Flared eyebrows shot up. “Not so. I am glad to be here. And I know that because I am here, this is the most important place I can be right now. Perhaps it would be better to say that there are times when I wish I could be in more than one place at once.”
Increasingly intrigued, Kyrie asked, “You needed to talk to me?”
“Certainly. But not solely. I am rarely in one place for one reason. For instance, we are here—at least in part—because the stars have gathered to sing.”
Perhaps hearing stars was a little bit like hearing the wind. Kyrie whispered to Zisa, “I do not hear anything. Do you?”
“Tonight,” said the tree. “There will be a chorus tonight.”
“Why?”
“Because Glint Starmark is much-loved.” Zisa stroked Kyrie’s hair. “Because a promise is kept. Because a son is given.”
A son? Before Kyrie could ask for particulars, Hisoka-sensei interrupted.
“Kyrie, I made a promise to Ever Starmark. He would not let me leave Keishi until I swore a solemn oath to find you.”
“Oh. Is that why you are here?”
“Did I not mention I have many reasons for being where I am? I am sure I did.”
Kyrie missed Ever. So much. “He is my best friend.”
“Something he made abundantly clear.” From an unassuming pouch at his waist, Hisoka withdrew a phone. Tapping lightly upon its screen, he passed it to Kyrie. It was already making the soft tones of an attempted connection. The name of the call’s intended recipient made Kyrie’s heart leap into his throat—Laud Starmark.
Laud lived with Ever and Quen at Kikusawa Shrine in Keishi. But it wasn’t Uncle Laud who answered the call.
“Kyrie? Is it you, Kyrie?”
“I am here.”
“Sensei’s good! And fast! I knew he’d do his best. Is Lilya there, too?”
“She is … nearby.” Kyrie could tell she was below, but he wasn’t sure which of the buildings she was in. Looking into the tree’s sparkling eyes, he said, “I am with Zisa.”
Leaning closer, the tree cooed, “Hello.”
“I know that name from Da. Hi! Umm … so you’ll both have to tell Lilya later, but I gotta tell you now! I’m an uncle!”
“Is that so?” Hugging the phone to his ear, Kyrie closed his eyes, greedy for every inflection of Ever’s voice.
“For almost whole day now! Nobody knows. Da will call for a press conference in the morning. Everybody’s been waiting and wondering and guessing.”
“You most of all.”
“Yes!”
There was sound of movement and a low murmur. Kyrie immediately recognized the muffled voice as Eloquence’s. Ever said, “Hang on. Here’s Brother.”
“Congratulations, Quen,” Kyrie said shyly.
“Many thanks, Kyrie. I’m still reeling from the events of the day.” He sounded like he was smiling all the way from the depths of his soul. “Your call is a welcome surprise, but I’m amazed that Hisoka-sensei reached you so quickly. He must have foregone all the usual means of transportation.”
Kyrie glanced at the cat, who offered a small shrug. “How is Kimiko?” he asked.
“Her happiness doubles mine. She is getting some well-deserved rest while we take turns holding the baby. Ever is prying her from Laud now.”
“A girl?”
“Did Ever not say?” With a soft chuckle, Quen said, “We named her Blessing.”
“I like it.”
“Thank you, Kyrie. And behold, the triumphant uncle returns. I will give you back to Ever.”
There was a soft shuffle, and Ever was there, sounding smug. “I brought her. Wish you could see.”
“Does she look like you?”
“Yes! Starmark colors. We’re kin for sure.”
“Does she have your ears?”
“And my tail!” In a very different tone, Ever coaxed, “Say hello, now. You can do it. Say hi to Uncle Kyrie.”
On the other end of the connection, a soft snuffling could be heard. Then a tiny whine.
Zisa hugged Kyrie and whispered, “A baby!”
Ever’s giggle was pure joy, and he explained, “She’s trying to eat the phone, and it’s no good. You say something, Uncle Kyrie.”
“Hello, pretty pup. Save some room in your affections for me and Lilya. We will come and see you as soon as we can.”
“She will love you,” promised Ever. “Hey, Kyrie? Da is going to be there—where you are—next week. For Dichotomy Day. There’s a … a thingie.”
“Induction ceremony?” guessed Kyrie.
“Yes! And Da offered to bring me along. You know, if there’s room for me. With you guys. Maybe?”
“You do not want to stay with Blessing?”
“I have almost a whole week to make sure she knows my voice and my scent. She won’t forget me.” More quietly, less confidently, Ever asked, “What do you think?”
“That would be ….” Kyrie’s lips trembled, and his voice wobbled. “Please, come, Ever. I want you.”
“I’ll be there,” Ever promised. “You can count on me!”
Kyrie whispered his thanks and then his goodbyes. Hisoka-sensei eased the phone from his grasp. Next, the cat eased Kyrie from Zisa’s arms. It was less awkward than Kyrie had expected, clinging to someone who was suddenly more than a familiar face.
Friend of Stars.
Lover of Trees.
Teller of Secrets.
Maker of Miracles.
“You flew to me?” Kyrie whispered against Hisoka’s shoulder.
“Like a shooting star.”
“Thank you.”
“You are most welcome.”
Hisoka moved into the nest with Zisa, who did his share of patting and petting while Kyrie gave in to another wave of tears. He couldn’t remember ever being so mixed up before. Maybe he was a little like Eloquence—still reeling from the events of the day.
Once he’d calmed, Hisoka-sensei said, “Your parents have earned my admiration over and again. They have always been willing to carry through with their responsibility to you, but I will ask you to allow me to ease their burden. I can spare them this conversation. Ask me anything, Kyrie. Ask me everything.”
“Do you know who my Amaranthine parent is?”
“Mostly by reputation. Your biological father is a dragon commonly referred to as ‘the rogue.’ We are trying to put a stop to his crimes. However, we have been unable to discover his name. He was not hatched in the harems, so his origin is as much a mystery as his current location.”
Zisa tittered.
Hisoka glanced at the tree and averted his eyes.
Kyrie asked, “What?”
“He said something silly,” said Zisa. “There is no mystery. Not for a friend of stars. Not for someone raised in an eldermost grove.”
“We cannot find a record of the rogue in any of the dragon clan lineages. They have been thoroughly vindicated.” Hisoka-sensei rubbed a hand over the top of his head and sighed. “But all that means is that the rogue was not born in the usual way. He may have impish ancestry.”
“Or …?” prompted Zisa, all smiles despite the gravity of the situation.