Quickly Mina retrieved the kites from the shed and hurried around the house to where Papa was already hooking the twins up to the posts. If you wanted to be outside on a day when the wind guardians and their beasts swept across the farmlands, you had to secure yourself. It wasn’t strictly necessary, since the winds were never truly dangerous—​not the way they were beyond the mountains—​but if you weren’t used to feeling any wind, you could get knocked off your feet.

The twins were giggling and squirming as Papa tried to attach their harnesses. “Rinna, stop that!” Papa was saying. “Beon, don’t chew on the rope. You’re not a puppy.”

“Arf! Arf! Arf!” Beon barked.

Joining Papa, Mina handed the twins their kites, and they clutched them to their chests. She tied the ends of their kite strings to the posts. Papa at last clicked the harnesses into place and heaved a sigh of relief.

“Papa, I have to go pee,” Rinna announced.

Mina smothered a grin. I should have bet Gaton she’d say that.

Papa’s shoulders slumped, and he banged his forehead lightly on the post. “Can you hold it?”

Mother breezed past on her way to the porch. “No, she can’t. She’s too excited. Unhook her, take her in, and hook her back up. Beon, stop eating the rope. You’ll ruin your supper.”

“Arf!” he said to her.

“Woof! Woof!” Mother barked back.

Mina whispered to Beon, “Meow.”

Beon giggled so hard that he stopped chewing on the rope.

“I’ll watch him,” Mina told Papa.

Papa kissed her on the head. “You’re my sweet girl. Don’t forget to secure yourself. I heard from the message balloon that this one’s going to be spectacular.” He quickly freed Rinna and shepherded her into the house.

Beon laughed and meowed as Mina clipped on her own harness and then showed him how to unravel the end of his kite string. Before today, the twins had been too little to be outside for a wind day, and now Papa had made the twins’ first kites—​simple diamond shapes, decorated with the symbol for their family’s farm. Hers was more elaborate—​on both sides she’d painted pictures of the mountains that bordered Alorria, as well as their family’s sign.

The wind guardians used the kites to help them navigate. Every wind day, all the farmers flew kites so the fast-flying guardians could distinguish one farm from another. It was tradition. Also, it’s fun, Mina thought.

A few minutes later, Papa rushed back with Rinna in his arms and attached her harness.

“Papa,” Beon said, “I have to—”

Papa leveled a finger at his nose. “No. You don’t.”

Beon giggled again.

From the kitchen window, Mother called, “Mina, did you shut your window? You don’t want the wind blowing dirt on your egg!”