Ruah took another step. The top half of him slid off and landed on the floor.

The banquet hall erupted as the vampires and otrokari charged at each other. The Nuan clansmen pulled out razor sharp daggers and formed a protective circle around the grandmother.

I tapped my broom to the floor.

Suddenly the grand ballroom was calm and quiet. Everyone who had managed to jump over their table and land had sunken into the floor up to their noses. Everyone who had been in mid-air was stuck to the wall, held there by inn’s roots. Only the leaders, Turan Adin, and Sophie remained standing.

“This is good,” I said. “I like this. Nice and quiet.” I turned to George. “Tell me no again and you will join them.”

It took me twenty minutes to sort the guests into their respective quarters and confine them there until everyone calmed down. That left me with leaders and corpses.

I turned to the Khanum first and pointed at Ruah’s pieces. “You’ve spat on my hospitality,” I said quietly. She could’ve ordered Ruah to stop and didn’t.

The Khanum’s face took on a dark red tint, as blood rushed to her skin.

“Under normal circumstances I would force you to leave this house, but I’m bound by my agreement with the Office of Arbitration.”

“Think of a boon,” the Khanum said. “We will atone.”

“I will,” I promised her and turned to Robart. “Are you satisfied?”

He drew back. “I didn’t…”

“You invited them here. They came like bandits, without their standard, without declaring the honor of their House. They came with one purpose: to do violence and cripple the negotiations beyond repair. You knew this and you did nothing to stop them.”

Robart winced.

“Now four people are dead. Elderly and children have been put in danger.”

Robart took a step back. I was so angry, my voice cut like a knife. I should’ve stopped – this was beyond the limit of my duties, but I was furious.

“Congratulations. You did it. You let House Meer pull your strings like a puppet. Now your people will keep dying on Nexus, while House Meer attacks House Krahr. Every vampire who is killed there, every spouse who weeps alone, every child who is robbed of their parent, all of that is on your soul. Enjoy.”

Robart opened his mouth.

“We will make amends,” Lady Isur promised.

I ignored her. I was going to let everyone have a piece of my mind. “Mr. Camarine.”

George snapped into a coldly regal stance. A few days ago I would’ve cared. Right now, not so much.

“People died in my inn because you stopped me. The reputation of Gertrude Hunt is irrevocably damaged.”

George opened his mouth.

“Guests are dead on the floor!” I snapped. “In my inn! Everything I worked for, everything I stand for, is ruined. No amount of money will make this right. My professional integrity is compromised. I allowed this to happen because you wanted to play games.”

George opened his mouth.

“Do not speak to me,” I told him. “You may be the Arbiter, but I am still the Innkeeper.”

I pivoted to the shaman and the Battle Chaplain. “You will conduct the rights to appease the spirits of the fallen and to shepherd their souls into the afterlife. Cleanse this main hall of the stain of their deaths. Then you will take the bodies of your dead. Bury them, set them on fire, deliver them to their families, do whatever it is that must be done. You have tonight.”

The shaman and the battle chaplain looked at each other.

“At the same time?” Odalon asked.

“Yes. No special provisions will be made. I’m done tiptoeing around your customs. I have honored your people’s wishes and they spat in my face. Deal with it.”

I turned to Turan Adin. “My apologies for the poor reception. Please follow me. I have quarters prepared for you.”

I led him out of the hall. My future was in shambles. It would be really difficult to come back from this disaster.

We passed the kitchen and through the doorway I saw Orro curled into a ball on the floor. Oh no.

I rushed into the kitchen and dropped by him. I couldn’t see head or feet. He was just a ball of spikes.

“Are you injured? Orro?”

No response.

“Orro?”

A muffled voice came from somewhere within the ball. “What is the point of my existence?”

Not wounded. At least not physically. I breathed a sigh of relief, sat on the floor, and gently patted the dark fur between his spikes. “Don’t talk like that.”

“This was to be my comeback.”

“It still is. That chicken smelled like nirvana. I never saw so many beings eat so fast. Caldenia was licking her fork. You even got sworn enemies to forget their revenge for a few moments.”

“I didn’t even get to the dessert. I had a whole cavalcade of desserts. I didn’t even serve the palate cleanser after the main course. I am a failure.” His voice quivered with real despair.

I glanced at Turan Adin. He waited by the wall, a silent shadow.

“No, you’re not. You’re the best chef I’ve ever met. Years from now nobody will remember that some people got killed, but they will remember that chicken.”

“You think so?” he asked softly.

“I know so. People push aside unpleasant memories and remember the good things. Your food makes people happy, Orro.” I held out my hand. “I need the gift now.”