Page 74 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
After some hasty instructions, Timur rushed out, Fend closeon his heels.
Mikoto asked, “Can I help?”
“With this?” Ginkgo shook his head. “I’ll work on thetrimmings and trappings, you coax him into a better tending than my littlebrother can offer.”
Mikoto turned Noble loose and stood to survey the larger ofthe room’s two beds. Sinder lay on his back, clad in little more than bandages,with a sheet modestly folded at his waist. Kyrie had been tucked in with him.The boy had warbled himself to sleep, nestled against Sinder. Easing to a seaton the opposite side, Mikoto slipped his hand under Sinder’s limp one. This wassomething Merl had worked on with him, providing an atmosphere that wouldpromote healing. It wasn’t exactly tending, and it worked better if there werecrystals adding their resonance.
Sinder sighed, and he turned his face toward Mikoto.
A good start. On some level, the dragon was aware of him.
Mikoto’s focus turned inward as he loosened the restraintsenough to affect the ambiance inside the little house. Almost at once, therewas a rustle of leaves as arms came around him from behind.
“Me, too?” coaxed Zisa. “You are usually so stingy.”
“You are hardly wanting, brother of beacons.” But Mikotobussed the tree’s cheek. “You can stay if you help keep Noble out of trouble.”
“I will stay.” Zisa retreated to the corner to coo and singnonsense over Noble.
“He’s right. You’re good.” Ginkgo flashed a smile over hisshoulder. “I’d be more surprised if I didn’t live with a battler who’s also ahealer. Timur’s mother. Timur, too, for that matter. But I’ve never been thisclose to a cosset before. It’s … nice.”
Mikoto mumbled something grateful and kept his gaze fixed onthe fine-boned hand in his. Sinder was cool to the touch. Was he cold?
Ginkgo worked quickly and confidently, removing panes andscreens from every window. He carted them outside, muttering about dust and bugs.Returning with a bucket and rags, he wiped the frames and sills, then conferredbriefly with Zisa. Ginkgo trotted off again, returning with a toolbox. Drawinga sigil in the air, he somehow managed to banish the sound of his hammer as he tackedlayers of sheer fabric across the windows.
Soft yellow, it changed the quality of light in the room,drenching them in honeyed gold. Breezes slipped through the cloth, though,stirring his hair and tickling up his arms.
A shadow fell, and Mikoto wondered how he’d missed Merl’susual call. Zisa twirled to his side, leaning into the horse clansman andbabbling something as he showed off Noble. Which clued in Mikoto. Ginkgo musthave warded the bed, not himself.
Only when Merl joined him at the bedside did Mikoto registerhis footfalls, the subtle ripple of sleeves, the low hum of concern. And notfor Sinder.
“May I?”
Mikoto grunted an affirmative.
His best friend touched his face, running the pad of histhumb under one eye. “Sleepless night?”
“Stuff happened.”
“Nothing you cannot handle?”
“You know me,” Mikoto gruffly countered. “He is the one whoneeds a healer.”
Merl let his hand drop to Mikoto’s shoulder as he consideredthe dragon. “This time, I am merely a courier. Sinder will benefit more fromTimur’s knowledge and your presence.”
“About … Lupe.” Mikoto risked a glance into his bestfriend’s face. “Did you know she is pregnant?”
“Priska brought her around for assessment after their longjourney.”
“Nothing was strange?”
“No. Such things are part of the natural course.” Merlgently added, “She and her child are healthy, and Priska will make sure shetakes care.”
“You would know if Lupe wasn’t human.”
Merl blinked several times, inadvertently fluttering longlashes. “She is human,” he cautiously confirmed. “Completely human. Ah. He iswaking.”
Mikoto looked down just as Sinder opened eyes made strangeby whatever Timur had dosed him with. A slim ring of eerie green encircledpupils blown wide.
