Page 131 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“I was little.” Kyrie’s heart thumped in anticipation offuture conversations. “I have grown.”
“As has my trust.”
Which may have been the highest compliment Timur could havepaid.
“Right. So. Torloo, Sinder, and I are working together. Thebattlers who just chased Sinder into the forest are learning tactics for trackingand restraining dragons.”
Sinder strolled in as if that had been his cue. “Oh, don’tlook so surprised. All I did was circle back. Everything settled?”
Timur stood. “I was just getting around to your minigame.”
With a nod to Torloo, Sinder said, “Thank you for yourindulgence, leader. I’m confident that the challenge I’ve issued to Kyrie won’tinterfere with the rookies’ efforts.”
“A challenge?” prompted Torloo.
“His affinities interest me. I want to find out if they havepractical applications. Kyrie will give chase. I’ll evade. Torloo will bearwitness. Reveille will keep watch.”
Torloo’s tail puffed and settled a few times. “Is it wise forKyrie’s test and the battlers’ mission to run concurrently?”
“Why not?”
“The battlers might mistake Kyrie for prey.”
Sinder smirked. “They’ll never see him.”
“And the traps?”
“In the unlikely event of a misstep, the traps aren’tlethal, and you and Reveille will be right there. Assuming you can keep up.”
Torloo looked honestly baffled. “You know my speed.”
“Oh, you’re faster,” Sinder drawled. “But you’re definitely goingto run into trouble.”
Kyrie immediately understood. Games like this were fun. Andnecessary.
“What kind of trouble?” Torloo patiently asked, though histail was puffed double.
Sinder’s smile widened. “Like now, for instance. Where isyour friend?”
From under the table, where he now sat with Fend, Kyriewatched Torloo turn a circle.
“Never discount a dragon,” said Sinder. “Even a young one.We’re good at these games.”
Kyrie liked being included, liked being Sinder’s brother.
But Torloo’s agitation grew, to the point that he tucked histail. “I am forewarned.”
Then something else, too soft to hear. But the winds werewilling, and they carried the young wolf’s troubled words to Kyrie—he islike him.
FORTY-EIGHT
Blessing
Lilya had always considered Lapis part of her family.His face had been bending into view since her cradle days, because he doted onKyrie. But Lapis was too kind to part her from the brother she adored. He hadtwo arms, and so he would carry them both away. Some of her earliest memoriesinvolved midnight blue hair, trilling lullabies, and reaching for sparklingbaubles that seemed to be singing.
Lapis came to Stately House more than any of the othermembers of the Amaranthine Council, and she was sure that in his heart, theirhome was his home.
“Who banished your sparkle?” Lapis asked in scandalizedtones. “Surely, it is a crime against the Maker to hide such brilliance under abushel basket.”
