Page 109 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Hush.”
Into the sudden silence, Doon-wen spoke. “Jiminy, perhapsyou should go.”
Jiminy shuffled awkwardly, then whispered, “Melissa, can youlet me go?”
What did he mean? Oh. She had his hands.
Melissa finally opened her eyes. Jiminy looked half-franticand full of apologies she didn’t want to hear. “No,” she said slowly. “I don’tthink I can. Could you?”
Eyes wide, he shook his head.
She loosened her grip and nodded once. Enough said.
THIRTY-EIGHT
Preservationists
With firm plans finally in place to have dinner withAsh and Kip, Tami had been hoping to leave work on the early side. But shortlyafter the last buses were pulling away with homebound children, Harrison rappedsmartly on her half-open office door.
“Principal Reaverson?” he called, with more formality—andmore volume—than was even remotely necessary.Somethinghad him keyedup. His eyebrows were jumping, and he was patting his heart as if trying tocalm it down.
Mentally bracing herself for a disgruntled parent or anotherunscheduled inspection by the Office of Ingress, Tami squared her shoulders andfolded her hands atop her desk. “Yes, Harrison? I’m here,” she replied, eventhough he could see that for himself.
“Some people to see you.” His voice broke.
Tami couldn’t have been more perplexed. He looked for allthe world like a man held at gunpoint. Taking a soothing tone, she said, “Thankyou, Harrison. I have time.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he cleared his throat. Then, asif playing the part of a butler in some scene for which Tami hadn’t seen thescript, he swung the door wide and announced, “Lady Estrella Mettlebright and Dr.Arno Brecht, along with their escort. Dear, me. I didn’t catch your name, sir.”
“Reaver.”
Tami wasn’t sure if the stern-faced man was announcing hisname or his title.
The looked like he should be playing professional basketballinstead of strolling around in a long duster and combat boots. Either way, heentered the office, scanned it without any change of expression, and steppedaside for an unassuming man who bowed his head as he passed through the door.
Next to enter was a dainty lady with an abundance of silverhair all done up in glittering combs. Draped in silver and blue, she possessedthe ageless beauty—and pointed ears—of an Amaranthine. “Thank youforasking after Ismal.” Her English was excellent, but her accent suggestedsomeplace far from Fletching. “We are not allowed to traipse about without anescort, and he has been exceedingly gracious.”
Tami noted thewe, which implied that Estrella’scompanion was also Amaranthine. She took a longer look at the bespectacledmale. Dressed all in tweedy browns, he was squarish, creased, and rumpled, withthe healthy tan of a perpetual outdoorsman. Meeting her curious gaze, he rockedup on the balls of his feet, then back on his heels, apparently antsy to beintroduced.
“Welcome to Landmark Elementary,” Tami offered with as muchpoise as she could muster. “What can I do for you?”
“A small matter of some urgency.” Lady Mettlebrightindicated her companion. “Dr. Brecht is a professor of botany, quite well knownin certain circles. For his protection, he is traveling incognito.”
Dr. Brecht stepped forward with a little click of his heels.“May I manifest more fully before you? Not unlike the wolves, my clan retainsan aspect of our animal counterparts.”
“You have a tail?” Harrison lingered in the door, clearlyfascinated.
“Not in speaking form.” Dr. Brecht’s laugh had a flutingquality. “I belong to what is jokingly referred to as the hoof-and-antler set.My people wear a crown.”
So saying, he removed his glasses, slipped them into an innerpocket, and pulled a watch on a chain from another. Flicking it open, hefiddled with its interior. The change was both immediate and startling. Hiswrinkles smoothed away, his irises lightened to a ruddy amber, and his earstook on the characteristic elfin point. But the showstopper was indeed acrown.
“Antlers!” Harrison edged further into the room and offeredhis hands to Dr. Brecht. “What kind of clan are you from?”
“Deer.” He met Harrison’s palms. “You may have heard of my clan,which has recently risen in notoriety. In truth, my name is Arno Silverprong.”
Tami made the connection. “Tenna Silverprong was one of theFive’s two new appointees!”
“My elder sister.” He turned to offer his palms to her andleaned in to inquire, “PrinceTam, I presume?”
