Page 7 of The Hummingbird’s Gift

“Dammit! You take all of the fun out of things.”

He laughed. “Sorry, not sorry.” He only said silly things like that around Declan. It wouldn’t fit with his mature image in the tribe at all.

“Seriously, though, the tribe will be glad to hear that. If he’s more involved in things, like he used to be before the past sixty years or so, that’s a really good thing.”

“Wow. Yeah, well, I think he is.”

“Good, good. Um, I actually have to go now. I’ll see you at the celebration?”

“Definitely. Take those buns to your man while they’re still hot.”

Ro rolled his eyes even though Declan couldn’t see. “Bye, Declan.”

“Bye! And remember, I want deeee-tails!”

Rohahen hung up the phone. He wanted to have details to share, but everything felt a little too raw and new to share right now. If Tier was actually interested in him, and not just worried about his safety, then he’d share. For now, those scrapes outside were just for him.

He carefully put three warm biscuits in the wicker basket he’d prepared and folded a cloth over them. Then he lifted the cloth and added the rest of them. Sometimes, when he brought a bit more food, Tier would suggest that they eat together. He added the preserves on top with a knife.

He carried them across the courtyard, using just the touch of his strength-sharing to locate Tier in his office, just where he expected him to be. The Chief spent long hours there every day, when he wasn’t traveling and doing yet more work for the tribe. That was why Ro had started bringing him food.

As Ro climbed the stairs, he could already hear Tier’s deep voice alongside a higher one that must be Kayla, the Sentry Leader. His heart beat a little faster, as it always did when he knew he was about to see Tier.

When he peeked his head in the door, the Chief was sitting at his desk. He was still as gorgeous as ever, with his sharp cheekbones and long, dark hair shot through with silver. He knew that Tier was still young, only fifteen or twenty years older than he was. That time was nothing in among the People who might live two centuries, but he loved how it made him look distinguished.

He allowed himself a closer look, thinking that maybe he finally had a right to do so. The Chief had bags under his eyes, as he so often did from working too hard. His shoulders were tense under the collared shirt that hugged his shoulders. It made Ro want to snuggle up beside him and bring him more food, just to give him a little bit of happiness and relaxation.

Right now, he was looking particularly dejected. “You were right,” he said to Kayla. “We should have done it. I just didn’t think they’d get so far away from us so quickly.”

The Sentry Leader paced in front of him. “It’s not about being wrong or right. We just need to make sure it never happens again.”

“I know. That was… horrible. It’s just…” Tier put his hands over his face. Was it so wrong that Ro wanted to kiss those long fingers? He could make the Chief’s life easier, he was almost sure, if they could be together.

Ro slid through the door. From just those few words, he could guess at the conversational topic. Tier wasn’t the dramatic type, and this was one of the few arguments that he’d seemed to lose sleep over.

“Are you talking about the microchips again?” Ro asked quietly. Kayla’s sentries wore chipped necklaces when they were on duty. She was pushing for everyone to wear one, given the high number of kidnappings of shifters across the country, especially from indigenous tribes. That point had just been driven home.

Tier looked up at his voice, his face breaking into a wide smile.

He motioned Ro further into the office, but his face was already showing his worry again. “Yes. We should have listened to Kayla earlier. People can move far faster now than they could a few generations ago. The children were completely gone by the time any of us noticed. And when I couldn’t find you…” Tier’s eyes searched Ro’s body desperately, as though confirming that he was there. “The old ways aren’t good enough anymore. I… failed you.”

It looked like that sense of failure was touching the Chief deeply. Of course the Sentry Leader wouldn’t have been able to detect the children either, despite having the most powerful strength-sharing in the tribe. But that was why she wanted microchips.

Rohahen wasn’t sure whether to turn the conversation personal or keep it professional. Kayla was still there, and he didn’t want to overstep. “You didn’t fail anyone,” he said softly. “Even with chips the kids might have been gone before you realized.”

Kayla looked like she was going to say something, probably about automated proximity alerts, but he cut her off with a look. This wasn’t the time. “The important thing is that you got everyone back home. Nineteen children are safe now because of your leadership.” He nodded to both of them, acknowledging their joint roles in the safety of the tribe, but he was really speaking to Tier. “And you protected me by going to Geir and insuring that I got to the Healers.”

The Chief didn’t look like he believed him. This was one of the moments when he wished he were a heart-singer. There was so much more he’d be able to do to soothe Tier’s guilt and express his own confidence and support.

Tier looked a little less worried now, as though at least hearing the words had meant something. Ro decided that was enough for the moment. Tier was always stoic and wouldn’t appreciate him fawning.

Ro switched smoothly back to the topic at hand. “If we do go that direction, though, I was talking with some of the weavers and leather toolers about working the chips into anklets. They could use traditional designs for protection, which I think would mean a lot to some people. And if we gave everyone two anklets they could charge them at night and then switch.”

The Chief blinked at him. The Sentry Leader patted his shoulder. “You’ve done it again, Rohahen. I think that would work for almost everyone. Chief, you should hang on to this one.”

Tier nodded. “Yes, um… yes.” His mind seemed to be far away, though.

What was he thinking about right now? Was he agreeing to the plan or hanging on to Ro? Hopefully both.