Page 132 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Lilya lifted her wrists, displaying the crystals that madeup her wards.
“Lovely, well-behaved remnants, to be sure.” The dragonpointed at her belly with one manicured claw, then twirled it. “Your back?”
“Yes, on my back.” It was no use pretending nothing wasthere. More softly, she said, “Uncle Lapis, it’ssupposedto be asecret.”
He sniffed. “Not from me.”
She glanced up at Moon, whose tail had begun a cheery thumpagainst the floor.
Lapis gracefully waved away her concern. “Heis asecret, as well. We areallin excellent company.”
“Who are we to question Argent’s precautions?” asked Glint.
“I can and I do!” Lapis beckoned to Lilya with both hands.“Show me.”
“Manners,” groused Glint. “Surely you can see that it wouldbe inappropriate.”
“We are family. Practically.” Lapis appealed to Lilya. “I supposeyou have grown somewhat since I last assisted with your baths. WhereisKyrie, incidentally? He will vouch for me.”
Lilya smiled. “I’ll vouch for you, too.”
“There, see?” Lapis applied himself to Moon. “Why wouldGlint see overtures where there are none?”
With a short laugh, Moon suggested, “Because he is a father?”
Lapis widened his eyes and tutted. “Lilya is like a daughterto me! Or a niece, at the very least.Tellthem, Lilya.”
She thought perhaps it was time to change the subject.“Uncle Lapis, did you know I found a wind dragon.”
He blinked.
He blinked again.
“Surely, you jest?” he murmured. “A wind dragon? Here?”
“I named him Rifflet.” She claimed one of his hands in bothher own. “He has the sweetest little voice.”
Lapis succumbed to a flurry of blinks.
Meanwhile, Glint leaned through the door and called,“Radiance? Would you be so good as to … arbitrate?”
She waltzed in, shook her head at them, clapped her hands,and took charge. “We don’t have time for this! Snow finally agreed to thisouting, and I won’t see it delayed. Lord Mossberne, you are more than welcometo join us. Lilya, we’re going somewhere safe for your wee ribbon monster, sofetch him along. For Lapis’ sake.”
The dragon looked intrigued. “May I ask the nature of thiserrand?”
Moon was close enough to tap Lapis’ shoulder. “I’m here forthe first time in a good while, and I’ve coaxed my sister to share my path toher bondmate’s monument. I will say the words she cannot.”
Lapis grew solemn. “Surely, I would be intruding.”
But they coaxed, and he smiled and offered to sing a song ofremembrance. Which was welcomed with such fluster, Lilya got the impressionthat Lapis would be doing something rare.
When he trailed after her to fetch Rifflet, she quietlyasked, “Is the song special, or is the song special because you’re singing it?”
“A little of both.” Most of his attention was now on thesoaring tree overhead. “Dragons collect songs and stories, but instead ofcommitting them to paper, we commit them to memory. And to melody.”
“You sing for us all the time.”
Lapis gave a demure trill. “It is my pleasure to lavish uponStately House what the wider world rarely hears.”
