Page 10 of Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection (Amaranthine Interludes #3)
While Joe was completely occupied with Kyrie, the minibus had emptied.
His folks were in the thick of things. Ash had stepped forward, and his wings blocked Joe’s view of their other guests.
Until a tall, angular Amaranthine with black skin and silver eyes circled the rest, heading straight for Joe. He didn’t look happy.
Kyrie eased out of Joe’s arms and confided, “Anan does not like to lose sight of me.”
Joe wasn’t sure if he was in trouble or not.
“What have you found, little terror?” asked the male.
“More of my family.”
Those silver eyes raked over Joe, and then Anan said, “True.”
And then a human edged past Ash and preempted anything else Anan might have had to say.
Hands on offer, he said, “How do you do? Boniface Smythe of the Stately House Smythes. Argent Mettlebright decided to send me in my brother’s place since Jackie is …
otherwise occupied. Until his lordship sees fit to arrive, I’m in charge.
Officially. It’s more of a token role. My nephew is more the thing, should you need a call to order. ” He indicated Kyrie.
Suddenly, another person leaned into view from behind Joe. He had reddish hair and very round eyes, and he was standing barefoot in the snow. Something tapped Joe’s other shoulder, and when he checked, there was only … a tail.
Kyrie said, “Inti is a monkey-crosser.”
Boniface added, “He’s our … well, the paperwork lists him as our bodyguard.”
“Umm … hi …?” offered Joe.
The crosser, who eased out in front of them, bent to place Kyrie’s hand back in Joe’s. After peering around for several moments, he announced, “Inti is Inti.”
Boniface said, “Nonny is with his lordship at the moment, since Argent requires looking after. Jackie did insist there be two of us checking on his presentability. They’ll be along as soon as their itinerary allows. Are you quite overwhelmed?”
Joe clung gratefully to Kyrie’s hand and shook his head.
“Good man. Right. Who’s left. Reinier? Come meet our host.”
A lovely crosser stepped forward and offered his hand in the human fashion. “Mr. Reaverson? Reinier Scatterlight, at your service.”
His face was quite pale, and it was spotted like … well, like a barn cat’s. The whole upper right side of his face was the same delicate shade of periwinkle blue as his hair, and his eyes were the color of spring violets. A tail twitched into view, then curled around his ankles.
“Cat clan,” said Reinier.
“Just Joe,” he replied.
“Thank you for opening your home to us. My brother has been beside himself over the chance to visit both your country and this countryside.” He turned to beckon to another of the crossers. “Cirric, here is the one who brought you to tears. Weren’t you planning to comfort him?”
A child in a velvet coat hurried forward with the flapping of small pink wings. Feathered this time. Kyrie let go, making room just in time for Cirric’s collision.
“ Gently ,” chided Reinier, who searched Joe’s face, poised to intervene. “You should have asked first, hearth-chick.”
Wide silver eyes fringed with pink lashes searched Joe’s face, then Cirric announced, “He likes me. Don’t you?”
“Umm… sure.” Falling back on habit, Joe offered another awkward, “Hi.”
The boy patted at his tumble of pink ringlets. “I wish I had known I’d be falling in love today. Am I windblown? Dragon barges are so gusty.”
Kyrie’s hand re-found Joe’s. “Are you in love again, Cirric?”
With a nod that sent his curls bouncing, the boy said, “With Ash. Isn’t he wonderful? I wish my wings were as big as his.” He fluffed and rustled wistfully.
Joe quietly said, “Pink is such a cheerful color.”
Cirric gasped in delight, then breathed, “Such a fine gentleman!”
“Umm… I’m just a farmer.”
With a dreamy expression, he said, “A gentleman farmer. How romantic!”
And then he was off again, eagerly telling Ash that he’d lost his heart anew.
Boniface rolled his eyes and assured, “The child falls in love with shocking regularity. His parents assure me he’ll grow out of the phase. Though … given the rate of Amaranthine maturation, I doubt that will be in our lifetime. Err … under normal circumstances.”
“Cirric loves us all,” said Kyrie. “He is gentle and generous and good.”
Joe settled on an awkward, “Okay.”
“Who’s left,” grumbled Boniface. And then he switched effortlessly into French.
This brought a sturdy boy forward. With his orange hair, rounded cat ears, and the faint pattern of strips showing on his skin, it wasn’t hard to guess the clan of his Amaranthine parent.
Gilen introduced himself in heavily accented English before switching to French again for a worried aside.
“Good lord.” Raising his voice, Boniface called, “Has anyone seen Jarrah?”