Vax was doing an admirable job of the talking part. Percy, for his part when he heard her voice, he didn't reach for his earring. He yanked his latest experiment out of the fire and ran for the door. It slammed open with a blast of hot air. Percy gave a brief moment's thought to hoping nothing exploded, but didn't pause.

Down the hill, across the garden and into the main building. He stumbled, the switch from dark to light to dark disorienting but after bouncing off a table, he regained his balance. Vex had said innkeeper and that meant the front desk.

"Vex'ahlia!"