Page 71 of The City of Zirdai
Hoping the guards had already searched level seven, Shyla sought a place to hide. The kitchen and dining area were nearby, but second meal would be in full swing. Perhaps if she found a robe, she could blend in with the monks there. Too bad there weren’t robes just lying around.
She spent the next ten or twenty angles dodging guards. Each close encounter sapped her strength a little more. At this rate, they would find her curled up in a corner sound asleep.
At a loss for what to do, she kept moving until she realized groups of monks had joined in the search for her. They weren’t obvious about it, but she sensed their intent to find her. Too tired to figure out why, and hoping it was for a good reason, she trailed one of them until she thought it was safe to reveal her presence.
The five of them quickly surrounded her—not to attack, but to hide her. Without a word, they headed to the kitchen where they left her. Huh? After glancing briefly in her direction, the staff returned to their duties. The savory scent of roast gamelu enticed her to the stew pot despite her unsettled stomach. She helped herself. Why not? This might be her last meal.
Soon a group of three monks entered the kitchen. This time, she recognized Kaveri.
“We don’t have much time,” Kaveri said.
An understatement. “What’s going on?”
“We’ve a plan to help you.” Kaveri took off her robe. Underneath she wore a plain tunic and pants much like the ones the citizens wore. Actually, very similar to what Shyla wore.
“Here.” Kaveri handed her the robe. “Put that on.”
“But—”
“Trust me.”
And since the woman was her mother, Shyla did.
Kaveri handed a pair of scissors to another monk. “Be quick.”
Shyla watched in fascinated horror as the monk cut Kaveri’s hair short. Long strands of beautiful yellow hair floated to the floor. “You…”
“Don’t worry, it’ll grow back,” Kaveri said, unconcerned.
Unlike Shyla who had been upset when the deacon had chopped off her long locks. Soon Kaveri’s hairstyle matched Shyla’s. And a strange sensation swept through her as the resemblance between the two of them was undeniable. Shyla stared into her future.
“You…” Again words failed her as Shyla tried to speak.
“We’ll talk about it later,” Kaveri said, cupping Shyla’s cheek for a moment. “Now, let me tell you the plan.”
As far as plans went, this one was rather simple. But it put Kaveri at considerable risk. Shyla argued that Captain Yates might arrest the woman out of spite.
“He can try, but he won’t succeed. I am a monk.” Kaveri’s confidence was unshakable.
Shyla wondered if she’d ever be that…comfortable with her role in their world. At least, if she survived, Shyla might learn more about the woman who gave birth to her. The two of them crept back up to level seven. By now, enough time had passed and the surface would be safe…sort of. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it wouldn’t kill her either.
They stopped at a collection station before splitting up to implement Kaveri’s scheme at one of the ramps to level six. From a hidden vantage point, Shyla held her breath and watched as her mother rounded a corner as if being pursued. Kaveri halted when she spotted the six guards. They stared at each other for a few stunned heartbeats. Then Kaveri spun on her heel and dashed away.
“It’s the sun-kissed,” one guard cried. “Baru and Lute, stay here. The rest with me.”
Four guards raced after Kaveri, leaving two behind.
If all went according to plan, Kaveri would lead them deep into the monastery before allowing them to catch her.
The guards that remained at the ramp buzzed with a new sense of purpose. Shyla waited about three angles. Covering her hair with the robe’s hood, she hefted the heavy bucket and strolled toward the two guards.
They wrinkled their noses at the foul odor and parted, allowing Shyla to pass without questioning her or even looking closely at her. She didn’t even need to use her magic. In fact, everyone gave her a wide berth as she carried that noxious bucket up to the growing cavern on level six. Wow. Who knew the power of poop?
She set the container in the back room for Kaveri to turn the contents into fertilizer. On the way out, she stopped and bent close to one of the plants, breathing in its fresh scent to purge the stink of excrement from her nose and lungs. Then she hurried to the surface. The temperature increased with each level, until she pushed through the hot thickness.
When she reached the surface building, the sunlight blinded her. And the heat immediately closed in, baking the sweat from her skin. Invisible fire burned with each inhalation. Soon her eyes adjusted to the brilliance and she changed into her sun cloak, leaving Kaveri’s robe on the bench. The monks who guarded the entrance hadn’t returned yet.
Out in the full sunshine, the velbloud fibers of her cloak helped lessen the intensity of the sun, but the desert’s bright colors hurt. Which didn’t make sense. Colors shouldn’t be painful.
