We planned on giving you a bigger section, because we thought you might perish from suspense, but we still have construction going on. We will try to give you either a bigger section or two posts next week, so try to hold on until then.
When we last left our fearsome innkeeper duo (I’m having so much fun with these recaps), Sean had taken down the pirate vessel that attacked the inn’s branch reaching out to the planet of Kolinda. He had crushed the pirates, but mysteries remain: how did they know that Gertrude Hunt had a door leading to the planet and where it was? What was their motive? Who is the pirate prince masquerading as one of the candidates? Stay tuned to find out. Maybe.
I opened my eyes. The slanted ceiling above me was shrouded in gloom except for a narrow rectangle of moonlight coming through the top of the window. The clock on the wall told me it was just past one. We’d gone to bed thirty minutes ago, after locking everyone in.
“What is it?” Sean asked.
“Caldenia.”
There was a tiny pause as he checked. “How the hell…?”
“Gaston or Tony.”
My money was on Gaston. I had given both of them temporary privileges to open doors to guest quarters, because we needed all of the manpower we could get, and they ended up escorting various groups of guests back and forth. As the first, the longest, and the most special guest of the inn, Caldenia had access to all common areas and could roam freely, but it would have taken either Gaston or Tony to unlock the doors to the otrokar delegation and let her in there.
I got up. “She’s been in there for twenty minutes. I’m going to get her.”
“I’ll go.”
“I’ve got it.” I leaned over and kissed him. “Rest. You’ve done plenty. I need to talk to her anyway.”
“We should lock her in,” he grumbled.
“She would be mortally offended.”
I got up, took my robe off the hook, and slipped it on. Nobody needed to know that I was wearing underwear and a tank top underneath. Finding my sandals seemed too hard, so I stuck my feet into a pair of flowery crocs Sean kept making fun of, took my broom, and headed to the otrokar section.
I had made the otrokar quarters for the peace summit that freed Sean from being the Turan Adin. At the time, it housed the Khanum, Dagorkun’s mother, and her delegation. All otrokars tribes had similar requirements: private bedrooms for the leaders and the shaman, communal bedrooms for the warriors, a large common area with a sunken in fire pit, and a secondary meeting area with another fire pit, where the leaders could hold private meetings. Tailoring the rooms to the current otrokar delegation took ten minutes. I had adjusted the colors to reflect the Southern sensibilities, added another bedroom, and called it a day.
At this time of night most of the otrokars would be in the common area, probably playing dice or telling stories before going to sleep. The Hope Crushing Horde had robust oral traditions, born at the time when their nomadic tribes traversed their homeworld following the seasonal rains. They would ride their vicious savok mounts all day and then set up camp, cook their food by the fire, and recount stories of heroes from long-gone ages.
The modern Horde warriors rarely had a chance to grill their meals over an open flame, and the skies above them usually shone with unfamiliar stars, but some traditions remained sacred. The same stories that had once echoed over the plains of the ancestral planet were now told in the hulls of massive spaceships on the way to the next interstellar conquest.
I swept the quarters with my senses. As expected, the majority of the group was in the common area, but two beings chose to be apart, on the balcony overlooking the orchard. One of them was Caldenia. The other was… Surkar, the otrokar’s spousal candidate.
I approached from the orchard side. I had put a barrier in place, so the otrokars could view the orchard, but they couldn’t jump down into it. I had no such limitations. The barrier slid over me like it wasn’t even there, and I paused in the shadows, directly under the stone terrace. I had gotten poisoned on this balcony and almost died, and then Sean had sold himself into eternal servitude to the Merchants to save me. Fun times.
A fire burned in the pit above me. The inn had a strained relationship with fire, and it was acutely aware of the small knot of heat and flames. The night breeze brought a faint scent of red tea. The Khanum preferred wanla, a stronger, coarser version she’d called ‘poor people’s tea,” but this smelled like a more refined, expensive variety.
Caldenia was talking in a low voice. The last time she used that tone, a Draziri warrior betrayed his commander and tried to murder him in the middle of the battle.
Gertrude Hunt offered me a branch. I stepped on it and the inn lifted me up, dissolving the seemingly solid stone above my head. I rose out of the terrace like a wraith.
The balcony had no lamps. The illumination came from the fire pit and the soft light of the common room behind it. Her Grace sat half in shadow, flame highlights dancing over her face, and sipped her tea from an ornate clay cup. She had abandoned the elaborate evening gowns in favor of her Earth clothes: a pair of grey jeans, white T-shirt, and a black leather jacket, which was entirely too warm considering the lingering heat. The outfit said, “These are comfortable clothes. I’m not dressing up. I’m among friends.”
To her left, Surkar wore a kilt, soft boots, and nothing else, letting the light of the fire dance over what he believed to be the galaxy’s best chest.
Caldenia tone was sardonic and slightly bitter. “…his father was the same. Let’s just say that their deductive powers leave much to be desired. Some people simply must be confronted with the obvious.”
Surkar nodded, his face thoughtful. The two of them were completely at ease, two conspirators murmuring over the fire.
Lingering here any longer would be eavesdropping.
“Your Grace,” I said.
Surkar jerked. That’s right, fear my stealthy ways.
“Alas, my babysitter has arrived.” Caldenia set her cup down. “I suppose you’ve come to fetch me to my rooms?”
“You’re free to access all common areas of the inn at any time, Your Grace. However, that privilege doesn’t extend to the private rooms of other guests.”
“She was invited,” Surkar said, his voice hard.
“Be that as it may, visiting hours are over for everyone’s safety.”
“She is welcome to stay as long as she wishes,” the otrokar said.
“Don’t fuss, dear. I will go.” Caldenia rose. “Rules are rules, after all. I’ll leave you with this parting thought: strength begets strength. If you desire something, make it known. Reach out and seize it.”
Surkar nodded as if he heard something profound. Caldenia, the Tony Robbins of the Galaxy.
Her Grace fixed me with a look and sighed. “Lead the way.”
I pushed with my magic. A staircase sprouted from the balcony leading into the orchard. Caldenia took it. I followed her, dissolving the stairs behind us.
We walked down the flagstone path through the orchard gardens. The moon had hidden behind a cloud, and the darkness leeched colors from the plants, painting the flower beds that were verdant in daylight in a dozen shades of black, charcoal, and hunter green. I sent a pulse down the path. Cream-colored globes ignited next to it, illuminating the stone just enough to see.
“Is my nephew awake?” Caldenia asked.
I checked. “Yes.”
She sighed. “I may have to speak to our lovely chef. Kosandion will sleep very little for the next few weeks. He will need enhanced nutrition.”
“Why?”
“Because of Odikas, of course.”
“I thought it was settled.” Kosandion already won.
She gave me a short laugh. “Oh no, my dear. Removing Odikas was only the opening salvo. Now the real fight begins.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Power abhors a vacuum. With Odikas gone, the members of his Conservative Alliance will scramble to climb onto his now empty throne, shoving and kicking each other out of the way. This is a gambit years in the making. The boy planned it beautifully and executed it well, but now he must maneuver pieces on the game board to push the right candidate to the top without anyone realizing they have been manipulated.”
Oh.
“My money is on Dulvia of Tar. She is aggressive and power hungry. Of all of them, she wants it the most, yet she’s shrewd enough to realize that she is the least qualified for it. That sense of hidden inferiority is priceless. If she ascends, she’ll spend years stomping out any opposing factions in the conservative block. She will go after anyone brighter than her to destroy competition before it has a chance to blossom into a threat. By the time she consolidates her power base, Kosandion will have everything in place to steer her in the direction of his choosing, and the Conservative Alliance overall will be weaker, less creative, and easier to handle. Dina, you have a strange expression on your face.”
“I’m relieved that I am who I am.”
“And not my niece?” Caldenia smiled.
“Yes.”
“You are a child of innkeepers. You were born into this life, and your every experience contributed to your education. By the time you reached adulthood, you were an expert. Kosandion and I were born to be fit to rule well. I do not mean this in a pompous way of entitlement. I mean it as a statement of fact. We were genetically enhanced with a careful selection of traits that made us capable administrators and nuanced leaders. Then we were educated in the way of governance from the moment we opened our eyes. We are highly specialized skilled workers, bred for the purpose of leading interstellar nations, and we have an added incentive of painful death in case of failure that drives us to excel.”
“The responsibility must be crushing.”
Caldenia sighed. “It is, at times. But then this is what we do. And let’s face it, tearing down your enemies is a great deal of fun. You are a picture of restraint, but a part of you enjoys flexing your power when the occasion requires. Kosandion is much the same. An embodiment of self-discipline and decorum until it’s time to stab and rip the still beating heart out of the chest of his enemy. It’s just that his stabs take a great deal of work and much preparation.”
The boy planned it beautifully… There wasn’t just admiration in her voice. There was familial pride.
“I have some bad news for Kosandion,” I said.
Caldenia stopped. “How bad?”
I paused. We’d come to an intersection of several paths, where they joined into a round patio.
“Politically difficult.”
“Tell me.”
I did.
Midway through Caldenia started pacing. It was a violent movement, fueled by rage. She’d picked up a small branch somewhere, about the width of my finger, and she flicked her thumbnail across it as she walked back and forth, slicing perfect little sections off it with each slide of her thumb. She was like the proverbial caged tiger, flicking her tail, looking for an opening.
I finally finished.
“You must tell him now.”
“I was planning to tell him in the morning.”
She stopped and glared at me. “No. Now. The sooner he knows, the better. I realize you have no obligation to share this information, and your innkeeper’s duty is to let him rest, but it is a matter of his political survival. Do this for me, please.”
“Okay,” I told her.
“Right now.”
“Right now,” I promised. “Do you want to come?”
“No. It is best that I interact with him as little as possible. But tell him this: Olivio teseres tares. He will know what it means.”
First?
Oh and thank you for this week’s installment 😃
Winner! 😀
Only took me 5 years – Bargain! 😂
Congrats! BDH Stalking for the win!!
Thank you ❣️
Finally…thank you!
Yes!!!
Wow! For once I was trying to get in first…
Shouldn’t have grabbed that snack 🙂
Olala! So great as usual, but also more nail biting than usual…
Argggl, thank you!!!
my friday fix is here 🙂
Yay!
Happy Friday! Yay!
First?
Oh my, this is a wonderful tidbit of plots within plots! So much fun to speculate on til the next chapter!
Glad that some of the work that needed to be done is happening, although you and the animals have to be there at the same time.
I’m so happy right now. Thank you😀😀
Ah the suspense!
It’s a love hate thing for me.
So grateful you were able to write at all with the renovations. Fingers crossed for a satisfactory outcome.
I was really hoping Dina would say, I will tell him now if you tell me your “plans”. . .
Or why you killed your brother.
Is Sean going to bust Gaston for letting Caldenia in?
I am wondering if Caldenia killed her brother for the better survival of her people. Not out of compassion but so that the dominion did not get destroyed. Maybe she thinks Kosandian being part of her family has a better chance so she moved the pieces to ensure that “her family line” continued to rule the dominion even if its not her but her nephew ruling. I think she cares about the dominion just not in an altruistic way. I might be reading between the lines but it seemed like before she killed her brother the empathetic connection that is unique to the dominon people were in chaos. If she killed her brother so that they unified as a collective front in grief and against her the dominion was better off at least in her cool calculated way.
I’m beginning to think this is the main opinion of the BDH, it’s certainly a very popular theory! 🙂
I think Kassandion father was poisoned . And if no no antidote found it meant Lees . It may have been only way to preserve Kassandion life . Caldenia Killed her brother created chaos in Dominion to give Kassandion chance at survival.
+1
I’m beginning to think she didn’t kill her brother at all. Someone else killed him. She took the credit and did a lot of necessary dirty work to punish the actual killers then, when her nephew was old enough to take over, they orchestrated her ‘downfall’ together.
What if Kosandion had to kill his father and Caldenia took the blame for him?
This is also my thought. There seems to be a lot of people who thought his father ‘soft’, thought his mother questionable. We don’t hear of what happened to his mother, tho.
Kosandion and Caldenia are weirdly cordial to one another. Whatever happened they may have been in on it together from the very beginning.
I wonder if Konsandion’s father is even dead… Crushing weight of responsibility? I wonder if the dominion rulers “die” to effectively retire and cause all that instability Caldenia was talking about to keep their family in power?
+1
If you follow the stories Dina told, she says the collective will push out a bad leader, generally through assassination, once a large majority of the populace are dissatisfied with the leadership. Therefore, Caldenia was in the right place at the right time with the right skills to be pushed by the collective mind into fratricide. Obviously Kosandisn knows this so there is no judgement from him.
Whatever her personal feelings Caldenia knew her duty.
+1
1+
If he was bad for the collective, why were they so distraught when he was assassinated?
I wonder if she found out something horrible about him that no one else knew, and caused her to assassinate him. Note Kosandion’s comment to her that “this one time” due process might be a better path forward. That suggests her prior act was punishment for something.
When someone you have complicated emotions about dies you can mourn them, no one said feelings are logical.
But more to the point the citizens of the Dominion Loved their leader and then they came to hate him. Indifference is the opposite of strong emotions.
We do not know that they came to hate him, this was never said. A war was started by that assassination, this we have been told 🙂
Dina says that the majority of Dominion citizens must find the ruler unable to rule in order to be removed from their position. This means strong negative emotions from many people are involved. I simply picked hate because it’s the companion of love and encompasses many other negative emotions. It is possible to love and hate someone at the same time especially as it applies to behaviors and actions.
That’s true about complicated emotions. But I tend to think overall that if there had been that collective hate brewing, Calendia’s act of murdering him would not have been such a mystery to everyone.
Thank you! Hope you are able to have a relaxing weekend. thank you!
Went to get tea—— Earl Grey black.
I know— wrong series.
Still, wow!!!
Lol.
All week, I wished Raktajinos were real. 😁
Don’t you mean Rrrrakrajinos? I hear they are a favorite of the maintenance crew, particularly the night shift.
I always did have problems rolling my Rs. 😁
Wheels within wheels within wheels. Only a Russian could work through the permutations and combinations
I fat-fingered my Email address. How do I delete and repost?
It doesn’t matter, your email address is not visible to anyone but the admin, and we already know it 🙂
Or statisticians (as I am one of them). I’ve had to do enough permutations and combinations to make anyone go nuts. 😀
Olivio teseres tares: Translation : Fate waits for no one ?
How did you get the translation?
This is Yuri’s guess at the translation, not the official answer 🙂
We know that, in the language of the Dominion, Caldenia’s title Letere Olivione stands for “She who controls fate” and Kosandion’s title “Letero Kolivion” for “He who is Immune to Fate” so my guess is they started from there 🙂
It definitively s no Latin
“Olivio measures weeds”
But is fate Leter* or Olivio*? It seems like the Olivio/Kolivio might the difference between control/immune, the n may be creating a gerund, and then the e/o may be the masculine/feminine.
If so, the olivio could be the imperative– an instruction to control. Control pieces and the game?
Etymology geek! Very nice work!
The names ‘Caldenia ka ret Magren’ and ‘Kosandion ka ret Maggran’ tell us that they have likely have separate indicators for masculine and feminine (if, as I assume, the ‘ka ret’ is the equivalent of ‘from the house of’ or some such).
The nearly parallel titles of ‘Dystim Adrolo’ and ‘Dystim Arbiento’, meaning ‘Light of the Midnight Sun’ and ‘Light of the Morning Sun’, respectively, give us a clue that perhaps the language is related to the Earth languages which use less words than does English to say the same thing.
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that ‘Olivio’ is probably the base word for fate. In Caldenia’s case, Letere Olivione is in the instrumental case – showing that she (indicated by the -ne) is the instrument used to control fate. In Kosandian’s case, Letero Kolivion is in the genetive case, showing that his (indicated by the -n) life has the absence of fate [which could be called an immunity].
Then we turn to the phrase ‘Olivio teseres tares’. Caldenia has explained in detail to Dina how Kosandian has been working to establish the ruler of his choice behind the scenes to replace the one they had to expel from the inn. She was very proud of the work he’d done so far, but once she heard of the pirate attack and the pirates’ secret candidate, she urged Dina to tell Kosandian of it immediately because “it is a matter of his political survival”. Based on all that, I would advance the theory that ‘Olivio teseres tares’ means something to the effect of ‘Fate awaits the bold’.
I am 100% here for the language nerds!
Olivio teseres tares seems close to Caldania’s “proper title” Letere Olivione mentioned in the first 3 books. Olivio might be the male version. Tares in the bible refers to wheat.
How about, He reaps what he sows, or Time to harvest? In other words, wait no longer, do it now.
Hmm. House Andrews is crafty with its ending.
Oooooh! Caldenia’s plot thickens… I’m loving this glimpse into her rationale
+1 (with emphasis). Ans thanks for an intriguing installment, it’s much appreciated.
Thank you!
I hope this week sees the end to the renovation chaos.
Top 50???
I can give you Top 30 even! 🙂
Even a small bite is excellent as always – to be savoured!
Thank you, and I hope the renovations of the renovations go as you want this time!
I very much agree. Thanks for this crumb. Savoring it
I have to ask, how much do we trust Gaston?
He just showed up claiming to be in George’s employ but was that verified?
What if he’s also in someone else’s employee? Or taking instructions from George in addition to Sean & Dina?
Although would he risk access to Orro’s cooking? That may be priceless.
I really like culinary motivation in a character hehehehe 😀
I think that George has his thumb in the pie through Gaston, but that doesn’t mean they are working against Dina or the Dominion. And Gaston by his own admission is good a skullduggery, heh. And I kinda doubt George would deliberately set Dina up to fail. Both had a sizeable problem and George brought them together. Sigh. Waiting is painful.
There’s also the fact that he keeps disappearing, for the keen eyed readers. At least twice Dina has set Gaston a task and when she turned around, he was nowhere to be found. Draaaaamaaaaaaa! *high tone*
Perhaps Gaston is doing work for Caldenia, but work that specifically benefits both Kosandion AND Dina and Sean.
I had a dream last week that explained *everything*. My brilliant unconscious deduced that 1) Gaston and Caldenia are having a torrid affair (it’s the teeth), 2) half the spousal candidates’ retinues end up in enclosed sections within the inn (similar to what the space sponges needed) due to bad behavior, and 3) Nycati turns out to be the space pirate! Yup, total brilliance. 😆
Oh, I forgot. Also, in my head, the ‘real’ Amphie was actually replaced by Resven’s illicit love child.
😂 love these vivid dreams!
You have no idea. 😆
Probably off to the kitchen for a snack.
Not Gaston! Gasp! Clutches pearls!
Gaston has a history with George, Sophie, and Jack – Gaston and Sophie have a cousin (Cerise) is married to the best friend (William) of Declan, who adopted George and Jack when he married their sister in the Weird.
George met Sophie when the Mar clan, Gaston’s family, migrated back to the Weird. Gaston’s first mentor was William. If you have not already read them, I suggest reading :The Edge” and “Bayou Moon”, the latter of which is still one of my all-time favourite HA reads.
PS: If George is meddling via Gaston, he’s gonna have some ‘splaining to do with Sophie!
Agree … everything in Gaston’s character in Edge books is built around loyalty. Might be “skulduggery”involved, but on behalf of the “greater good” … problem is where he is getting his definition of the greater good (talkin’ about you, George) …
Gaston didn’t just show up. He came with George in the previous book, along with George, Jack, and Sophie-Lark, so they’ve met him before.
I think Emily’s comment refers to the fact that Gaston showed up in Sweep of the Heart with the news that George is semi-retired as an Arbitrator and that he (Gaston) is a free agent now, privately paid by George to be at the inn for the spouse selection- see Chapter 9 Part 2 https://www.ilona-andrews.com/2022/chapter-9-part-2-2/
I am sooooo Team Caldenia! Thank you for making my Friday!
BTW, I’m trying to judge when I should start re-reading HL so I am just done and ready for RF….hmmmmm.
it depends on your reading speed, and if you started with the first nevada book, or with the first catalina book.
me if i started with nevada it would take about 1 1\2 weeks
if i started with catalina 4 days before
*clutching pearls* It’s the final (for now) book! The rearead must be complete from book 1! 😲
You are of course right Mod R, it wouldn’t do not to start with HL1 and miss out on so much.
Have to go reading now anyway to distract myself from the suspense of todays installment and the countdown for Ruby Fever.
Just finishing my latest reread, and still 40-some days to go … arrrggghhh
See, it is happening: I shall perish from suspense!
Wow! Shivers and goose bumps 🤯💕
The story progresses beautifully. I’m torn between “Good things come to those who wait” and “Strike while the iron is hot.” heh heh
Thanks for the chapter 👍
Woo-hoo, what a cliff hanger. Love it!
Top 50? Thanks for the chapter installment!
Caldenia is such an interesting character. I love her.
Thanks for the new chapter!
I have to agree, the recaps are fun! Thanks for an intriguing chapter segment! Having trouble figuring out if there’s more politically to the pirate attack than it appears. Or there’s some other politically important info? Cookie related? Or….
And what the heck is Caldenia doing with the Otrokar? Trying to get him to show his best foot forward or fail in a truly huge fashion? I really wonder what the big “asks” are. What do the southern otrokar get if they win? So many questions heh.
Waiting is so hard (rofl).
I’ve come to learn the filthiest word one can use around the BDH is “patience” 😀
+1
+1
“Patience”? What is this thing you speak of, Mod R? 😂
I just love Caldenia….always an interesting turn of events when she is involved! Can’t wait until next week.
Wait is also a naughty 4 letter word to the BDH 😁
Thank you for the chapter during ongoing construction 🌷
ROFL
+1 🤣
We will make you wash your keyboard with soap if you keep using that word.
I totally agree. There are many things to consider in this Friday’s chapter…but I keep coming back to the question what Caldenia had planned for the Otrokars.
Oh, it‘s obvious. Caldenia set the Otroakar up to fail spectacularly by making a power grab at the right moment (to them; for the rest of the world it will be a cringeworthy bad moment). For symmetry, Caldenia will probably have arranged to take out the Vampires at the same time.
The end of the chapter, however, makes me think that the pirate prince is not who we thought he would be. Him being any of the candidates would not be a political problem. So he probably is … the Holy Ecclesiarch????
My money is on failing soon & hard! She prizes subtlety and intrigue. He’ll “show up strong”, kill, or nearly kill someone, & Dina then can/must eject him with great speed & force!!
I love this series, even if it makes me crazy with suspense!
+1
Thank you!
I really love this story. Thank you.
And the plot thickens as we humans say
Wow! First Caldenia with the otrokar, and then the conversation with Dina. I’ll try to wait patiently, but is it next Friday yet?
While I wait for the next episode, I’ll just do my work and watch Westworld on Sunday night. 🙂
AWESOME! The intrigue continues.. So exciting!
Ahhh. Slow, sweet torture, every Friday. I can see that another complete reread will be necessary as the release date approaches.
Meanwhile, poor Wilmos must be getting restless….
I believe he is in a stasis pod of some sort. So in theory he is getting a good nap. Hopefully good dreams not nightmares.
Let’s hope so, for his own good, Karron doesn’t sound like a stunning views destination 😀
Caldenia could be conducting negotiations for Karrat. Nothing says she can’t take advantage of the situation to make more than one alliance.
But Karat wants the *other* Otrokar, the one who is an observer and NOT a spousal candidate…That’ll be a nice side line to the story… a path not taken in *this* story but there for *future* stories…. see how bad the BDH are, we think about things like this..throw away situations… oh, we are so, so bad!
Well, we don’t *know* that she wants Dagorkun, but we know that many of us definitely want her to want him, and few want her to want Conan the Spousal Candidate.
I’m shipping Dagorkun myself… he seems more ahem, flexible mentally, than The Conan guy… (as I can’t remember his name, I’ll bite for the The Conan guy description, ROFL).
Sqweeeeeee!
So exciting to learn more and more about Caldenia.
what does it meeeeaaaan!!!! where is the reeeesst???? 😂😂😂😂
🎵What does it mean, what does it MEAAAAAN, Ooooohhhh🎵 Miley Cyrus Friday anthem for the BDH 😀
Thank you. 🤗
Getting strong “senior relative trying to guide junior relative” vibes about Caldenia. Good intentions but I’m looking for the patient “yes, Auntie, I’ve got it handled” response from Kosandion. I expect him to hear Dina out, nod, and show he’s already on it.
I just cannot picture Caldenia in those casual clothes, but she is well-practiced in the art of persuasion and must have felt it necessary.
Also, I’m now expecting something VERY entertaining from Kosandion and Surkar’s date.
Hm-m…
In the minds of some of his subjects Kosandion is too weak and needs to demonstrate his warrior prowess.
And here comes Surkar, who was told “If you desire something, make it known. Reach out and seize it.” by the caring Auntie Caldenia…
Yes, you are right, could be very entertaining indeed. Especially also for Kosandion himself.
That just made me think *very* dirty thoughts. This will be quite entertaining.
Oh I can (picture Caldenia in those clothes), in a very dangerous Helen Mirin kind of way …
OMG, that charming photo representing Casual Caldenia makes her even more terrifying!!!
It would be more terrifying to see Grandma Victoria dressed like that!
I often get Victoria vibes from Caldenia and vice versa, although I prefer Caldenia at this point. Who knows though. House Andrews may do something to Hugh Victoria
They already have Hughed Victoria IMO
“Look, Trevor, isn’t he the most beautiful child you’ve ever seen?”
100% Hughed
+1
Caldenia’s outfit photo reminds me of Annette Bening as the Supreme Intelligence when she steals Mar-Vell’s look. Cool, but deadly!
+1
Thank you for a wonderful installment! Where wonderful means “raises more questions than it answers”. One of the things I most enjoy about your work is that you take the time and have the skill to create complex characters and give them complex problems to solve. Thank you!
Perhaps this translation?
“All warfare is based on deception.” – Sun Tzu, The Art of War
I feel sure that Sun Tzu is read throughout the galaxy since there are bound to be copies on the shelves in the libraries of all the Inns.
who can say, maybe Sun Tzu, was not of this world maybe he came and decieded to stay.
Possibly an otrakar shaman?
Aaaaah! I swear…and look forward to the next installments. Love, love, love the intrigue. Thank you for all you do, even in the middle of renno trauma and everything else. Makes Fridays so very much fun.
Better and better!
Olivio teseres tares?
let’s see – “tares” are the minor weight adjustments for packaging (when purchasing various items in the supermarket)
“olivio” probably means “fate” in Dominion (as noted above) or maybe a reference to “olives”
“teseres” … hmmm … well, “sere” is very dry …
Got it! She’s telling him to have a martini!
(Am I close?)
Always a good bet on a Friday 😀
For my Friday cocktail, I like Lillet Blanc with sparkling Perrier water and a hibiscus flower in syrup at the bottom. Delightful on a warm evening. If I can of course ignore the skeeters desiring to suck my blood…I am very thin skinned and can only assume those hell born insects smell my blood through the skin….
“Olivio teseres tares” means “Pick the fish”. Obviously. 😉
Or to quote human lit: Fortune favors the brave?
Thank you for this series – it is excellent and another thing to look forward to each week!
Ooh, so much intrigue and mystery! I can’t wait to read the final product all at once.
I can’t wait to purchase the novel, enjoying the weekly installments!
Any idea how many chapters there will be?
Nope :), it’s being written week by week (although there is an outline)
Call me a nerd, but I timed myself during my last SotH re-read. Based on how long it takes me to read the other Innkeeper books, I’m guesstimating that we’re somewhere around halfway through?
I wouldn’t want to set a limit or schedule things for House Andrews, as far as I’m concerned “When some is good, more is better” and I’ll take as much as House Andrews think it needs hehe ;). Greedy, c’est moi.
Edit: I asked the Powers that Be and we are 2/3rd of the way there 🙂
Uh oh, Mod R. If you say that, you know the rest of the Horde is going to be squeeing over the possibility of the book coming out soon.
No, the Horde does not have the patience to wait. (I almost spelled patients. Been working in healthcare data today. :D)
I wouldn’t want to pressure HA either. I’ll take whatever they give us whenever they give it, and be ecstatic! Timing my read was more of an attempt to relieve my own ever-increasing worry for Wilmos 🫣
I have my box of popcorn ready for next week’s Innkeeper shenanigans. 😋
I LOVE all the innkeeper novels but I am absolutely enthralled with all the political intrigue and maneuvering in this one! Caldenia is one of my favorite characters and her political acumen, manipulation and foresight is par excellence!
+1
Thank you for the installment with all the house craziness you’re dealing with. As always, it is awesome!!
At the end, we need to cue the suspenseful music … bum bum buuuum 😀
With the narrator saying ‘join us next week, same bat time, same bat channel ‘ (or same inn time, same inn channel)
As there were a limited number of tv channels in my childhood 🙂
“Same bat time, same bat channel!” sure brought some memories! Kids today just don’t comprehend having only 3-4 channels on tv, having to get up to turn the knob, let alone having to adjust the antenna!
All so true….
And black and white. On a 13″ TV.
I own copies of old radio programs like the Black Museum, It is Later than You Think, and Box 13. And I’m only 40. 😅
Oooh, then you also need to find The Shadow …Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow know….
Adjust the antenna, hell. Remember the aluminum foil hack?
Ohhh…the suspense!!😁💜 Love it!!
I find Caldenia absolutely fascinating. I love these snippets, they make my week so much better.
Thank you.
Did Kosandion kidnap Wilmos Or did George arrange it for him?
Because it sure sounds like a master manipulator wanted/needed access to Caldenia and her devious mind to make this huge plot all work.
This whole assasination plot reeks of Kosandion sniffing out any disloyal factions and eliminating them in prep for announcing some major political change beyond just a spouse.
Wow, now there’s a thought!
Was Dina blackmailed to gain access to Caldenia?
Dina’s going to figure it out, too, because she’s being used to send messages back and forth between Kos and Caldenia.
This reeks of George who manipulated Dina into helping end the Nexus war.
Blackmailed? I am confusion!
Do you mean the trade, access to Karron for hosting the event?
Isn’t awfully convenient that Kosandion just happened to control access to the planet where Wilmos was kidnapped to? At the exact time Kosandion wanted/needed access to Caldenia for this spouse selection?
Caldenia spelled it out for us “the boy” has been planning this for a longggg time.
Access to Wilmos gained Kosandion access to Caldenia which gained him her active participation in this big plot.
Wow. That is some devious and in depth thinking. (Sooooo Fun!)
Yup. In cahoots since before C offed I’d papa, I’ll bet.
Thank you! I am not always able to read the serial as you post it but I am always happy when I do get to it!
Life has been stressful with an unplanned kitchen remodel due to water damage, potential 3rd back surgery and the regular life of a mom of 3 kids. Your blog is a bright spot for me and I always feel happier after reading your posts. Thank you!
So glad you can find relief! ☺️
Stopping right at that moment physically hurt, like driving forward at speed and suddenly the chain you hadn’t realized was hooked to your undercarriage goes taut. Wow.
The more I see Caldenia, the more I love her.
I enjoy reading the summaries as much as you enjoy writing them! Just love Caldenia 🙂
Caldenia would make a very formidable enemy and an even better ally. This is so exciting and we haven’t even gotten into the main story arc of rescuing Wilmos! Absolutely loving it!
😲 I’m totally hooked now
Thank you and have a fab weekend
Oooh the suspense is killing me!!
Thank you for posting even in the chaos of scaffolding!!
Eeek!! What a wonderful lunch break surprise!! I love the suspense and caldenias character is always perfectly written. I love her behind the scenes maneuvers. Looking forward to the next scene.
I am getting Palpatine and Anakin vibes from Caldenia and Dina . But In a good way.
P.S. Dina would make a wonderful Vader .
Thank for this. Priceless. And you just keep ratcheting the tension up!!! Wishing you the smoothest construction and (their) cleanup of (their!) mess!
So close, and yet so far (away from the reveal of the pirate prince)!! Oh wow, what Dicken’s readers must have felt when his work was serialized… And others – I don’t think I could do Kindle Vella. Only HA is worth this suspense!!
Thank you thank you thank you for the new chapter part with all the construction going on!! ❤️❤️
Eep! I’m so excited for the next one. May all the construction go as planned.
You take your time. I consider each chapter a gift and savor them when they arrive. And a break from my own home redos.
Thank you for another great instalment.
Oh how you tease!!!! Love it!
Caldenia quietly pulling the strings behid the scene with her informal visits is as exciting as the space pirate battle was – or Dinas with the (b)ad-hal.
Was also wondering what Gaston keeps doing off scene.
Thank you for this vastly entertaining, luckily turned into a novel, inkeeper installment.
This story is especially great as a serial because of the spouse selection show at its core- and your recaps. I am also really looking forward to the whole book as I am sure reading it in one session will showcase other aspects of the plot.
Good luck with the renovations- wish that I could send Dina over to redecorate for you and save you all the hassle you are going through now.
Gaston is off doing skullduggery things.
My bet? Sneaking snacks from the kitchen.
And who shall blame him? Although if he doesn’t have Orro’s tacit permission, I fear he will find out what Red Cleaver really means.
She is just a Granny!
How cruel!
Thank you! I am enjoying the torment.
Is Kosandion really Caldenia’s nephew? Or is he secretly her son?
I was thinking the same thing. Am I becoming a masochist? The torture is killing me a I like it.
Caldenia not only knows what to say, she presents herself in that role. Love the pic at the beginning of the chapter of her in gray jeans.
When the book is complete, I’m really gonna miss the story recaps at the top of each chapter. I may miss them as much as “don’t die, small human!”
Perhaps you should keep them as a gimmick for the book? After all, not everyone can finish a book in one or two sittings.
Maybe the story recaps could be part of the leather bound collectors edition…
Smoothly done 😀
Thank you!
I loved that Dina and Caldenia finally get to talk. But I’m one of those whom the suspense is killing. I don’t want to pressure House Andrews at all. I just need to find something constructive to distract me until the reveal is made. But darn it Caldenia, I think Dina deserves more information than what you’re giving her. She’s kept her promises to you for YEARS. She’s not your niece, or a blood relative, but Dina’s the best kind of person you can have in a found family. I hope Caldenia realizes this.
No worries, next installment is big emotional boom. All the boom. Big.
Is that from The Fifth Element? Boom, big boom. Loved that movie.
Ivanova from Babylon 5 uses the word “boom” a lot at the end of the better episodes.
If you just heard a high-pitched sound, that was me squeeing in my office all the way over in California. Luckily, everyone who’s here today understands my obsessions.
Ooh, another crumb. Love it. Thank you
Boom? Big bada boom?? 😉
Love this installment and looking forward to more!
Thank you!
!!
I guess I will need to have ALL the tissues ready. And hot tea with honey for all the squees that will be squeed. So ready!!!
Oooo…we have a huge clue for next week. 🧐😮
I think that Caldenia sees Dina as someone she can guide and mold for her own good …. and doesn’t that have Grandmother Victoria overtones …
To quote George Takei: “Oh, my….”
Also, I’ve apparently listened to the Innkeeper books enough that all of this chapter was read in my head in Renee Raudman’s voice with all of her character portrayals. I’ve always enjoyed her work, and particularly her Dina and Caldenia.
*Also*: “But then this is what we do.”
Caldenia may be a permanent guest of the inn, but her vibe is *quite* politically active. Not really the vibe of someone stuck on the sidelines.
I am quite enjoying the masterful twists and turns of this HA plot.
Such a tease!
Is literally my job. 😉
And we love you for doing it sooooo well! 🥰
At which the BDH insists regularly that you (plural) excel and regularly exceed even our expectations.
Being the weirdo that I am I keep thinking that the missing Inn from Georgia and the parents and the rest of the guests at the moment they were relocated will be found in or on Karros, possibly stashed by the hungry and vindictive previous inhabitants of Daesyn?
+1
It’s Innkeeper Friday!!!
This keeps getting better and better.It’s been a while (SOTB) since I’ve so eagerly wanted to get installments of chapters!!!
Thanks House Andrews!!
More awesome every week
Thank you for the chapter! Awesome as always!
Caldenia certainly gets around. So Awesome! Thank you House Andrews.
Wow.
This is my last installment for the next few weeks. My flights that will get me to Buhcarest leave in 2hrs……I am both sad😫 that I will miss the next couple of chapters/ sections but also happy 😁that when I finally get on my last flight home I will be able to read several weeks worth all at one go. So yes I will most definitely be paying for the internet in flight.
Gaston worked for George. George worked for KLAUS. Let’s not forget that we still don’t know what happened between Klaus and Maud at the end of SotB, also keeping in mind that Sophie was really chummy with Caldenia throughout SiP. It’s entirely possible that this is again another instance where Dina is out of the loop, because she has to look entirely natural about everything she does. This is all being broadcast across the galaxy, after all. Of course, it’s also possible that I’m turning into a conspiracy theorist 🤪
Awesome installment, as always. Absolutely dying for the “big emotional boom”
Boom. All the boom. All the time 🙂 boom. What a wonderful tease! We were promised that for next week. Hum.. a reveal about what Gaston has been doing and for whom? As in Klaus makes an entrance formally to the story line? OR do we get the whole Caldenia and Kosandion in cahoots and they why of it explanation? And of course we haven’t touched on smexy sexy Lady Wexyn of the golden tiara, and we still have the Lees and the Pirate King to go too. Choices, choices. Which do we get first?
Yay! I love this story, so glad of weekly updates!
No rest for the wicked today… or humble Innkeepers either -lol
How intriguing!!!
I LOVEEEE the pic of “dressed down” Caldenia!
Thank you for the wonderful read ❤
Thank you!
Looking forward to Surkar’s show of strength. Love seeing Caldenia’s approach to familial interests ….
Yes but would George have anything to do with a corrupt ad-hal thingey (sorry). I miss Jack! Loved that Sean had the chance to go out and “play” with the pirate vessel. That was awesome! You could only imagine what was happening inside. Ah, well – I am off to reread.
I miss Jack too!
In Clean Sweep, I think, Dina is walking through Baha-Char and sees two men walking in the opposite direction. Something is off to her, but she can’t figure out what. Then she realizes the eagle (which looks alive) that the one is carrying is actually dead. Then she gets distracted!
What a way to drop a clue, but leave it hanging. That is George and probably Jack. Remember George is a necromancer.
But I like George and I really like Sophia – so I do hope that doesn’t foretell who is responsible for the corrupted Ad-hals.
Those are indeed George and Jack 🙂
I also wonder if the cloaked form that the female chasing the thief ran into, was Gaston, at least the first few times I read it. It was the teeth that might have made me think that. No one else did, or said it, so just left it as a passing thought.
Yes and …?
Was this a little Easter Egg for the readers of the Edge series? Or is it a clue that hasn’t come to fruitation yet?
Or has it come out gone and I’ve missed.
Thank you Mod R for all your work!
I’m not sure I understand your question, sorry BT! But George, Jack, Gaston and Sophie from Innkeeper (the arbitrator and his team) are crossover characters from the Edge series.
I was wondering if that encounter would be significant later on. The only other time it is mentioned is when Dina first meets George. She comments that he looks familiar.
I guess I am looking for sneaky clues of future events before there are any.
Oh I’m with you now! Yes, I think you’re right, that particular scene was just a shout out to Edge fans and letting us know our favourites were on new exciting adventures 🙂
Yup. I an going to die of suspense.
I do adore the Calendia-Kosandion team (?)
Thank you for this week’s installment!
Ooooh her Grace is so invested in her nephew’s survival. So interesting.
The Ending is intriguing leaving be wanting more. 🤔 Just the way you intended im sure, the first raste is free, the rest ah there is the rub Muhahaha 😉
Thank you! I hope that continued house goes smoothly and quickly! And….has House Andrews ever considered going into politics? I’d vote for you!
Sigh. Thanks for all you do!! I am loving this.
Woot woot! Thanks for another chapter.
I think we are supposed to assume she is talking about Kosandion and his father, but perhaps it is Odikas. Or maybe she is sowing discord among the southern Otrakars. She seemed to respect Dagorkun’s mum
Thank you House Andrews!!
love it
want more
It sounds as though your repairs are moving along which is a very good thing. Enjoy the progress and look forward to the quiet!
I got goosebumps
I have never been much for reading by installments, but this one works because of Mod R and the BDH comments. That said, I am going to love when this book is released. I think I might take a couple days of vacation to reread the whole series before I read this one. Thanks for helping the weekend get off to a good start!
Aaaaah, the intrigue!!
I am so SO fascinated by Caldenia and Kosandion. I’m going to do a terrible job of trying to explain how I feel but I’ll try – I feel like one of the major running threads of the series is the value and necessity of growth and how fighting to keep strings the same or power structure leads to rigidity of thought (Hi, House Ervan!) and tragedy/cruelty (Hi, Draziri!).
Caldenia’s venn diagram sure seems to have the ‘adapt and optimize’ circle—but also the ‘persist and maintain power (or dynasty)’ circle. And what has me on the edge of my seat is the question of if that adaptability and perception can/will lead to ‘the more things change the more the stay the same’ or true ‘growth’ and forward progress.
After so much time with Caldenia I’m pulling for and believe in the latter. And if not, well, her (and possibly her nephew) pulling the strings of full scale destruction will no doubt be just as entertaining to read as for her to execute? It’s certainly fun watching her work Surkar (and rocking the Earth look!)
Tl;dr I am as all-in on reading innkeeper updates as Dominion citizens to a spousal selection.
Long or short I loved it. Thank you 😊
It’s wonderful, as always. Have a great weekend!
Out of curiosity, how far are we through the story? More than halfway? Less than halfway?
Two thirds, I asked earlier 🙂
Thank you for asking. This book is going to be epic!
Payoff time!
OMG! Thank you very much!! Wow!!!!
The plot thickens yes I love ❤ it.
The recaps at the beginning are great.
The Chapter is the best!!!!
and then comments and replies are so good, and because I am at the bottom of the world in a different time zone there are lots of them.
We enjoy the recaps, too.
And the chapters. Always the chapters. 🙂
Can’t remember if I posted this last week or not but it absolutely needs to be said (IMHO).
Pirates kidnapped Wilmos and stashed him away somewhere that only the Dominion has access to.
The Dominion, led by Kosandion, had a spousal selection that simply had to be hosted at Gertrude Hunt.
Gertrude Hunt is the home of Kosandion’s predecessor, regicide Caldenia.
A pirate assassin is also on the warpath and his target is Kosandion.
Kosandion is using this selection to “clean house”.
I’m calling it: Kosandion arranged the abduction of Wilmos to manipulate the pirates assassination plans.
But we know it wasn’t pirates who kidnapped Wilmos…
And I can’t imagine Kosandion trafficking with the corruption consuming the former ad-hals. It would be dangerous as hell for him, among other things.
And I think that if Kosandion actually used the corrupted ad-hal (which I doubt), Caldenia would have to remove him because some things are just too much. IMO. 🙂
Ha! ” Born to be fit to rule well” I will say no more
Hehe, a reference probably only my fellow U.K. peeps will get, but it immediately made me think of the Horrible Histories song about the Georgian era 🤣. Born to Rule Over You https://youtu.be/zPtYmq5qFVA
Thanks, Mod R, for expanding my knowledge of British history. 🙂 Now I am learning even more as I watch more Horrible Histories videos!
We love Horrible Histories in our house.
My girls are 16 and 17 and they still sing the Do the Pachacuti song at their older brother
“Drink from their skulls
“Do the Pachacuti……”
Love it.
Maybe Caldenia’s been watching Horrible Histories…..
So so so so so good,
Thank you so much for your work,
Sending you happiness and thankful vibes haha ~~
Take care !
I’d read a Caldenia prequel lol. She is my favorite. I love characters like hers. Thank you for this even small piece. I want to recommend to all to reread from beginning— it really builds the suspense and emotion! 😊
Thanks you always seem to know just the right words. I am pleased. Ohooo more to come. Yah
So happy right 😊
Thanks
Oh boy! Things are heating up! This is so good!
Ahhh! Though Her Grace was right, Dina enjoys flexing her abilities.
I’m really enjoying these installments. Especially more peeks into Caldenia as a centrally interested party.
Wonderful. Thank you.
Thank you! And I love the image of Caldenia with the gray jeans and leather jacket.
I’ve always pictured her dressed more formally, so I love this new visual.
Love, Love, Love Caldenia. I fully expect before this is all over we will find out her motives are nobler than previously known.
Any chance of a poll to guess who the secret space pirate is? 😀
🤪 No asasin polls, the Horde is too bloodthirsty as it is!
Dang. I understand though. Still I am enjoying everything so far. Waiting for Fridays is very hard.
It’s been a long day and I stayed up late to read this, and it was SO WORTH IT. Thank you, and good night.
Very good! 🙂
I think Kosandion and Caldenia are trying to flush out the REAL killer of their father and brother, and they’ve played a very long game, indeed.
I’m SO glad I obsessively checked for another chapter tonight! I appreciate it so much, even though I’m already in withdrawal again waiting for the next installment!
BDH, indeed! 😂
O. M. G. Yes, yes we will be in agony. LOL Geez that was harsh. Delicious. But agonizing.
Thank you. I think. Lol
Thank you, great walking up to these on a saturday morning.
love the recaps- it would be great to keep them in the book somehow for the fun… but if the rest of the hord are like me, the book will be read in a morning so no recap would be required!
The comments section is good as always- the language lessons and theories abound and promises of all the boom bada boom next week too😂
Have a great week House Andrews and the Hord- catch you on the flip side
Great suspense! The plot thickens, thickener, thickenest? I’m just floored picturing Caldenia in jeans and a t-shirt!
Heehee The suspense thickener! Is that flour based or corn starch based lol!
I love seeing Caldenia’s brilliant and subtle little machinations, but I really, REALLY want to see her in action when she has tossed aside her chain.
I bet she’s sheer art in motion.
Bloody, terrifying art to be sure, but still…breathtaking.
Ooooh! Now I want to see that too.
I have no words. So many images in so little space – just marvelous!
This is off topic, but I’ve been re-reading the Kate Daniels’ books. I would absolutely love to see a cinematic representation of Kate and Hugh’s “sparring” match from Magic Rises.
After reading, i understand the disclaimer about cliff hanger TT
I guess I am wondering why Sean nor Maude have ever engaged to teach Dina self defense, and why neither supplied her with an “advanced, form fitting suit od technologically advanced armor for Dina to wear that could be worn under her armor?
Dina is all-powerful at the inn, where she is most of the time. She also does pretty well for herself outside of the inn, but she is not a warrior. Not everyone is 🙂
If she needs a suit of armour, she can also get it for herself, and she probably has some, but again, at the inn she doesn’t need it 🙂 .
But why would she wear armour under armour?
Wondering when Dina’s parents will turn up – it has been a theme throughout the books, and since this is the last, I wonder if this thread will be tied off. Quite a bit to sort out in the last third of the story.. All these people with their different agendas.. Merchants, prospective spouses, galactic (ex) tyrants and George and Klaus who just can’t stop meddling, a female werewolf with a hangup that is lurking somewhere in the scenery.. And when will we see the elusive Sebastien North?
I seem to remember a snippet a while back, where Dina told about a vampire by the name of Sebastien, who she turned down when she was a teenager.
Suspense is killing me and I am not even going to voice my fears as to the ending, because I don’t want them to turn out true.
Have faith in House Andrews, but oh my nerves..
It is not the last book, there have been no official announcements to that end 🙂
Thank you so much Casa Andrews for the amazing chapter!😘 It’s wonderful to try to solve all the mystery and suspense during the week and think of all the possibilities!
All this talk of “Caldenia and Dina”, about how she and “Kosandion” were designed to rule and manipulated with genetic attributes that would enhance their capabilities, reminded me of “Nycati” and her people “Gaheas” so they have an advantage over others, they have the most to contribute by conceiving the future Sovereign with their people’s inherent Psionic ability.
After “Lady Wexyn” and her Temple and the “Umas” (who no longer participate), the Gaheas were one of the teams I thought most interesting to win, not to mention the fact that Mother Of The Galaxy! The Gaheas people are Stunning!😍
Brilliant babies would be born that would melt the brains of bad-intentioned babysitters!😂
Always great to read the blog and the chapter segments. I’ve loved these books from day 1 and found the blog for Sweep of the Blade. Now I’m hooked! Thanks for all the work you do!
Thank you!
It’s fun seeing Caldenia get more of lead in this book. She’s always been as a counterpoint/collaborator for Dina and usually has a hand in helping push the stories forward but always from a lofty, knowing place. Having her show emotional depth is enlightening.
Rereading series, just finished HL, now I have to go back to the Edge series. William and Gaston were two of my favorites…after Jack and Kaldar. Then I’ll go back and start the Innkeeper series again. Because rereading them is going back to see old friends.
You’re all a joy to me and I’m grateful you are in my life. Mod R is very much included in this statement.
Rereads are my Happy Place 🥰
Caldenia will always be one of my favorite parts of Innkeeper. So complex, so much depth, infinitely funny, and dang smart.
Question: Was Kosandions balcony not also looking out at Kolina and able to see the pirate ship attack and its destruction?
I only remember the dining room balcony that is for Konsandion and his retinue overlooking the Sea. That is where Dina & Sean are sitting after everyone else has been led to their quarters. Is this accurate, BDH? (Or of course our beloved ModR!)This at least is what I was picturing…
The Ocean Dining Hall has a back wall and terrace open to Kolinda and Kosandion’s apartment also has a balcony opening onto an ocean vista there. It’s not necessarily the same place on Kolinda though 🙂, but we will have to wait and see.
Is it the pirate situation that Dina needs to tell Kosandion about or is it perhaps that the Holy Ecclesiarch is not on his deathbed after all? Perhaps it is a ruse that Kosandion and his faction are not aware of. The conversation with Surkar may not even be about Kosandion or Odikas, maybe there is something/someone else that Surkar is seeking counsel about (of course Caldenia is probably trying to winnow out candidates that she doesn’t want also). Great installment, great comments!
Friday was a tough day. First, a retinopathy eye exam with dilation. So you can’t really see for hours, especially not to read. Second, the kidney stone from bell and the pain relievers that leave you drunk. The kidney stone is still with me but now I can read!
Having SotH to devour makes all Fridays fabulous and special, extra so when you are stuck in place.
Thank you HA for all of the pleasure you give us. Thank you ModR for your entertaining comments and for managing the Horde. Must seem like herding cats!
BTW, the chapter recaps remind me of old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons: Remember last time we left our heroes …
The stone from hell, not bell. Sigh. I said I could read, not type 😉
I’ve had something close, blood clots from UTI passing. Very very unpleasant stuff. You have my entire sympathy. Also, I’m blind most of the time, so those eye exams? Yeah, I get it. It sucks to be blinded… and then be blind anyway wit out the glasses…
Mod R and HA trying to wrangle the BDH 😀
Former Superbowl commercial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07EQ_7lDASs
😂 It’s all worth it for the fluffy horde moments.
+1000
Ha ha ah … herding CATS! Yes, I do this all day at my house.
Where is cat 1 out side? Where is cat 2 (the one who escapes constantly)… are cats 1 and 2 testing the front gate? Oh, yes, yes they ARE. Shoo cats , shoo…
Cats scatter. Now cat 1 is under palm tree hiding, cat 2 is exploring fences for hole. oooh. Hole leads to neighbor yard that comes … complete with a DOG! arg. One day I am going to ask my neighbor ‘Richard, I think my cat is in your yard and before you let Rocket the dog out to roam, can I come over and look for her? Otherwise I fear I will be climbing that tree in your yard and yanking a disturbed feline out out of it’…My life. If only I could get workmen to a) answer my messages and b) intall my cat proof containment fence…until then cats will wake me at 4:30 am… desiring food, and OUT. Sigh. Only food will be available. OUT will have to wait till a) daylight and b) I am UP. My life kind of revolves around them right now. If only if only I had my cat proof fence up… and oh, yeah.. the pet door to outside….
Hey Mod R, at the beginning of the wrap ups, you should say “Previously on Intergalactic Bachelor: Innkeeper Season” and then add a serious music sting. Hehehe because all the funny. 🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for those by the way, they are helpful. I am currently rereading, because, why not?
Ilona writes the recaps, I think we can all hear the music 😂
Great. Now the suspense *will* kill me.
Man, I love this series.
I am assuming, since members of the BDH not only have good taste but are highly intelligent, that I am not the only one who is reading this under the assumption that Kosandion and his beloved aunt are in this together up to the top of her
Mello Yello swilling lips, have been since long before Kosandion father’s death, and that Caldenia is hiding out in GH taking one for the team?
Once again, a very big “thank you” to House Andrew’s! Adoring the latest Innkeeper installment.
Thank you so much for doing this while things are in an upheaval. Wonderful fun.
I am slowly perishing, but as i know constructing (we remodeled our bathroom last year) but i must say the endresulat is fantastic
I absolutely love this typo and will be stealing this word.
It sounds a tiny bit like something delicious!
Love the Innkeeper series!! Can’t wait for next week
Hello Mod R do we find out Linus Duncan’s relationship to the Baylors. Just rereading Sapphire Flames where Alessandro notices something and calls himself an idiot. He then says He’s invested in your survival and Linus tells him to be quiet.
Searched the site and it mentions the – previous known as Molpe – siren excised male donor sperm who is still in contact with Victoria (the cool aunt). Is that Linus?
The books so far do not mention it 🙂
I will take this as an opportunity to remind everyone that Ruby Fever, the 6th novel in the Hidden Legacy series, is coming out on the 23rd of August https://ilona-andrews.com/featured-release/
I just finished up the available Innkeeper books. What a series! On a whim, I searched the net to see if and when another book might be coming out. A pleasant surprise to find this!
Absolutely one of my favorite series! The characters, their personalities, the world building. All amazing and so much fun.
Dina is one of the most caring people ever in a novel. Her heart is huge and she gives much.
Her and Sean are fun to read about. It’s good to see Sean back to being witty and joking around again, after his trauma.
Maud and Helen and Arland are all amazing as well. Every time Helen hisses it’s the cutest damn thing.
Agh! Getting good!
Perhaps this idea is really off base, but what if Caldenia didn’t actually kill her brother? What if he is alive and they made it look like he died for political advantage? I really enjoy these chapters and would like to thank House Andrews and Mod R for sharing them with us. Also really looking forward to this week’s installment with all the boom. Have a great week.
😅 I really don’t do much, it’s all House Andrews magic, but I’m so happy the serial is bringing you joy 🤗