Read Online Jamb: by Misty Provencher - Free Book Online

everybody.  Tuco, you just stay over there with Ruka, and Zane, let the first young lady come .”
    Zane steps aside, but the first girl pulls back and tries to slug Zane in the gut as she passes him.  It’s not an attack as much as it is a statement, but she still fails.  Zane is out of her way before she can land the punch, with her fist in his grip and a you-thought-so-huh smile on his face. She wrenches her fist away and stomps through us, toward the Addo.
    But Mr. Middleditch side steps the girl before she can pass him.  He says over one shoulder, “Sorry Addo.  That’s as far as anyone should come for now.  You’ll have to do your business from there.”
    “ Alrighty then,” Addo shrugs, and then to the girl, “Present yourself, please.”
    “I am Valentina,” the girl says.  Tuco throws his shoulders back a little and I think I see his lips twitch as if he’s reciting her words along with her.  “Of the 9 th Cura.  Trained under the late Addo Ferdinand.”
    “Thank you,” the Addo says.  The room is silent as he stares at her and remains silent as the girl nods.
    “Yes, Addo,” she says.  “My telepathy is as sharp as the cut of my hair.”
    “Very good,” he smiles.  “Blessings?”
    “Not yet, sir.  But I’m an exceptional judge of character and a master of organization.”
    “As am I, sir,” the other girl pipes up.  She’s got dirty blond hair pulled back in a tight bun, full lips, and large, round blue eyes.  Although I bet her lips make her even more gorgeous when she smiles, it doesn’t look like she does that very much.
    “Come in,” Addo wags a finger for her to come to him.  The girl scowls as she passes Zane and, just as I would expect, it rolls right off his back.  He gives this girl a wide smile and rolls out an arm as he does an exaggerated bow, ushering her in.  She swishes past, chin high, and I can’t help but think that she’s a girl who has never been questioned.  She stops short of Mr. Middleditch, but one step past Valentina.  She stands so tall, she’s like a lightening rod and she doesn’t wait for the Addo to ask for her name.
    “ Anka,” she says.  “Of the fourth Cura.  I studied with Addo Kasia.  Since her death, I have continued studies with our Procella, Wojtek.  You will find I am quite accomplished with blessings, telepathy, intra-Cura relations, and organization.”
    “ Thank you,” Addo says.  He stares at the girl a moment and then, lifts an eyebrow at her.  “Anything, Anka?”
    “ That is all,” she says with a confused shrug.  “What other requirements do you have of me?”
    Wojtek, across the room, drags a hand through his hair as he shakes his head.
    “Now?” Addo asks.  Anka narrows her eyes, catching on.
    “Apples?” she guesses.  Addo grimaces.
    “We’ll work on that,” he says as he turns toward Sean.  The shade of the tree makes the Addo almost appear to flicker.
    Sean answers the Addo’s silent question , “No, Addo, I don’t think she’s lying.  I think Anka is most likely blocking, due to the pressure to perform in front of everyone here.”
    Anka ’s expression suddenly walks the line between digging her fingernails into Sean’s face and kissing the soles of his shoes.  Instead, she looks down at her nails with a frown. 
    Surprised gas ps echo from the balconies above.  They really didn’t expect Sean to be able to receive the Addo’s telepathic messages.  Garrett moves in to stand side-by-side with his brother. I wish I was Supergirl, able to shoot up into the balconies and get in all of their faces.  I want to yell at them—everything that none of them know about Sean Reese.  He’s brilliant and patient and kind, and for him to be doubted by our community just cooks my meat.
    I think the message to Addo, Why are you letting them treat Sean like that?
    Oh, they’re just being yard apples because they didn’t think he could do it. To be their Addo, he has to see them at their