Take Responsibility

Ginkgo had never been so glad for backup before. Things were happening fast, but Anjou was quick on the uptake. Digging through his jean pockets, Ginkgo came up with a jumble of crystals, all tuned to the entrance gate. “We’re careful with these, so pay attention to who gets one. The wolves know the routine, so they’ll help.”

“What beauties,” Anjou murmured, holding a pale blue stone up to the light. “Your spares put to shame the stones I handled back home.”

“Michael’s got expensive tastes, I guess. Get these to Boon’s people—phoenix, stallion, wolf, and a bat-crosser. And anybody they vouch for, since they might have tagalongs. They should be arriving soon, but not all together. Sorry if you end up having to hang around for half the day, but they’re carrying priceless artifacts. Hence the added security.”

“Thank you for your trust.”

Ginkgo took the cat by the shoulders and said, “Once I get a little more room to breathe, I’ll get you proper access. Sigils and stones. Introductions all around. Seriously, you’re gonna be a big help.”

Anjou sighed happily, kissed his cheeks, whispered another merci, and slipped away.

He seemed like a good kid.

Sibley asked, “How come you didn’t give any names?”

“Whose?”

“Phoenix, stallion, wolf, bat-crosser. They have names, you know.”

“Well, yeah. But I’m not sure Anjou’s met them all.”

“Then how’s he supposed to let in the right people?”

“Good questions.” Ginkgo rumpled the boy’s hair, then smoothed a hand over Etienne’s freshly-cropped locks. “Not many people know how to find this place. Dad hid the road. And there are illusions, barriers, wards, and wolves between us and anyone. And pretty soon, we’ll be adding pollen to our list of protections. You remember Hajime, yet?”

“My tree grandpa? Yeah. He’s helping me practice my words.” Sibley grudgingly admitted, “Japanese is kinda hard, but he hadta learn English. So he knows how it is.”

“Plenty of time to learn. Me? I’m working on French.”

“Guess that’d be useful. Right, Etienne?”

The toddler babbled something neither of them could translate. But it was cute, and the kid was happy. The rest would come with time. Ginkgo said, “Gotta go. Dad’s waiting on me.”

Sibley helped Etienne wave goodbye.

Ginkgo left at a run. Because he was late. Had been all day. Even before sunup, he’d had to be roused from the naproom to sit in on a meeting with a newly-arrived Juuyu, who immediately left to meet up with one of his other teammates. Because they’d all taken different routes, stayed in different safe houses, and planned to arrive at Stately House at different times.

Having secured all four of the Junzi—ancient weapons that were the bane of dragons—Dad wasn’t about to risk them. Not when Kyrie had promised them to the eldermost storms he’d saved … or who held him hostage. The way Anan grumbled and glared, it was kind of hard to tell which was truer.

Ginkgo let himself in through an out-of-the-way window in one of the spare rooms, jogged down a back stairway, and tapped the wardstones that would alert Dad to his arrival.

But in the hallway outside his receiving room, a dark stain was creeping across the carpet. Ginkgo’s pulse leapt, and he hurried forward just as the door opened and Dad exited—tails puffed, hair soaked. Raindrops chased after him as if flung by a brisk wind.

From inside, Kyrie’s voice called, “Sorry, Dad! Please, Anan. Help me explain!”

And then the door clicked shut.

Dad stood with head bowed for several moments, then looked at Ginkgo with a weary smile. “I am glad I warded the bookcases earlier.”

“Who’s having a hissy fit?”

“Dima. The typhoon. This token protest will end soon. In the meantime ….” Dad gestured toward another, dryer parlor. “There is a very different matter we need to discuss.”

“Sure.” Ginkgo wondered at his tone. Dad rarely treated him formally anymore, and he didn’t fancy going back to the stiff hauteur that had convinced him that his father hated him. “Is there a problem?”

“Hard to say.” Argent warded the door, cast a few desultory sigils, and crossed to the window. Pushing distractedly at his hair, he announced, “We had an early arrival last night.”

“Uhh, yeah. I was here for the thing with Juuyu.”

“Not him. Revic Nightbide is here. Jacques is showing him around.”

“The new chronicler. For our grove.” Ginkgo didn’t see the problem. “We’ve got his place ready to go. In amongst the cranes, since they have a few guest houses.”

“I sent for him because I have changed the date for the Scattering. Our young colonists will be here in time for Dichotomy Day.”

Ginkgo’s ears drooped. “We’re less ready for them. The cottages are built, but they’re standing empty. The plan was spring. Why aren’t we waiting?”

“Nona and Senna already had reason to hate me, and they also resent Wardenclave. I want to bring Wardenclave’s tree-kin here before the Hightip sisters learn of the move. For the safety of the children.”

“They’re safe at Wardenclave. They’ll be safe here. But you’re worried about the journey.”

“Hannick Alpenglow approved the new timeline. Indeed, he will accompany the children in order to ease their transition. Beckonthrall will be contributing a barge for the transfer, and the entourage will include Starmarks, Highwinds, Duntuffets, Glimsleeks, and volunteers from the Queen’s Path Song Circle. Apparently, there will be reindeer.”

“Sounds appropriately festive. But I’m sensing there’s a catch.”

“Yes. Of a sort. There was also an unexpected arrival last night.” Dad patted at his pockets, then brought out a slightly damp letter. “This got them through the gate.”

Ginkgo caught the shine of copper on the page and guessed, “Harmonious?”

“No.” With a cautious tone, Dad began, “I did not wish to intrude upon your summer away, but I believe you omitted certain details from your accounts.”

There were traces of accusation there.

“What, you mean my apprenticeship with Salali?”

Dad beckoned him over and pointed out the window.

Down in the snow-filled yard, a dozen or so kids were playing. Ginkgo didn’t need long to pick out the newcomer. An auburn dog was tearing in big, goofy circles, tail flagging, pausing to lick the cheek of any crosser that got in range.

“Playful pup,” murmured Dad. “His mother brought him, and she is insisting you take responsibility.”

“Huh?”

Dad searched his face, tucked away the letter, and blandly announced, “That boy came looking for you. Do not disappoint him.”

Oh. Okay, maybe this did look bad. “Dad, don’t misunderstand. I’ve never actually …!”

His father opened the window.

Ginkgo took the hint and jumped out.

There was really only one pup this could be. At summer’s end, Ginkgo had needed to say goodbye to Wardenclave and everyone there. Including a chubby, fuzzy puppy whose whimpers had just about broken his heart.

The little guy had grown a lot. Leggy and flop-eared, with a glossy, wavy coat that made him look a whole lot like other Starmark Kith.

Ginkgo whistled in the old way, and the pup’s ears pricked. Then he was barreling toward Ginkgo with an enthusiasm that was going to bowl him over.

Resigned to his fate, Ginkgo set his feet and called, “Hey, Pact! Look at … you …?”

He trailed off in shock.

Because halfway to reaching him, the puppy tumbled and righted himself, churning up snow under two furred feet now, his arms flung wide as he called, “Da! Da! Found you, Da!”

Ginkgo scooped him up and spun him around. “Hey, kiddo. Wow. This is a big surprise.”

Happiness shone in silver eyes.

“Pact. You’re Kith-kin.”

Even though he’d been born this past June, Pact Starmark looked like a six-year-old boy. He had brown skin and silver eyes, the spitting image of Glint Starmark, if not for the floppy dog ears. And the furry feet. And the tail that twirled in uncontainable delight. Pact was sniffing and sighing and whining and clinging. Because this boy—even though he wasn’t really Ginkgo’s son—must’ve decided that Ginkgo was his dad.

Maybe Snow had brought her boy to Stately House to enroll him? That was probably best for the kid. Given the rate at which Kith and Kith-kin aged, he’d be a young man in just a few years.

“Does Moon know about you?”

“I love Unca Moon.” The boy smiled like he was the happiest person in the world. “But Da is best.”

“Thanks for that. So where’s your pretty mama?”

The boy beamed and pointed toward the house.

“Have you been inside yet?”

“Nope. I was runnin’.”

“All the way from Wardenclave?”

Pact pushed closer, eyes crossing, as he revealed, “We took a bus, then a barge. There was dragons!”

“Sounds exciting. Do you like dragons? I sure hope so, because Stately House has a bunch of dragon crossers. They’re my little brothers and sisters.”

The boy’s face scrunched in confusion. “Your pack?”

“It’s a little different for foxes. We do have dens. This is my dad’s den.” He carefully explained, “I’m a Mettlebright, same as him.”

“Mama says I’m a Starmark.”

“Some of my favorite people are Starmarks.”

“Like who?”

“You, of course. But I think you’d like Ever Starmark. He’s close kin to you since your fathers are brothers.”

“You’re my Da.”

“I’m talking about Path. Your mama has to have talked about Path, yeah?”

“He’s my dog. You’re my fox. Mama’s a wolf again.”

“That so? Wolves are good people.”

Pact said, “I think Mama’s good, too. But Da is best.”

“How’d I get to be so lucky?”

The boy wrapped him tight and sighed happily against his neck. “Love you, Da.”

Ginkgo hoped like crazy that he wasn’t going to hurt this little boy. But it was easy and honest when he answered, “Love you, too, pup.”

Because how could he not?

But he needed to talk to Snow.

Following her scent was simple enough. Through the kitchen door, he veered toward the spot he’d created. His winter garden had a lot more visitors these days, since so many of their crossers liked to crowd onto the couch in order to enjoy the sunny nook with its many hanging plants.

Pact’s mother was in one of the rockers, a baby at her breast.

“Well look at that,” he said, too glad to be awkward. “Someone’s finally getting a proper meal.”

One of their newest dragon crossers, a baby whose scales were somewhere between the standard purple and a deep mulberry, had turned out to be a fussy eater. None of the kids were sure he could eat, but Snow had him well in hand, rumbling her approval.

Ginkgo set Pact down, and the boy trotted to Snow’s side. He set one hand on her knee, and he popped the first finger of his other into his mouth. If he was weaned, it can’t have been for long.

Taking a seat on the rug at Snow’s feet, Ginkgo offered a quiet, “Hey.”

Snow’s tail lifted, and her copper gaze roved his face. She was Transcendence Starmark, one of Radiance Starmark’s younger sisters, formerly a wolf of the Ambervelte pack. Or possibly realigned, since her bondmate—Glint Starmark’s Kith son—had died.

Ginkgo ventured, “You’re sporting a tail?”

“Solidarity with my son. And his Da.”

Ginkgo’s tail—white-tipped silver—puffed and settled. “So are you here to enroll Pact in school?”

“I’m here so that you can take responsibility.”

“That’s what Dad said. Maybe you should explain what you mean by that.”

“Pact wanted you. Wants you.”

He reached over to tweak one floppy ear. “Pact’s a smart pup.”

The boy grinned, showing tiny fangs.

Ginkgo could tell Snow wasn’t going to make this easy. Wolves liked to see courage, and he had plenty. “So how’d the world’s best nanny end up with a pup calling him father.”

“You were there.”

“I get why he became attached, but … why are you encouraging this?”

“Because I want you, too.”

“As a nanny? That’s not gonna work out. Dad needs me here. You have to have noticed how many new little ones we have, and Sansa’s gonna give birth any day now. So I’m spoken for.”

“If you require courting, I’ll do whatever I must to achieve my purpose.”

Ginkgo’s ears flattened. “But I’m a fox crosser. And I have responsibilities. Here. At Stately House. Even if … even if I wanted ….” He trailed off, hardly daring to believe what Snow was saying. “I can’t go with you. I belong here.”

“That’s why I am here. You may consider this proof that my intentions are fixed.”

“You’re thinking of moving here?”

“Oh, I am here,” she countered, challenge flashing in copper eyes. “And I’ve secured a position. I’m the new head of security for Stately House.”