Page 36 of Undone
Remy
What Tater asked me to do was impossible. I’d searched the room as best as I could, but there was no sign of a radio or anything technological. Also, there was a security camera in one of the corners. The learning room was sort of like a small auditorium, but nicer. It had fancy carpeting and grand light fixtures between the windows on the walls. Just a big, open space, like a room at a hotel that could be rented for weddings or proms. The desks and shelves of learning materials were the only things in there.
I’d tried peeking into other rooms as I was brought in this morning, but the guards were speed-walkers, and most of the doors were shut. The Baelese were not stupid. Just the opposite. If I got anything from them it would be by dumb luck. As for what Linette expected of me, to get the Senator alone and seduce him? Even more ridiculously impossible. Plus . . . I had no idea if I could pull that off. I’d be a wreck, which was not sexy.
After lunch, before it was time to begin the afternoon lesson, little Milna, the Senator’s daughter, came up to my desk with her notebook. She opened it up like she had a question, but then she took a careful look around her.
“How can I help you, Milna?”
She wouldn’t look at me. She stared at the desk, and gingerly brought her fingers to a lock of her hair.
In a small whisper, she said, “Do you remember when you touched my hair? That was . . . nice.”
My spine went rigid, and I shot glances toward the guards. Milna still would not look at me. Was this a trap? Or was she being rebellious?
“Milna,” I said gently. “You know that’s not allowed—”
“I know, Miss.” She began to gather her notebook, looking terrified. “I am sorry.”
I put my hand on the notebook to stop her, careful not to touch her, and she finally looked at me, showing more emotion than normal, like a cornered cat. My God, she was so small. Only four—too young to have such concerns. I smiled and whispered back.
“I am not upset with you. In my culture, we’re allowed to touch, and it feels very nice. I love to have my hair played with. My mom did it all the time.”
“Your mom?”
“Yes. The woman who gave birth to me.”
She cocked her head. “The woman who birthed me is Mimasol, a soldier.”
“Ah. Do you ever spend time with her?”
“No.” She didn’t sound sad, just matter of fact.
I cleared my throat. “I’m trying my best to adhere to the Baelese rules, so I can’t touch you again. I don’t want to get you in trouble, okay?”
“Okay. And I do not want you to die,” she said straight-faced, sending a sharp tingle down my spine. “However . . . I wanted you to know. That is all.”
She liked being touched. Noted. I blinked at her and nodded.
I’d been so focused on Milna, barely aware of the other students filtering over and finishing their work, that I didn’t notice the Senator and Vahni approaching until they were mere feet away. My chair scraped back as I stood, smoothing down my dress.
“Hello,” I said, clasping my hands in front of me.
The Senator gave me a warm smile and Vahni nodded robotically.
“Beginning tomorrow,” she stated, “an exercise regime will be implemented for the children outdoors. We’ve been awaiting the completion of the area, and it will be finished this evening. You and a guard will escort them out at nine o’clock for one hour, and again at three o’clock for one hour. You will be met by a Baelese instructor. Adjust your teaching schedule accordingly.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said.
Her response was to turn and click her heels away, but the Senator remained. It took about three steps for Vahni to realize he wasn’t following.
“Bahntan?”
“I’ll be along shortly,” he told her, then looked at me. “How are you, Ms. Haines?”
“Fine, thank you.” Other than Vahni staring venomous rays at me. I tried to focus on him and not her, but it was hard. How was he so unbothered by her evil intensity?
“I will give you a tour of the new outdoor area so you are familiar,” he began, only to be verbally slapped by Vahni.
