Page 46 of The Silent
“Niran,” Leo began. “I’dlike—”
“I am not her brother.” Niran stopped Leo before he could finish. “It is not my place to grant permission for you and Kyra to form any kind ofattachment.”
“Permission?” Kyra saidquietly.
Leo didn’t sayaword.
“We are not seekingpermissionfrom anyone.” She looked at Leo. “We’renotseekingpermission.”
“I wasn’t going to ask for it.” Leo didn’t smile, but he wanted to. His little warrior wasangry.
“Good.” Kyra turned to Niran. “Leo and I met over three years ago. While we may come from different places, our experiences have bonded us. I do not expect anyone to question the decisions we make forourselves.”
A muscle jumped in Niran’s jaw and he looked away. Disapproval had nothing to do with Niran’s attitude. He admired Kyra as well. Hewantedher.
Toobad.
Kyra hadchosenhim.
“Am I still welcome as your guest?” Kyra asked. “Or should I find other accommodations while Iamhere?”
Niran’s expression said he was not expecting thequestion.
Part of Leo wanted them to kick her out. He was imagining the large bed at his hotel in Chiang Mai, which would offer far more comfort than Kyra’s simple cottage at themonastery.
It was a small part of him; he tried toignoreit.
“Of course you are our guest,” Sura said into Niran’s silence. “Nothing will change your welcome here when you have done so much for our sisters.” Sura’s eyes were pointed at Niran. “No matter what our personal feelings may be, your generosity is a debt we can never repay.” He turned back to Leo and Kyra. “And I believe it is a beautiful thing when two souls meet and find connection. No matter where theycomefrom.”
Leo said, “Thankyou,Sura.”
“You are welcome.” Sura raised his hands. “And nowweeat.”
Everyone dug into the food, even mischievous Intira, who joined them halfway through the meal. She sat next to Kyra, watching Kyra and Leointently.
“I have heard from the Bangkok house,” Alyah said later when the food had been taken away and fruit was laid on thetable.
Intira was shooed off to play in the forest with two of the monks to guard her so the grown-upscouldtalk.
“They have questioned the brothers there extensively,” Alyah continued, “and can find none who were in the area at the time of Prija’s attempted abduction. So we may be dealing with travelers who misunderstood thesituation.”
Sura frowned. “Ginny, do you know of any scribes in Chiang Mai that the watcher in Bangkok might not knowabout?”
“Lots,” Ginny said. “There are so many training gyms there. It’s very popular, especially for younger scribes from America or Canada who were never placed in a proper academy. There is only one in the United States, for instance. It’s on the East Coast, and it’s verycostly.”
“You have to pay for the scribe academy there?” Leoasked.
“Yes.”
He’d never heard of that before. “So scribes wanting further training in martial arts come all thewayhere?”
“Sometimes.” Ginny shrugged. “It’s not just the money. In the States, they’d be different. Odd. Their tattoos would be noticeable and asked about. Here, they’re different and odd, but humans will usually dismiss it as foreign mannerisms and most people wouldn’t ask about tattoos. Also, Thai people tend to be more conservative about casual touch.” She pointedly looked at Kyra’s hand where Leo was playing with it. “So scribes can avoid contact moreeasily.”
“Our culture is more suited to Irin customs than American culture,”Alyahsaid.
Ginny said, “You’re just saying that because you hate it when Ihugyou.”
Alyah allowed a smallsmile.
