“What’s a neural net?” I asked.
“There is a special plant that grows on our planet,” Cyanide said. “A fur lichen den, formed by the long tendrils of the fur lichen plant colony. Many organisms coexist within the fur lichen, some microscopic and others large enough to be visible by even a human eye. The Fuzzy Worms feed on the many creatures of the fur lichen den and craft their webs within it. We harvest the webs and weave them into neural nets with our tools and claws.”
“The neural nets are the best solution for regeneration of the nervous system,” Kosandion said. “Once they’re implanted, the healing is miraculous. People whose paralysis resisted every other treatment regain the use of their limbs within days. Transplants, nanotherapy, artificial neurons, nothing else comes close.”
“We want to sell them to the Dominion,” Cyanide said. “But the Sai are blocking our way.”
“The Sai have moved a ship into the orbit of the Higgra planet,” Kosandion explained. “They’re pressuring the Higgra to use them as intermediaries for the sale. The Higgra have applied for a direct trade agreement with the Dominion; however, Clan Sai indicated that they are not above using their other trade agreements as leverage.”
“If you buy directly from the Higgra, the Merchants will pitch a fit and stop supplying you with other goods?” I guessed.
“Precisely,” Kosandion said. “According to the federal guidelines, a thorough review of the potential impact must be conducted by the Commerce Department, which could take years.”
“So, you’re cutting out the middleman and the bureaucracy by using the Higgra’s minor ask.” I brushed Cyanide’s throat.
“Yes.” Kosandion smiled. It was a sharp and cold smile. “I don’t react well to blackmail.”
A lot of things suddenly made sense. I kept brushing. Cyanide rumbled, her eyes closed. In the fireplace a log popped, sending sparks into the flue.
“If Clan Sai suddenly canceled their trade deals, it would put the Dominion’s economy into a difficult position,” I said. “If only there were another Merchant clan willing to step into the gap. Someone with a lot of resources, able to react to the situation quickly. Someone who might have sent a representative to observe this spousal selection.”
Kosandion chuckled. “By the end of this affair, we will make you into a proper Dominion politician, Dina. Let me know if you ever consider a career change.”
“No thank you,” I told him. “I’m happy right here, doing what I do now.”
Cyanide rumbled and turned on her side. Kosandion picked up the tablet and resumed his reading.
Outside the snow began to fall, fat fluffy snowflakes drifting softly to the ground. For the next half hour, I brushed the big cat and watched the snow, while the Sovereign caught up on his paperwork.
Tony ambushed me as soon as the Higgra’s date was over.
“Dad wants to talk to you.” He thrust the phone at me.
My heart made a pirouette. Most innkeepers avoided personal phone calls. Even getting a phone number of an innkeeper was a sign of trust, and it was understood that direct communication was only for emergencies. What was bad enough for him to call me?
Brian Rodriguez looked back at me from the screen. “Have you gotten anything from Lachlan Stewart?”
“No. I don’t know who he is. Should I know who he is?”
Brian heaved a sign. “How much do you know about the Loch Broom Inn?”
“Um… It’s an old castle in Scotland. Very remote. They specialize in large-scale events.”
Loch Broom was off the beaten path, and its beautiful but severe landscape meant that human visitors were rare. If you wanted to have a destination wedding on Earth, or a diplomatic summit, or a convention, Loch Broom Castle was your venue. It wasn’t the only inn catering to large-scale events, but it was one of the better known.
“Lachlan runs Loch Broom Castle. He is fourth generation, old, and crochety. Also stubborn like a goat.”
“Okay.”
“He wants to adopt you.”
“What?”
“He’s eighty years old, and he’s been looking for a successor. His oldest is an ad-hal, and her kids live off-planet. His youngest took over a small inn in Bulgaria just to get away from him. His kids don’t want to deal with their grandfather either. Lachlan’s been watching the coverage of the selection, and he’s decided you are worthy.”
The walls around me creaked in alarm. In the innkeeper world, adoption could take place at any age, provided the “parent” was at least twenty years older than the “child.” Once adopted, the “child” would be considered a rightful heir to the “parent’s” inn. But I wasn’t an orphan. This was ridiculous.
“I already have parents.”
“That was pointed out to him. He says that according to our guidelines, enough time passed that they can be declared dead soon…”
“They are not dead!” They were missing.
Brian nodded. “I know. We told him. He is determined to get you and Sean over to Scotland. He says you have ‘the vision.’”
A wall to my left parted and Sean came out of it, looking ready to fight somebody.
“It doesn’t matter what he’s determined to do. I’m not leaving Gertrude Hunt. The Assembly can’t separate us, I won’t—”
Sean put his arm around me and leaned over my shoulder to pin Brian with a stare.
Brian raised his hand. “Dina, if Lachlan reaches out to you, he might make it seem that this has been decided and you must leave your inn and go to Loch Broom. I’m telling you right now, as a representative of the Assembly, you don’t have to do what he says. If he tries to bully you, call me. You’re doing a good job where you are. You’ve bonded with your inn. Nobody is going to remove you unless a catastrophe happens. So don’t worry about it, and if he calls, tell him no. Okay?”
“Okay. Thank you for the warning.”
“Let me talk to Tony, please.”
I handed the phone to Tony, and he walked away, muttering something.
Sean hugged me. “What happened?”
“An elderly Scottish innkeeper wants to adopt me.” I shook my head. “What’s next?”
“Next, you’re going to sit down for at least 15 minutes and eat something. Come on.”
He sat me down at the kitchen table, and Droplet brought me food. I took exactly two bites of the most delicious burrito I had ever tasted, and then the inn tugged on me. The werewolf was awake.
I found the werewolf in our high-tech med unit. She must’ve heard me come in, but she gave no indication of it. I approached the bed. She looked at me and didn’t say anything.
I pulled up a chair and sat. Her color was much better, and she seemed alert. Around us the walls were a nebulous charcoal, swirls of darker and lighter gray. Karat had an aversion to the sterile white, so I had adjusted it to her preferences.
Gertrude Hunt pulled on my attention, announcing an incoming call from Gaston. I took it.
“We have a slight problem,” his disembodied voice said from the empty air about eight feet up.
The werewolf sat up and squinted at the source of the voice.