Page 115 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Monkey clans are all risks and rigamarole. Goh pulledtricks I’ve never seen, let alone imagined.” Ginkgo curled onto his side. “Hisnonsense works, but I don’t know why. And it’s going to drive me crazy until Ifigure it out.”
The dog licked him.
Even as he burrowed closer, Ginkgo reminded himself that heshouldn’t be zoning out. “Need to tell Waaseyaa. Supposed to be the one … bringGregor next time.”
“You should ask him.”
Ginkgo’s head snapped up.
“Goh Impleer is a teacher at heart. If you want to knowsomething, ask for a lesson.”
He sat up and slumped into the white dog’s chest. “Well, hey.I was hoping someone would show up to make introductions. Figures it’d be you,Lady Starmark.”
Radiance’s posture was all dominance, but her smile offerednothing but welcome. “It’s nice to put a face to the scent, young MasterMettlebright.”
“Ginkgo,” he corrected.
“And you shall call me Radiance.” Brows rising, she asked,“Is Kyrie to blame for your arrival in Snow’s domain?”
Snow, was it? He reached up to give the dog a friendlyscratch. “Salali changed my security clearance, and that brought this place tomy attention. Not surprised to hear that little bro found it first, though.Barriers are no match for him.”
With a sharp look at Snow, Radiance asked, “Is this a commontrait of all dragons?”
“Nope, not at all.” Recalling Salali’s hopes for him, Ginkgosuggested, “Could be an upshot of having both Amaranthine and reaver blood.”
“So crossers make excellent cat burglars?”
“The heists we could pull,” Ginkgo joked. “But seriously,let’s not give Kyrie any ideas.”
“He’s a good boy. A tribute to Argent’s care. And yours.”Radiance arched a quizzical brow. “Although I really must ask why you’vedecided to ignore boundaries.”
Ginkgo looked up, trying to catch Snow’s eye. “Is shecomplaining?”
“Usually. But not about you in particular.” Radianceremained where she was, studying the two of them as if trying to unravel amystery. Finally, she said, “I wouldn’t have expected her to tolerate a fox.”
“You’ve got fox issues?” Ginkgo was wide awake, now. Thiswas one of the topics on Dad’s information-gathering wish list.
“Historically.” Radiance seemed to be listening. Probably toSnow. “Feudwould be too strong a term, but Wardenclave had some troublewith foxes at the very beginning. Linlu’s ink was barely dry on the charterwhen a trio of hungry foxes attempted a raid.”
Ginkgo had heard similar stories from Dad. “With an appetitefor reaver souls.”
“Yes.” Radiance’s lip curled. “Glint helped Gerard Reaverand his people drive them off, which gave Salali time to reinforce thebarriers. But not before a life was lost.”
“You lost someone?”
“Not personally. This was before my time. Nor anyone fromWardenclave.” Radiance’s expression grew troubled. “One of the foxes caught thefull brunt of a battler’s fury. When his sisters retreated, they dragged hisbody away with them.”
“Wardenclave’s people defended themselves.”
Radiance inclined her head. “Times have changed, and bygonesare bygones.”
“Except?”
“Salali warded against foxes for more than a millennium.”She quietly admitted, “Up until a scant century ago, when Hisoka Twineshaft camewith his hopes for greater cooperation between the clans.”
Ginkgo said, “Seems a long time to hold a grudge againstfoxes.”
“Turn that statement around in your thoughts, young MasterMettlebright.” Radiance’s chin lifted. “Those foxes have long held a grudgeagainst Wardenclave.”
