by Forthright
Mikoto wasn’t sure what she meant. “Is that not what I am about to do?”
Lupe quirked a brow. “Are you?”
“If I woo the wind to my side, she would be leaving yours.” Mikoto glanced self-consciously at Priska. “If that is what she wants, of course.”
Another derisive snort from Priska’s direction. “Are you addled, boy? Why do you think we risked the voyage?”
“Heir to Wardenclave, now headman, with a line to secure. Glint will have you contracted by this solstice and wed by the next. But we had to try.” Lupe gestured broadly between him and the seemingly empty air. “This summer was her last chance to win her first love.”
THIRTY-NINE
Breeding Pairs
Lilya and Kyrie tried not to rush through their breakfast. That would be rude to Uncle. But Waaseyaa noticed their efforts and smiled. “You are not half so excited as Zisa was when Sinder suggested he go along.”
As planned, Sinder would go to Glint’s home in order to give his official opinion about Rifflet. Lilya had special permission to skip her morning courses in order to bring the little wind dragon, with Timur for an escort. But Zisa’s inclusion had sparked off a chain reaction of joy.
He didn’t often go from home. Indeed, he couldn’t range far or be seen. So the trip to the Starmark home atop the hill was a rare treat. One that had his treetops swaying in anticipation.
“Keep an eye on my brother for me.” Hoisting Gregor onto his hip, Waaseyaa added, “We will be here when you return from your adventures.”
Lilya agreed and hurried out the door, only to stop on the front step. She looked uncertainly at Kyrie. Here they were again, going separate ways.
“Should we ask again?” she mumbled.
He took her hands into his and trilled soothingly. “I do want to meet Ever’s grandsire, but I also want to learn more about brushwork sigils from Scribe Yevlu. I will also be here when you return from your adventures.”
She pulled him into a fierce hug, and Rifflet gabbled a protest.
Kyrie replied with a fair imitation of the little one’s tootle-peep.
Rifflet still grumbled, which was cute enough to make Lilya laugh.
Relaxing into her embrace, Kyrie promised, “All will be well.”
Since he was so smart about everything, Lilya chose to believe him.
“Ready?” called Timur, who hadn’t strayed far from Sinder’s side since his injury.
Lilya was used to thinking of her brother as a big, strong battler. In all her childhood memories, he was running, climbing, sparring, and winning. This past winter, she’d had to rethink him a little. It had been strange at first, seeing him as a father.
This summer, she was learning even more about Timur. When other campers found out she was his sister, they were jealous. Because Timur was a favorite teacher. And now, he was acting like Mum in healer mode. All while managing to keep on being himself.
She couldn’t help wondering if she’d ever have as many sides. Or be half as good at any of them.
Zisa was waiting on the bottom step. Timur offered his hands to help the Amaranthine to his feet. Zisa accepted the help, only to spring too high, wrapping his arms around Timur’s neck. But it was pretty clear that Timur had expected it.
They all had. Because Zisa was uncomplicated. He always wanted a hug, from all of them.
For her part, Lilya didn’t mind a bit. Zisa was always so happy, and he smelled nice.
Timur gathered Zisa up, cradling him to his chest as if he weighed no more than Gregor. “Are you asking to be carried?”
“Would you?” Zisa asked, clearly taken with the idea.
“Would it please you?” countered Timur.
“Immensely!”
So Timur strutted ahead, trailing flower petals.
Lilya fell in step beside Sinder and asked, “How are you feeling today?”
“Much better. Don’t worry on my account.” He stared straight ahead. “In fact, don’t spare me a second thought.”
She wasn’t sure what to make of that. “It doesn’t work on me, you know.”
Sinder’s eyebrows shot up. At least he was looking at her now.
“Kyrie and I shared a cradle. I’m completely immune. I can also tell when someone’s trying.” She raised her own eyebrows. “Why don’t you want me to spare you a second thought?”
He slowed to a stop and glanced guiltily after Timur. “Tell me something about yourself.”
“Like what?”
“If I tell you not to do something, would you turn around and do it just to spite me?”
Lilya smiled. He was so serious, so she answered with as much formality as she could muster. “No. I was raised to respect the wishes of family and friends alike.”
Sinder raised a warning finger and leaned close to mutter, “It would be enormously inconvenient if you developed a crush on me.”
He meant it. With a shrug, she said, “Likewise.”
Relaxing his posture, he averted his gaze. “Right. Good. As long as that’s understood.”
Lilya moved to the step above Sinder’s and faced him squarely. “I need a human husband. Because I’m going to help build Papka’s dynasty.”
“I suppose that is the reaver way.”
“No,” she argued. “Well, yes. I suppose it is, but I’ll do my own choosing.”
Sinder hummed skeptically. “Will they let you?”
“They’ll have to.” Lilya raised her own warning finger. “I’ve seen Glint’s list, and his ideas are terrible.”
Interest lit his features. “Can I get a look at this list?”
“What for?”
“I’m an unabashed snoop.”
She didn’t fancy Mum finding out about the list. “The fewer who find out, the better. It’s a dead awful list.”
“One name,” he wheedled. But in the ordinary way, not with dragon wiles in force.
Lilya spread her hands in a show of disbelief and whispered, “Hisoka-sensei.”
Sinder shared her shock. “Never happening.”
“I know! Right?”
“You’re correct to question the pedigree committee’s grasp on reality.”
Lilya started climbing again. “It’s safe to be friends with me, Damsel.”
He sprang to her side and walked with her. “Sorry for the sway. It creeps in sometimes.”
“Are you sloppy?” And because that might be insulting, she hastily added, “I am.”
“I’ve often been accused of saying more than I should. But since I can usually tell people to forget what they’ve heard, it hardly matters.” He sighed. “Maybe I’ll outgrow it? I’m young. Well, youngish. My partner is fond of pointing it out whenever I blunder.”
“You have a partner?”
Sinder blinked, then grinned sheepishly. “Whoops.”
Lilya gave his elbow a squeeze. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that part.”
Lilya hung back while Yulin mediated the introductions, and not only between Glint and Sinder. An Amaranthine female named Priska was there, and—somewhat to her surprise—so was Tenma. Even keeping the usual formalities to a bare minimum, Lilya knew it’d take forever for all the necessary connections to be made.
Yulin was going on about the Eldermost Islands when Tenma edged over to the couch where Lilya waited and sat next to her.
“May I skip to petting Rifflet?” he murmured.
She hardly blamed him. “Be my guest.”
Tenma made little coaxing sounds, and Rifflet unscrolled from Lilya in order to twine through his fingers again. They paid more attention to the wind dragon than the longwinded greetings, but Lilya picked up a few words here and there.
Beacon wasn’t a big surprise. People were always talking about her as if she wasn’t there. But spomenka caught her attention, since it was Slavic. She knew the word because of Mum, but what did forget-me-nots have to do with anything? And Zisa seemed especially pleased about something called a scattering.
“But where is Linlu?” demanded Priska. “Is he still missing?”
Glint gruffly said, “We are looking into the matter. We take care of our own.”
Timur’s posture shifted. “Linlu Dimityblest is missing?”
“For quite some time.” Yulin smiled thinly. “His absence, while troubling, is unlikely to have any connection to other matters at hand.”
“Have you involved the trackers?” Timur persisted.
“Sure they did,” said Sinder. “My boss is on the job.”
Timur frowned. “Who’s your boss?”
Sinder looked incredibly uncomfortable, then gestured for secrecy. “The less said about that, the better.”
Her brother’s expression cleared, and he nodded once.
Yulin clapped his hands and suggested, “Shall we move on? Lilya has been very patient.”
She and Tenma hurried into the circle of Amaranthine, and Rifflet was passed around. He preened under their compliments, clearly happy to be the center of everyone’s attention.
Sinder began, “Although I was under the impression that wind dragons were extinct, there’s little doubt he’s a fine specimen. I assume we have preservationists to thank?”
“You are welcome,” said Priska blandly.
“Do you have breeding pairs?” he asked curiously.
She only stared at him, stone-faced and silent.
“Surely you’re better equipped for this,” Sinder complained. “All I know are the old stories.”
Priska remained implacable.
With a whistling sigh, Sinder continued. “Wind dragons were … pets, I suppose. Gathered and kept by dragons. They’re not true dragons, by which I mean they’re not dragon Kith. They fly in the same manner as Ephemera, skimming effortlessly along air currents, but they’re sentient.”
“They do have voices?” interjected Glint.
“Yes. I’ve heard Rifflet.” Sinder tapped his forehead. “It’s baby talk, but he’s just a little guy. For now. I’ve seen paintings of dragon clansmen riding through the clouds astride wind dragons. They were treasured by the ancients as mounts.”
“And you brought them here?” Glint looked to Yulin for confirmation.
The moth clansman inclined his head. “They require the pollen of certain trees for nourishment, and we are one of the few secure areas capable of accommodating them. The Alpenglow herd welcomed a clutch of eggs. As best we can tell, one hatched before all the necessary wards were in place. Salali is quite put out.”
Glint chuckled. “No harm done.”
“Yet! They are an undisclosed species,” snapped Priska. “We cannot let the girl walk about camp with a wind dragon.”
“True.” Glint pointed. “Zisa can look after her pet while she attends to her courses.”
“And when summer ends?” The blue-haired female wasn’t backing down.
Yulin calmly said, “Stately House’s application for a Scattering is on file, and a rudimentary support system is already in place. Their enclave’s approval is inevitable. Rifflet is a foretaste of things to come.”
Timur chuckled. “Trust me, Argent will want as many breeding pairs as you can spare.”
“That’s probably not going to happen.” Sinder looked to Priska. “You don’t have any, do you?”
“No.” Priska folded her arms over her chest and said no more.
“Where do little Rifflets come from, then?” Timur asked.
“It’s true then?” Sinder asked.
Priska’s mouth thinned.
“Oh, fine. Be that way. As improbable as this may sound, wind dragons are crossers. It’s one of the reasons their population fell off. Or so the stories say.” Sinder cleared his throat. “If it’s true, it’s good news. And an enormous secret.”
One by one, everyone in the room made the hand sign for secrecy.
Sinder said, “The mothers are true dragons. Either wild ones or dragon Kith. That’s why they look like they belong to our clan.”
“And the sires?” prompted Glint.
“Imps.” Sinder shook his head in wonderment. “Take your pick of any of the sky clans, but most especially the wind.”
FORTY
No More
“Where is Radiance?” asked Lilya. She’d been hoping to secure a future invitation for Kyrie, but Glint’s bondmate didn’t seem to be home.
“Lady Starmark is seeing to a family matter,” said Yulin. “Would you like me to pass along a message?”
Lilya hesitated. “It can wait until next time. Unless I would be intruding.”
Yulin turned to stare at Glint, who started guiltily. “You are always welcome, Angel,” he said, reinforcing his invitation with his whole posture.
“Her name is Lilya,” said Yulin.
“I am aware. Now,” grumbled Glint. “Does my nickname offend, Miss Lilya?”
She took a receptive stance. “How could I be anything but complimented?”
He crossed to kneel before her. “Can we remain friends, Angel?”
“That depends.”
Silver eyes creased at the corners, hinting at a smile. “Upon?”
“How many of the packets over there are meant for me?”
Glint’s gaze slid sideways.
Lilya had seen the very same hangdog expression on Ever’s face at least a thousand times. Throwing her arms around his shoulders, she hugged him tight. “No more,” she whispered.
His growl was the weakest of protests. “You will need one by and by.”
“What if I promise that you’ll be the one to draw up my contract when the time comes?”
He leaned back to search her face. “I would consider it an honor.”
“And until then?” she prompted.
Glint ruefully inclined his head. “No more.”
Lilya kissed his cheek.
Timur talked over their heads. “Tenma, where will you be next?”
“I’ll be assisting Goh-sensei with his afternoon pottery class.”
“Will you walk her there?”
Lilya realized he meant her. She pulled away from Glint and would have protested, but Tenma looked so apologetic, she didn’t have the heart. Instead, she helped Priska disentangle Rifflet from a flustered Yulin. Bringing the wind dragon to Zisa, Lilya said, “We’re counting on you.”
The tree kissed her forehead, then Rifflet’s, then Sinder’s for good measure. And in Lilya’s mind the wind dragon’s voice chimed. Sweet.
“No, you,” crooned Zisa, who twirled toward the door.
Sinder smirked and sighed. “Back to work.”
“Back to bed,” growled Timur.
“Wrong, Michaelson. I have a job to do, and I’ll do it.”
“You’re injured.”
Striding toward the door, Sinder called over his shoulder, “On the mend. Thanks to you. Let’s see how long you can continue that trend.”
Timur was still arguing when they disappeared toward the back door.
Lilya shook her head and asked, “May we go out the front? It’ll be quicker. And quieter.”
Once they were away from Glint’s place, Tenma said, “I’ll understand if you want to run ahead.”
“Ever since he became a daddy, Timur’s been extra protective. Which isn’t fair. Mum says he was all risks and dares and disasters when he was younger.”
Tenma laughed. “You’re safe as can be here, and we both know it.”
“He does, too. Deep down.” Lilya smiled up at Tenma. “It’s fine. We’re going the same way. Do you mind if I ask some things?”
“Feel free.” His lips quirked. “It’s actually nice to be able to converse in Japanese again.”
Lilya hadn’t realized she’d switched. “We mostly use Japanese at home. Except with Uncle Jackie, who pretends not to be fluent.”
“I’m grateful. Words come easier this way.” He gestured with both hands. “Please. Ask anything.”
She started with the obvious one. “Why were you there this morning?”
�
�I wondered that myself.” Tenma slipped his hands into his back pockets and followed the flightpath of a group of doves. “I suppose it could be that I’ve traveled. But none of the places I’ve visited so far have had wind dragons. Or … Glint wanted to give Priska a look at me.”
“Why?”
“Mm … well. They’re hoping to place me somewhere. And it’s pretty obvious that wherever she’s from, it’s safe.”
“You need a job?”
“I have one. Sort of. I’m not really sure it counts.” Tenma seemed to realize he hadn’t answered her question. “I need progeny.”
She glanced back toward Glint’s house. “You’re going to the Eldermost Islands?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He shook his head. “I’m hardly the strongest candidate. Sure, the Amaranthine think I’m wonderful, but reavers are looking at ranks and pedigrees. I have neither.”
“Because you’re an unregistered reaver.”
“And uncategorized. And unquantified. But interesting enough to try to replicate. Hence the general consensus that I need progeny.”
“You don’t want children?”
“It isn’t that.” He hummed again. “I want to make a good choice. One that satisfies both my duty to the In-between and the secret wish of my heart.”
Lilya couldn’t tell if he was being teasing or truthful. He was speaking so casually. “You have a secret wish?”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
“Nobody knows?”
“My closest friends do,” he admitted.
She considered that and asked, “Does Isla know?”
“Naturally. She’s been my go-between in the past, and she’s fully prepared to weigh in again if I need help.”
“You want Isla to pick a wife for you?”
“Mm … I do trust her. Maybe even that much.”
Lilya realized something then, because Isla was careful about everything, especially trust. And this man had hers. That was rare.
“What about you, Lilya-chan? I couldn’t help but overhear you setting Glint back. Are you as opposed to practical matchmaking as Isla?”