“Let’s keep going,” Shyla said before Hanif could respond. “I’ll feel safer once the torques are secure.”
Hanif didn’t take long to hide the torques in the Fourth Room and soon they were climbing up to level six. The cool air disappeared, replaced by dry hotness. Level six was deep enough to be safe during the killing heat and, unlike the upper levels, which cooled quickly, it held the warmth during the darkness. With mirror pipes installed in the ceiling, level six was the perfect level for growing plants.
Like Hanif had said, the cavern was small compared to the ones in Zirdai. Rows of green plants lined the long narrow space. The ceiling arched high overhead with the ends of at least a dozen mirror pipes poking through, piping sunlight down from the surface. As they followed the caretaker’s path through the greenery, Shyla noted there was quite a variety of vegetables, with short bushy plants growing next to ones with tall stalks and thin leaves. Moisture thickened the air. It smelled unlike anything she’d encountered before—a heavy vibrant odor.
The amount of work needed to build and maintain something on this scale was beyond their small organization. Plus they’d need someone who was knowledgeable. “I don’t suppose any of your caretakers want to become an Invisible Sword?” she asked Hanif.
“They’re all sworn monks, but if you decide to build a growing cavern, let me know and we can work something out.”
“Work something out? As in…?”
“Your people have certain skills that mine lack. There might be a future situation where I need you to do something in exchange for me loaning you one of our gardeners.”
That was fair. After all, the monks had supplied the Invisible Swords with food, water, and shelter without charging a single coin. And she couldn’t expect to keep getting everything for free. “It will depend on what you need us to do—I’m not risking my people unnecessarily—but I’m certainly open to working with you in the future.”
“Diplomatic,” Rendor said.
They retraced their steps through the plants. Shyla yawned twice and caught Rendor yawning as well. Poor guy had stayed up all darkness worrying about her. They had enough time to return to their headquarters before the danger zone, but she wouldn’t be strong enough to erase their tracks. Best to nap first.
A monk entered the cavern. She carried a basket but stopped in surprise when she spotted them. Shyla also halted. The monk’s blond hair shone in the sunlight. Another sun-kissed. While there was a handful of them living in the monastery, Shyla hadn’t interacted with any of the adult sun-kisseds while growing up, unless she had been out on patrol with them in the desert. Everyone wore turbans and veils, so it had been difficult to tell one monk from another.
The woman recovered and walked toward them. Shyla studied her, noting her rich bronzed skin and elegant oval face. Fine wrinkles creased her forehead. She was probably around Hanif’s age, which Shyla guessed to be around forty-five circuits. Long blond eyelashes framed her light green eyes. Something about the woman seemed familiar.
Shyla met the monk’s gaze. Her heart lurched, recognizing the woman before Shyla’s brain caught up. The monk was her mother.”
Five
Hanif’s gaze darted to Shyla before he recovered his manners. “This is Kaveri, one of our gardeners. Kaveri, this is Shyla and Rendor.”
“Pleased to meet you both. Although, I do remember when you were found, Shyla. Such a sweet baby.”
Interesting that Hanif hadn’t told Kaveri that Shyla knew the truth about her origins. She wondered if Kaveri even knew that she had figured out Hanif was her father and that he wouldn’t tell her the identity of her mother, claiming it was the woman’s decision.
Shyla smiled at her mother. “That’s nice to hear.” She shot Hanif a sour look. “Much better than being told how difficult and stubborn I was all the time.”
“You?” Rendor feigned surprise. “Difficult and stubborn?”
Shyla elbowed him in the ribs. Hard. He had the audacity to chuckle!
Kaveri laughed, a charming light sound. “Hanif can’t show his true feelings to the children or else they’ll never listen to him. He enjoys teaching them too much.”
“Enjoys? He could have fooled us,” Shyla said, giving him a mock glare.
“Yes, well…we’ll let you get back to work, Kaveri.” Hanif herded them toward the exit. Fast.
But Shyla paused and turned around before leaving. “Can I ask you something?” she asked Kaveri. All the air in the cavern seemed to disappear.
“About the plants?” the woman asked, hopeful.
“No, about you.”
Hanif tensed.
“What do you want to know?” A slight wariness crept into her gaze.
“Were you abandoned outside Zirdai like I was?” Shyla would wait until Kaveri was ready to claim the relationship between them. And if she never did…then Shyla would accept it.
Kaveri’s tight grip on her basket relaxed. “No. I was found near Tarim.”
