"Sounds like we should unpack the books first then." Sileas got to her feet and headed for the first trunk and opened it.

Yehudit thudded down the stairs.

"Or not," Sileas sighed softly, closing the trunk again.

Yehudit limped into the room.

Sileas managed to get on the trunks to sit on them, leaving the chair for Yehudit.

Yehudit sunk onto the chair. Her ankle was killing her but she pretended it wasn't bothering her.

"Bai, this is Yehudit. Yehudit, this is Bai," Sileas said.

So, this was the child of Molech they had just been talking about. Outwardly she did not seem powerful, and Bai noticed her trying to disguise a limp. Instead of extending his hand he gripped his staff.

"Hello."

"Hi." Yehudit said, protectively shifting closer to Sileas.

"It's okay, Yehudit. Bai is safe for me to be around," Sileas said softly.

Yehudit hit the floor with her walking stick. "He probably cursed you or something."

"No, he didn't. Really he didn't," Sileas said, "Anyway, he's going to help me find a way to rid us of the mermen."

"Sileas?" Wulfsen called down the stairs.

"We're down here!" Sileas called back, turning to face the stairs.

Wulfsen came down the stairs and reached for Sileas. "Sileas, I have to go."

"Go? No!" Sileas exclaimed. "I've had no time alone with you." Her glance slid to Yehudit and back. "It's not a good time for you to be gone."

"I want to-" Wulfsen sighed. "Aalyssa was taken prisoner by soldiers accusing her of treason."

Sileas stood on her tip-toes so she could whisper in his ear. "Yehudit may be the daughter of a demon." That had to trump Aalyssa being taken for treason in her mind. Out loud, she said, "That's bad for Aalyssa. I know they have been hunting her for years."

"What-" Wulfsen stared at Sileas. "We should speak privately."

Sileas nodded. "We should." She turned to Bai and Yehudit. "I will return in a few moments. Try...try to get along."

Yehudit stood up.
"I go where you go!"

"Wulfsen and I need to discuss something privately. Just stay here, I won't be long." Sileas wondered if they could get out the door and lock it from the outside quickly.

Yehudit's ankle was killing her so she was not moving as quickly as she normally would.

"There's nothing you can tell him that I can't hear."

In reply to Sileas Spenser (msg # 821):

Wulfsen had the same idea. He scooped Sileas into his arms and out of the room.

Sileas let out a small yelp of surprise when Wulfsen scooped her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.