Page 36 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
FIFTEEN
First Day
Buses would begin arriving bymid-high, carrying hundreds of campers. First Day had always been a big dealfor the Reaver household. Their responsibilities as hosts would soon have themscattered and scurrying for weeks on end, so before things got crazy, thefamily marked summer’s arrival with a special breakfast.
Familiar smells wafted temptingly from the kitchen, butMikoto didn’t have much of an appetite. Facing the annual influx without Dad? Itwas hard. Gabe Reaver had loved First Day better than any festival day. This iswhat he’d lived for, and now he was … well, he wasn’t.
Mikoto couldn’t hope to match his father’s enthusiasm.
Wardenclave wasn’t the same without him. Couldn’t be.
Yulin murmured, “Brace yourself, brave noble.”
He half-heartedly corrected his posture, though he wascertain his soul was sagging.
A rap sounded at the door, and his eldest half-sister Wrenwent to see who it was. Yulin gestured for Mikoto to stand just as her voicecarried from the front of the house. “Glint! And Uncle! Please, come in. Areyou joining us? That’s so kind. Be welcome.”
Mikoto stood mute, unsure if this was good or bad. He hungback, leaving the greetings to Yulin. Not that Glint let the moth get very far.
Silencing Yulin with a fierce glance, Glint bore down onMikoto, herded him into the corner, and folded him in strong arms. It tookseveral startled moments for Mikoto to realize that Glint was crying.
Hot tears hit his shoulder, and Glint’s soft whine filled Mikotowith distress. He wanted to look to Uncle for help, but he couldn’t see pastGlint’s bulk. The head of the Starmark clan curled around him as if seekingcomfort. As if Mikoto had any to give.
“I miss him,” Glint muttered, arms tightening. “I miss myfriend.”
The broken confession broke Mikoto, who choked on a sob.
Waaseyaa and Yulin took charge then, hustling them in aclumsy jumble along the hall to Mikoto’s own room. The moth swiftly wardedwalls and doors for privacy, barely in time to contain Glint’s howl. Mikotocouldfeelhis pain. After that came an uncomfortably messy torrent ofgrief.
It scared him.
It gutted him.
When Mikoto finally caught his breath, he was more wrung outthan if he’d run a cross-country marathon with the Guard. He strongly suspectedthat Glint was the only thing keeping him standing. Which ceased to be true themoment Mikoto’s feet left the floor.
“Brave boy. Good lad.” Glint snuffled at his neck andmumbled childhood endearments and hoarse apologies.
Just this once, Mikoto decided he’d take it. Because todaywould go from hard to heartrending. For reasons that had his eyes wateringanew. Gently wrapping his arms around the First of Dogs, Mikoto pretended he couldkeep anything simply by wanting it hard enough.
“Oh, my boy.” Glint’s whole body trembled. “I do not likeletting go.”
Mikoto just sort of grabbed, even though he might be pullinghair or spoiling embroidery. Because he understood what it was like, lovingsomeone even though they would leave you. His summers were like lifetimes, and theyalways ended in grief. Over and over. Because he couldn’t help staying loyal.
Every year, Mikoto lost Lupe.
Every lifetime, Glint lost a friend.
Waaseyaa coaxed and Yulin prodded Glint toward Mikoto’sunmade bed.
“You need rest,” said Uncle. “A long one.”
“This room is best,” added Yulin. “I will takeresponsibility.”
Glint groaned and growled. Then gruffly muttered, “With yourpermission, boy?”
“Stay,” Mikoto urged, his head aching, his nose plugged. Yetan offer of hospitality should never be stinting, so he asked, “Do you wanttending?”
“I do.” Glint set Mikoto on his own bed and sank to hisknees beside it. “We do. Wardenclave does. It will strengthen our bond. Renewmy pact.”
