Page 6 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
Mikoto wasn’t. Far from it.
“It took me longer than I anticipated, but I think you willbe pleased.”
“With what?”
“Withwhom,” corrected Glint, sounding unaccountablysmug.
What had Mikoto missed? For a panicked moment, he thoughthe’d agreed to something binding. He darted nervous glances at Merl and Yulin.The former simply shook his head in a way that meant,it’s okay. And thelatter was covering a smile.
“Hold out your hands,” ordered Glint.
Mikoto slowly obeyed, watching warily as Glint’s big, brownhand dipped into a deep coat pocket. And brought out a puff of white fur.
Setting it carefully in Mikoto’s waiting hands, Glint simplysaid, “Take care of each other.”
And walked away.
FOUR
To Catch a Dragon
Sinder’s first instruction for Naroo-soh’s rookie rankswas little more than child’s play. “Find me.”
The battlers weren’t impressed. A hand went up. “That’sall?”
At a glance, Sinder could tell that eighty percent feltinsulted. Most of the rest seemed to be trying to figure out if he was joking.
“Where’s Naroo-soh?”
“None of your business.” Sinder smiled sweetly.
“We’re meant to have an Elderbough instructor.” Murmurs ofassent rippled through the group.
“You think Naroo-soh was going to take a summer away fromthe hunt to hold your hands?” Sinder gave them a pitying look. “You’ll get yourElderbough. But I’m the one you should be focusing on.”
Another hand. “May we know your name, sir?”
“Alsonone of your business.”
Glares. The insulted ones now radiated annoyance. If hecould chivvy them into active dislike, they might actuallytry.
“You’re Naroo-soh’s picks, yes? His up-and-comers? Oodles ofpromise, just waiting to be tapped?” Sinder raised a hand. “How many of youbelieve thatyou’rethe one we’ve all been waiting for? With you on therogue’s trail, we mayfinallysee results.”
While no one raised a hand, they stood a little straighterin their ranks, pride and confidence in their posture.
Poor kids. This was going to be the worst summer of theirlives. But if Sinder did his job well, they’d live to see another.
He wanted to sigh, but he plastered on a smirk. “I admireyour courage. You’ll need it.”
When it came to capturing the rogue, all the skills andtactics in the world came to nothing if you couldn’t find him in the firstplace. No easy task.
A dragon in truest form might seem showy, even garish, outof context. But drop them into nearly any landscape, and those markings allowedthem to vanish. Even into a seemingly featureless plain. Sinder was on one suchplain now, a wide stretch of tundra that wavered with green-gold grasses. Otherthan the occasional low bush, only the passing shadows of scudding cloudsmoved. They briefly washed the terrain in shadow, then cranked up the wattagewith the squint-inducing glare of high summer sunlight.
Thirty rookies entered the practice field and waited. Theyscanned the area with hands over eyes, some with binoculars or spy glasses. Afew began crafting sigils, which was the right idea, even though it wouldn’t dothem much good. They fanned out, moving with care, but obviously confused.
One of the Starmark guards had entered the zone with them. Shestood with feet planted, gaze lowered, expression thoughtful. An observer.
A battler approached her. “Are you sure there’s a dragon outhere?”
