Brief and Debrief

Hisoka didn’t budge when someone knocked. From what he could tell, Argent had rigged things so that anyone who could find his door was also able to open it.

Moments later, Sinder tentatively asked, “Hisoka? Are you … decent?”

He pushed an arm out and waved blindly.

“Oookay, we’ll call that good.” There was a cautious shifting of layers, and Sinder’s face appeared. “Hey, boss. You’re looking … well, you kind of look like crap. Rough week? Or … a couple weeks, I guess.”

“What do you want?”

Sinder’s face registered surprise. “There’s this thing we do. Standard routine. I report in, and you send me out again.”

“I’m not in charge at the moment.”

“So I gathered, since Canarian’s been sending end-of-day summaries. I caught up with those last night, so I figured I should see what you need. Oh, and uhh … before you reveal any deep, dark secrets, is it okay that I have a plus one? I kind of picked up a tagalong.”

Hisoka hadn’t realized the scent Sinder was sporting was quite so fresh. “Fend …?”

“Uncle.”

Propping up on an elbow, he considered the Kith. “Did you need something?”

“I’ve taken a liking to your reach. So I’m keeping him on a short leash.”

His attention bounced briefly to Sinder. “You already have a reaver partner.”

“Timur is a man of good sense.”The big cat curled his tail around his feet and remained in a studiously neutral posture. One that implied polite respect. Between equals.

Hisoka wasn’t sure how to react. “Sinder, is Fend making a nuisance of himself?”

The dragon hesitated. “He’s not so bad when he’s not sinking his teeth in. Did I show you my scars from last summer?”

“So you’ve made peace?”

“More like he’s got plans for me.” Sinder grumpily added, “He wants me put out to pasture so Timur’s wee ickle Spomenka hoard can rough me up.”

Hisoka’s brows arched. “Remind me. How many children did he sire?”

“Counting Gregor? Twenty-five.”

Looking to Fend, Hisoka asked, “Is Timur hoping to lead their summer courses?”

“Far better to offer a full scholarship to Stately House. Let the grandparents sort the battlers from the wards, then initiate a dynasty-class mentoring program.”

Hisoka sat up, rearranging blankets and pillows before conceding, “That’s a good idea.”

“Very well. Suggest it to Argent. Timur will be entirely grateful.”Fend blinked placidly. “Michael, too.”

Hisoka acquiesced with a slow nod.

Sinder asked, “Is he ordering you around now?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Surely this matter was the reason for Fend’s visit. It was only natural for him to want Timur’s happiness, even if he resorted to roundabout methods.

The big cat rose, his gaze unwavering as he stalked forward.

“Yeah, yeah,” muttered Sinder, backing away so Fend had a clear path.

“Following orders?” Hisoka asked, mystified by the traces of deference in Sinder’s posture.

“Sure. Why not? I usually do what you say. Maybe by now, it’s reflexive.” In wry tones, he added, “I remember when he was this big. Much cuter when all he could manage was baby talk.”

“Uncle.”Fend leapt onto the bed and prowled closer, planting his front paws on Hisoka’s thighs. Then he proceeded to rub their cheeks together, the barest rumble of a purr building between them. “Grab hold since I cannot.”

Hisoka wrapped his arms as far as they would go, burying his fingers in plush fur.

“Tell me the truth.”

“What did you want to know?”

“Are you able to leave this room?”

Hisoka flinched. “It’s not as if I’m locked in.”

“Will you leave if I give you a reason to do so?”

“I can’t imagine what …?”

“Hunt with me.”Fend wasn’t pleading. That had been an order. “Come hunting, Uncle. Tonight, we’ll have a nice, long prowl.”

“Ah.”

“You have no reason to refuse, do you?”Still nuzzling and purring, Fend smugly said, “I will hold you to your word.”

“I did not give my word.”

“You need this, Uncle. You need me.”Fend licked Hisoka’s ear and rumbled, “Yield.”

With a snort and a smile, Hisoka said, “All right. Yes. I yield.” There was no harm in humoring a kinsman.

Fend placed a dainty lick upon his brow, then flopped languorously across Hisoka’s lap, purring in noisy contentment.

A short distance away, Sinder sat on the floor, slouched against a small sofa, wrists on knees, hands hanging loosely. For once, there was no technology in evidence. All of the young dragon’s attention was pinned on him and Fend.

“How much of that did you hear?” asked Hisoka.

“None of it. Reaches can’t eavesdrop, so it’s up to you if we’re included or excluded. But it looks to me like Fend got his way.”

“He did.”

When he volunteered nothing else, Sinder moved on. “Sooo, post-mission debrief time? Any interesting aftermath stuff? Persons of interest?”

When Hisoka didn’t immediately answer, Sinder rolled his eyes. “I’m assuming Rhomiko isn’t a state secret since I spotted him in the garden with Deece. What gives?”

“Not him. Them. And there’s very little I can tell you.”

“Because you don’t know? Or because you won’t say?”

Hisoka had no idea what expression he made, but Sinder reacted by angling his head to communicate apology.

“You know what? That’s fine. I can do the legwork. Firsthand information’s best anyhow. So I’ll settle for that. Or … I guess they’d be another them.” He pointed at the wad of bedding from which Hisoka had emerged earlier. “Tell me about them.”

“Ah. You noticed.”

“I’m a dragon. Crystal affinity for days. You’re warming a wardstone.” Sinder made a helpless gesture with his hands. “Timur has ours.”

“Ah.” Did that make this simpler? Or more revealing?

“You’ve got to be thrilled to the tips of your whiskers. These guys are curiosities and mysteries and bundles of possibility. Exactly your sort of thing.”

“Which is why I urged Michael to leave this one with me. That and … these crystals really are too heavy for a human to be carrying around.”

“Someone should tell that to my baby-buddy. Our imp is being used as a free weight, contributing to Michaelson’s muscle mass. It’s leg day.”

“I see.”

“So did you and the illustrious First of Wards figure out anything? I assume the goal is hatching. Or … what’s the right lingo? Emerging? Jacques is going to be all kinds of happy if we can increase the population of Widelands rock-folk.”

Hisoka nodded, hoping that Sinder’s rambling wouldn’t circle back. But dragons were wily, and Sinder had proven exceptional at his job. Which mostly involved collecting secrets.

“This has ‘confluence of destinies’ written all over it. These wardstones came to us for good reason. Orchestrator of the Emergence, First of Wards, two from his dynasty, a couple of dragons. Extrapolating the runt of the litter’s pick could involve hours of fun for me, but it’d probably be quicker to ask your oracle. Or you. You and Michael … you have a theory.” It wasn’t even a question.

“You have it all wrong, lovely one. This isn’t about power or influence.”

Both Hisoka and Sinder looked to Fend.

“Selections from Michael’s dynasty are incidental. A necessity of location.”

Sinder sighed. “Look, you. I started with the obvious stuff. It’s called brainstorming.”

“I’d say you’re too close to the problem, but in reality, I want you to get even closer. The imp is reinforcing my earlier point.”And with a sly lick to Hisoka’s chin, Fend purred, “Tell him, Uncle.”

Hisoka couldn’t seem to meet Sinder’s keen gaze. “Michael speculated that the rock imps are drawn to a preexisting bond. Strong feelings or perhaps even … ah … attachment …?”

“Okay, sure. I’ll buy that. Michaelson kept me on my feet while we were at Wardenclave together, and when the time came ….” Sinder flattened a palm over his own heart. “He was the one who helped me regain the sky. That kind of thing? It means a lot. When you pulled me off the training detail? That was hard.”

“Because you missed Timur.”

“Yeah. Waaseyaa, too. And Zisa. But Timur? I dunno. I wrote it off as the memorability of a potent soul. And he knows his way around dragons. Found spikenard for me. Redecorated the whole cabin in my comfort colors. He was great.”

“He may as well have been courting,”interjected Fend.

“It wasn’t like that!”

Hisoka casually asked, “Were you bond-building?”

“No! It was just ….” Sinder whispered, “Shit, I don’t know. I did want to get here. To see him again.”

Fend asked, “Why is everyone shying away from the obvious? The rock babies are responding to a strong emotion they associate with their parent. You’re suitable because you’re similarly tragic in your pining.”

Sinder said, “A captive rock imp, last of his kind, longing for … well, it could be any number of things. Freedom. Lost love. All these kids they took from him. The promised Smythe.”

Hisoka slid a hand under the covers to touch the wardstone. “You think we’re also in impossible situations? That we exhibit an unrequited longing.”

“Just call it love and move on to the more important question.”

Sinder said, “I admit nothing, you pushy conniver. But I do want to know what you think is the more important question.”

“Why do they resonate?”

Hisoka considered the question, then started with the obvious. “Because crystals resonate.”

“Not for no reason,” rejoined Sinder. “And these don’t just resonate. They respond. They’re sentient.”

Hisoka reviewed his conversation with Michael. “They’re sentient, yes. But they’re in their infancy. They’re resonating because they don’t have words yet.”

Sinder’s trill had an impatient quality. “Why me? Why not Tsumiko or Sonnet or Catalan or Elara. Plenty of people around here are way better at being parents.”

Fend butted in. “Everyone you just volunteered as a replacement is in an established, settled, flourishing bond. Your imp has a taste for unresolved feelings.”

“Why are you so set on shoving me into Michaelson’s lap? We’re friends, okay?”

“If you prefer, I could push Timur into your lap.”Fend’s tail flicked playfully. “You do interesting things to his scent. With a little encouragement …!”

Sinder grumbled, “Back off already.”

“No.”Fend drawled, “You’ll come around. I’ll see to it.”

Hisoka chose not to remark upon the interesting things happening with Fend’s and Sinder’s scents. Felines did so love to toy, and dragons craved attention. These two seemed to be enjoying themselves, after a fashion. Perhaps he should have a word with Timur, though. Make certain the man wasn’t caught in the middle.

Ah.

Well, now.

It would seem Hisoka had plans. Plural. A welcome turn of events, thanks to these two. These two children. Hisoka had always enjoyed teaching children.

“You little shit!”

“Haven’t you tired yet of this token resistance?”

“Give it up. I won’t cooperate!”

“Sway doesn’t work on Kith.”

“Yeah, well what abou–”

Sinder’s exclamation cut off when Fend sprang from the bed, knocking Sinder sideways and bathing his face. The dragon wriggled and pushed and broadcast a tirade of dire oaths that soon petered into apologies, grumbles, and an undignified squeak.

“Hey. That tickles!”

“Hmm? Show me where.”

“You’re the absolute worst!”

“Nonsense. I am your best outcome.”

“Can’t be,” Sinder exclaimed, though he didn’t sound entirely sure on that score.

Hisoka raised his voice, much as he would if calling a classroom to order. “There is another possibility, I think. Rather than parents, we may be functioning as midwives. Once the children are here, they may gravitate toward more suitable minders.”

“No. No way. Maybe the rock imps won’t care, but for us—for Amaranthine—birthing is a bond. If I coddle that rock alongside Timur for however long it takes, and they hatch into my hands …? That’s a trigger for my instincts. That kid will own a part of me.” Sinder wriggled up onto his elbows, though his lower body was still pinned by Fend. “I’m not one of the fathers, and I’m no good at this crap. But I know that’s how it works because of Kyrie.”

“You consider him yours?”Fend asked. “How endearingly paternal.”

“What? No! It’s the other way around. I’m one of his.” And more gruffly, “We’re incredibly selfish, dragons.”

“The fathers are strong, but the brothers are not weak,” intoned Hisoka.

“If we’re bandying about dragon proverbs, another is more appropriate,”Fend said crisply. “Rest, regard, and revenge cannot be rushed.”

Hisoka balked. “I hardly think revenge is the appropriate term.”

“No?”Fend turned to look at him. “This is as personal for you as it is for Kyrie.”

“Kyrie could not help how he came into this world.”

The big cat’s eyes narrowed. “Nor could you help how Shisoku came into this world. Or Doku and Kodoku before him.”

“How … did you …?”

“I pay attention.”And in a gentler tone, “Stop blaming yourself.”

Hisoka felt sick.

Sinder gave Fend another useless shove. “You know, I still say they’re the key. The Rogue’s kids might be young, but if they’re anything like Kyrie …? He’s the right kind of scary.”

“Even so.” A growl slipped under Hisoka’s next words. “We are not sending children to war.”

“Yyyeah, you’re totally right. Sorry. That was the wrong kind of scary.”

“If you’re done beingheinous,” interjected Fend. “Why are you afraid of Kyrie?”

“Ever seen him in action?”

“I really couldn’t say.”Fend dragged his tongue up the side of Sinder’s throat. “Tell me what you think you know.”

“The only person who scares me more is Juuyu, but some of that’s instinctual.”

Hisoka lifted a hand. “When you say Kyrie scares you, are you pinpointing him as a potential threat?”

“No, not like that. Scary as in … healthy respect. Kyrie’s a sweet kid, but when he gets serious? Let’s just say he’ll win. No matter his opponent, my money’s on Kyrie.”

“Are you being literal?” asked Hisoka. “Any opponent?”

“Juuyu and Boon have more experience. Argent … fewer scruples. But sure. In battler games or a tracker challenge, I think Kyrie would come out on top.”

“He is mostly correct,” Fend said with calm authority. “Impressions are a factor.”

Of course. Trees. Hisoka hadn’t realized the subtle import of surrounding Stately House with a grove. If any trouble arose with the dragon crossers, an Amaranthine tree could intervene. Better still to surround the Rogue’s children with good influences. Which Argent had already done. And if Michael had his way, Hisoka could become one of those influences.

Maker bless.

How had he missed it?

It was so obvious now.

If Hisoka agreed, he would be teaching Nemi’s descendants. He could do that much for Nemi. Hoshiko and Hiroki would have wanted it.

Something frantic inside of Hisoka calmed.

He would have to speak to Argent.

Because Hisoka finally knew what he wanted to do.

“Uhh … Hisoka? Did you hear what Fend just said?” Sinder had extricated himself from Fend, and he’d crossed to the window. “I think we better get Boon in here. Firsthand really is best for this kind of thing.”

“What did I miss?”

Fend strolled back to bump noses with Hisoka. “The winds of change.”