“It’s a beautiful name.”
He severed the connection.
I waved the screen closed. At least we had a longer window this time.
“Let me get the Archivarian,” Maud said.
It was the most logical choice. If I left the inn, the void field would drop. The inn wouldn’t be defenseless, but why tempt fate?
“You got the last one. I hate that you’re doing all the work.”
Maud waved the towel. “We’re a team. Look, I’ll go grab that blond fool and we’ll be back here in no time.”
“You could take Sean.”
She shook her head. “No. Arland is an arrogant, aggressive, bull-headed ass…”
“Don’t hold anything back.”
“…but he looks damn impressive in armor and he hits like a battering ram. I’ve fought more in these past years than in my whole life. I’ve beaten vampires that were bigger, but after sparring with him, my arms felt like they were going to fall off. If I take Arland, I won’t have to fight. People see that walking castle barrel toward them and get out of the way, and if someone doesn’t, he’ll smash them with his mace until there is nothing left except blood and mush. Dina, I haven’t been to Baha-char in years, but I’ve been going there longer than you. Let me do this.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll go get my armor. I want to test the crest anyway.”
She took off, marching toward Arland’s rooms. A moment later I heard her voice. “Lord Marshal? Would you care for an excursion?”
Yes, he would. In fact, I had a feeling he would be thrilled.
*
Ten minutes later, I watched Maud and Arland step through the doorway at the end of the hall into the bright sunshine of the galactic market place. The door sealed shut behind them. Beast whined softly by my feet.
“I know. They will be okay.”
I sighed and took a mental tally of my guests. Helen was in the garage with Wing, the Hiru was in his quarters, the first member of the Archivarius was in his tank, Sean and Caldenia were on the back porch, and Orro, predictably, lingered in the kitchen. Everyone’s accounted for.
What would Caldenia and Sean be talking about? I headed toward the back porch. Beast dashed ahead of me.
Sean sat at the table, an array of parts spread before him on a green tarp. No doubt the parts fit together into some sort of deadly weapon. Caldenia sipped Mello Yello in a rocking chair. Beast wagged her tail at me from her spot on a chair next to Sean.
I turned my back to the trees in case someone decided to read my lips.
“We have the second retrieval,” I said. “At Baha-char. Maud and Arland left to get it.”
“How much time do they have?” Sean asked.
“It’s arriving already in a tank, so plenty of time.”
Sean nodded and went back to tinkering.
“It’s such a lovely day,” Caldenia said. “You should take your niece and your adorable dog for a walk along the force field boundary.”
I looked at her.
“You should also wear some equipment so we can hear any conversations you may have.” Her Grace sipped her drink.
Oh. “Would Kiran Mrak want to talk?”
“He knows nothing about you. You’re a mystery. Trust me, my dear. If he’s any good at what he does, he’ll want to talk. He won’t pass up the opportunity to gather information and take your measure.”
Sean reached into the bag by his feet and pulled out a small plastic box with a clear top and a layer of complex electronics embedded in the white bottom. A flesh-colored patch the size of a penny was inside. I took the box. I could’ve just had my voice resonate at any point from the inn, but he went through the trouble of finding a gadget for me and I would wear it. I pried the box open and swiped the patch with my finger. It immediately mimicked my skin tone, blending so completely, I couldn’t find it by looking alone.
“Where should I put this?”
“By your ear works best,” he said.
I touched the patch to the spot just under my right ear. It stuck. Pale green light pulsed through the box.
“Give him as little information as possible,” Caldenia said. “Don’t be obvious in your questions or he’ll stop talking. But do push him, dear. If you feel any splashes of emotion from him, use it and test it to see if you can get a reaction.”
“Come on, Beast!” I said in stereo, one sound coming from my mouth and the other from the box.
The Shih-Tzu jumped off the chair and she and I started toward the edge of the void field.
I strolled along the boundary. Beast trailed me, stopping to sniff at random clumps of grass and fascinating sticks.