Mikoto and the Reaver Village (Amaranthine Saga #4) - Forthright . Page 0,53
smile, but his gaze was kind. “If you can match my pace, we can share a path.”
That was worrisome. Lilya knew just how fast Amaranthine could move. “Will I need to run?”
“You will need to walk,” he rejoined, taking the bundled lunch from Radiance.
Lyre, Lute, and Lore frisked around Glint as he aimed for the front door. With a quick wave to Radiance, who blew her a kiss, Lilya hurried after him.
They only followed the road for a little while before Glint veered off onto a much narrower trail that wended its way into the woods. There was just enough room for her to walk beside him, but Lilya let her steps lag. He was paying more attention to the pups than her, and she didn’t want to interrupt. Plus, well … she couldn’t think of anything to say.
Glint paused. “Am I walking too quickly?”
“No, sir.”
He held out his hand. “Not sir. Just Glint. Come, little angel. We can make this journey together.”
Lilya slipped her hand into his and felt safe. Dogs were nice that way.
“Are you new to Denholm?” asked Glint.
“Today was my first day.”
Only after she answered did it occur to her that he might think she meant she’d moved into the city. Wouldn’t it be more natural to assume she was a camper? Oh. Not necessarily. Papka and Uncle Argent had done something new that was supposed to hide the truth of her ranking from all Amaranthine. Ever hadn’t liked it.
Now, his grandsire didn’t know anything and couldn’t sense Lilya’s soul. Did he think she was an ordinary human girl? That idea was … nice.
She relaxed enough to look around.
Right away, she began to notice things that would interest the others. Flowers for Kyrie. Animal tracks for Ginkgo. Wardstones for Papka. Trail blazes for Timur. Berries for Mum. Lilya stopped to study the shrub, wanting to memorize the shape of its leaves. It was different than anything in Ginkgo’s garden
What have you found?
“I don’t know.” Lilya touched the leaf’s serrated edge. “Mum is a healer. She taught me about plants, but I don’t know this one.”
He snapped a twig and offered it to her. “Bring it to her. These woods will not miss a few sprigs or berries, and she will be glad to know you were thinking of her.”
Which was true. And Ginkgo would certainly let her take pictures to send to Mum. “Thank you.”
Glint hummed and ambled along. Slow enough to give her time to explore some more.
It was strange. Lilya knew exactly what interested every other member of her family, yet she had no idea about herself. Except that she wasn’t really interested in flowers, tracking, wards, trailblazes, or healing herbs. She worried about it a lot. Was it all right to be eleven-and-a-half and not want anything?
Aunt Tsumiko said that not wanting for anything meant she already had everything she needed. A great blessing.
Mum was similarly unworried. Her big, strong hands had been as gentle as her tone when she cupped Lilya’s face and promised, “Wanting will come, and when it does, you will know. And once you know what you want, you will seize it for yourself. This is good, yes?”
Lilya had dared to ask Mum what she’d wanted most.
She’d thought Aunt Tsumiko would say Uncle Argent was the thing she’d wanted most, but her answer was different. In a nice-ish way. “I wanted Kyrie. More than anything. And he became the beginning of everything.”
Lilya picked up a chunk of fallen bark and turned it over in her hands, admiring the pattern of lichen and the wiggling trails on its underside left by burrowing insects. And because she didn’t think he’d mind, she asked, “What did you want to be when you grew up?”
Glint stopped walking. He gazed for a while at the pups, who were nosing around nearby, probably chasing rabbit trails. Finally, he said, “I wanted to be a good brother.”
“I didn’t know you were a brother.”
“I rarely see the brother I loved before all else. But in the long-ago time of my boyhood, I could not imagine ever leaving his side.” He smiled crookedly. “Surprising things happen in this life.”
Lilya found herself nodding. “I like surprises.”
“Then you are braver than I ever was. May you be twice as happy for it.”
“You’re happy, even without your brother?”
“Happiness is one of the best surprises life holds in store.” With a confidential air, he said, “I find it in the strangest places.”