Story 3:

Somewhere behind her, a child was running, bare feet on packed dry red earth. She could hear his hard breathing as he neared, but she did not slow down or turn to face him.

"Anna! Anna!" he gasped, and he grabbed for her hand.

She held his, but still did not look down. Her other arm carried the heavy basket and she would have preferred to continue to carry it using both arms, but perhaps he was more important.

"Anna, you cannot go without a man! You know..."

"I wear the black veil. They will not question me. You know the law as well as me- I may go until you are of age. Then and only then must you or another escort me." Her face was patient. "If Varazadt finds you gone, you'll only have more chores to do."

"I don't care." He held on more tightly and matched his pace to hers, catching his breath. "I'd rather come with you anyway."

She looked down, finally, to see his impish grin. The corner of her mouth twitched, but she remained impassive. "You only use the law to your advantage, Tayir. Some day, that will bite you when you don't expect it."

"The city proper is always more interesting than watering the date trees or tending the wheat field."

Anna stopped cold. "If you truly believe that, I should make you turn right now and go right back to your lessons, which you apparently have not learned." She looked at him from under the veil that covered her hair completely and shaded her face. "Listen to me now and do not ever forget these words- without those trees or those fields there would not be a city. We would not have any money or food, and it would be far easier on all of us if I went to the city without a thread of fabric about my person. Without the fields and grove, you and I would be naked in the wolves. They are your future, and they will ensure a future for your children and your children's children, and beyond. Our father died for them. Some day, you may need to too." Satisfied that the boy had been shocked into silence for the moment, she adjusted the basket on her hip, and walked on.  ¶ 9:50 PM