Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles #4) - Ilona Andrews Page 0,33

his turquoise eyes.

“This is my daughter, Helen.”

The lees let out a collective squee.

“She is so cute!”

“Look at her hair!”

“Look at her little boots!”

Helen stood in the whirlwind of lees, looking slightly freaked out, like a cat greeted by a pack of overly enthusiastic little dogs.

“I am Nuan Nana,” the lees who found them announced. “Come with me. We have the best sweets.”

Maud hid a smile as the lees dragged Helen to the nearest table and thrust a dish of candy under her nose.

“Have you seen your sister?” Nuan Cee asked.

“Yes. She is all grown up.”

“And an innkeeper!” Nuan Cee raised his hands. “Who would have thought?”

Maud laughed. It was that or crying.

“What are you doing here?” Nuan Cee asked.

“It’s complicated.”

“Come, come.” He led her to a divan by his pillow.

Someone brought her a glass of sweet wine. Someone else delivered a dish of ru candy. She ate one, savoring the taste melting on her tongue, sweet with a slight touch of sour, but so refreshing; it was as if her whole mouth sang.

“Tell me all about it,” Nuan Cee said.

6

Tell me all about it.

Oh you clever, clever lees. Maud leaned back and laughed.

Clan Nuan watched her. For some reason it cracked her up even more. She laughed until she snorted.

“Did I say something funny?” Nuan Cee inquired.

Maud managed to get the giggles under control, enough to squeeze out a few words. “How long was Nuan Nana waiting in that hallway for me?”

The room was suddenly quiet.

“I mean, it had to be since the beginning of the dinner, since you had no way of knowing if or when I would throw a hissy fit and storm out in a huff. I’ve been wondering since I came through the door why a Merchant of Baha-char, a distinguished guest, wasn’t at dinner. This is so well done, Honorable Nuan Cee. The pillows, the veils, even the candy. Here I am, all alone, a stranger in a strange land, and you’re bringing back all of my childhood memories. Such a clever, manipulative trap. I’m primed and ready to spill all of my secrets.”

For a moment the Merchant just stared at her. Then Nuan Cee raised his paw-hands and dramatically rolled his eyes. “You can’t win them all.”

The lees around them giggled.

“You’re as ruthless as ever,” Maud said.

“You flatter me, Matilda,” Nuan Cee said.

“Are there jammers active in here?” she asked.

“Please.” Nuan Cee waved his left hand. “Of course there are. We jam the audio, but we do give them the video feed. We have to give them something or they will throw us out.”

They were being watched, but not heard. Just what she expected. “Did you bug the feast hall?” Maud asked.

Nuan Cee rocked his head side to side, then grinned. “Yes.”

Maud chuckled and popped another piece of candy into her mouth.

“You can’t blame me, though,” Nuan Cee said. “You wield great influence over the Marshal.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Oh please. Arland is besotted with you.”

“Besotted?”

“Yes. I’ve used that word correctly. If there was a river of fire and you were on the other side of it, he would strip off his ridiculous armor and swim through the flames to get to you.”

Maud laughed. “First, the tachi, then you. What is this really about?”

“I doubt the tachi know about your relationship. They are academics,” Nuan Cee said. “Which does not mean they won’t pounce on you once they know.”

“What is this about?”

“Business.” Nuan Cee bared a mouth full of sharp teeth. “And a great deal of money.”

“I’m listening.”

He reached over, took a tall glass of some pink liquid from a side table and sipped it. “You have seen the battle station?”

“I have.”

“The battle station changed everything. This is now the safest area of space within this quadrant. There are many trade routes that intersect here, or they could, provided there was a safe haven. A place where a spaceship could dock easily without worrying about burning fuel in orbit. A place of trade and commerce.”

The light went on in Maud’s head. “You want House Krahr to build a space station.”

“Yes. And I’m trying to give them money for it.”

“A space station in vampire territory giving access to other species? Dozens of foreign vessels docking in the Holy Anocracy’s system? That has never been done.”

Maud sipped her pink wine. It tasted like watermelon, strawberry, and sweet grapes rolled into one.

Nuan Cee groaned. “How can a spacefaring species be so close-minded? They already built the battle station. They have made this expensive thing that can guard