Page 15 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Damn.
Yes?
Let Timur knowwe’re an hour out
Will do
Sinder rewarded the half-fox by sending a pouting selfie. Anda parting shot for the kids.
Codename: Damsel
When Timur returned with a tray, Sinder scrolled back up tothe picture of universal disgust. “This?Thisis what you’re going to doto me?”
Timur smiled lopsidedly. “Too right. Mum’s recipes aredastardly, but I brought afters. You must be hungry.”
He sat up to receive the tray. There was a plate of roastedvegetables, crusty rolls, and cheese. And a fat turnover that smelled of honey,nuts, and cinnamon. Sinder realized that Timur’s barrier must be blockingsoundsandsmells, which required unusually intricate wardsmanship. Skillslike these bounded on the illusory. Rather foxish in nature, now that hethought about it.
“First this.” Timur held out a brimming teacup. “It’s cooledenough. Try to take it in one go.”
Sinder made a face.
“You don’t want any huddlebud left in your system whenmeeting our hosts.”
Sinder chugged, coughed, and wheezed, “Vile.”
Timur shrugged and borrowed from his mother again. “What isgood is hard. But is good.”
Breakfast could only be better. Sinder started in on thefood. According to the date on Timur’s phone, he hadn’t eaten in four days, sothis tray was going to be the first of many. Mumbling around a mouthful ofpastry, Sinder said, “Ginkgo seems to think my virtue is at risk.”
He passed along the phone. Timur scanned the wholeconversation, smiling all the while. Finally, he said, “Youhavebeensleeping under a tree. Practically inside it. One of the reasons we’re so safehere is because most people have trouble remembering thathereexists.We’re in Waaseyaa’s home.”
Sinder had been briefed on this part. Twineshaft was veryinterested in the Amaranthine trees of Wardenclave. He chewed more slowly, thenasked, “You know about tree-kin?”
“I donow. Glint introduced me when I first arrived.”Timur admitted, “Three weeks later, and I’m still getting used to it. And them.Especially Zisa.”
“Zisa.” Sinder made the logical leap. “The tree half oftheir twinship?”
Timur nodded and leaned closer. “Fair warning. If you havepersonal boundaries, he’ll be inside them before you can say, ‘Kiss me again.’”
Sinder slowly shook his head.
Timur simply nodded.
EIGHT
Making the Rounds
The more Mikoto learned about his role as headman, theless he felt up to the task. Some things were honorary, like having a part inthe annual Founders Day festival, playing host to important guests, and havinghis picture in glossy brochures and online articles. This was all part of beingthe son of the son of the son—through the centuries—of a historical figure.
But Gabe Reaver’s day-to-day responsibilities had been muchmore prosaic. Head of Wardenclave’s community association. And camp director.
The former was now under Duntuffet prevue, and the latterwas being handled by Merl Alpenglow. They had it covered, so for the moment,Mikoto’s primary responsibility was a scampering tuft of white fur.
The puppy was a big hit with Hana and with the nieces. Notso much with Yulin. Glint’s gift had piddled one too many times in the moth’sarchive. So Mikoto’s in-house mentor had prioritized long walks. He called it“making the rounds.”
It was more freedom than Mikoto had expected. But the puppywas a bigger handful than he would have guessed. Not literally, of course. Hewas more of a scant handful, barely large enough to count as canine. Especiallyin a village where Kith-partnered battlersrodetheir dogs.
The girls had been quick to suggest names. All of themcutesy. But Mikoto firmly rejected them. He wasn’t leaving something soimportant to them. Plus, he’d wanted a name with more dignity. Which hadbrought Yulin to mind. And then the name was suddenly there and perfectlyright. A doggish name that was already an endearment. Noble.
