The inn released my hand and I collapsed to the floor. Next to me George was panting. His nose and eyes bled. Sophie stood by him, her sword in her hands, the severed stamens of the flower melting into nothing on the floor. We’d agreed that when George neared his limit, she would end it.
All around me people curled on the floor. Some wept, some buried their faces in their hands. A huge otrokar was rocking back and forth.
I licked my dry lips. My voice came out rusty. “Stop it.”
Across the room the Khanum stared at me with haunted eyes.
“You can stop it. You can do it today. Right now. No more. Please, no more.”
I stood on my back porch, smiled, and watched the long line of the otrokari depart into the night. The Merchants and the Holy Anocracy would follow. Half an hour and the inn would be almost empty.
It took the three factions less than an hour to hammer out a peace agreement. Nexus had been split along the existing boundaries, with both Horde and the Holy Anocracy surrendering a stretch of territory to create a demilitarized demarcation zone, a no man’s land that would keep them separated and hopefully minimize the incidents. Clan Nuan’s territory had been expanded at the cost of the otrokari and vampires. In return Clan Nuan cut its export and import prices by sixty percent. The agreements had been signed, spat upon, and marked with blood. Everyone had made painful concessions. Everyone stood to reap great benefits. Everyone would have a hell of a time trying to sell the treaty back home, but at least all those present were united in their satisfaction with the arrangement.
Now they were leaving. Such was the way of an innkeeper. Guests came. Guests left. I remained.
The otrokari were moving fast. I couldn’t blame them. Everyone was traumatized by the joining, but at least nobody went mad. Sophie had severed the link just in time. I didn’t want to contemplate what would’ve happened if she let it go on for another minute or two. I would have nightmares for weeks as it was. George was standing to the left of me, pale as a sheet, and both his bother and Gaston hovered near him. He almost fell twice already and they were ready to catch him. I had offered him a chair, but he refused.
The Khanum and Dagorkun were the last in the line. They halted before me.
“Your parents,” Dagorkun said quietly. “We saw your memories.”
Oh no. I hoped that wouldn’t happen. I had directed the inn to search for the most traumatic experiences connected to Nexus. The only experience I had connected to that planet was when my brother Klaus and I landed there six months after our parents disappeared. We were combing the Galaxy trying to find them, and the pain of their disappearances had been so raw. I couldn’t recall thinking of them during the link, but I must’ve done so, and now every guest in the inn who had been connected to Gertrude HUnt had seen deep into a private place in my soul.
Well, I did it to them. It was only fair.
“We will keep our eyes and ears open,” Dagorkun said.
“Thank you,” I said.
The Khanum looked at me, reached out, and crushed me to her in a bear hug. My bones groaned. She let go and they went off, through the orchard toward the shimmering tunnel leading to a far away place.
The Merchants followed, including Nuan Sama, who was wrapped in what looked like a space-age straight jacket. I had given her back to Nuan Cee. I never seriously considered taking my revenge on her. The Merchants could deal with her crime. I had a feeling taking a contract unsanctioned by the family was going to cost her much more than whatever tortures I could level on her.
Clan Nuan departed one by one, heading toward their ship in the field. Cookie walked by me, grinned, and showed me a big green gem clutched in his paw. So, the emerald was returned. Clan Nuan would have to find some other way to entrap their young adults. I had no doubt they would think of something.
Grandmother passed me in her palanquin, favoring me with a nod. Nuan Cee nodded to me as well, and I nodded back. The next time I would come to Baha-char to seek a Merchant, I would have a rough time bargaining, but some things couldn’t be helped. Maybe I would shop at his competitors. Stranger things had happened.
The Holy Anocracy was the last. They moved past me, huge in their armor. Lady Isur and Lord Robart walked together, side by side. As they passed me, Lady Isur gently touched Robart’s forearm. He glanced at her and put his hand over hers. Maybe there would be something there in the future. Who knew?
Arland was the last of the line. He lingered by me.
“Here we are again,” he said. “I’m leaving.”
“And I’m staying.”
“Lady Dina…”
“Your people are waiting for you, Lord Arland.”
He smiled, showing me his fangs. “Until next time then.”
“Until next time.”
“He has feelings for you,” Sophie said softly.
“He likes the idea of me,” I told her. “In practice, both he and I know that this would never work.”
I turned to George.
“It is our turn,” he said.
“Yes. Congratulations on your first successful Arbitration.”
“It wouldn’t have been possible without you,” he said.