Page 40 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
With this scanty description, Tenma searched the crowds for aguy with sufficient heft, but it wasn’t easy. All the biggest people dividedneatly into two flourishing groups—dogs or horses. Starmarks and Alpenglows,for the most part. Isla really should have given him more to go on. Despite beingat Stately House several times, Tenma hadn’t exactly been introduced to thefamily.
Back then, Isla had somehow talked Lapis out of his whole“eastern bride” notion, which had been an honest relief. Meanwhile, Argent had pushedfor the protection offered by a formal apprenticeship. Much more palatable.
Both Tenma and Inti had been brought to Argent’s estate, butsecretly. Pretty much nobody knew they were there, not even Lady Mettlebright.
Those had beenhissummer courses, overseen by Argent,Lapis, and later on by Goh-sensei. But mostly by Isla’s dad, who was theleading expert in sigilcraft and wardstones …anda universal favoritewhen it came to tending.
Such a cheerful guy. Tenma missed his funny habit of callinghim and Intiyoung squires.
For a while, his overseers tried to explain him. They’dcertainly studied him. But for the most part, they simply let him do what hecould. One by one, they brought in Amaranthine with heavy wards and hauntedeyes, and he tended them. Mended them. And word began to spread that there was hopefor the Broken.
The only other person Tenmaofficiallymet wasJacques, the butler. But there had also been a little boy, maybe six years old,who could walk through wards like they weren’t important. He’d been quiet andpolite and curious … and in so much trouble from the fox crosser who’d trackedhim down.
Kyrie and Ginkgo.
After that, Argent’s sons would sometimes kidnap him andInti for crazy romps through the woods or walks on the beach at the base ofStately House’s cliffs. Or for starwatching from the rooftops. Or to share somerare treat smuggled from the nearest convenience store. Which was alongway away.
Tenma missed those little breaks from the monotony ofprotection. The excitement of a secret friendship. But he was also glad thosedays were over.
Traveling with Goh-sensei was so much better. Tenma feltless like a prisoner, even if he did still have to stay a stranger to everyonehe met. Safe distances and secrets kept him safe.
“What have we here?” A hand touched Tenma’s shoulder. “Doyou often stray so far from your protector’s side?”
“Salali?”
The whole reason Tenma had come down to watch the arrival ofcampers was because of what Salali had said. That there was someone like him,and that she was coming. Didn’t that mean she was on one of these buses?
Indicating the hundreds of milling people, Salali said,“This will take hours to sort out. Hours we could spend in pleasanterpastimes.”
“What …?”
Shushing him with a finger to his lips that triggered aburst of color before Tenma’s eyes, Salali scooped him up and streaked awayfrom the hubbub. Inti often resorted to this kind of thing. So did Goh, forthat matter, so Tenma simply kept his eyes shut and held on tight.
If Salali Fullstash was part of Wardenclave’s security, hehad to be trustworthy.
But even more persuasive than role or reputation, Tenma wasrelying on the splash of blue that ornamented the squirrel clansman’s soul. Gentwas an avian, and from what Tenma knew about his former classmate Suuzu, theblue jay’s high opinion of Salali could only mean good things.
Maybe Salali was only teasing again. But Tenma wasn’t aloneanymore. And he was grateful.
“Do you have trouble with heights?”
Tenma thought it a little late to be asking, since they hadto be dozens of stories over Wardenclave. At least, that was the impressionhe’d gotten during Salali’s final soaring leap into a tree that had appearedout of nowhere. Now, Tenma was surrounded on all sides by rustling leaves andgently swaying branches, for the squirrel had deposited him in what amounted toa rustic nest.
“Goh-sensei is from the monkey clans,” said Tenma. “Ilearned to like heights a long time ago.”
Salali tipped back his hat and smirked. “You really will goalong with anyone’s plans.”
“Is that so bad?” Tenma reached into the leaves closest tohis face, lifting them aside to reveal a delicate cluster of orange flowers. “I’veseen more than I could have imagined because other people wanted to show methings.”
“Not everything in this world is good.”
Tenma’s hand came away streaked in pollen. “I know. I’veseen.”
“What have you seen?”
Closing his eyes, Tenma took a slow breath. What a pleasantscent.
“What have you seen?” Salali held up a finger, silentlycommanding eye contact. “I want to know.”
