Page 32 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Kyrie nodded.
“Is this it?” Sinder let the fabric fall back into place.
He shook his head, turned, and tugged at his collar. “Overmy heart.” With a tiny smile, he added, “Just like Ginkgo.”
“Where has he got to?”
“Right there.” Kyrie pointed to the barrier, and his wholeexpression warmed. “I think he is stalling.”
“To give you time to interrogate the prisoner?”
“Just … time.”
“That’s very considerate of him.” Sinder set aside his trayand folded his hands on his lap. “How about this. When our schedules allow, Iknow a spot. There’s this secluded little lake, perfect for a grooming session.We can compare spots and ridges and horns and tails, and I can hand downwisecracks and wisdom. Rite of passage stuff.”
Kyrie said, “I want to. Can Ginkgo come?”
“Okay, sure. Your brother needs to know what you need,right?” Sinder decided not to mention how desperate he was for company. Hedidn’t really know Ginkgo, but they also had people in common. Maybe evencommon goals, if Timur’s crack about spies proved true. “Fetch him in, and wecan see what he thinks of our plan.”
Scooting off the bed and hurrying to the door, Kyrie raisedboth hands, as if grabbing onto something. With a flourishing twist, thebarrier vanished, allowing in a mélange of interesting scents and sounds.
Ginkgo gruffly called, “Watch yourself, Damsel!”
Belatedly, Sinder recalledwhyTimur had set suchstrong wards.
Some distant part of Sinder’s brain was grateful that Juuyuwasn’t here to see this. Because his partner had lived among Amaranthine treesand had coached Sinder on basic etiquette. Most of which went out the windowlong before Zisa drew back enough to smile coyly.
“Serves me right.” Seeing Timur poised to intervene, Sindershook his head and asked, “Is this where I’m supposed to saykiss me again?”
FOURTEEN
The Stuff of Dynasties
Mikoto guessed he was in the presence of greatness. Orat least great fame. This was Argent Mettlebright’s family. Or more properly,his denmates, since Michael Ward also resided at Stately House. Mikoto knew theFirst of Wards by reputation, for Glint mentioned him often enough.
So much potential.
Glint had plied the man with proposals for paternity tours.Or a suite in his stable. Anything he wanted in exchange for greatermultiplication.
All for naught.
Nothing frustrated Glint more than unions formed on thebasis of mutual affection. At least, that’s how it sounded when Wardenclave’smatchmaker was grumping.
If the Eldermost Islands were in need of a new anchor, orwhen an enclave requested young diplomats willing to marry in, Glint wantednothing more than to pull out his registries and ledgers and send them theindividuals best suited to the task. But half the time, those best suited tosome outlying enclave’s need were already making plans of their own.
They’d formed an attachment at school or at camp. They’dagreed to a marriage arranged by a parent or mentor. They’d eloped with someonefrom the general populace that they’d met by chance. All disasters as far asGlint was concerned.
True love mucked up his charts in the worst way.
It happened all the time, but Michael Ward was a recurringtheme. The exception that proved the rule. Because for once, a reaver’s hearthad guided him aright. Despite marrying for love, the First of Wards hadachieved dynasty ranking by siring a beacon. A girl.
Thisgirl.
Mikoto stepped back, dinging his hip against a bureau.
Glint must be delighted to have lured Michael Ward’sdaughter here. A brand new beacon, ripe for arrangement. No doubt he’d lovinglymapped out dozens of potential matches for her, complete with progenyprojections.
A beacon wouldn’t be sent out to prop up a flaggingbloodline. No, Glint would want the dynasty to continue. A beacon could bear abeacon, given the right sire. And Mikoto had his suspicions about who toppedGlint’s list.
