Arland blocked Maud’s sword. She reversed her hold, gripping the blade, and clubbed him with the pommel. The blow landed right between his eyes. Arland went down.

“Yield!” my sister snarled.

Arland burst from the ground, sweeping her off her feet like a charging bull, and drove her into a tree. Maud’s back slapped the bark, her feet four inches off the ground. He pinned her there.

If I interfered, there would be hell to pay.

“Yield, my lady.” Arland bared his teeth an inch away from her neck.

She glared at him. “I don’t yield.”

The ground under Arland’s feet opened and swallowed him up to his knees. He let go. Maud dropped down, picked up her sword, and walked away.

I sighed and let Arland up out of the hole.

Maud threw the sword into the rack and stomped onto the porch.

“You cheated,” I told her.

“Yeah, yeah.” She went into the house and slammed the door behind her.

I took my hand back from Sean.

Arland stretched, wincing, picked up the practice mace and walked to the porch. Red welts covered his pale skin. He looked like someone had worked him over with a sack of potatoes.

Helen stood on her toes and punched him in the stomach.

“Ow,” he said.

Helen hissed, grinned, and ran inside.

The Marshal of House Krahr opened his mouth.

I braced myself.

“Your sister is magnificent,” Arland said.

* * *

Maud the Magnificent swished water in her mouth and spat blood out into the bathroom sink. I helpfully held out a towel for her. She looked at herself in the mirror. “No.”

“Suit yourself.”

She turned and took the towel. “I was talking to myself.”

“Oh? Was it no as in no more sparring matches or no as in Arland Krahr is vampire sex on a stick and seducing him would be a terrible idea?” I stepped back in case I had to duck.

She blotted her face with the towel. “No, as in I won’t let myself be goaded again. Also, Dina, seducing? You’ve been hanging out with Caldenia too long.”

“Helen likes him. She punched him in the stomach after you stormed off.”

“Should’ve aimed lower.”

The inn chimed, letting me know the Hiru requested my attention.

I waved my hand. A screen opened in the side of the wall. On it the Hiru leaned forward, his mechanical wheezing fast and loud.

“The second member of the Archivarius!”

“Where and when?” I asked.

“He’s unable to reach Earth. He’s on Baha-char awaiting retrieval.”

“Where on Baha-char?” Maud asked. “It’s a big place.”

“Ninth Row, past the Merchants of Death. The member is arriving in an argon tank in fifteen minutes and will need to be picked up from Aka Lorvus, merchant. Your locator will pick up the signal.”

“Thank you. Will you be joining us for breakfast?”

The Hiru paused. “You do not have to continue to invite me. I know my appearance brings you discomfort.”

“It’s an instinctual reaction and it only lasts a few moments. We’re more than our instincts.”

“I will consider it,” he said. “But I may remain in my room.”

“I understand. Will you tell me your name, at least?”

A long silence stretched.

“Sunset,” the Hiru said finally. “My name is Sunset.”

“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.