Hi everyone, Mod R here.
I have a Klaus snippet for you today, the long-awaited reveal of what he needed to tell Maud when he came to her at end of Sweep of the Blade.
It’s also an incentive for us. Remember that bit about the Barsas in Sweep of the Heart?
“The Barsas stopped in front of us. Their leader, an old white-haired male, stepped forward and raised his arms.
Andrews, Ilona. Sweep of the Heart, The Innkeeper Chronicles 5. NYLA 2022. Kindle edition, page 401
Here we go.
“Barsa! Barsa, barsa, barsa. Barsa.” Each word was accompanied by arm-waving and finger-pointing.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sean said. “Is that all they say?” “Yep. Hush, I’m trying to concentrate.”
“Barsa. Barsa, barsa.”
The leader nodded sagely.”
There’s a certain Barsa-esque (Barsumial?) tendency sometimes with the Book Devouring Horde, where we can get a bit fixated on “when’s the next book, next book, next book, next book”. Klaus is here to placate us away from that, as only an Arbitrator can.
Let’s be fluffy, not Barsumials!
We’ve had an Innkeeper book just a year ago. The next one is not yet on the schedule, so there are no official dates or updates, but there will be a continuation to the series, we will find out what happened to their parents, see Helen, witness Ripper Cushions—the whole Orro banquet.
House Andrews are hard at work on projects; we’re currently getting Roman chapters every Friday; the Sweep of the Heart release from Graphic Audio is coming to us this week and I’ll have an exclusive sample just for the Horde tomorrow. We are beloved. We just have to be a bit p*tient and chill our bosoms.
“I will explain everything,” Klaus said. “But right now we have more pressing matters to discuss.”
Oh no, you don’t. “What could be more pressing than you becoming an Arbitrator?” Maud crossed her arms on her chest. “Have you told Dina? She thinks you might be dead.”
“I have perfectly valid reasons for how I’ve handled things.”
“Valid?”
Arland gently touched her shoulder. “Perhaps we can hear the reason behind this unexpected visit?”
Argh. She waved her hand. “Go ahead.”
Klaus leaned against the table, half-perching on it. The memory punched Maud, knocking her mentally off balance. He used to sit just like this, when they were both teenagers, in their parents’ inn. It was at once nostalgic because here he was, alive and well; sad because Mom and dad were still missing; and infuriating because right now, on Earth, Dina was worried sick about him.
“Thank you,” Arland said.
“Have you set a date?”
“Three months from now,” she told him. “It will be a small, family affair.”
“I suggest you postpone it,” Klaus said.
“Why? For how long?” she asked.
“A few years?” Klaus said. “A decade would be best.”
“And why would we do that?”
“You’ve made enemies,” he said.
“Be more specific,” she snapped.
“Do you remember a monster, a long time ago, at the inn? He chased you when you were a toddler?”
“Mukama.” Arland bared his fangs.
“You told him? Good. This will make things simpler. I can’t explain the details right now, but things are connected. You, Dina, the corrupted ad-hal, and the mukama. All of it is part of one complicated whole. Should you have your wedding now, it will be invaded. There are forces out there that wish to prevent your union. The safest, most prudent thing, is to wait until all of the preparations are complete. If you give me a decade…”
“Let me understand this,” Arland said, his face dark. “You are saying that if we were to have our wedding, the remnants of the mukama may invade the planet to stop it?”
“In essence, yes,” Klaus said.
A predatory light sparked in Arland’s eyes.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked.
Arland nodded. “We do have to postpone.”
“I’m glad you see the wisdom—” Klaus started.
“We need to go bigger,” she said.
“Oh yes.” Arland grinned, displaying his fangs. “Much bigger. We’ll need to invite everyone. We should be ready in 10 months or so.”
Klaus stared at them.
“We should tell your mother about the invasion,” Maud said. “Lady Ilemina would love this.”
“Oh, she will be overjoyed.” Arland clapped his massive hand on Klaus’ shoulder. “Thank you for this delightful news, my future in-law. You bring the best tidings. We shall have the grandest wedding in Krahr’s history. We will invite everyone.”
Maud grinned and swiped a quick kiss on Arland’s lips. “I can’t wait.”
Hehe, Arland has come a long way from “When I get married, I fully intend to pass all preparations on to someone else.“ I think we just discovered how to get vampire men interested in wedding preparations: promise them a monster invasion!
This was awesome but now the wait will feel longer lol
Hahaha this was delightful! Thank you for sharing this snippet! Klaus has clearly kept tabs on his siblings via George/the Arbitrator network so he had to know threatening Maud and Arland with a planet wide invasion and massacre in response to their wedding would not make them postpone. Zero chance I believe he didn’t do his homework on House Khrar, this is the response he wanted. Also when Dina finds out, she’s going to know this was the result Klaus wanted due to her previous dealings with George.
I also would love to know the reason he went completely AWOL and never reached out to Dina or Maud to let them know he was okay (I don’t remember if this an Arbitrator rule, you have to cut everyone off from your previous life?). Can’t wait for the next Innkeeper story, whenever it comes out. 🙂
It is a rule with Arbitrators that he cannot return to his planet for the duration of the contract, which is 20 years.
Okay…this totally made my day. Thank you@
I am playing email catch up and just read this. So, I have had two stories from you today. Perfect treat! Thank you. (Of course I had to pause my listen of; “ Fate’s Edge”.
I have been hoping for at least a novela of Maud and Arlands wedding, especially when Gertrude Hunt opened a door to the Krahr home world!! Now I can wait patiently ( that will be so hard) until the next Innkeeper book comes out ! Thank you for the many hours of entertainment house Andrews have given me!
Loved this so much! I adore all the other worlds as well, almost as much, but for some unexplainable reason Innkeeper has a special place in my heart. It’s one of my comfort reads when I’m feeling fragile.
Thank you, kind Moderator! You bring the best tidings. I am a fluffy barsumial. I will most likely randomly mutter “Barsa!” to myself today while cleaning the garage. (In all seriousness, I am loving having a Roman serial. Absolutely loving.)
This snippet prompted me to go re-read the entire Innkeeper series again. It’s so good. I am looking forward to the continuation of the series. Thank you.
I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT!!!
But… but… Maude was supposed to punch Klaus for Dina! … Maybe she did that just before the snippet starts? 😉
I’ve been catching up on my email this evening after a couple weeks of an annoying head cold & no interest in anything that wasn’t super vital, and discovered this snippet! Not only was the snippet fun to read, all the BDH comments were funny, too! 🙂
Now I wonder what it was that Sebastian North did to have his inn taken away from him (if I’m remembering that bit correctly from Sweep of the Heart), and how he is connected to the Mukama…. SN will learn that it isn’t just Dina, Klaus, and their parents who are problems, it’s also all the rest of their relatives, significant others, and close friends who are problems for him! 😀
Squuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
So much happiness! I can’t believe I missed this! It’s like a shiny perfect puzzle piece that completes a major section of the whole.
I will admit that I’ve been like “ROMAN, ROMAN, ROMAN!!!… but… (whimper) innkeeper?”
As a result I have been slowly re-reading Innkeeper in between new reads. And, of course, loving Roman. SO MUCH LOVE FOR ROMAN.
Especially since I didn’t think we’d get a Roman story until next year at the earliest. I wonder who the love interest will be? The kid’s sister? Mother? Aunt?
YAY! I snorted when Klaus said 10 years. He plays the long game, of course. But neither of his sisters do.Everyone is shortsighted when their families are involved. Klaus was probably thinking he could convince Maud and Arland to wait 10 years. George is going to have to resurrect himself from laughing so hard when he finds out what the Krahr’s are planning.
I wonder if the Krahr’s will invite the Hope Crushing Hoard! Oh, that would be amazing. And a good diplomatic bonding event.
I can see a scene like Gimli and Legolas counting coups. Only with Shawn and Arland!
The vampires keep score of everything. I wonder if they’ll have an Olympic style board keeping track of everyone’s kill count of the Makuma? Oooh! It could be like the Olympics! Each House of the Holy Anocracy competing like each country competes.
Even Gertrude Hunt preparing. Already has a door to Daesyn and everything. Bring it on!
Oh, I wonder if we might get a short (truly and deeply short) story about what happens when the door to Gertrude Hunt opens and Maude tells Dina! Just limited to the vampire reaction to such an incredible security risk appearing on one of their planets.
Eventually I mean. Eventually. The Author Lords are gracious and kind and generous. My tits are cool.
Honestly it sounds like the wedding of the century for vampires.
Didn’t Arland mention they’d have to inform the Warlord they found some lesser Mukama creatures (can’t recall the name) so they could start conservation efforts or something and that people would be so jealous Maud and Arland got to kill one?
Imagine the people who’d be DESPERATE to get on planet for the chance to kill some actual Mukama. I can see the Warlord himself being like “I’ll be looking for my invite.” House Ervan is so NOT invited to this party but I hope that werewolves are welcome. Battlefield hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Orro and co. Please RSVP.
WE WILL INVITE EVERYONE. there, now it is appropriately punctuated 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
kyaaaaa love the snippet !
laughed so much 😂😂😂
thank you thank you !! 😁😍
I have re-read this snippet at least a dozen times@ SQUiiiiiieee! I am so excited! This – THIS!!! – is the power of HOUSE ANDREWS! what they do!
I knew it! I guessed that the Mukama would be involved! Although I have no clue how they could be associated with the corruption, I can see that one mukama being really vengeful against Magnolia Green and Dina’s parents.
Now I’ll have to sit here and imagine what will happen when Maud and Arland find out that Dina and the remnant of Magnolia Green have come to their home. How will Magnolia Green react to little Helen? Was she born after the inn was kidnapped and will be a surprise grand-baby to the inn? Will it be a comfort to Magnolia Green to find a surprise granddaughter after all the trauma it must have gone through? Will Dina finally get to beat Klaus over the head with something for all the stress he’s brought her? (I imagine a Orro handing her a giant wooden spoon for this.)
Maud and Arland are THE BEST!!! 😂😂😂😂
this has to be the 25th time I have read this snippet, and each time I get soooo
excited- SQUIIIIIIII!!!!
I’m so excited, my heart is jumping around and my blood pressure is rising. Thank you both so very much from all of us in the BDH
You guys are so talented and creative! I enjoyed the series so much that I purchased all the books and also the Graphic Audio versions I could find. The narrators are great along with the cover and blog designs. They are all so rich and vibrant (particularly the wedding guests).May you be blessed to live long and write strong for many years to come. Also, I will try to patiently wait for all the stories related to “Klaus and the gang.). Please continue with all the blog postings, interviews and short stories in the meantime.
I just re-read Sweep of the Heart. I fell in love with the happy ending of K & Lady W. I’m hoping you will send out an occasional update on their Dominion married life in the blog.
As for the root of the Magnolia Inn growing nearby…. Let the journey be as always…interesting and blissfully wonderful!
💖
This makes me smile every time I read it (which has been a lot….).
I can picture everything – he he 😝
(except Klaus. Do we know what he looks like?)
Thank you!
I would like to reserve a seat on the balcony next to Caledania for the wedding and the invasion. We could drink tea and comment on the various factions as the invaders are repulsed by the wedding guests.
What good times!
I don’t know how I missed this, but it’s AWESOME!!!
I can see the gleam in both their eyes planning the repeling of the invasion!
When Maud & Arland mean everyone, I assume they mean everyone. What do the Hope Crushing Horde give for a wedding present?
Thank you!!! So delightful!