Page 160 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Ah, Zolottse. Nothing to it, really.” Timur’s confidencehad a calming effect. “This dawn will see you soaring.”
While Timur arranged things, Sinder balled and relaxedhis fists over and over. The man’s shoulder bag clinked with an abundance offlasks. Had he brought medicine? Bandages? Would breaching wings leave himbloodied? Why wasn’t this in the lore? Then again, would anyone seek the sky ifthey knew the cost?
A smaller hand slipped into his. Kyrie. “Does it hurt?”
“Not exactly. It’s not comfortable.” Sinder was beginning tofeel betrayed by his own body. “I didn’t know it would be like this.”
Kyrie pressed closer. “We are here.”
“We are four,” said Timur, who was working on starting afire. “That’s auspicious.”
“Are there other favorable conditions?” asked Kyrie.
“Plenty.” Flashing a smile at the boy, Timur asked, “Don’tsuppose you could summon an east wind for him?”
“I will ask.”
Sinder eyed him skeptically. But a breeze rose from thedirection of the lightening horizon, cooling his flushed face. Carrying with ita whisper of Novi’s song.
“Does he need to shift forms?” asked Ginkgo.
“Wings will manifest in either form, but in recentcenturies, it’s become popular to remain in speaking form.” Timur’s voice waspitched to soothe. “It makes it easier to maintain a partial transformationlater.”
“Wings in speaking form?” checked Kyrie.
“Like a wolf and his tail,” said Ginkgo. “Or a stag and hisantlers.”
“That’s the idea. Sinder, may I have access to your blaze?”Timur seemed to tower over him.
No sense holding back now. He shrugged out of his tunic,presenting his bared shoulder.
Pushing aside Sinder’s hair with one finger, Timur asked,“Can we tie this out of the way?”
“Let me,” said Ginkgo. “I’m a pro at braids. In high demandby all the kids.”
Sinder frowned. His injuries had healed enough, he couldhave managed on his own. But Ginkgo was already smoothing and sectioning. Waseverything spinning out of his control?
“Calm down, Damsel,” ordered Ginkgo.
“How can I?” He peered over his shoulder into pale eyes. “Istill don’t know what to do.”
Timur was fiddling fireside, and the scent of warming oil filledthe air. But he returned to Sinder, hands framing his face. “Truly, there isnothing to fear. All you had to do has been done. Your strength is gathered,and your wings await.”
Sinder’s agitation doubled. “How am I supposed to …?”
He didn’t even have words for the hurdle before him.
“Take from me.” Timur flashed that ridiculously winsomesmile of his. “My turn to tend you, Zolottse.”
“That’s all?”
“Simple as that.” And without hesitation, the dragon slayeroffered his soul as a refuge, so that one dragon could gain the sky.
A starry soul, more potent than pollen. Heady and homey andhis for the taking.
Sinder lost track of everything but Timur, who stole theache from his bones and flooded him with certainty. All would be well. Nothingto it, really.
Kyrie’s trill called him back. He fluted in harmony withNovi’s swelling song.
