through the gate and through the room with the tables and chairs. He opened the door to the city and stepped back, motioning Adesina through. She walked past him and into the busy main square of the High City.

The city was bright and clean, but everything from the buildings to the streets was in strict, straight lines. Every building was whitewashed and uniform, and every street was paved with cobblestones that were also painted a dull white. There were neat rows of well-behaved flowers that lined the streets, walkways and houses. As she was led through the main square, her eyes darted around her, taking in as much information as possible.

The merchants were all dressed in the same simple uniform as the guards and the Entrance Council, only their uniforms were green in color. They all stood by orderly kiosks, a.s.sisting customers in reserved voices. At predictable intervals a brown-uniformed guard with a red sash would stroll through the square, nodding amiably to the citizens he pa.s.sed.

Everyone walked in an unhurried fashion, stiff with dignity. There was not one surprise to be found in sight, and Adesina practically stared in disbelief. She could have overthrown the city single-handedly and no one would think to object. She glanced at Ravi in the hope of finding similar dismay on his face, but he walked along as sedately as the citizens, as if such sights were common to him.

She was led through the business section of the city and into the residential. Each home was white, but the shingled roofs were various pastel colors. Women in light brown dresses worked industriously in their yards, occasionally accompanied by a small child. Adesina tried to ignore the curious stares that she was getting, but it became more and more difficult the farther into the city they went.

When they arrived at the cottage that was to be her home, her guide turned her over to the small family waiting at the gate. The house was white, of course, and the roof was a pale green. The front of the house was lined with flowers, as was the path that led to the street. The man looked to be in his early forties and the woman was only slightly younger.

The man wore a dark blue uniform with a white sash, and his graying brown hair was neatly cropped. He had a full beard, also neatly trimmed, and jovial black eyes. The woman wore a simple light brown dress with white flowers embroidered on the bodice. Her white-blonde hair was pulled back in a simple bun, but a few stray hairs escaped to curl pleasantly around her plump face. Their daughter, a girl of nine or ten, hid shyly behind her mother. Her honey hair was plaited into an orderly braid, and her brown eyes sparkled with excitement.

The man extended a large, calloused hand. "Welcome to our home, Adrie. I am Ha.s.s."

She looked at his hand with an air of uncertainty. Adesina was familiar with the custom of shaking hands, but Adrie was not.

Ha.s.s smiled kindly. "Do they not shake hands in the Northern Tribes? Well, no matter. It is just a little custom we have here."

He presented his wife and daughter. "This is Jelana, and our child, Fia."

Adesina smiled hesitantly at them while Ha.s.s approached her. He took her two bags and beckoned to her. "Follow me and I will show you to your room."

Jelana, followed closely by Fia, made way for them to pa.s.s. Ha.s.s heaved the bags over his shoulder and walked up the path towards the house. The white door stood open, and upon closer inspection Adesina could see that there were no locks.

The front room was bright and cheerful. Pale yellow curtains hung from the windows and potted flowers stood on each sill. A conservative fire danced in the stone fireplace on the left side of the room, not far from another wooden door. A table and four chairs sat opposite of the fireplace, and a loom was set up against the far wall. Opposite the loom were a couple of chairs, a small stringed instrument, and a shelf with a small stack of parchment.

In the center of the far wall was a doorway that led to a set of stairs. Ha.s.s led Adesina up these stairs to a narrow hallway. There were three doors along this hallway. Ha.s.s gestured to the first as he pa.s.sed it.

"This is Fia's bedroom."

He did the same for the second door. "This is a storage room, of sorts."

Ha.s.s stopped at the third door and opened it wide to reveal a sunny, meticulous room. It was easily twice the size of her room back in the Shimat fortress, but that still wasn't saying much. The window, shielded by the same type of curtains as the main room, faced the street. A small desk sat near the window, directly across from the door. A bed occupied the far left corner of the room, which had a patchwork quilt laid over it and a trunk at its foot. The near left corner of the room had a mirror and a washstand, and a screen with birds and flowers painted on it.

Adrie sucked in her breath and drew her hands up to her face. "It is so beautiful!" she exclaimed.

Behind the act, however, Adesina was taking careful mental notes as they had walked through the house. She spotted good places to hide things in her room, quick escape routes, possible places for ambushes, which floorboards and stairs made noise when stepped on, and so forth. Adesina was genuinely pleased with her arrangements.

Ravi, who had been following them silently, settled himself at the far end of her new bedroom and looked at her expectantly. She returned the look and then turned her back on him.

Ha.s.s set down her bags on the floor near the bed, a bit fl.u.s.tered by her compliment. "It is not much, but we hoped you would like it. I suppose you want to get settled in. Come downstairs when you are finished, and Jelana will see to you. I need to get to work."

He gave her a brusque nod and shut the door behind him. Adesina took a deep breath and let it out audibly. She turned to the window and opened it to let in some fresh air. There was a small group of girls huddled across the street whispering to each other and pointing to the house. Adesina ignored the instinctive suspicion that rose in her mind and turned her back on the window, letting the curtains fall back into place.

She began unpacking her things. She first pulled everything out and laid it on the bed. The things she needed to put away first were the items hidden in the bottom of her bags. Her weapons, the medical kit, a store of ingredients for various concoctions, private doc.u.ments, and so forth. All of these she put underneath her mattress for now. She would find a better hiding place later that night.

All the while, her mind turned over all she had seen and heard, trying to figure out how she would be of the most use to the Shimat order during her stay in the High City.

Chapter Eight: Lives Without Color.

Adesina had just finished unpacking when she heard a knock on the door below. She moved closer to the window, out of sight but within hearing range. Jelana's voice was recognizable.

"h.e.l.lo, girls. How are you today?"

Now a younger voice. "Oh, we are fine-"

She was cut off by another young voice. "We saw the girl come here. Are you hosting her?"

A slightly more mature voice reprimanded the second. "Gainor!"

Jelana brought order back to the conversation. "Yes, we are hosting a girl. She is from the Northern Tribes. I will introduce you, if you wish, but you cannot stay long. She needs to settle in."

Adesina did a quick check of her things, making sure nothing incriminating was in sight. Ravi casually moved so he was sitting in a corner out of the way. Her sharp hearing followed their step as they crossed the main room, climbed the stairs and walked down the hall.

There was a soft knock at her door and Jelana entered with three girls about Adesina's age. In a split second, Adesina's eyes took in various details about each of her visitors and could see the dynamics between them.

The foremost girl was clearly the leader. She had light blonde hair and laughing blue eyes, a heart-shaped face and a slightly stubborn set to her jaw. She stood stiffly upright, eager to be noticed and admired. The second girl was tall, with dark curls framing her round face. She had intelligent hazel eyes and a hint of humor around her mouth. Her dusky complexion was clear and smooth, touched only by a healthy glow on her cheeks. Adesina could see that she was a calming influence over the high-strung leader. The third girl seemed to be hiding in the background. This was the follower. She had honey-colored hair and an uncertain expression in her brown eyes, and her b.u.t.ton nose was lightly sprinkled with freckles. All three girls were dressed in the same light brown dress with a darker brown ap.r.o.n covering the front.

"Adrie, these girls would like to meet you." Jelana gestured to them in the exact order that Adesina had noticed them. "This is Gainor, Deasa and Rina."

Each of them nodded politely when their name was said. Gainor looked as if she was dying of curiosity, but Jelana continued with the introductions at her own leisurely pace.

"Girls, this is Adrie of the Northern Tribes."

Adesina reminded herself to smile shyly. "I am pleased to meet you."

Jelana looked quite satisfied as she walked out of the room. "I will leave the four of you to get better acquainted."

Gainor let out a dramatic sigh of relief as soon as the door was closed. She threw herself on the bed, paying no mind to Adesina's possessions that were spread there. "I am always glad when the adults leave! Now we can talk without having to mind our manners!"

Deasa frowned slightly as she gracefully knelt on the floor next to Adesina. "Gainor," she said with a rebuke in her voice.

Adesina absently noted that Deasa smelled faintly of the most pleasant mixture of spices. It was an exotic and invigorating sort of scent. Adesina wondered what it was that gave off the fragrance.

Rina looked as if she couldn't make up her mind where to be seated. She hovered for several uncomfortable moments before collapsing next to Deasa. "Yes, Gainor," she chided in a timid voice. "What an impression you will give Adrie about the High City!"

Gainor surveyed them with a superior expression on her face. "Who cares? She shall see for herself soon enough. Besides, being shockingly honest is quite fashionable right now."

Deasa rolled her eyes and gave Adesina a sympathetic smile. "Please forgive Gainor. She is often caught up in the winds of *fashion.' She would walk around in boys' clothing if someone told her it was fashionable."