Page 167 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“Hurry!” gasped Kyrie.
Sighing mightily, Salali scooped him up and dropped.
Mikoto knew how to hold a position. To stand at hispost, alert for any change, poised to respond to any situation. This was alittle different, perhaps, but it felt the same. Requiring patience. Requiringcourage. Mikoto wasn’t awaiting further orders or anything resembling anattack. Still, he would have felt a little better if he were armed.
Sinder and Lapis were singing, but the barrier was funnelingtheir song away. It was supposed to call to Tzefira, but Mikoto couldn’t helpbut think thathewas the one who should be doing the calling.
Mikoto lifted his chin and declared, “I am here, Tzefira. Iam waiting.”
Something changed.
Timur signaled, and the dragons traded a look. They endedtheir duet with a prolonged flourish, and when the barrier collapsed, the finalnote was somehow still ringing. An echo? An overtone? Or perhaps a star.Radiance swore they sang for those who needed to hear them.
Lapis stepped back, and Sinder hurried to Timur’s side,making room.
Diffuse light began to coalesce, and Radiance readied akimono. It was an heirloom from his mother’s collection. Again, somethingchanged, and chimes sounded—tiny and tinkling. Radiance was fussing with foldsand knots, which meant there was someone wearing all that silk.
Mikoto desperately wanted to look, but he didn’t want to seetoo much.
Lowering his gaze, he went back to what he knew. Holding aposition.
“Lovely,” declared Radiance, which meant it was safe.
“We are,” agreed Zisa. “I helped.”
That was so like him, heedless of ceremony, quick to greet anewcomer.
He and Radiance stepped aside, parting like a curtain toreveal a young woman. She was the same height as Zisa, though with a much morecurvaceous aspect. Her feet were fair against the springing mosses, and whenshe stepped toward him, bells jingled anew.
There they were. Golden bells gleamed softly against lightbrown hair, so like Zisa’s. The similarities could not be a coincidence. Mikotoprobably should have put more thought into his first words, but he blurted,“She looks like you.”
“We made a pact,” Zisa announced proudly.
Waaseyaa hurried forward. “Brother, what have you done?”
“I have become her brother!” The tree caught his twin’s hand.“That way, she has more than nothing and the best of everything. Us as afamily. And Mikoto for a groom.”
Mikoto marveled at Zisa’s foresight. “You are always sogenerous,” he said. “Thank you, Zisa.”
Slipping from his brother’s arms, Zisa twined around Mikoto.“I have a sister!”
“She will rely on you greatly.”
“And visit often.” With a blissful smile, Zisa said, “Youmay call me Brother.”
Laughter broke out, and everyone had relaxed into indulgentsmiles.
Zisa turned him loose and whispered, “Go.”
Mikoto stepped forward and looked into green-gold eyes andliked the familiarity. This might be their first proper meeting, but she wasn’ta stranger. Not really.
“Hello, Tzefira.”
She tipped her head, and bells tinkled. Yet she didn’tspeak.
Suddenly, Kyrie hurried over, catching Mikoto’s sleeve. Buthis gaze was fixed on Tzefira’s face. “Are you like a star? Do you also have avoice intended for the skies?”
Tzefira tapped the boy’s nose, then sought Mikoto’s gaze,touching a finger to her lips.
