Page 142 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Too many beautiful souls have been snatched and shattered.Too many lives have been caged by avarice and vice.” Argent reached up to placea hand against Kip’s cheek. “Lapis believed you both earnest and honest, and Iam inclined to agree. But an ignorant promise is an empty promise. Havepatience, and you may yet have my pledge.”
Kip bowed his head.
Argent kissed his brow.
“Can you wait for tonight?” asked Kip. “I have work.”
“When?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“So be it.” Argent left the crystal in Kip’s hand, saying,“That is tuned. Keep it with you. I will find you.”
Joe slumped against the side of his bed, knees pulledto his chest. He nodded to himself, then nodded again. “It’s probably fine.”
“You’re sure?” Kip slouched beside him, the very picture ofdejection. “Because I still have vast stores of guilt and a recurring desire togrovel.”
“Pretty sure.” Joe patted Kip’s shoulder. “I mean, healready promised to be Ash and Tami’s go-between, didn’t he?”
“Oh.”
Joe tried to read the redhead’s expression, but they wereboth rattled. “Does he know it’s me?”
“It’s too big a secret. I didn’t name names.” Kip ventured,“Did you tell Tami about this part—the beacon part?”
“Only that I’m a reaver.” Joe winced. “I didn’t want to gether hopes up. In case.”
“Yeah.”
Joe’s gaze strayed to the clock. “He’s late.”
“That’s probably my fault.” Kip held up a rod of crystal. “Imight have laid a few false trails, created a couple of echoes. Added anillusion or two.”
“Why would youdothat?”
“Same reason you took me into the corn maze. I figured a foxwould enjoy the challenge.”
“There are wards all over the farm and thirty-odd wolves onthe property.” Joe couldn’t believe Kip was mucking with one of the Five.“Aren’t those obstacles enough?”
Kip resumed his groveling position.
Someone rapped on the bedroom door.
Joe’s heart lurched, and Kip lunged for the knob. A peevedArgent Mettlebright stood in the hall. When Kip fumbled for an apology, Argentsilenced him with a look, stepped inside, and stiffly inquired, “May I add to yourwards?”
“Yeah, sure. Go for it.” Then Kip crept back to Joe’s sideand curled his tail around them.
While he worked, Argent said, “You might have mentioned thatyour friend is a Reaverson.”
“Slipped my mind,” Kip admitted. “Does it change anything?”
The fox waved a hand. “In many ways, it simplifies things.Our acquaintance can be attributed to my role in Tami’s courtship. Futureinvolvement will go unquestioned.”
Joe was almost ready for it when Argent turned to face him.
He was so muchmorethan what the television showed.
Should he stand to greet him? That was probably proper, butJoe didn’t think his legs would support him at the moment. So he tangled hisfingers deep in the puff of Kip’s tail and hoped he wasn’t pulling too hard.
