Page 91 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
Argent moved through the sudden silence, smoothly seating Tsumiko and collecting food from the sideboard. Without a word, he refilled the gentlemen’s cups, unobtrusively scanning the newspapers fanned out between them as he did so.
Tsk.
Both Smythe men flinched.
With a disdainful air, Argent stole the topmost paper. Carrying it around the table, he spread it before Tsumiko. “It is as Michael said. Fresh fodder for the masses.”
She could pick out a few words here and there, but the picture told a story she could understand. A black-and-white photograph showed an Amaranthine—square-jawed, shaggy-browed, and grinning as he cradled a newborn to his broad chest.
Argent said, “The headline isNew Breed.”
The snapshot was too grainy to make out any details on the crest decorating the new papa’s armband, but Tsumiko knew his face. Everyone did. Harmonious Starmark was one of the Five.
“His wife is human?” she asked.
“Bondmate, yes.”
Tsumiko tipped her head to one side and whispered, “I think the baby has ears like Gingko’s.”
Argent hummed distractedly. “According to the article, he also has a tail.”
“Is that normal?”
“Who can say? This child is the first publically acknowledged hybrid.” With a small shrug, he added, “He has set the standard.”
Suddenly, Tsumiko became aware of the heavy silence, for Cedric punctuated it with the gruff clearing of his throat. He spoke, but Argent didn’t translate for her. Instead, he said, “My mistress wishes to know if any part of this is being televised.”
“I’ll show them,” Stewart offered. “This news may make our …situationeasier to explain.”
Cedric muttered darkly.
“This way, please.” The younger man hurried to a nearby study and pressed a button. As a large screen slid into view, he addressed Tsumiko. “The Spokesperson’s announcement has captured the world’s attention … and imagination. He cherishes a human woman. From two species springs a third. He has transformed the Emergence into a love story.”
“Dogs do love their sagas and songs,” said Argent.
Tsumiko held her tongue as the screen lit up with images, and voices filled the room with an incomprehensible commentary. The symbol of the Amaranthine peace hung in the corner of the screen, where a panel of experts seemed to be providing commentary on this latest development.
Argent snapped at Stewart, who muted the garble.
They were replaying an earlier broadcast from Keishi, where reporters from all over crowded outside the Starmark compound. The Spokesperson for the dog clans towered over the press conference, an imposing figure despite his easygoing grin.
Tsumiko whispered, “Is that a trick of the camera?”
Argent asked, “What?”
“His eyes.”
“Not a trick,” said Argent. “Rather, the camera cannot do them justice. You can see why their clan hue is copper.”
Harmonious Starmark’s pupils were slit like Argent’s, but his irises were warm pools of liquid metal. As striking as they were strange.
Argent asked, “Have they shown the mother?”
Stewart said, “Not once. All they’ve said is that she’s resting comfortably at home.”
A different clip rolled, this one pulled back, showing more of an impressive set of gates clearly emblazoned with the Starmark crest. Now that the cameras weren’t zoomed in on Harmonious, Tsumiko could see those who stood with him.
“A good showing of pack solidarity,” Argent remarked.
