“It is too early to tell.” He pointed to Cookie, who began picking up the gold off the floor, carefully depositing it into a large satchel and smiled. “My thrice removed cousin’s seventh son is working so hard. Such diligence. The blood always shows true in our family.”

“I can have the inn gather the gold and jewels for him,” I offered.

Nuan Cee waved his paw-hands. “Menial labor is good for the soul. I have done it for my family when I was his age, his father has done it, and his mother has done it for her family… It is a fine lesson to learn. When one starts at the bottom, there is no place to go but up. He is responsible for the riches; let him gather them.”

“It will take him awhile,” I said. “I may have to lock him in the ballroom until he is done for his own safety.” Having a tiny fox running around the inn carrying millions in jewels and gold in a canvas sack wasn’t a good idea.

“I take no insult.” Nuan Cee waved his hand again. “Keep him under lock as long as you wish.”

The merchants filed out. The vampires followed, all except Arland and Robart, who both made a beeline for me. Almost instantly both of them realized they were going to the same place. Arland glowered at Robart and sped up. The Marshall of House Vorga glowered back, matched Arland’s pace and went faster. Arland accelerated to keep up. The sight of them rapidly marching in full armor was like standing on train tracks and watching a locomotive barrel at me at full speed.

I wondered if they would sprint if the distance was great enough.

I brushed the floor with the bristles of my broom. I had turned it into a staff at the beginning of the ceremonies, but an hour into the session, I let it flow back into the broom shape. The last couple of days and the lack of sleep took their toll, and the broom felt comfortable and familiar. The floor stretched slightly, then more and more, rising at a slight incline and flowing toward the vampires like one of those moving sidewalks that transports people at airports. Except my sidewalk was moving in the opposite direction.

Neither vampire noticed that they were now going uphill and sliding backward with each step. They were still neck and neck and not getting any closer.

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

At the wall Jack chuckled into his fist.

I put a little more speed into the floor. They had to notice now.

The marshalls redoubled their efforts. They were almost running now. If I didn’t stop this now, they might crash into each other and I would have blood on my hands.

“My lords! I’m not a castle. You don’t have to storm me.”

Both vampires stopped in their tracks. The floor stopped as well. Normal people would have lost their balance, stumbled, and possibly landed on their faces. The two vampires leapt up simultaneously, like two great jungle cats, and landed on their respective sides of what was once a moving sidewalk. The floor thudded, accepting the full weight of their armor.

Jack dissolved into a coughing fit.

Don’t laugh, don’t laugh, don’t laugh…

The two vampires strode toward me and said in one voice, “Lady Dina…”

Oh no.

The marshalls clamped their mouths shut and tried to kill each other with their stares.

I squeezed my left hand into a fist. If I guffawed in their faces, I could kiss any further business from the Holy Anocracy good-bye.

“Lord Robart, how may I help you?”

Robart shot a triumphant look at Arland. “I’ve paid the Arbiter’s price for the car.”

“Yes, you have. Thank you, the giant water serpent was delicious.”

Robart blinked, momentarily thrown off track, but recovered. “I will have my knight returned to me.”

Knight? What knight? Oh shoot. I had completely forgotten about the vampire who’d almost chopped the police car in a half. I’d left him in the basement holding cell for almost four hours. I concentrated. The knight was alive and well. He was sitting on the floor meditating. I gave the floor a little push and felt it slide up, carrying the knight with it.

“You will find your knight in your quarters.”

Robart nodded. His gaze narrowed. “Perhaps if you were less heavy-handed in your treatment of the guests you claim to honor and protect, your inn would have a higher rating.”

He did not. Oh yes, yes he did. “Perhaps if you trained the knights under your command to follow simple orders, your House would’ve reached greater prominence within your empire.”

Robart locked his jaw.

If my smile were any sweeter, you could pour it on pancakes and call it syrup. “Good night, Marshall. Lord Arland, how may I assist you?”

Robart turned and stalked off to the vampire entrance.

Arland nodded at me, his face grave. “I’ve come to check on the progress of the car.”

“Of course. Give me a moment to set things in order.”

“Take all the time you require,” Arland said.

I watched Robart exit and dissolved the door behind him. Caldenia rose in her box, waved at me, and retired, Beast following her. I’d have to pick her brain tomorrow for any insights. Only Arland, Cookie, Jack and I remained. I turned to Jack. “Did you need anything?”

He shook his head. “Just making sure everyone goes to bed like good boys and girls. See you in the morning.”

Jack went out the front entrance.

I exhaled quietly and walked over to Cookie, who was crawling around on his hands and knees. “Hey there. I have to leave for a couple of minutes but I will be back soon. I’m going to lock the doors, so you will be safe in here. But if something goes wrong, call me and I will be right over.”

Cookie nodded and dropped a sapphire the size of a gummy bear into his bag.

I led Arland back to the stables, sealing the ballroom with Cookie in it as we left. Beast caught up with me and hopped into my arms, gazing at me in canine adoration. That was the wonderful thing about dogs. If you are gone for a day or for an hour, they are just as ecstatic when you come back.

The engineer knight and Nuan Cee’s niece were quietly chatting. Officer Marais still lay on the tarp on the floor where we left him. His chest rose up and down in a measured rhythm. A small smile spread his lips. He must’ve been dreaming about something fun. For a moment I envied him the sleep. I was so tired.

The cruiser sat in the middle of the stables. It looked intact.

Hardwir opened the hood and showed me the engine. “Behold.”