Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles Book 4)
Page 28
Otubar fixed Arland with a heavy stare. “You did well.”
Arland looked like hiding under the blanket had occurred to him as well and he was seriously pondering the merits of that idea.
“We are breaking the survivors up into small batches and shipping them off to Karhari,” Ilemina said. “We have several drop points around the planet, so there will be little chance of them reuniting.”
“What about the Kozor and Serak Houses?” Maud asked. “Who will be in charge now?”
Ilemina sneered. “House Krahr doesn’t concern itself with the petty political squabbles of minor Houses. I can tell you who won’t be in charge: the idiots who thought to test the might of Krahr. If they want to travel to Karhari and retrieve what’s left of their former leaders, that is their burden. I have a feeling they will be in no hurry to do so. No matter; on to more important things. I understand my son has asked you to marry him?”
“Mother,” Arland snarled.
“Yes,” Maud said.
“Did you accept?”
“Yes.”
Ilemina smiled, baring her fangs. “Excellent. We have some impressive recordings of the both of you from the battle on the station, lots of blood, many severed limbs. They are working on it now. We will splice it in with the wedding announcement. Shall we say a month from now? The valas will be in full bloom. You don’t want to get married on the battle station, do you?”
Arland put his left hand over his face.
Both Ilemina and Otubar stared at her.
“Ummm, no?” Maud said, not sure if she should brace herself. “I would prefer a traditional wedding…”
“That’s my girl,” Ilemina said. “Recuperate now. I will give the two of you the rest of today. Tomorrow the Marshal will need to assess our losses and the assets we’ve seized, and the Maven will have to go back to the negotiating table, because the aliens want edits to the pact and trade station plans and I cannot be trusted to not kill them while they bargain with us.”
Otubar reached over and plucked Helen from the bed. “Come with me, child. It’s time we tested you with other weapons.”
“If you do well, I will give you cake,” Ilemina said.
Helen’s eyes lit up. “What kind of cake?”
“The delicious kind,” Otubar told her. He set her on his massive shoulder like she was a parrot and carried her out of the room. Ilemina watched them go with a smile, followed them, and paused in the doorway.
“By the way,” she said, “I was going to tell you once you both had properly recovered, but since you’re awake, I might as well. A human is here to see you. I was going to turn him away, but he is an Arbitrator, which presents some difficulties. His name is Klaus. He says he is your brother.”
THE END
Also by Ilona Andrews
Kate Daniels Series
MAGIC BITES
MAGIC BLEEDS
MAGIC BURNS
MAGIC STRIKES
MAGIC MOURNS
MAGIC BLEEDS
MAGIC DREAMS
MAGIC SLAYS
GUNMETAL MAGIC
MAGIC GIFTS
MAGIC RISES
MAGIC BREAKS
MAGIC STEALS
MAGIC SHIFTS
MAGIC STARS
MAGIC BINDS
MAGIC TRIUMPHS
The Iron Covenant
IRON AND MAGIC
UNTITLED IRON AND MAGIC #2
Hidden Legacy Series
BURN FOR ME
WHITE HOT
WILDFIRE
DIAMOND FIRE
SAPPHIRE FLAMES
Innkeeper Chronicles Series
CLEAN SWEEP
SWEEP IN PEACE
ONE FELL SWEEP
SWEEP OF THE BLADE
The Edge Series
ON THE EDGE
BAYOU MOON
FATE’S EDGE
STEEL’S EDGE
About the Author
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team, Gordon and Ilona. They currently reside in Texas with their two children and numerous dogs and cats. The couple are the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors of the Kate Daniels and Kate Daniels World novels as well as The Edge and Hidden Legacy series. They also write the Innkeeper Chronicles series, which they post as a free weekly serial. For a complete list of their books, fun extras, and Innkeeper installments, please visit their website at http://www.ilona-andrews.com/.
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