“It looks so fun! And at home, only two people have ever been on a bus!”
Nikos smiled to see how naturally the word ‘home’ came from her lips. He had always mentally noted when his adoptees began using it, regarding it as a measure of success, as they all had come from circumstances that made that a difficult word.
He gave them plenty of money, and off they went, Bird’s instructions about riding the bus fresh in their ears. As it was a five mile trip, and they were very good at orienteering—he’d seen to that before taking them from the island—he wasn’t too worried if they got so enthralled with their bus journey that they overshot the mall.
Then Nikos and Mikhail went out to the terrace, and in the soft rain that had begun to fall, they sparred through the morning, first hand to hand, then working with a variety of weapons that Mikhail had collected.
As time passed, Mikhail looked more and more concerned. Finally they took a water break, and Mikhail sat down, fists on knees, as he said, “I can’t reach Joey on the mythic plane. I think I caught a glimpse of him in his fox form—a visual, close to the ground, and a . . .” He waved one hand. “A blast of awareness of aroma.”
“That would definitely be his fox form. Nose more important than eyes.”
“But then it vanished. I need to concentrate, I think. Let me see if I can reach him.”
He closed his eyes.
Nikos began to wipe down and store the weapons, as the crystalline drops dripped from the eaves of the gazebo at the other end of the terrace. Overhead, the sun appeared and disappeared from behind departing clouds sailing eastward.
When Nikos finally laid the swords on their rolling rack, Mikhail looked up. “Can’t find him.”
“Surely he’s closed himself off,” Nikos said.
“Yes. But why?” Mikhail glanced around, and Nikos knew from the inward look in his eyes that he wasn’t doing a visual sweep so much as mentally checking all the wards protecting the house and its considerable garden. Nikos would be doing the same at home.
Mikhail said, “We might as well put things away and break for lunch—” He halted when he saw that the weapons had been wiped down. “Thanks.”
“Old habits die hard,” Nikos said.
“And knights die harder,” Mikhail retorted the old response that had seemed so badass to Nikos many, many years ago.
They both laughed, and walked inside in search of grazing opportunities.
The barbeque wa
s planned for late afternoon, which meant a light lunch—and there was Bird, with a delicious-smelling barley soup waiting.
The three of them sat down together. The conversation was easy. Nikos sensed Bird wanting to ask questions, but he avoided the subjects of mates, humans, and Jen. As noon approached and then passed, Nikos found himself watching the long driveway below the house for Jen, as well for as Joey Hu.
Joey turned up first—without his sporty red car. One moment the patio where the brick outside stove was located was empty, then he was there, not ten minutes after Bird said cheerfully, “Oh, Joey should turn up soon. He always sets the fire in that stove himself.”
Joey greeted Bird with a sunny smile, but gathered Nikos and Mikhail with a glance as he set about prepping the outdoor stove.
“You were in your fox form,” Mikhail said. “What happened?”
“Two of my watchers at the landslide were attacked. Or nearly attacked. Ann, being a swift, is faster than the hawk shifter who was hiding in one of the palm trees along the palisade. And Pablo is a lizard. He, too, was faster than the cougar lying in wait. As for me, I was tailed. Obviously.”
“Sounds like an attempt at intimidation,” Nikos said.
“Very much Cang’s style,” Mikhail said.
“Agreed.” Joey went on, “So I drove as a human and parked outside my friend Shifra’s motel, checked myself into the room Shifra usually gives me for visitors, and went out the back window as a fox.” He gave a flick of his fingers, indicating his nine tails. “I didn’t sense another mythic shifter in the car following me, so they would not have seen me run off the back way. I expect they’re still parked there—until Shifra calls the police to report a suspicious person hanging around her motel.” He glanced at his watch. “Which should be about . . . now.”
Mikhail smiled briefly, but immediately turned serious. “The need for backup is becoming urgent.”
Joey’s smile disappeared. “I know. I spoke with the new Guardian of the West. She’s in touch with the celestial empress, who promised that reinforcements are on the way.”
“Good,” Mikhail said, looking relieved. “Tonight, after the meeting, I want to go out to your ranch house to put stronger wards on your perimeter.”
“I won’t disagree, but I now have a small army of volunteer student-shifters patrolling. I almost feel sorry for any overconfident Cang minions who try to invade my place. Almost.” Joey added with an airy wave, “I should get started on the barbeque prep. Doris was leaving to pick up Godiva and Jen when I left Shifra’s.”