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.
“Hello, 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 button nose was
lightly sprinkled with freckles. All three girls were dressed in the same light
brown dress with a darker brown apron 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.”
Rina giggled nervously at the idea. Adesina assumed an expression
of polite incredulity, all the while wondering what
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.
“Hello, 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 button nose was
lightly sprinkled with freckles. All three girls were dressed in the same light
brown dress with a darker brown apron 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.”
Rina giggled nervously at the idea. Adesina assumed an expression
of polite incredulity, all the while wondering what
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