Four: Diversionary Tactics

MK knew it was Ronin even before she put her helmet on. Nod never knocked; he just let himself in. She opened the window, and he flew his humming bird to a perch on the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

"Hi Ronin," MK greeted as she set her helmet on her head, "how are you?"

"Fine, thank you," Ronin dismounted, the narrow chair back not at all narrow for him, "is Nod here?"

"No," MK shook her head, "is he supposed to be?"

"No necessarily," Ronin shrugged. "I had a question for him about his scouting report. I thought he might be here."

"I haven't seen him today," Mk said, "I'll let him know you were looking for him if he stops by."

Ronin didn't come often, and he was mostly business when he showed up. Mostly business and mostly looking for Nod.

"Thank …"

Somewhere in the house there was a crash, followed by Ozzie's excited yapping. Ronin's hand dropped to his sword, then he relaxed and reached up to stroke the head of his nervous humming bird.

"Everything okay dad?" MK called with an eye roll.

The corner of Ronin's mouth almost twitched up into a smile. He remained vaguely suspicious of her father, but most of the time he tolerated him with a sort of dry amusement, which was good, because Bomba was overly enthusiastic when he actually managed to get the chance to talk to them in person.

"I'm fine," Bomba stumbled into the doorway, "Ozzie just missed again…oh!"

He scrambled for his helmet, and MK gave Ronin an apologetic smile. The general only shrugged in return. He didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, and he was surprising tactful at extracting himself if he was.

"General Ronin!" Bomba grinned, "I'm so glad it's you. Nod didn't know the answer last time he was here."

"Dad," MK groaned.

"Didn't know the answer to what?" Ronin looked mildly curious.

"He was wearing a red jacket, and he didn't know what it was dyed with," Bomba crouched down awkwardly so he was somewhat near eye level.

"I have no idea," Ronin shrugged, "I wish he would wait until the leafs change to wear it though."

"That's right!" Bomba exclaimed excitedly, standing to pull out the little notebook he always kept in his pocket for notes, "he said you'll be changing to your fall uniform soon, and there's a winter uniform too. Does it use the same dye as the jacket?"

"We bleach the armor and jerkins for our winter uniforms. We wear the same armor in spring and summer, and its dyed using grass. The autumn armor isn't dyed," Ronin explained patiently, "and Nod should have known that."

"I didn't ask," Bomba scribbled down notes furiously, "does that mean his jacket wasn't dyed?"

"No, that jacket is dyed…"

Mk turned back to the sandwich she had been making, only to spot Nod peering around the peanut butter jar. He was still in his armor and looking vaguely smug. He put a finger to his lips and smiled when he saw her.

"You do know Ronin is looking for you?" she asked softly.

"Well don't tell him I'm here yet," Nod grinned.

"What did you do?" Mk snickered softly, glancing sideways at Ronin, who was still talking to her father.

"Nothing, it's just…" Nod waved his hand vaguely, "never mind. What does he want?"

"Seriously, what did you do?" MK raised an eyebrow.

"Shh," Nod glanced around the jar, but Ronin seemed unaware of them.

"Something about a scouting report," MK shrugged and cut her sandwich in half.

"Oh, the weasels," Nod said dismissively and sat down cross legged behind the peanut butter jar, "I figured he would want to know more about that."

"Weasels?" MK gave him a doubtful look, "are those as bad as mice?"

"Worse," Nod wrinkled his nose, "they're bigger and faster. It looks like the boggan are trying to train them again. Hopefully, they'll just get eaten."

"Well, that's a cheery thought," MK took a bite of her sandwich, "and since when are you a scout?"

"I've always been a scout," Nod shook his head, "Terrance keeps bumping me up to primary scout for our group though."

"Isn't that good, like a promotion?" MK asked.

"No, it just means I have to do paperwork," Nod snorted, "I think Ronin is putting him up to it."

"Why are you hiding from him?" MK took a drink of milk, "you're not fighting again, are you?"

"No, I just need stitches," Nod shook his head, "but I'm waiting until Glory get's off shift to go in."

"You're hurt!" MK set her glass down a little too hard, and some of the milk splashed out.

"Shh!" Nod whispered.

Ronin glanced in their direction, but he couldn't see Nod from where he was, and MK was quick to shove her sandwich in her mouth. He raised an eyebrow at her, but turned his attention back to Bomba. MK had to take another drink of milk before she could talk.

"Nod!" she hissed, voice low.

"I'm fine," Nod insisted, "I'm not bleeding or anything."

"Who's Glory and why can't you get stitched while she's there?" MK demanded.

"She's the head healer. She'll pull me off duty for a full two weeks, and I don't want to be off that long," Nod explained. "If I wait until she's gone, I can probably talk them into letting me back as soon as the stitches are out, and this entire process is much easier when Ronin isn't involved."

"You don't think Ronin already knows?" MK frowned at him.

"He might," Nod shrugged.

"So Ronin might know, but you're hiding from him anyway," MK summarized.

"Stalling, not hiding," Nod clarified. "I live with him. I can't hide."

"I am not comfortable with how casual you're being about this," MK huffed.

"MK, we're soldiers," Nod said patiently, "it happens."

"I still don't…" MK started, but her father's next question stopped her mid-sentence.

"…what happens to the queen when a new queen is chosen?"

MK flinched, but before she could think to say anything, Nod had hopped up onto the lid of the peanut butter jar.

"Hey Ronin!" he called, "MK said you were looking for me."

MK caught the look of utter relief on Ronin's face as he turned towards them, then it was gone. She would have to talk to her father about not asking certain things, and hope he remembered.

"Yeah," Ronin jumped easily from the chair back to the counter and strode towards them, "where have you been?"

"Nim's," Nod sat down on the lid, feet hanging over the edge.

"Happy hour?" MK quipped.

"It's always happy hour at Nim's when you're a Leafman," Nod grinned up at her. "We drink for free, but no, that's not why I was there."

Ronin stopped at the base of the jar and gave Nod a speculative look. Nod only shrugged in return.

"There were weasels," Nod said helpfully.

"I saw that," Ronin replied dryly, "Terrance said you were injured."

Mk giggled, and Nod gave her a sideways glare.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"And?" Ronin prompted.

"And what?" Nod tried to look innocent.

"You haven't been to the healers," Ronin narrowed his eyes.

MK had to admit, if Ronin had looked at her like that, she would have been nervous, but it didn't seem to have any effect on Nod.

"I'm getting there," Nod insisted.

"Yeah, right now," Ronin motioned him down.

"Come on," Nod landed lightly beside him, "I'm fine, and Glory is off in half an hour."

"If I have to deal with Glory, you have to deal with Glory," Ronin cupped the back of his neck and propelled him towards the windowsill where his mount was waiting.

"If you wait half an hour neither of us have to deal with Glory," Nod pointed out, although he didn't put up any resistance.

"Nice try," Ronin let him go and whistled for his mount. "MK, Bomba, goodnight."

"Goodnight," MK waved as they jumped onto the sill.

Nod turned to give her a wink and wave, then they were gone.

"Nod, what does happen to the queen when a new queen is chosen?"

The next afternoon was sunny, and Nod was lounging moodily on her windowsill, cranky at being taken off duty.

"If everything goes the way it should," MK clarified.

"She passes her powers onto the next queen and steps down," Nod sat up, letting his feet hang over the edge. "She maybe hangs around for a few years to help the new queen learn the ropes, and then she moves on with her life."

"Oh," MK looked away, knowing without asking that moving on for Queen Tara would have meant being with Ronin.

"Queen Marigold asked me to check," Nod looked down at his feet, "she's really young, and she has a lot to learn. She wanted to know if the queen before Tara was still alive. Her name is Calla. She lives in Brambly Hedge on the other side of the forest."

"Wait, the queen asked you and not Ronin?" MK frowned.

"She asked me not to tell him, not yet," Nod fiddled with the sleeve of his jacket, "he'll know if she ends up sending for her, but until then, there's no reason for him to think about the fact that Tara should be the one doing it. I hope she doesn't send for Lady Calla, though. She's doing fine, and then Ronin won't have to think about it at all."

MK considered him for a moment before her lips quirked up in a smile, "If you were taller, I would kiss you."

Nod gave a startled laugh, "if you were shorter, I would let you."

Author's note: So, this one was supposed to be lighter, then Bomba opened his mouth. And yes, this time it is pretty intentional on Nod's part. I said usually unintentional, not always. And yes Nod, that is actually sort of like a promotion.

Also the Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklam was one of my favorites growing up. The mice from Brambly Hedge would not eat the Jinn. They might invite them to parties though.