Page 2 of Tamiko and the Two Janitors
“Kip,” she acknowledged. “Please, just call me Tami.”
Brown eyes softened. “If you don’t mind, I’d like that. Andyep, Coach is mine.”
“Coach?” It took her a moment to catch up. “You named yourjeep?”
“Seemed the friendly thing to do.” Kip leaned against thebroom handle. “And we like to get things squared away before things get busy.”
“We?” She’d met most the staff in June, but those wereinformational meetings in preparation for the big conference, and attendancehadn’t exactly been mandatory. “Who’s the other half of yourwe? Or areyou referring to Coach?”
He grinned. “Nah, I’m talking about me and Ash. We’re aboutasweas a couple of guys can get. Childhood friends, I guess you’d say.”
“Local?” Some days, it seemed like she knew everybody inArcher, but his was a new face.
“Close enough. Grew up in Fletching, but now I live up pastNocking.” He waved for her to continue and accompanied her along the hall. “Howwas the conference?”
Tami’s heart skipped with nervous excitement. “Amazing. Andintense. We had classes from morning to night, but they were all sointeresting.And I was able to meet real Amaranthine!”
“Look at you, snubbing the slang!”
“Our first lessons were in etiquette.” Tami shook her head.“Everyone’s always sayingRivven, even on the news. Most of theattendees didn’t even know there was a proper term.”
“But they set you straight?”
“Kindly.” She patted her satchel. “I brought back so muchliterature, and some of the information packets are thick as dictionaries. Evenif we’re not selected, I’m going to read it all.”
Kip propped his broom beside the office door and folded hisarms over his chest. “Seems good. No regrets.”
“Not yet.” Tami’s smile wavered. “When I stop to think aboutit, I get nervous.”
“When are you supposed to hear who got picked?”
“This week. The reavers said that they’d take theirrecommendations to the Five, and a decision would be made quickly.”
The janitor’s gaze drifted to a point over her shoulder.“And how would that decision be relayed?”
“Official means—that’s all they said.”
“So a herald, yeah?” Kip pointed.
Outside the glass double doors, a uniformed individual stoodwaiting.
“Oh, gosh.” Tami grabbed Kip’s arm. “Oh, wow. Do you think?”
“How about we ask the nice herald if he has good news?” Pullinga jangling ring of keys from one of his pockets, Kip unlocked the main door andswung it wide.
The person who stepped inside wasn’t human. He was slenderand pale, with snow-white hair fluffing around pointed ears. By contrast, hiseyes were liquid black and bright. “Tamiko Reaverson, Principal?” he asked in alight voice.
“Yes. That’s me.” She cautiously offered her hands. “And youare?”
With a soft smile, the Amaranthine rested his palms on hers.“I am Remill of the Whistledowns, one of the dove clans. We have always workedclosely with reavers and are currently attached to the Office of Ingress herein Perch County.”
“You’ve always lived here?”
“Your home has long been my home,” he assured. “Lovely, isit not?”
“Itis,” she murmured.
Withdrawing a heavy packet from his messenger bag, Remillsaid, “I am here because a communique arrived for you at our offices. And becauseI enjoy being the bearer of good news.”
