Shambles

 

Kimiko took the time to greet each of the guests to Kikusawa Shrine, which is how she noticed Lord Mossberne’s absence. “Are we missing a dragon?” she whispered to Hisoka.

His step checked. “Ah. Lapis volunteered to stand watch. He’s perched on one of your stone dragons at the lower gate.”

“Odd.”

“Apt,” countered the cat, his gaze taking in those gathered.

“Have you seen Suuzu?”

“Yes.” Hisoka made an unobtrusive hand sign—stay where you are. “He and Akira have excellent seats for the proceedings. Which you may begin as soon as your representatives take their places.”

Eloquence must have heard because he gathered up a sleepy Ever and invited her father to take his seat. An ornate bench flanked by heaters had been placed near Kusunoki’s base. Ever squirmed happily on his cushion, then clambered onto Mr. Miyabe’s lap. Eloquence tucked them both under one of the fur blankets provided by his pack, then moved into position.

Their place had been marked, and Kimiko had to wonder who was responsible for the red chrysanthemum newly painted onto the ancient paver at their feet.

She peered around, and conversations fell off. The balance between humans and Amaranthine was equal, thanks in part to the inclusion of Isla and her father. Dickon presided over the Miyabe women with the air of a bodyguard. Mama was beaming and dabbing at her eyes. Eloquence’s brothers looked on with matching expressions of pride. Uncle Laud hang back from the rest, leaning against Rise’s glossy bulk.

Kimiko’s part didn’t require anything drastic. In truth, she could have offered a few sentences, kissed the boy, and been done in under a minute. But this first pledge was for show, so she’d worked out a few things to say in order to prolong the moment.

Taking a slow, deep breath, she gazed up into the tangle of branches overhead. In this place, over the course of twelve kisses, her life would be changed. By chance and by choice. And by the one she needed to chase.

“Ready?” she whispered.

“As my lady pleases,” he murmured, assuming a receptive pose.

She’d been fine throughout the evening, sticking to Suuzu’s careful schedule. It was easy to be poised with him and Hisoka in charge of extraneous details. Their calm was catching. But she hadn’t really thought about the fact that she’d need to look Eloquence in the eye while she said her piece.

He actually seemed flustered.

“Kith commentary?” she murmured.

Eloquence gave a tiny nod.

“Tell me later?”

“Ask me eleven pledges from tonight.”

She reached for his hands and supported them. “Is that a promise?”

He was focused on her now, tuning out the other voices in favor of her flirting. And a smile teased at the corner of his mouth. He hummed an affirmative.

Aware that their onlookers were waiting, Kimiko adjusted her stance and changed the set of her hands over his. Without really meaning to, she reached for the connection they’d shared yesterday. Just a touch, but he reached back, a fleeting nudge that assured her that on some level, this was a private moment. Theirs alone.

Firelight glinted in his eyes, and Kimiko allowed a small, smug part of herself to admire his beauty.

Eloquence’s eyes widened somewhat, then quickly lowered.

Kimiko began to speak. “In the Amaranthine folk tale known as ‘The Wolf and the Moon Maiden,’ a single encounter reshapes the hero’s future. He never planned to meet the beauty who steals his heart. And he’s equally awed that she would welcome his suit.”

With a glance, she addressed herself to Harmonious and Anna. “Naturally, the moon is protective of her daughter and will not immediately entrust her to the wolf. She sets a series of tasks, requiring pledges and patience from the suitor. Beneath the branches of the tree where they met, he completes his courtship through a series of kisses, for in wolf tradition, a kiss cannot lie.”

Murmurs of interest and approval made it feel as if she were in a dialogue with their guests.

Kimiko returned her attention to her intended. “Eloquence is no more a maiden than I am a hero, but I chose this story for the elements that hold true. Our encounter was unexpected, yet I’ve been warmly welcomed. I am pleased by his kindness and calmed by his strength. Eloquence has my trust. Here, I will prove my devotion, beneath the branches of the tree that … watched over … my childhood.”

She trailed off, for the crowd was stirring, distracted.

Eloquence’s head turned. Kimiko shaped her fingers into a plea for information, which he answered with a similar hand signal—hold.

“Someone is at the gate,” he said. “And they are very loud.”

“I don’t hear anything.”

Eloquence answered distractedly. “The barrier has noise dampening properties. I had not realized … the city is full of noise. Elderbough’s trackers are on a scent.”

Kimiko watched his gaze turn fully inward, and she assumed he was listening to the distant voices of Kith. Off to one side, Rise had begun to growl. Eloquence’s face suddenly shifted into alarm, just as a lone figure dashed into the courtyard.

Even at speed, she recognized him. “Inti?”

The crosser hurled himself at Hisoka, who caught him without a fuss and strolled over to Harmonious. Eloquence’s brothers joined them, and soon, Inti was standing on Hisoka’s shoulders, gesturing broadly while he talked.

“What’s happened?” asked Kimiko.

Eloquence said, “I’m not sure, but Tenma needs me.”

Two trackers—Elderboughs by their coloring—hurried over to Adoona-soh, whose face betrayed nothing of her thoughts.

Kimiko whispered, “Do you need to go?”

He didn’t budge. “My place is usually with Merit. My eldest brother and I help to coordinate the movements of our pack as they patrol the city. This is especially important when they are tracking something.”

“So you need to go,” she surmised, loosening her hold.

Eloquence firmly declared, “I will not rebuff my suitor on the very night of our betrothal.”

“But it’s an emergency.”

“Then kiss me quick, Kimiko.”

Formalities. Her pledge wouldn’t be complete without the requisite kiss, and if he left without one, his clan could consider her spurned. Up on tiptoe, she brushed her lips quickly across his. Only when she tried to back away, he caught her wrists and pulled her back.

“I was in a hurry to begin the kiss, not to end it,” he chided. “Besides, I don’t think Ever was watching.”

At the sound of his name, the little boy’s ears pricked.

With both representatives looking on, Kimiko kissed Eloquence again, soft and slow.

He hummed against her mouth and even stole a tiny taste. Boots began stomping, coming from the direction of his brothers. And Rise broke into a howl that set off every other canine in the vicinity.

Pulling back, Eloquence whispered, “Do not make me wait too long for your next pledge.”

“In a hurry?” she teased.

He stole a quick kiss, then hurried over to Merit, Prospect, and Valor, who welcomed him with much back-slapping and roughing up of hair.

Kimiko was about to go see if she could help Isla calm down Inti when she realized that Anna Starmark was striding her way, talking over her shoulder at Harmonious, whose whole posture was placating.

He was saying, “… to the boys and me. There’s no need for you to ….”

“Is it that dragon?” Anna asked sharply.

“Not specifically, my love.” Harmonious offered a slow, reluctant nod. “But he is of the same bloodline.”

Her lips thinned and she moved past Kimiko to stand before Mr. Miyabe, who still sat with Ever on his lap. She said, “If you would be so kind as to watch over my son while I take care of an unfortunate matter, I would be grateful.”

“Anna,” groaned Harmonious.

“I am a Starmark. I will protect my pack and the city we call home.”

“As is your right,” he reluctantly acknowledged.

Spinning to face Kimiko, Anna asked, “May I enter your treasury?”

It was really more of a command than a request, but it baffled Kimiko. The question must have shown on her face, for Anna Starmark wasted no time in answering.

“I must reclaim my sword.”