Page 89 of Mikoto and the Reaver Village
These must be the thrice-dratted pedigrees. Mum might notlike them, but Lilya suspected she might be impressed by them. It was likestanding in a war room, surrounded by dozens of strategies. Oversized familytrees were tacked to the walls, some with bits of colored thread linking themto the branches of other trees.
Was Glint matchmaking between dynasties? Did that meanLilya’s name was here somewhere? She began searching the walls for familiarnames.
While she explored, a light call came from the front of thehouse. A moment later, an Amaranthine whisked in, his arms filled with packets.
“These are the last of them, Glint.” The Amaranthine wearingthe Dimityblest crest smiled at the sight of her. “Hello, dear child.”
“So many?” Glint grumbled, taking the stack. “Thanks, Yulin.And this is Angel.”
The moth clansmen offered his hands to Lilya. “Scribe YulinDimityblest. Radiance mentioned a new friend.”
His mild expression was hard to read, but his slow wink wasreassuring. This person knew exactly who she was. And that Radiance was playinggames.
Lilya placed her hands on his and skipped her half of theintroduction. Instead, she admitted, “You’re my first moth.”
This was the sort of thing Amaranthine enjoyed learning.Indeed, Yulin’s whole countenance brightened. “I would be honored to indulgeyour curiosity in any detail.”
Just then, Rifflet uncurled enough topeep.
Yulin’s soft eyes widened. “Well, hello to you, as well.”
“Ever seen the like?” Glint’s eyebrows lifted. “Say, Yulin,do you have your progenitor’s knack?”
Cool, dry hands gently enfolded Lilya’s as Yulin explained,“I am the son of Linlu Dimityblest, one of Wardenclave’s founders. TheknackGlint is referring to is his sensitivity. Linlu has always been attuned toImpressions. He hears voices where others do not.”
Lilya tried to fit that into a context she was familiar with.“Like a crystal adept?”
Yulin’s lips curved upward. “Those who work with crystalsare often able to hear their remnant song. They hear the echoes of impressionslong gone. My progenitor hears the voices of impressions who have remained near.”
Glint cleared his throat. “Even among Amaranthine, hearingvoices is considered … odd.”
“Yes,” Yulin agreed easily. “Those without ears to hearremain skeptical.”
Lilya wondered if he meant that people thought his dad wascrazy. Didn’t Amaranthine understand about faith? Aunt Tsumiko would havecalled it hope in unseen things. And it was silly not to believe in imps. She’dchatted with Zisa every day since their arrival, andhewas technicallyan Impression. But saying as much would give away who she was. Something elseworried her, though. “You think Rifflet might be an imp?”
“Ah.” Yulin presented a fingertip for Rifflet’s inspection. “Icannot think of a more plausible explanation as to why I have never heard ofthis creature.”
Lilya said, “He may have come from somewhere far away.”
“I may not be well-traveled, but I am exceptionally well-read.”Yulin’s eyes danced with interest. “Which means your Rifflet is either an imp,a clan secret, or … both.”
“Could he be Kith?” she asked.
“Unlikely,” said Glint. “Our Kith always look the same as wedo in truest form, but this little one only bears a passing resemblance to membersof the dragon clans.”
“And Kith are sentient,” added Yulin. “They have a voice.”
Lilya decided to speak up. “Rifflethasa voice.”
“You heard something?” Glint came over, bending down tostudy their mystery critter. “I hear nothing.”
“Would we?” posed Yulin. “Rifflet is neither a dog nor amoth.”
“But why would Angel hear a voice.”
“She could belong to one of the attuned classifications—candor,fellow, reach. Rare, but not without precedence. The trait does crop up fromtime to time in most bloodlines.” Yulin shrugged. “Or it could be an impish orephemeral quirk, making Rifflet himself the cause.”
“Which brings us back around to our original plan. Where isthat young dragon who has been … err … here?”
