“What will happen?” Marais asked.
“Innkeepers will either kill you or leave you in some hellhole,” Sean said. “You’ll never get home.”
I could tell by his face that Marais didn’t like it.
“It wouldn’t be good for people to find out,” I said. “We’re a young civilization. People would panic. They would lose their faith. They would want to go to war with the universe. You have police codes, because you don’t want bystanders showing up to every crime scene. You restrict public access. So do we.”
Marais mulled it over. “What about the pale-haired punk? What’s his deal?”
It took about ten minutes to explain the Hiru and the Draziri. I had to go into detail on innkeeper's powers and inn’s grounds.
“So they are in violation of the treaty and nothing happened so far. This doesn’t fill me with confidence as to the effectiveness of your internal law enforcement.”
“I’ve reported it,” I explained. “It takes time.”
“Is there any way I can look at this treaty?” Marais asked.
In for a penny, in for a pound. “Yes.”
I opened a screen in the wall and brought the treaty up on it. Marais took out a notepad and a pen and began taking notes. We waited. Fifteen minutes later, he stood up.
“So?” I asked. “What now?”
“Now I’ll have to think about it. No more acts of violence outside of the inn,” he said. “At least try to keep it to a minimum. I’ll let you know what I decide. I can tell you that so far you are in the clear. I sat in the cruiser after the fight and nobody came out to check with me and no emergency calls had been made. It’s the morning after a holiday. Most people slept in.”
He turned to leave. Orro blocked his way and thrust a paper box into his hands. “For your captain. I hope it will lessen the screaming and keep you from giving up your badge.”
Marais glanced at me.
“He’s been binge-watching Lethal Weapon movies,” I explained.
“Thank you,” Marais said and walked out.
“You think he’ll keep quiet?” Maud asked.
“He’s had a magic space car for several weeks now and, so far, hasn’t said anything,” I said.
“If not, I know where he lives,” Sean said.
I turned to him. “How?”
“I followed him home one night when we were hunting the dahaka.”
“That’s creepy.”
He shrugged.
“Sean, you’re not killing Officer Marais.”
Sean smiled a long wolf smile, reached out, and patted my hand.
“I’ll help you kill him,” Arland said.
“Sean Evans!” I put my hands on my hips.
“I’m trying to meditate,” Maud ground out. “Can you take your lover’s spat somewhere else?”
“Relax,” Sean told me. “I’m pulling your leg. Marais is a good guy. I’ll see him out. I’ve got an errand to run anyway.”
He went outside. I dropped the void field, felt him and Marais pass over the boundary, and pulled it up again.
Well, one of my guests was almost murdered and the inn was pretty much exposed. This wasn’t a good day so far.
Arland’s crest, which he’d put on the corner of the tub, came alive with red light. Arland reached over to check it. His eyes went wide. He swore, scrambled up, and fell all the way into the tub, splashing.
Oh no.
Arland surfaced, his long blond hair stuck to his head.
“What is it?” I asked.
“What?” Maud jumped to her feet.
“Is it war?” Helen’s eyes shone, catching the light.
“It’s worse.” Arland groaned. “My uncle is coming. Someone get me a robe. I have to get out of this tub.”
*
It was late afternoon and a delectable scent floated through the kitchen. Orro was in the throes of preparing dinner. Her Grace sat at the table, delicately sipping a Mello Yello. A large straw hat lay next to her. After Arland escaped the tub, she put on her hat and announced that she would be gardening. I kept an eye on her, and her gardening mostly consisted of snipping some small branches with garden shears and talking. I couldn’t see who she was talking to, but considering our situation, she was probably having discussions with the Draziri. She didn’t share anything she learned, and knowing her, asking about it would do no good.