Page 84 of The Silent
“They were,” Leo said. “I heard them mention protecting thechildren.”
“They have other women and children there?” Alyah askedsharply.
Kyranodded.
Sura asked, “Howmany?”
“I’m not sure,” Leosaid. “Kyra?”
“I heard two children’s voices. I think three women. I’d estimate there were perhaps ten Grigoriwiththem.”
“How sure are you?” Niranasked.
Leo looked at him sharply. “It’s not an exactscience.”
“I’m ninety percent sure,” Kyra said, putting a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “It’s fine, Leo. I was trained to beprecise.”
He stood, still carrying her. “You needtorest.”
“I’mfine.”
“I can feel how tired you are,” he said, walking to the door without a glance at the others in the room. “You’re taking a nap to get your strength up. Don’t argue. If I know these three, they’ll want to go running over the border as soon as you’re well enough. Nap, thenfight.”
Kyra was already falling asleep on hisshoulder.
* * *
After he’d puther to bed, he walked out to the porch and looked at the others. They were gathered on the porch of Alyah’s cottage, a short way down the path from theirs. Leo walked over tojointhem.
Sura asked, “Sleeping?”
“Out before her head hit thepillow.”
Niran nodded. “Over one hundred twentykilometers.”
Alyah shook her head. “I can’t imagine that range. We need to teach her the Old Language. She’ll be far more useful when she understands theirthoughts.”
“It will also let her perform magic,” Leo said. “Are you prepared for her todothat?”
It gave Alyahpause.
Sura said, “We’ll need to cross the border before dark if we want to make it to an inn where I know the hosts. Do you think Kyra will beready?”
Leo shrugged. “I have no way of knowing, but if she’s anything like Ava after a vision, she’ll sleep hard but it won’t be for very long. A few hoursmaybe.”
Niran was brooding in thecorner.
Leo turned his eyes to him. “You’re thinking veryloudly.”
The corner of Niran’s mouth turned up. “You sound like mysistersnow.”
“I’ve had a glimpse of their minds,” Leo said. “I’ll take that as acompliment.”
Sura said, “He’s debating what to do about thewomen.”
Nirannodded.
“What debate?” Alyah nodded. “We take out the Grigori and rescue thewomen.”
