6
Aunio watched Trina cradle the boy and carry him into her home, a ramshackle two-story of wood, the cheap kind that was more strand than tree. She disappeared up a narrow staircase, and Evie scurried after them like a scrawny rat.
Kelas, Trina’s rotund, balding husband, watched the procession with some confusion. He turned to Aunio and smiled. “Ono! An unexpected pleasure!”
“Unexpected, certainly,” Aunio mumbled.
“It’s too bad the children aren’t here. They’re off with Acolyte Mustin for their lessons.”
“Why too bad?”
“Eh? Well, because they’d love to see you, of course!”
“Oh,” Aunio said. “Of course.”
Small Talk. Revolting. But he had to be careful not to raise suspicions, though it was probably too late in Trina’s case. As far as these people knew, he was Ono. Coming to Bordert
