It turned out that the second meeting tent was not far from Finley's tent at all. It was a good-sized tent near the edge of the camp, built from white silken fabric that let a comfortable level of sunlight through.
Abrial waited alone for Bi Gho, sitting jitterily at the polished wooden table at the center of the tent. She sipped the steaming tea that had been left for her to drink with Bi Gho, and made a face. It was sour, like lemons: not as sweet or mild as the lavender tea she'd shared with Instructor Wei last night. She poured the entire saucer of honey into the pot, stirring it with the long wooden tea spoon.
Half an hour must have elapsed before a shadow appeared over the tent entrance. Abrial realized suddenly that she had drained the entire pot of honey-saturated tea.
Oh, well, she thought. They can just bring more, right? I hope, heh…
The silhouette pushed through the tent flap.
Abrial's dark eyes nearly popped out of her skull.
