Page 5 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
“All home.”
“All,” Merl echoed. “Wren and Lily, too?”
“Yes.”
“That must be a great help at a time like this.”
Mikoto supposed it was. If only because they kept each otheroccupied.
Wren and Lily were his half-sisters, daughters of LingeringLight, who had been his father’s first wife. That had been many years ago. Infact, those sisters were both in their sixties. Later in life, Gabriel hadremarried. Probably at Glint’s urging. Mikoto’s mother, Sora, had come toWardenclave from Japan. An arranged marriage.
Mikoto’s full-blooded siblings were three older sisters.
Hikari had married and lived nearby with her husband andfour daughters. Both Koharu and Hana still lived under the same roof, as didtheirdaughters. Koharu served in the guard. Her three girls had been born undercontract. Hana, who was closest in age to Mikoto, also had a little girl. Withall the family pulling together, the females had more than tripled their numbersand noise level.
Which left Mikoto. And Yulin.
Mikoto stopped and looked back. “Coming?”
Yulin lingered at the gate.
Merl reinforced the invitation. “Come along. You can help makesure he gets enough to eat.”
The moth clansman’s gaze turned speculative. “How is yourappetite, young noble?”
“I do not have one,” he fibbed.
That decided Yulin, but it didn’t get them through the door.
“Hereyou are!” boomed a voice everyone inWardenclave knew. Glint Starmark walked toward them, three young Kith cavortingaround him. The pups looked for all the world like over-sized goldenretrievers, too clutzy and cute for anyone to believe they belonged to the packknown historically as the Demon Dogs of Denholm.
Yulin stepped forward, a polite smile on his face. “Glint, youare on Mikoto’s schedule for tomorrow. If that is still ….”
Glint simply patted his head and walked on by.
“… convenient,” Yulin finished bemusedly. Really, there wasno getting in the way of Wardenclave’s top dog.
Leaning down to look Mikoto in the eyes, Glint asked, “Howare you, boy?”
Mikoto shrugged uncomfortably. As a kid, he’d adored thefounder of the Starmark clan, with his big voice and his big hands and his bigdogs. Glint was impressive—strong and manly. Well,male. When he waslittle, Mikoto had probably done his share of cavorting, just like these pups,eager to gain Glint’s attention. To look into silver eyes, bright as the starthat marked his brow.
Somehow, it was less fun to be in Glint’s focus now.
Conversations always seemed to come around to the future.And who would share Mikoto’s.
Glint was the village matchmaker. Pedigrees were his hobby.He had a reputation for bringing together strong bloodlines. In fact, mostyoung reavers who came to Wardenclave hoped to consult with Glint with regardsto their prospects. His stamp of approval—a very official-looking copper foilsticker—was highly coveted.
Mikoto didn’t want to go through folios. Didn’t need to.
He’d made his choice a long time ago. When he was nine.
And this summer, he was going to tell her. Somehow.
“… to make sure it was a good match.” Glint touched Mikoto’sarm, radiating concern. “Are you listening, my boy?”
“He wasn’t,” said Merl.
Glint’s hand was warm. His gaze was soft. “In short, then.It is not good to be alone.”
