Sweep of the Blade (Innkeeper Chronicles #4) - Ilona Andrews Page 0,67
stayed.
Behind Arland, Knight Ruin stepped out of the doors, a tablet in his hands. He saw Arland and broke into a run, heading toward them.
“Now you’re leaving,” Arland ground out. “I just want to know why. What is it about me you find lacking? What is it?”
“Are you done?” she asked.
“Lord Arland!” Knight Ruin called out. “I have an urgent message from Lord Soren.”
“I deserve an answer. Surely, you can give me that much.”
“The Writ of Command, Part Seven.”
He frowned. “Prohibition of fraternization between knights separated by more than three ranks? What does that have to do with anything?”
She stepped closer to him, raised her hand, and gently popped him on the forehead.
The young knight reached them and thrust a tablet at Arland.
Maud turned around and walked away.
“Maud, wait!”
The change in his tone told her he finally got it.
She sped up. He couldn’t outright run after her. He would look like an idiot to the audience below.
“Get this infernal tablet out of my face! Maud, wait!”
The moment she entered the tower, she sprinted down the stairs. As soon as he untangled himself from Knight Ruin, he would chase her to inquire about the exact nature of fraternization she had in mind, and she didn’t want to have this conversation in the tower. She wanted to have it in her quarters or his, after they had been swept clear of Nuan Cee’s bugs. She needed to get down to that lawn as fast as she could.
Maud emerged from the tower into the sunshine. Directly in front of her, a stone path led to a wide-open lawn ringed by trees. She strode forward to where stone benches and small tables had been placed to accommodate small groups, offering a clear view of the lawn. Many of the benches were occupied; vampires in full armor lounged, snacked on finger foods presented on large platters, and drank refreshments. The air smelled of charred meat, fresh bread, and honey. A banner marked each sitting area, announcing the allegiance of its occupants. Most of the seats directly in front of her, spread out in a crescent, were taken by House Krahr, the line of black and red pennants familiar and almost welcoming. House Kozor curved to the right, its colors red and green. House Serak lined the left side. Their banners, blue and yellow, waved in the breeze.
On the lawn, two teams, one red and black, the other comprised of both Kozor and Serak, clashed with practice weapons. Krim, Maud realized, the Holy Anocracy’s favorite sport. One team had drawn a circle roughly fifty feet wide. In the middle of the circle a fifteen-foot pillar about eighteen inches across supported a white flag. The defenders positioned themselves around the pillar, guarding it, while the attackers tried to break through and grab the flag. It wasn’t a complicated game, but what it lacked in complexity, it more than made up for in sheer brutality. This time, Krahr defended. Everyone wore full armor, carried practice weapons, and sported headbands equipped with sensors. The headbands analyzed input from the armor and flashed when the wearer sustained enough damage to die.
“Lady Maud!” a familiar voice called.
Well, look at that. She managed not to cringe. “My Lady Ilemina?”
The Preceptor of House Krahr sat at a table to her right. The Lord Consort loomed in the chair next to her like an immovable mountain of vampire knighthood.
“Join us,” Lady Ilemina said. It didn’t sound like a request.
Great, just what she wanted, to be on display next to her possible future mother-in-law.
Behind her the door of the tower slid open and Arland stepped onto the path.
On second thought, joining Lady Ilemina was an excellent idea. Maud walked over and took a seat on Ilemina’s left. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Arland stalking down the path toward them.
Yes, yes. Stalk all you want. There was no way he would be discussing any kind of fraternization in front of his mother and stepfather. She’d outmaneuvered him. For some odd reason, it made her feel ridiculously accomplished.
On the lawn, House Krahr, led by Karat, formed a dense ring of bodies around the pillar. Houses Kozor and Serak split their forces, preparing to attack from opposite sides. A familiar blond mane caught Maud’s eye on Kozor’s side. Seveline was leading their assault.
“They’re using the Pincher attack,” Ilemina said.
“Seems badly thought out,” Lord Otubar said. “There aren’t enough of them to effectively break through, and she knows they’re coming. Too crude.”