Page 114 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“No.” She sheepishly admitted, “I think anybody would sayyesbecause I’m a beacon, but I don’t want that to be the reason someone saysyes.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here?” Tenma waved toward the camp. “It’sa good place to meet peers. You have time to figure out who you can get alongwith.”
She didn’t have that kind of time. “I might not be back.”
Tenma stopped, glanced about, and indicated a bench. Oncethey were seated, he said, “Keep it simple. What do you want most?”
“You first.” Maybe it would help if she had an example.
He pushed absently at his glasses, then nodded. “When I wasyour age, I was lonely, but I didn’t understand why until Harmonious Starmarkadded me to his pack. Suddenly, I was learning Amaranthine ways. All the littletender touches. And the wordless ways they find to show the depths of theirtrust and affection. I don’t want to give that up.”
She wasn’t sure if it was boasting, so she held her tongue.But she’d grown up with all those things, surrounded by Stately House’scrossers.
“I used to think that I wanted to be happy. But it turnsout, that isn’t a very good wish.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’malreadyhappy.” Tenma’s eyes weresparkling. “When I realized that, I had to edit my wish.”
“You changed your mind about what you wanted?”
“Mm … no. I think it’s more that I understand myselfbetter.” He tapped his heart. “I want to share my happiness. I want more thanprogeny. I want a family. A wife who’s glad she chose me. Children who knowwhat its like to tangle or nestle or coil. I want to teach them clan ways so Ican say I love them with the set of my shoulders or the flick of a finger. Iwant to give them reasons to be happy.”
He rambled to a stop and looked away. It was funny howsecrets—even good ones—could be embarrassing. Lilya touched his elbow, and someof the tension eased from his shoulders.
“I like it,” she said.
Tenma sighed. “I think I have a chance. Maybe in anenclave.”
Lilya jumped to her feet and stood before him. “I like it,”she repeated. “I’ll make that my wish, too. I want my children to grow up atStately House.”
“That’s an important decision,” said Tenma. “It will helpGlint refine his search.”
“I’ve made another decision.” The words weren’t hard to say.They blurted right out. “I know what I want most.”
Tenma tipped his head to one side, looking more closely. “You’remuch better at big decisions than I am. What is it you want, Lilya-chan?”
“You, of course.”
FORTY-ONE
Bygones
Ginkgo slipped inside the Kith shelter and dropped ontothe straw at the white dog’s side. “He’s trying to kill me. Or at least humbleme.” Flinging his arms wide, he let himself go limp. “Behold, I have beenhumbled to the very dust.”
She snuffled his neck and nuzzled his ear.
“That Salali.” Ginkgo blindly reached for the dog andpetted. “Does anybody realize how amazing he is? Because the things he doesaren’t just next level. They’re on par with miracles.”
She shuffled closer, trapping him between her forelegs.
He felt safe and relaxed further. “Heaven help me, I need anap.”
It felt so good to rest his eyes after spending half thenight studying interlocking sigilcraft and the other half trailing Goh Impleer.The monkey clansman had apparently taken Sinder’s place tormenting thatallotment of young battlers. Salali made certain he and Ginkgo remainedundetected.
Observation, he called it.
Stealing tricks, more like.
