The first trick

The vial of Hypericum Perforatum warmed a place between the breast feathers of the Silver-bird's son. Slowing or tempering his heart? An on-looker could guess. His sister simply held Skeena long enough and tender enough to make the connection to a time of first tricks. That place where innocence was big and curiosity broad.

"I hear the old welder." It was the first time Skeena spoke. They knew it was Alex Santiago he was hearing.
"I was with him as I was at thirteen. We were playing with the coppers. The pennies." Aka listened. She was extremely good at listening. "Tell me more."

"Alex is showing me how to pull pennies and there is a story to go with his teaching. I am in the story. Another and another story. "Now, show me what you've up your sleeve or is it behind your left ear?" A chicken egg still warm popped from behind the boy's ear. The boy loved it when the eggs were still warm. "Sunny-side up then," the old magician emptied the near dozen eggs from his coat sleeve, "or perhaps a omelet as fluffy as feathers?" Into the boy's broad smile the magician tucked a penny minted 1947. Keep it safe for uncommon necessity. Someday the young magician would grow into that understanding. For now he would not hear the spell, nor feel its magic hibernating; it was enough to have it spoken to him. The penny would wait."

The spell of old stories wore like clouds. They came and stayed long enough, as if enough was just that. Skeena felt behind his ear half-expecting an egg to be there. When he smiled the subtle shift had begun. Flow was slow, but, it was starting. 

"I have not seen Alex for ..." The young man had to count to be sure. "I haven't seen him for more than twenty years." Alex Santiago was all spirit now. It was probably why her brother could hear him that much better. 
"Camilia? Does she keep the old shop?"
"No welder's gear, but, remnants and reminders of his trade are everywhere in the old barn." 
"The sign, is that still there?" 
"Yes." 
"Does she still stitch?" He asked, piecing time together as a form of salve.
"She does." 
"I have been away for too long Aka." His fame as storyteller and magician made life on the borders an exemplary frame. It was impossible not to watch him. Many people knew him, loved him, only a handful knew his secrets and even they guessed at most answers.
"You had places to be. Migration. Spreading the gene pool." The two of them laughed at that one. "Never to marry, but in many beds." It was Skeena who said the words and found them sorrowful. 

St. Joan's Wort was working her remedy, her brother's face now more man than bird Aka was grateful as she felt the tide's shift come and go. There was just enough time for a slip of acceptance to come with the next incoming tide. "The girl, Shine. Is she so special that Ma would lele ... on her behalf?"

Aka knew it was a sacrifice done without reservation. She said this, "Shine could easily have chosen to stay away even if Ma chose to lele. Like us the muliwai is a  current easily swum. She could be as much mermaid, or whale girl as we can be Raven. The difference? Well, each of the gifts is unique. Shine has a way with the hum that is missing from the Home Place. Ma knew that."

"Did she." It was not a question, but, was instead one of those breezes that recognizes the feel of something with open windows. An open-ended wind. The tide lapped close-by. Clap, clap, clap.