Page 37 of The Silent
The name wasn’t familiar to Leo, but both Alyah and Ginny fellsilent.
“Your brother’s plan must have been very good,” Alyah said, “to kill such a powerfulFallen.”
“Itwas.”
“We heard rumors that Tenasserim was dead, but we had noconfirmation.”
“It happened nearly thirteen years ago.” Sura spoke from the edge of thegarden.
Leo was surprised by the strength of Sura’s hearing and wondered where Tenasserim’s power had manifested. Every angel had particular gifts. Barak, Kyra’s father, had been a listener. He’d been created to roam the heavens and the earth, acting as the ears of the Creator. Some of that preternatural hearing was passed to his offspring. It was possible Tenasserim’s power was similar. Or it was possible Sura had excellent naturalhearing.
Sura approached the table and bowed to them. “Forgive me. I was in the middle of performing a ritual on abrother.”
“TheSak Yant?” Ginnyasked.
“Indeed.” He sat and folded his legs beneath him. “And we are complete. Five is betterthanfour.”
Alyah and Nirannodded.
“You were asking about our father,” Sura continued. “He was very powerful. He also had very powerful enemies. I used those enemies to our advantage, informing my brothers Niran and Kanok of the plan only when it was already in progress.” Sura smiled at the brother who poured him a steaming cup of tea. “Kanok died in the fight. Tenasserim was killed. That is all you needtoknow.”
Niran said, “Sura wears his modesty like a robe. It was he who killed our father. Not rival Grigori. His hand was the only one with the strengthofwill.”
“And yet our brother was killed,” Sura said. “Let us notforgetthat.”
Leo could see Sura blamed himself. “You freed your sisters,” he said. “Your brother’s sacrifice was aworthyone.”
“Ihopeso.”
Niran said, “There were six of them when our father died. One fell ill immediately after. She was already quite old, and Tenasserim never fed his daughters. She died shortly afterhedid.”
Leo said, “What do you mean he didn’t ‘feed’ his daughters? They weren’t givenanyfood?”
Sura and Niran exchangedalook.
“Our magic is not the same as yours,”Niransaid.
Sura said, “Five of our sisters were left. That was thirteen years ago. Now there areonlyfour.”
“There were almost three,”Niransaid.
Ginny asked, “What doyoumean?”
“It was something I wanted to ask about last night,” Sura said, “but we didn’t have time. There were two Irin scribes some months ago who drove through the village on the road to Chiang Rai. They saw our sister Prija and tried toabducther.”
Ginny said, “Oh,hellno.”
Sura quickly raised a hand. “I do not want to be ungenerous,” he said. “It is possible they thought Prija was lost. She is not often lucid, and she can be quite dangerous ifprovoked.”
Niran turned to Alyah. “She hurt them during the escape. She screamed and ran away, and the men appeared injured. They drove away, and we have not seen them again. But I need to know if the Bangkok house thinks it has the right to take oursisters.”
“You will not have them,” Sura said quietly. He looked around the garden. “All this, it is temporary. If there is any threat against them, we will be gone, and you will never find us. I eluded a Fallen angel for a hundred years. A company of Irin is nothingtome.”
Alyah said, “Leo informed me of this incident two nights ago, and I will inquire about any scribes who came through this area when I return to Bangkok. Please know, we have no desire to take your sisters if they are safe. Our mandate regarding them is broad, but we respect family. If you are keeping them safe and they want to stay with you, then that is theirright.”
Leo glanced at Ginny and suspected she had something to share, but the Irina remained silent, sipping her tea and lettingAlyahtalk.
“If there is any training we can give them, we would be happy to do so,” Alyah said. “That is why my watcher sent me and not one of mybrothers.”
