think

with distaste. “Untrustworthy, by all accounts. That’s enough—more than enough—to explain her mysterious habits.”
Diego began to say something, but Eneko drove over it. ­“Besides, consider the logic of what just happened.” He gestured with his head toward the Savoyard. “Pierre is wrong, incidentally. I’m sure of it. We did not summon the Lion, we simply . . . woke it up for a time. To actually summon the thing requires knowledge I do not possess, and—if the legends are to be believed—the participation of one of the four ancient families of Venice. Which are: Terrio, Lacosto—both families long vanished; Valdosta—destroyed, presumably by the Montagnards. And—” He paused, giving the next word added emphasis. “Montescue.”
Diego stared down the dark canal, in the direction of Casa Montescue. “You think the Evil One was trying . . .”
“The same legends also specify a son of the families, Eneko,” objected Pierre. But his demurral was not spoken with any great force.
Eneko smiled grimly. “Yes, I know. But does Chernobog?”
He sighed. The next words came iron hard, for all the softness of the tone. “Enough, I say. I’m satisfied that the Montescue girl is innocent. We’ve got few enough resources as it is—just the three of us. We’ve learned all we can—and need—for the moment, concerning Katerina Montescue. Time to concentrate on two more important matters.”
“What really happened to the Strega Grand Master,” mused Diego. “That’s one. What’s the other?”
Eneko’s little chuckle was quite absent of humor. “What do you think? What really happened to the children of Lorendana Valdosta? Two sons, I remind you.”
“Casa Valdosta was destroyed,” protested