. I flew at my top speed down the river gorge. For the first few miles, the villas continued, but then gave way to terraces filled with orchards and farms, cut into craggy palisades that rose to amazing heights. I was also flying above, and once below, incredible bridges, slender fantasy-art structures that stretched amazing distances across the river, and …

. Feraen’s ‘concern’ for mortals made me remember Grandmother’s cold view of them, and fairy views of humans in general. I also recalled Serera’s almost mocking reply to my concerns about Cullen. In response, a bubble of classic fairy laughter burst out of me. As I dashed in to trade sword blows with her once again, I mocked, “Protecting the …

. The Legate had lost every ounce of the polite indifference he had been feigning.  He glowered at the fairy captain and maintained only the thinnest veneer of civility as he gave his reply. “Lady Serera, please return to the courtyard. There are excellent arbors in several locations around the perimeter where you can wait. I will have the mortals …

. Under normal circumstances, I would have woke up with my head whirling, considering what I had been told by the two angels. I mean, basically, they were planning to make me some kind of trainee angel, right? But I didn’t get the opportunity to think about such things upon waking up, because of the tongue in my ear. It …

. The HR manager and the IT lady sat at the little table near the window. The HR manager once again had a book in her hand, but I couldn’t tell anything about it due to the very plain cover. The IT lady, despite being the very picture of a yamato nadeshiko, dressed in her flower pattern long-sleeved kimono, was …

. To tell the truth, I was accustomed to prostitutes who took control. Neither of these two were doing so. I had been warned in advance by the inn that the girls they were sending had never fed a vampire before. The species just isn’t common in Relador. I decided I might as well get things started, so I simply …

. Had I ever done anything as embarrassing as this? Well, yeah, I’ve fought stark naked in broad daylight. But that was more-or-less forced on me. This time, I was the one initiating the action. It makes a difference, you know? I was staring at the little bell– it was totally the same dome-shaped call bell with a striker button …

. The main thing I needed from my lodgings was right inside the suite, unlike most inns. The luxury suites on the third floor included spacious baths, made from polished cedar, and the magic-enhanced plumbing filled the tub quite fast. Well, they weren’t Pendor House spacious, but they were big enough to fit two or three people comfortably. The inn …

. I surveyed the fairy ‘jury’ arrayed before me and shook my head. Looks like Grandmother had guessed correctly. She had given me instructions for any case where someone tried to hold any legal proceeding involving me. With my head tipped slightly, I gave the apparent leader of this kangaroo court a friendly smile. “Is that so? I have introduced …

. I didn’t have anything other than what I carried anyway, so I simply curtseyed while giving a quick goodbye to those who were paying attention and followed the rapidly departing Lady Serera. A few seconds later, Kiki had dropped onto my back for her free ride. I think she actually curled up into a ball and took a nap, …