That got a bright smile out of him. "Okay."
With one last kiss on his forehead, Sullha left him in Saphira's care and went to find Burda in the garden.
She found her on her knees at the far end of a bean row, her gray-streaked hair tied back with the strip of fabric, and her hands deep in the soil.
She looked up as Sullha got closer. "You don't have a shift today."
"Good morning to you too, Burda."
The woman grumbled a good morning. "So, what is it? I'm sure you didn't come here because you missed seeing my old face and couldn't wait until tomorrow."
"I love your old face. I always want to see it."
Burda rolled her eyes. "Flattery means that you want something. Just tell me what it is."
"I need your help."
"Doing what?"
"I need to find several women today, and you know everyone. You can save me a lot of time by taking me to them."
Burda sat back on her heels, wiped her hands on her work pants, and studied Sullha's face.
"Who are the women you need to find and why?"
Sullha had the list memorized. "Mirumah, Baruha, Karina, Zohara, and Gindah. I also need to speak to Rohilah and Asira, but I know where to find them. There are also a few others, including my mother, but I'll tell you about them on the way."
Burda raised an eyebrow. "That answers the 'who' question. It doesn't answer the 'why.' What do you want with those women?"
"Teaching positions. I told you that I'm looking for candidates. We need more teachers."
Burda snorted. "Tell that story to someone who will believe it. Other than Asira and Rohilah, none of those women are interested in teaching. Gindah probably can't even read and write, and Karina is a recluse. Mirumah is one of the kitchen supervisors, and she can read, but I doubt she has patience with kids. I don't know what Zohara and Baruha do."
"But you know where to find them. Right?"
"I can ask around, the same as you can."
"It will be easier with you. No one will wonder why you are looking for someone."
Burda's frown deepened. "What's going on, Sullha? I know this can't be about teaching positions."
Sullha took a deep breath. "I can't tell you. Not yet anyway."
"Are you in trouble?"
"Not at the current moment."
"Are you going to be in trouble?"
"I don't know. Maybe."
"Are you putting anyone in danger?"
She might, but she might also deliver them from slavery to freedom, and it was worth the risk.
"Nothing worth having is ever easy. You told me that yourself. Some outcomes are worth taking risks for."
Burda was quiet for a long moment, turning her trowel in her hands.
