Mikoto and the Reaver Village (Amaranthine Saga #4) - Forthright . Page 0,44
how Lupe smelled like sunshine. And the whole falling in love thing.
“This friend of the family,” Tenma said, watching Zisa now. “She’s Amaranthine?”
“No. She is a reaver.” Mikoto lowered his gaze. “She is here. For the summer.”
Tenma shuffled closer, maybe to try to read his expression in the dark. “Are you sure?”
“That she is here? Yes.” He swallowed hard. “I met her bus.”
Reaching out to touch his arm, Tenma quietly asked, “No. I meant … are you sure she’s human?”
Zisa tittered.
Mikoto whispered, “Of course she is human. The same as me.”
“Yes,” Tenma said slowly. “But you and I aren’t the same kind of human. Maybe she’s another kind entirely.”
“Closer.” Zisa clapped his hands the same way Yulin often did. “Close, but not quite.”
Tenma turned his attention to the tree. “Do you need us to figure this out, or can you tell us more?”
Zisa looped his arms around Tenma’s waist and said, “Look at me.”
Mikoto edged around to the other side so more moonlight fell on Zisa’s face. But he knew he wasn’t seeing the same kinds of things Tenma was.
The man stood quietly for several moments, then breathed, “Oooh.”
As much as Mikoto wanted to hurry them along, he bit his lip and waited. Because Zisa said this mattered. And it was about Lupe.
“What am I?” prompted Zisa.
Tenma said, “You’re a tree.”
Mikoto thought he understood, then. “You are an Impression.”
Zisa’s smile was beautiful. “I am.”
“Is Mikoto’s friend an Impression?” asked Tenma.
Zisa hummed happily. “Close, but not quite.”
A thought occurred. “Is she the one Salali said was coming?”
“Salali noticed,” confirmed the tree. “Salali knows.”
Tenma’s gaze bounced between Mikoto and Zisa, as if comparing what he’d found. “Would you mind if I made a call?”
“To?” asked Mikoto.
Pulling out his phone and pushing at his glasses, Tenma said, “My friend is an expert on … well, just about everything. May I ask her about Impressions?”
“No pictures.” Zisa gave a little shimmy of excitement. “Could you use the speaker?”
Tenma smiled and nodded, but he also waited for Mikoto’s verdict.
Funny that his first big decision as headman was to allow Zisa the rare treat of a phone call. “May I know who you plan to call?”
“Someone trusted.” With an abashed expression, he said, “Actually, you may know her already. She’s Timur’s sister, well one of them. I want to confer with Isla Ward.”
TWENTY-THREE
Conference Call
“Isla do you have several minutes to spare?” Tenma spoke over his phone. “You’re on speaker, by the way. My friends and I have need of your expertise.”
“Which one?”
Tenma hesitated. “Which friend?”
With exaggerated patience, Isla asked, “Which expertise? I have several, you know.”
Isla wasn’t twelve anymore, but she still seemed awfully young to have so much confidence. She was as bossy as ever, still eager to share her encyclopedic knowledge on any and every topic, and patient with the gaps in Tenma’s understanding. A force of nature. A friend he could count on.
“We’re interested in anything you might know about Impressions.”
“Oh!” Isla sounded delighted. “I like your friends already. How secure are your surroundings?”
“Unrivaled, I should think.” Tenma searched Mikoto’s face. “Am I allowed to say where we are?”
“Do,” urged Zisa. “How else can you introduce me?”
Still, Tenma waited for Mikoto to give some sign. Young though he seemed, even younger than Tenma had been when he started at New Saga, Mikoto was the headman of Wardenclave. He would know how much was too much.
Mikoto asked, “How secure are your surroundings?”
“If this is a competition, I might win. Sensei and I are at Lord Mossberne’s home in the heights.” She was smug now. “He gave me your room, Tenma. The east-facing one.”
Tenma groaned. His friends might forever tease him for Lapis Mossberne’s grateful impulse, especially Isla.
Isla glibly went on, “A secure line. A secure room. I’ve also begun adding wards, since you sounded concerned.”
Mikoto nodded and said, “You may explain our circumstances to Reaver Ward.”
Tenma began, “Isla, I’m at Wardenclave. And that was Mikoto Reaver.”
“Oh!” Isla’s voice radiated warmth. “It’s a pleasure, Headman. But Tenma, this is wonderful. Have you met my brother?”
“Just this evening. A nice man.” More softly, he added, “A good father.”
“Isn’t Gregor a dear?”
“He is never at a loss for admirers.”
“And my sister!” Isla exclaimed. “You met Lilya.”
“I … suppose I did.” Tenma had been rather more interested in Mikoto. He couldn’t recall much about the girl. “Quiet. Very quiet. Not much like you, I think.”
Sisterly concern overflowed. “This is her first time away from home. I hope she’s not withdrawing. Did she seem unhappy?”