Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Silke managed a low cry of pain when everything in her told her to remain silent. She didn’t want Fenja to hear and rush out. Silke clapped a hand over her mouth and looked with horror at her swelling ankle.
The Bakis brothers helped Floros up and carefully inspected her as she repeatedly apologized for her clumsiness.
Gesina crouched beside Silke, distress written on her face. “I’m so sorry, Silke. Can you get up?”
“Not yet. Give me a minute.” Silke allowed her tone to be tinged with pain.
“Perhaps we should reschedule tonight’s meeting. Please call me when you are available.”
For a moment, Castello’s expression changed. The red embers glowed behind his dark eyes. Instead of appearing as a charming, rather handsome, mature gentleman, he looked like what he was—a demon. His face was a mask of fury. He had been certain Silke and Fenja were the demon slayers. Finding the slayer wasn’t going to be so easy, and he had booked himself and the others only a week’s stay in the village. He didn’t have a tremendous amount of time to fulfill his duty. He had been so certain he would be able to find the slayer immediately. The village was small, and there weren’t that many candidates.
Herman Drakos crouched down on the other side of Silke. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
Silke managed a painful smile as she waved his apology away. “Freak accident. I just hope Ms. Floros is okay.” She looked at her friend. “Are you certain nothing is broken? She didn’t hurt her back when she fell?”
“I’m fine,” Melia Floros assured. “Do you think her ankle is broken? Should we call the doctor?”
She sounded sweet. Solicitous. Her face didn’t have the soft lines she hoped would accompany her tone. She wore a sharp, cunning look and continued to smell of fanaticism.
“It isn’t broken,” Silke said.
“Silke, it’s swelling quite a bit,” Gesina confirmed. “Maybe I should call Doc.”
Silke shook her head. If the doctor said it was a bad sprain, she’d be pretending for much longer than necessary. As it was, Tora would heal it, and she would have to remember to fake the sprain for the time Castello and his people were in the village hunting the slayer.
Castello had come to find her and learn what he could about her. Instead, she was learning about him. He could use his mind to persuade others to do his bidding. It was fortunate Tora had provided a barrier in the minds of those in the village so he wouldn’t be able to access any knowledge that had to do with the slayer or the Carpathian woman. He wouldn’t find any information about the forest or the weapons the villagers had been trained to use should there be a battle.
She knew she had to draw out and defeat the demon in Raik that evening. She couldn’t take any chances that Castello might be drawn to the fisherman’s home by the serpent lurking inside Raik. Castello seemed to be able to communicate his wishes to others. He had a way of subtly persuading those around him to do his bidding. She would have to ensure that Tora surrounded the Bootsma home with protections that Castello wouldn’t be able to penetrate while they drew the demon from Raik.
“You need to see to your guests, Gesina. If Mr. Drakos would help me to my front door, I’ll be fine.” She sent a quick smile around to all of them. “Fortunately, I have plenty of plants to make poultices. I do know how to do that.”
“Ah, yes,” Castello said. “The woman who adopted you must be well-versed in making medicine from natural plants.”
“She’s very knowledgeable and she taught me.” Silke infused pride into her tone. She held out her arm to Herman Drakos to prod him into helping her. “I also had the advantage of learning from Ethel and Bart Terpstra. They have a vast knowledge of all the flora and fauna in our area.” She tilted her face up toward Gesina. “Didn’t you tell me they were going to give a lecture to this group at some point?”
Drakos reached for her, sliding his arm around her waist and another under her knees. That was unexpected. Silke thought he’d get her to her feet and help her hobble up the stone pathway and stairs to her house. It was impossible not to inhale his scent. There was no taint of the demon or even the hint of fanaticism. She was uncertain where he fit into Castello’s army. He didn’t seem to be a follower the way Georgios and Callen Bakis so clearly were. Nor was he like Thea, practically vacant of any thought of her own.
“Yes, they said they would be available. We knew we would be late today, so they’ll speak at the hall tomorrow night.”