The man walked her into a corner in the innermost part of the city, where there were hens and goats strolling around in backyards and the commercial commotion slowly gave way to the edges of tropical countryside. There were trees, bearing ripening fruit that Serenica did not recognize.
She would have otherwise thought of this little tour as suspicious, but it was impossible to feel bad on one's first trip to Aja Vana.
Old wives were arguing about the cost of a dozen eggs as Serenica's new companion came to interrupt them.
"I don't mean to disturb the Mistress, but I've got a potential customer here," he said to the taller of the old ladies, his body language apologetic and clearly submitting to the older person with more authority. "She wants to sleep well without outside interventions."
