"Do you know when Brandon's coming back?"
Elena leaned against the window sill, head drooping slightly.
Oliver somehow popped up behind her without a sound. "Didn't your Brandon go to—"
Before he could finish, Nathan cut in sharply, "You that bored?"
Oliver realized he'd stepped on a landmine and immediately covered his mouth, but the few words had already gotten into Elena's ears. "What did you say? Where did Brandon go?"
"Uh... he went to recruit new soldiers. Yeah, that."
Elena propped her chin with one hand, looking confused. "I thought he was just training those rookies? Why does he have to ‘recruit' them?"
"Well, it's... you know, those fresh ones can be real handfuls. You gotta round them up and whip them into shape."
Elena nodded thoughtfully. "Kids these
