“Why not?” Kyrie winced at his own sharpness and softly added, “I would like to know why, please.”
“You probably already know.” Ginkgo’s ears flattened sideways. “Every assessment begins with parentage and pedigree. He would ask all kinds of questions you can’t answer. Questions Dad would consider intrusive. Even forbidden.”
“Dad will not allow it?”
With a huff, his brother gruffly said, “He’s protecting more than you and me with his silence.”
This had occurred to Kyrie as well. “Is he protecting the woman who carried me?”
Ginkgo’s ears flattened further, then bounced forward in false cheerfulness. “He would if he could, I’m sure”
A foxy answer. The kind that meant they were dancing close to secrets.
“I think,” Ginkgo began cautiously. “I think it would be wiser to ask Sinder for an assessment.”
“Is that one of his jobs?”
“Not likely, but he could offer an opinion. And he wouldn’t ask all kinds of awkward questions.” Ginkgo’s gaze begged him to understand. To catch what was left unspoken. To hear what he wasn’t allowed to say.
Kyrie sat up a little straighter. Was it possible? He was almost afraid to ask. “He will not ask the questions because he already knows the answers …?”
“Probably.”
“Do you know who my birth parents are?”
“Of course I do, little bro. I’ve always known.”
“Will you tell me?”
Ginkgo smiled and hugged him. “That’s Dad’s right and responsibility.”
“Will he tell me?”
“Yeah. He was just saving it up until you were older.”
Kyrie asked, “Like now?”
“I’m thinking … yeah. Seems to me this is our proving journey, and when the sons of Argent Mettlebright return home, he’ll have things to say to each of us.”
He took a slow breath and released it fully. “May I talk to Sinder?”
Ginkgo looked up. “Mind if I clutter up the place with a dragon? Or should we take our conversation elsewhere?”
Snow lowered her head to nip Ginkgo’s ear.
“Right. Sit tight, little bro. I’ll go see if our fair Damsel’s awake.”
“What if he is sleeping?”
With a playful tweak to Kyrie’s ear, Ginkgo answered, “I’ll wake him with a kiss, of course!”
FORTY-FOUR
Set Straight
Ginkgo closed the shelter door and lifted his nose to the night wind, hoping to catch a whiff of spikenard. There were a lot of places Sinder might be. Including away.
With no warning whatsoever, arms slid around Ginkgo from behind, and Zisa nuzzled his shoulder.
“You’re a regular ninja,” Ginkgo accused.
The tree petted his ear. “Did you forget I am here?”
“Would I do something that silly?”
“You are sometimes silly. Usually with the children.” Zisa quietly added, “Thank you for not treating me like a child.”
That took him aback. “Zisa, you’re old as ages.”
“I am younger than most of the people I know. And people call me … simple.”
“That’s hardly a bad thing.” Ginkgo turned in the tree’s embrace to study his expression.
“They are not complimenting me.”
“Do you want to be complimented?”
Zisa brightened. “Yes, please.”
Ginkgo rubbed their noses together. “Your kindnesses are uncomplicated, and if your flowers are sweet, it is because your nature is doubly so. Your strength resonates through both halves of my soul, which makes me want to linger in your shadow. And your generosity is steadily turning me into a glutton. I can’t help wanting more.”
Wonderment widened Zisa’s eyes. “Are you teasing?”
“Every word is true.”
“You are good at compliments.”
Ginkgo grinned. “I’ve learned a thing or two from wolvish ballads.”
Zisa looked heartbreakingly hopeful. “Do you love me?”
“Are you surprised?”
The tree stole a kiss.
Ginkgo let him.
“People usually work harder to resist me,” said Zisa. “You do not even try.”
“You and I have something in common. I love the attention.” Ginkgo rubbed their cheeks together. “Zisa, you have become my home away from home.”
With a happy little croon, Zisa said, “You are lovely.”
“And you are distracting. I’m supposed to be finding Sinder. Any chance you know where I should look?”
Nodding toward his little house, Zisa said, “He is resting.”
“Really? He shouldn’t have needed more sleep.”
“Timur captured him and will not let him roam.”
Ginkgo pricked his ears and smiled. “My kind of challenge. I’m going to steal Damsel back.”
“Should I let you?”
That was an interesting idea. “Could you stop me?”
Zisa’s smile turned sly. “Anyone under my branches is at my mercy.”
“He’ll thank me,” promised Ginkgo. “Trust me.”
“I will allow it. For your brother’s sake.”
“Do you know everything that happens under your branches?”
With a finger to his lips, Zisa whispered, “Usually.”
Easing out of the tree’s embrace, Ginkgo jogged to the house and let himself in. From within the circle of Timur’s arms, Sinder reached pleadingly. With a jaunty salute and a sound-dampening sigil, Ginkgo crouched beside Fend, whose tail lashed the floor in silent annoyance.
“Work with me, Fend,” Ginkgo bargained. “I get Damsel. You get your usual spot.”
The big feline rose and stretched lazily.
Ginkgo used a bit of foxish finesse to deepen Timur’s sleep, then lifted his arm. Sinder slipped free and minced toward the door, giving Fend a wide berth. The panther hissed softly, then sprang onto the bed, inserting himself into the vacancy at Timur’s side.
Even before Ginkgo had them tucked in, Timur had burrowed into his partner’s fur. Ginkgo’s grateful bow was lost on Fend, who turned his back on the rest of the world in a feline snub.
Back outside, Ginkgo drew up short at the sight of Sinder in Zisa’s arms.
“I’m fine,” Sinder sighed. “And I know why I’m fine. Thank you for sheltering us.”
“Good dragon,” crooned Zisa “Brave boy.”
“Up for a bit of a puzzle?” asked Ginkgo. “Kyrie’s waiting on us.”
Sinder took a gratefully receptive posture. “I’m yours until the dawn patrol.”
“Wait.” Zisa’s head turned. “Mikoto is coming.”
Ginkgo angled his ears toward the trail. Sure enough, the slow, soft tread of boots approached. Moments later, Mikoto lifted an arm, left the path, and cut their way. Zisa abandoned Sinder in order to welcome the headman with characteristic affection. Which was clearly mutual.
With a gurgle of laughter, Zisa stole Noble from Mikoto’s pocket and skipped to Waaseyaa’s door.