Page 31 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Sinder was working his way through second breakfast.Colt Alpenglow was a good sort, having the sense to bring food by the trayfulrather than bowlful or plateful. So intent was he on tearing, scooping, andchewing that he didn’t notice the subtle shift in Timur’s sigilcraft until itdid something very odd. With a whispery sigh, it swirled and resettled, as insurmountableas ever. But only after letting someone through.
Identity was no mystery, but his method was a surprise.
“Are you my knight, come to rescue me from Timur’s kindlyclutches?” Sinder indicated the door. “How’d you get past his barrier?”
The kid blinked and looked back. “I did not notice. I amsorry. Am I intruding?”
“Not at all.” Sinder gestured to the tray on his lap.“Hungry?”
Kyrie surveyed the two emptied trays on the bed besideSinder. “A little, but you need it more.”
“Share with me,” he urged. Mostly to see if it worked on ahalf-dragon.
The boy glanced over his shoulder, then eased closer to thebed. “May I ask you things?”
“I’ll indulge your curiosity if you’ll indulge mine.” Sinderpatted the mattress at his side. The boy obliged him, but for his own reasons.Which suited Sinder well enough. He wouldn’t need to mind his words so closely.
Argent’s foster son carried all the markers of hisdiabolical sire. In the course of their investigations, Sinder had encounteredno less than eight children with some combination of draconic features. The hair,the scales, the speckling, the eyes. Kyrie’s horns weren’t always handed down,and one child’s legacy had included a tail.
This boy had no way of knowing that he had siblings. Sinderdidn’t doubt that they’d also kept that little detail from Argent. Perhaps forfear of what he might do. Then again, he was a clever old fox. Clever enough tostash his sons in safety for a season.
What mischief might Lord Mettlebright be up to, even now?
“Go ahead,” prompted Sinder. “Your curiosity is bothunderstandable and flattering. Though I know I’m not your first dragon.”
Kyrie knelt beside him and offered his palms. “Lapis comeswhen his schedule allows.”
“Not often enough?”
The boy shook his head. “And I have to share.”
“How fortunate that Timur has provided us with so muchprivacy.” He pressed half a pomegranate into the boy’s hand. Plucking out hisown half’s ruby seeds with the tips of his claws, he added, “You don’t have tobe formal with me. Blurt away.”
“Do you have horns?”
“In truest form, yes. Most dragons do, but there’s a wholelot of variation by clan. Horns, antlers, tusks, ridges, even fins.” He clearedhis throat. “Horns of your sort usually come in sets. If I may?”
Kyrie dipped his head invitingly, and Sinder sifted throughsilky hair. Two pairs of horns curved gracefully from his hairline, up andinward, white as fangs. His questing fingers found a third set that had buddedjust behind and below. They were still small enough to be mostly hidden by hishair.
“I’ve seen something like this among the Winnowind and Galestrafeclans. There’s a chance that the coming years will find you with a princelycoronet.”
The boy searched his face with eyes nearly the same color asthe seeds he was toying with. Finally, he asked, “Do you have a tail?”
Sinder’s curiosity was piqued. “Do you?”
Kyrie didn’t answer, moving along to another question. “Whatabout … your back?”
“Something there? May I see?”
With a small nod, the boy set aside his fruit and turned.
“May I touch?” checked Sinder.
“Please,” said the boy, whose cheeks had gone rosy.
Sinder carefully lifted the boy’s tunic, baring pale skinthat looked human enough. But higher up, he discovered nascent ridgesprotecting his spine. And whorls of lavender that may have been his blaze. Butwere positioned in a way that suggested … wings.
“Do you have a blaze?”
