Page 162 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Even if you cannot hear her, she can hear you. Tell her whatyou know, what you want. Give her as many reasons as you can to find her way toyour side.”
Mikoto glanced around. “Can we be sure she is listening?”
Merl pointed to the bell.
It chimed.
“Maker bless,” murmured the colt, who went all soft-eyed. “Takeyour time. I will be inside.”
The cottage door closed.
Mikoto picked himself up out of the dirt, brushing absentlyat his breeches. “Is it you?” he asked uncertainly.
A breeze ruffled his hair, then nudged the bell.
“I did not know,” he began awkwardly. “And now I do.”
He waited, but of course she didn’t have anything to say. Orat the very least, no way to say it.
Clearing his throat, Mikoto got on with it. “You need toknow that my feelings have not changed.”
The air went still, and it was hard to breathe. This was soembarrassing.
“All the things I loved about Lupe … were you.” He couldfeel the flush creeping, but she needed to hear it all. “More than anything, Iwanted her to see me. Was it that way for you, too?”
The bell pealed several times.
He nodded.
“I do not know if this is enough, but ….” Mikoto took asteadying breath. “Tzefira?”
Wind brushed his face. She was listening.
“Tzefira,” he said more confidently. “I want to see you.”
Mikoto wasn’t used to being in charge. “Would youplease arrange a … a gathering?”
“Very well.” Yulin set aside a stack of folders and claspedhis hands. “May I know the particulars?”
He really didn’t want to go through the whole long storyagain, so he skimped. “I am going to woo the wind to my side. If it works—whenit does—I am fairly certain I will be engaged. Or would it be considered abetrothal? I do not know the etiquette.”
Yulin gaped.
Mikoto settled for an apologetic posture.
“Precious noble,” Yulin said faintly. “How long has she beencourting you?”
“The accident by the river. Since then. Maybe even before.”
Folding his hands over his heart, Yulin asked, “That long?”
“Sinder thinks I am wind-kissed.”
The moth stepped forward and touched Mikoto’s cheek. “Andyou wish to kiss her back?”
It was his turn to flounder for words.
Yulin inclined his head. “When you do, it will bind youirrevocably. You are right. There should be witnesses. Who did you have inmind?”
