Page 116 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“You got proof of this?”
“Against foxes?” She laughed mirthlessly. “They smile andsay all the right things. But they delight in dropping hints that all is not forgivennor forgotten.”
“And you can’t keep them out?”
Radiance smirked Snow’s way. “Our security team knows itsbusiness, and upon my eldest son’s recommendation, Salali refined his wards.That was eleven years ago.”
Ginkgo ran through all the things that’d happened elevenyears ago. Tsumiko’s arrival. Kyrie’s birth, close on the heels of Lilya’s.Dad’s freedom, at long last. And his appointment to the Five. Replacing … oh,boy.
“Two sisters,” he said warily. “Which clan?”
With a grim smile, Radiance answered, “Hightip.”
Ginkgo was still composing a report to Dad when Tenma stumbledthrough Waaseyaa’s kitchen door and sagged to his knees beside Ginkgo’s chair.
“Classes done for the day?” Ginkgo asked with a glance outthe window. It was too early. Pushing back his chair, he crouched beside Tenmaand grabbed his shoulders. “What happened? Is it one of the kids?”
“Safe,” he gasped. “They’re fine.”
Tenma’s heart was pounding, and his scent was a far cry fromhis usual calm. Ginkgo chaffed his arms and grumbled, “Get ahold of yourselfand tell me what’s going on.”
His confusion only mounted when tears sprang to the man’seyes and he begged, “Kill me quick. You’ll be kind about it, at least.”
Ginkgo couldn’t help laughing. “Who in their right mindwould dare raise their hand against a packmate of Harmonious Starmark, letalone the almost-bride of Lapis Mossberne.”
“Sansa-san, for one. Isla, I think.” With a cringingposture, he whispered, “Maybe even you.”
“Back up. Start over. Shouldn’t you be up to your elbows inclay right about now?”
“I begged off. Goh-sensei realized I wouldn’t be any helptoday.”
Ginkgo tried to pull Tenma to his feet, but the man loweredhimself further, kowtowing dragon-style. With the beginnings of genuine concern,Ginkgo demanded, “Who did this to you?”
“Lilya-chan.”
Impossible. “She’s just a kid.”
Tenma curled into an even tighter knot of distress andwhimpered, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he chanted.
Ginkgo couldn’t understand what had gotten into Tenma.Neither could he ignore what was obviously a plea for help. He hauled Tenmainto his arms and carried him to the guest room, a clumsy task since the manwas easily head-and-shoulders taller than Ginkgo.
Depositing Tenma on the bed, Ginkgo jumped up beside him,hauling the man into his arms. “Hey, hey, hey, now. Want me to get Eloquence onthe phone? Hanoo? Lapis? Dad?”
Tenma groaned.
Ginkgo wasn’t getting anywhere. “Show me your hand.”
He surrendered both, palms pleading.
Tracing a sigil that made secrets safe, he said, “Nobody butus. You and me, okay? Now, what happened with Lilya?”
“She asked me why I’m not married yet. She wanted to know mywish for the future.” Tenma hid his face against Ginkgo’s shirt, so his wordswere all muffled. “I’m a teacher here. I thought it was one of those … thoseteaching moments.”
“You’ve always been patient with folks. A good listener.”
