“A great variety of things. It helps cure colds, reduces fevers and inflammation, protects boils and sores from bacterial infections. It’s a very handy and versatile plant.”
The expression on Tori’s face was one of childlike excitement, as if Sora had just read him in on some sort of trade secret. “That sounds like an excellent addition. You said Japanese honeysuckle…is it a native plant to Japan, then?”
“It is, yes.”
Tori’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “And what else are you not seeing in my greenhouse that would be super useful?”
“I haven’t toured the whole thing yet,” Sora pointed out. This reaction amused him. Was Tori the sort to be competitive? Or was he eager to cram every possible plant into this space? It could be both, who knew?
“Why don’t we do a full tour,” Tori suggested, his smile a challenge. “And you can tell me what you think is missing. What’s your family’s background, anyway?”
“Healing.”
“Ah, which is why you looked for a healing herb first. Alright, walk and point.”
Ravi protested, “I want to show him the whole place, not get bogged down here.”
Tori waved him off. “You can have him after I’m done with him. It’s not often I can show this place off to someone who can appreciate what I’m doing. And he’s got ideas, I can tell. I can see it written all over his face.”
“Oh dear,” Sora deadpanned, looking innocently off in another direction. “And here I thought my poker face better developed.”
“Ha! Like hell you did. Alright, come along. Let me give you a thorough tour.”
Sora went, and not only to be polite. There was a great deal that he could observe here. Sora’s main task was to observe, after all. And learn. Not just follow Ravi around and try to figure out how to touch him again.
His hand was still tingling from the last time Ravi had gripped it. Dammit. Sora truly had not expected this at all. He was used to finding people visually appealing and not experiencing any desire to act upon it. Sora was fine with that; it was familiar, nonthreatening. But this was different, this was true attraction, and those were uncharted waters for him. And trying to figure it out when he was supposed to be paying attention to his surroundings was an interesting exercise in mental gymnastics.
Tori was an enthusiastic tour guide, and with Ravi’s running commentary, it proved to be an entertaining enough experience. It was definitely educational. There was a small greenhouse attached to this one, about half the size. It was just as lovingly tended, and there was no doubt the entire clan helped keep it that way.
But…two greenhouses. Just two greenhouses for an entire clan?
And Sora didn’t see even half the plants needed for healing. If their product line offered salves and such, shouldn’t there be more of them?
Perhaps this showed on his face, as Tori stopped walking and gave him a sad smile. “You’re wondering where the rest of it is, aren’t you? Healer that you are, there’s probably a lot of plants that you expected to see.”
Sora saw no reason to lie to him. And his concerns were mounting. “Yes, there are many I expected to see that aren’t here.”
“I figured. I felt the same when I first joined the clan. Most of my knowledge came from books—my original clan wouldn’t teach me, you see. But even then, when I first saw this place, I was overjoyed to have a real greenhouse to work in. Then dismayed because so much was missing.”
That didn’t make sense to Sora. “I’m sorry, what was your birth clan?”
“You’d probably know them by the name Taavetti. They changed their name after the war.”
“Ah. You’re correct, I’m familiar with the name.”
Tori lifted a hand to display a wedding ring of gold. “I married into the Burkhard Clan six months ago, and I’ve been tweaking the greenhouses ever since, putting in things that we need for new product lines. I’m serious about this, Sora. If you see things that are missing, tell me. In fact, if you have the time—wait, how long are you visiting us for?”
“I don’t have a departure date planned,” Sora admitted. “I wasn’t even sure if your clan would let me in.”
“That’s great, though, that means you can stay awhile.” Tori’s expression was full of calculation. “How about you have lunch with me tomorrow? I need to pick your brain. It’s not often that I encounter someone else good with plants and medicine.”
That sounded like great fun to Sora. “My favorite subjects to discuss. I’d be delighted.”
“Great, I’ll come fetch you. Better yet, let’s exchange numbers. You’re probably going to get pulled in a dozen directions at once.”
Amiable to this, Sora pulled out his phone. Tori did as well, and they swapped phones to type in their contact info.
“Ooh, me too, me too.” Ravi waved his own phone, eyeing Sora’s hopefully, like a dog would a treat.
Tori paused his typing in order to tease. “A handsome mage walks in, trusts you enough to follow you around a castle, and you don’t get his number? What’s wrong with you? I thought you had better game than this.”
Ravi didn’t bat an eye at the teasing. “I have to convince him I’m not crazy first. And I generally buy a man a drink before asking for his number.”
“Lengthy exposure to you will not help.” Tori ducked when Ravi aimed for a rib, snickering.
Brothers. That’s what these two reminded him of. They were playing around and messing with each other like brothers would. But they hadn’t grown up like that. Tori had barely been with the clan any time at all.
All marriages in a family were welcome, of course. But that didn’t mean people would automatically fit in. It spoke well of the Burkhard Clan that they obviously did know how to truly welcome new mages into their clan.
Ravi’s grin at him was an invitation to join in. “What do you say, Sora? Give me your number now, and I’ll promise to buy you that drink later.”
It surprised Sora for a split second. He so often felt outside of the joke, the observer watching it play out. A little thrilled to be included for once, Sora did his best to come up with a teasing response.
“Wasn’t there an American cartoon—Popeye—that had a character who always made that promise? A hamburger today that he’d pay back on Tuesday.”
Tori threw his head back on a laugh. “He’s Wimpy! Ravi’s Wimpy!”
Ravi wrinkled his nose at the laughing mage before sidling in closer and batting his eyes up at Sora in an absurd manner. “I mix a mean drink, you know.”
His heart skipped a beat at having Ravi pressing in close, his arm tingling where Ravi brushed against it. Sora wanted to test this out a little more, and even though it was all clearly a joke, he was very interested in getting Ravi’s number. The wind dragon was lithe and very handsome. Sora couldn’t remember the last time he’d been attracted to someone on sight like this. Had he ever? He honestly couldn’t think of a time, truth be told. And giving Ravi his number made logistical sense, too.
He didn’t hesitate to switch phones with the dragon. “I’ll have to taste it to believe it. You’re on, dragon.”