Meadowcity Read Online Free Page B

Riftcity.”
    She put a ribbon in the book at her hands, closing it.  “You and half the city.  Sorry, no visitors.”  She sounded apologetic, but certainly didn’t look it.  She settled in her chair with a sly grin.
    “I’m meeting Gero here to see him.” Sylvia said, putting one hand on her hip casually, trying not to look too threatening.  Sylvia could argue all day, but today she wasn’t getting paid for it, and she wanted to get in there.
    Caylee suddenly looked at Sylvia, as if just now noticing her.  “Oh, I see!  Gero’s already here.  Follow me,” she said, somewhat reluctantly.  She rose from her desk and gestured at them to follow her, opening a door leading down a long hallway.
    Caylee’s soft leather shoes made no noise on the wooden floor as she padded down the bright hallway, bathed in light from the wall of windows.  To the right, doors and more hallways led off to the rest of the Hall.  She led them almost to the end of the corridor, halting at a nondescript door, marked only by several numbers carved elegantly into the frame.
    Sylvia stepped forward to knock on the door before Caylee could, and it was quickly opened by Gero.  His face held none of its grim qualities it did yesterday, only a sort of determined look. 
    “Sylvia, Ven.  Come in,” he said, inviting them inside.  “Thank you, Caylee.” 
    The young woman reluctantly turned back and padded swiftly down the hallway, shoulders slumped.
    Sylvia and Ven stepped into the small room, lit entirely by another large window in the ceiling.  Against one wall the boy in question lay sleeping in a cot, covered in a blanket.  Several chairs were scattered about the room and Gero indicated that they sit. 
    “Thank you both for meeting me here,” Gero began. 
    Sylvia looked at Ven in question—hadn’t she invited him?  He only grinned back at her as he sat on the bench beside her.  Gero sat in the chair closest to the bed, glancing once at the closed door.  He seemed to gather his thoughts, taking in a deep breath before speaking.
    “What is said in this room today is not to be repeated,” he paused, earning a nod from each of them.  “This boy appearing is not the only cause for alarm.  As you may have guessed yourselves, evidence suggests he is no Rider.” 
    Sylvia’s stomach flipped. 
    Gero continued, matter-of-factly, “Search of his bag turned up only personal belongings, no survival tools or even food.  His injuries are nothing we’ve seen from the forest.  I would venture to guess they’re from some sort of—battle.”
    Silence weighed heavily upon the room.  Sylvia could think of nothing to say.  The word “battle” echoed strangely in her head.
    Gero went on, coldly stating the facts as if to keep himself apart from them. 
    “Yesterday I received a letter from Skycity,” he nodded towards Sylvia.  “Governor Greyling said in no uncertain terms that if Meadowcity wished to remain prosperous, we must align with Skycity and—” he paused, recalling the words “—bow before their rule.” His tone of voice clearly indicating he would do no such thing.
    Ven, quiet until now blurted, “What—all of a sudden?  Why now?”
    Gero ran a hand through his short dark locks.  Sylvia could see the silver feathering his temples. 
    “This is all the information I’m working with Ven,” he spread his thick hands out before him.  “There was no other message other than to surrender.”
    Sylvia took a wild guess. “Resources?”
    Gero leaned back in his chair and shrugged.  “Perhaps.  Our best hope is that this boy wakes up soon and we can figure out what in the world happened to him.  I’m thinking Riftcity might have received a message similar to mine.”
    All three of them turned their eyes to the boy in the bed.  Looking closely, Sylvia could see that his arms lying on top of the blanket were a worker’s—the muscles looked naturally strong, and his hands were thick and callused.