Page 60 of The Silent
The two Grigori brothers, Alyah, Leo, and Kyra were sitting at the dining table again, the map still spread in front of them. Niran looked exhausted and angry. He’d ridden for two and a half hours, up to the Burmese border, trolling through the villages and side roads for an hour in the middle of the night before he returned. There was no sign of Prija or her captors. Niran was certain they’d crossed into Arindam’sterritory.
Leo said, “Sura said he used his father’s enemies in the plan to kill him. Were theyArindam’ssons?”
Niran hesitated, thennodded.
“I am the one who made the connection,” Sura said. “I’d performedSak Yanton several of them. I was living away from our father in the mountains along the border. There were like-minded Grigori there, trying to live quietly. After some time, trust built between us. We knew we would never be free if our fathers lived. As long as they ignored us, we could live as we wanted. But the minute our fathers called us, we would come.” Sura’s face was bleak at the memory. “We would answer their call and do whatever theyasked.”
“We had no choice then,”Niransaid.
Sura lifted his eyes. “We made a plan to free ourselves. First we would kill Tenasserim. Then we would killArindam.
“But it didn’t work outthatway.”
“No. Our brother Kanok had become close to Intira’s mother when she was pregnant. Though she was human, he developed strong feelings for her. Intira’s mother survived her birth, but Tenasserim called for her too quickly after the baby was born. She did not survive more than a month.” Sura’s face filled with sorrow. “She was a bright woman. A student at the university in Chiang Mai, but she was enamored of our father, as all the human women were. Kanok was devastated when she died. He could speak of nothing but killing our father. Prija helped him. She spoke then. They plotted to kill Tenasserim and only told us a few hours before they moved. We were able to call a few of Arindam’s sons who were close, but we didn’t have many. Prija engaged our father while the three of usattackedhim.”
“Arindam’s sons held off our brothers as well as they could, but two of them were killed,” Niran said. “Sura and I survived, but Kanok did not. Prija was in a coma for a year. When she woke, she didn’t speakanymore.”
Leo said, “And Arindam’s sons lost the taste forrebellion.”
Niran nodded. “They decided that they could not bear the losses to their number, even if it meant staying under theirfather’srule.”
“You cannot discount that Arindam has always been more generous with his offspring than Tenasserim was,” Sura said. “Many of their number are hundreds of years old because their father feeds thempower.”
Alyah said, “So they’d rather live longer, even though they serve a Fallenmaster?”
“It’s easy to judge them,” Kyra said, “if you don’t fear suddendeath.”
Leo heard the brittle pain in her words. He reached for her hand and brought it to his lap. He wanted to steal Kyra away and perform the mating ritual immediately, but that would mean explaining how he knew they werereshon.
It wasn’t a conversation he wanted to rush, but fear for her life tormented him. He also didn’t want to raid a Fallen compound weak from the mating ritual, but he’d do what he needed to keep Kyraalive.
“Arindam’s sons returned to him, and because of my tattoos on their bodies, they are more powerful,” Sura said. “We knew it was a risk, but we trusted them. That trust wasmisplaced.”
Leo nodded. “Do you know where theircompoundis?”
“There are several where they could keep Prija among their own sisters.” Niran marked three locations on the map. “There are very fewkareshtaamong Arindam’s children, but here is where he keeps them. I would guess they would take Prija to one of theseplaces.”
“How far are they from the border?” Kyraasked.
“The first is around one hundred kilometers into the country. The others aredeeperin.”
“I’ll be able to read the first one before we cross,” Kyra said. “I should be able to give you an idea of what you’ll befacing.”
Sura nodded. “Then you’ll come with us. Leo, can I assume that means youwilltoo?”
“Of course,” Leo said. “Keeping thekareshtasafe is within the mandate of every scribe. I am happy to help in the search for Prija. Plus we need to find out the identity of the Irin who is workingwiththem.”
“Agreed,” Alyah said. “I have just spoken to Dara. With your permission, she would like to assist. She can have five warriors here in the morning ifyouwish.”
“I think stealth is our friend,” Niran said. “With Sura and me, two of my men, Leo, Kyra, and you, that is already seven. Any more than that and I think we risk attracting too muchattention.”
“Agreed,” Leo said. “But perhaps some Irin scribes and singers would be able to help keep watch over the temple while you are gone? That would allow you and Sura to focus on finding Prija without worrying about your sisters’safety.”
It would also be a startling act of trust, and Leo doubted Niran would agree to it. He was surprised when the suspicious Grigori spoke directly toAlyah.
Niran said, “Do you guarantee that my sisters will be safe with these men? That they will do nothing to expose them or take them from theirhomehere?”
Alyah said, “I give you my word. I will choose the scribes myself. Dara will listen to my suggestions. If you want only trained singers here, that is alsopossible.”
