Page 34 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Damn, he hated solo missions.
And roughing it in leaky tents.
He wasn’t looking forward to his impending eviction from theguest room. Was it inevitable? If he remembered right, foxes knew how tonestle. But Ginkgo undoubtedly had his own agenda and might not be open tocollaboration. Or cohabitation.
More out of habit than anything, Sinder took the room’smeasure. Not the picky little details that were Juuyu’s specialty. He’d havecataloged everything from shoe sizes to shampoo brands, as well as the originsof every sigil in the room. Sinder was better with people. And especially withhow much they let on without admitting to anything.
That balance of insight was the real reason Boon had pairedhim off with Juuyu. Although it didn’t hurt that phoenixes were immune todragon wiles.
Sinder assessed the room’s occupants. In an homage to hisabsent partner, he even guessed at their shoe sizes. He’d include it in hisnext report. Let Twineshaft make what he would of that.
By far, the most interesting person in the room was Lilya. Shedidn’t make sense.
Ginkgo bumped him over with a hip and sat beside him on thebed. “That’s a speculative look if I ever saw one. Tell me, Damsel, why do youhave your eye on Lilya?”
Sinder said, “She’s warded.”
“Thoroughly,” agreed the half-fox.
Lowering his voice, he asked, “Why?”
“It would be funny if she weren’t.”
There wasn’t any polite way to put it. “They’re notworking.”
Ginkgo’s eyes narrowed. “Those stones are of the highestquality.”
“Befitting a daughter of the First of Wards.” Sinder rolledhis eyes. “But they’re bored. They’re not working because there’s nothing forthem to do. Is she an imposter?”
“She’s the real deal.”
Sinder slowly shook his head and voiced his firstimpression. “She doesn’t make sense.”
Ginkgo gruffly said, “She’s just a kid. Let her be a kid.”
“Uh-huh. Tell that to Glint.”
“Don’t think I won’t.” His lips quirked. “But you’re the onestaking out her room and sizing her up.”
“Am I to be cast out?”
“Not my garden, not my tree, not my decision.” Ginkgoadjusted his hold on the child currently using his shoulder for a pillow. Onepudgy hand reached for Sinder, and he leaned warily out of reach.
Noting the string of beads at each wrist, Sinder asked,“Who’s this?”
“Gregor is Timur’s.” Ginkgo corralled the kid’s grabby handsand tucked him under his chin. “I’m his nanny for the summer. Officially.”
Recognizing his cue, Sinder said, “There’s an allotment ofrecruits training in the woods. I’m their prey for the summer. Officially.”
“And …unofficially?”
Knowing what they held in common, Sinder affected Boon’srumble. “The less said the better.”
Ginkgo made a wolvish hand sign. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
They hadn’t officially met—which left both with a tidyloophole of deniability—yet even without the exchange of names, Sinder likedthe tenor of this relationship. Especially with how much Ginkgo let on withoutadmitting to anything.
Pushing his luck, Sinder asked, “How likely are you to letme hang about?”
